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  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    February 22, 2022 at 2:50 am in reply to: Day 16 Assignments

    Gregg’s Outline v1

    Took me a while, but finally got it done! It’s fun to see everyone’s full stories coming together!

    Title: “Char”

    Logline: When a corrupt developer’s new building goes up in flames, the employees must work together to survive a relentless fire creature hell bent on revenge.

    1 EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING – NIGHT

    Fire rages through an apartment building. The Fire Department arrives, but it’s not going to be an easy one to fight and there are still people in the building.

    2 INT. APARTMENT BUILDING – NIGHT

    The fire chief rushes in to save them, but he gets trapped by falling debris, the result of shoddy construction. He has to watch the residents perish, while he himself burns to death slowly, and is engulfed in a ball of flames.

    Horror Situation: The fire is raging and a family is trapped

    SUSPENSE: Will the Fire Chief get to them?
    RELEASE: He makes it past the flames to where the family is trapped
    SURPRISE: The ceiling collapses on him
    PANIC: He’s trying to escape being pinned so he can save the family
    ANGUISH: He watches the family perish
    HORROR: He burns to death

    3 INT. OFFICE BUILDING – DAY

    Some years later, another brand new building is seeing its first occupants, as the CEO of Haven Development welcomes his staff to their new office. The building isn’t even fully done yet, in fact their floor is the only one that is occupied. But nevertheless, several of the key employees are there, including the Senior VP, the Marketing Director and the CEO’s Assistant. Also in attendance for the walk through are the Architect of the building and the Contractor responsible for construction.

    4 INT. OFFICES – DAY

    As the architect inspects the building, he notices some things that are not up to his standards, and points them out. But the Contractor dismisses his concerns and the Marketing Director puts her usual positive spin on things.

    5 INT. ELEVATOR LOBBY – DAY

    When they try to leave, they find the elevator is not working. A Security Guard who is making his rounds tells them that a mechanic is working on it.

    6 INT. STAIRWELL – DAY

    When they try to access the stairwell, the door appears to be fused or painted shut and won’t open. The Security Guard suggests they wait in the office while he goes to check on the mechanic.

    Horror Situation: They are now trapped in the office.
    SURPRISE: The elevator doesn’t work
    SUSPENSE: The stairway door won’t open
    APPREHENSION: They don’t want to go back to the office

    7 INT. MACHINE ROOM – DAY

    The Security Guard goes to the machine room, where he discovers that the mechanic has been charred to death and the control board and communications panels have been fried.

    Horror Situation: The Security Guard finds the mechanic dead
    APPREHENSION: He smells smoke outside the machine room
    HORROR: The mechanic has been electrocuted and burned
    FEAR: He sees smoke
    DREAD: He has to tell the others about the death

    8 INT. OFFICE – DAY

    He hurries back to the others to tell them about the mechanic.

    9 INT. MACHINE ROOM – DAY

    The group goes to see what happened to the mechanic and they are shocked by what they see.

    Horror Situation: The group goes to look at the dead mechanic
    DREAD: They are nervous about what they are about to see
    SURPRISE: The door knob could be hot
    RELEASE: It’s not hot
    APPREHENSION: They slowly open the door
    HORROR: The mechanic is burned to a crisp
    FEAR: There could still be danger

    10 INT. STAIRWELL – DAY

    A Janitor helps them get the stairway door open. They begin to descend, but there are flames below that block their way.

    Horror Situation: They try to escape down the stairs, but run into the fire
    SUSPENSE: They slowly descend
    FEAR: Smoke fills the stairway
    SURPRISE: The fire erupts out of nowhere filling the staircase and blocking their way
    PANIC: They retreat

    11 INT. HALLWAY – DAY

    They retreat and try another stairwell, but discover it is unfinished and impassable.

    Horror Situation: They try to escape down another stairwell, but it is impassable
    HYSTERIA: Several of them freak out about the fire
    FEAR: They descend the stairs scared they will encounter the fire
    SHOCK: They find the staircase is unfinished and impassable.
    DREAD: They don’t want to go back up

    12 INT. ELEVATOR – DAY

    The Janitor thinks he can access the elevator override, so he pries open the elevator doors and gets to work inside it.

    13 INT. HALLWAY – DAY

    The Contractor tells them there is a viaduct that can take them to the other side of the building, where the rear stairwell is. No one else is willing to crawl into the viaduct, so the Contractor goes alone.

    14 INT. DUCT – DAY

    The Contractor crawls through the viaduct but becomes stuck. A swarm of cockroaches scurry by. Smoke begins to surround him from behind, and flames crawl up his legs. He writhes in pain, trying to pat the fire out and get loose, but he can’t. Right before the fire engulfs him, he sees a face in the flames.

    Horror Situation: He crawls through a claustrophobic air duct, gets trapped and burns to death.
    APPREHENSION: Crawling through a tight space
    SUSPENSE: What’s ahead in the darkness?
    CREEPY MOMENT: Cockroaches scurry by
    RELEASE: He continues on
    FEAR: Trapped and engulfed in smoke and flames
    MONSTER REVEAL: The fire has a face
    HORROR: He is burned to death from the legs up

    15 INT. OFFICE – DAY

    Back in the office, the others hear a scream. The duct collapses and the Contractor’s charred body falls to the ground, but there is no sign of the fire.

    Horror Situation: The other witness the contractor’s dead body
    SURPRISE: The body falls from the air duct
    HORROR: The body is charred beyond belief
    APPREHENSION: There is no apparent imminent fire
    PANIC: They flee

    16 INT. ELEVATOR – DAY

    They flee for the elevator and the Janitor now has it working, so they get in and try to go down. But the fire burns through the cable, and causes the elevator to drop suddenly and stop abruptly between floors.

    Horror Situation: The elevator cable breaks and the elevator plummets
    APPREHENSION: They are nervous to get in the elevator
    SURPRISE: The cable snaps and the elevator falls
    RELEASE: The car stops abruptly

    17 Smoke starts to fill the car. The Janitor tries to pry open the doors, but he has trouble. The SVP thinks she has a better idea to escape through the hatch, but when she opens it, the fire bursts through the hole with human-like arms, pulls her from the car and envelops her.

    Horror Situation: Smoke fills the elevator, they try to escape but the fire creature grabs the SVP.
    PANIC: Smoke starts filling the elevator car
    SUSPENSE: They try to pry the doors open
    HYSTERIA: THe SVP Decides to climb out the top hatch
    SURPRISE: The fire erupts through the hatch into the elevator
    RELEASE: They open the doors and climb out mid floor
    MONSTER REVEAL: The fire creature reaches into the elevator and pulls the SVP up through the hatch
    HORROR: She screams in pain as she burns to death

    18 INT. ELEVATOR LOBBY – DAY

    The Janitor gets the doors open and they all climb out onto an unfinished floor of the building. The fire erupts into the hallway and they scatter for safety, separated by the flames.

    Horror Situation: The fire follows them into the hall from the elevator
    SHOCK: The fire comes at them from the elevator
    PANIC: They scatter in different directions to get away

    19 INT. UNFINISHED HALLWAY – DAY

    The Architect tries to escape down a hallway, but without being finished, it quickly becomes a maze of corridors. At every turn, there is fire at the end of the corridor. He frantically runs back and forth trying to find an exit, when he comes to a dead end. He turns around to backtrack, but the fire has him cornered. It takes human form and hugs him to death in flames.

    Horror Situation: Lost: He’s trying to find his way out of the maze but is stopped at every turn.
    PANIC: He runs back and forth down the hallways
    SUSPENSE: Will the next turn free him?
    FEAR: He comes to a dead end
    HYSTERIA: He freaks out as fire approaches, scraping at the walls
    ANGUISH: He is hugged by the flaming creature and burned to death

    20 INT. CORRIDOR – DAY

    Meanwhile the CEO is trying to lead the rest of them to safety, but the fire erupts in a hallway. The Marketing Director is cut off from the rest. She grabs a fire hose and the fire monster pulls back, but the hose doesn’t work. The creature laughs and attacks her, grabbing the hose and strangling her with it (so she can’t even scream). She is then engulfed in flames and burned to death.

    Horror Situation: The Marketing Director is strangled and burned to death
    SURPRISE: Fire erupts in the hallway
    RELEASE: She finds the fire hose
    SUSPENSE: Will the hose push the fire monster back? No!
    MONSTER REVEAL: The fire monster laughs
    SHOCK: The fire monster grabs the hose and wraps it around her
    PANIC: She tries to scream but can’t
    HORROR: She is engulfed in flames and burned to death

    21 INT. UNFINISHED OFFICE – DAY

    The others take refuge in an empty, unfinished office, where they argue about the fire and it’s strange behavior. The Assistant admits that she knows the shortcuts her boss takes. The Janitor supports her and the Security Guard is outraged. “If you took shortcuts in this building, then these deaths are on you.” They leave him in the office, slamming the door behind them on the way out.

    22 INT. UNFINISHED OFFICE – DAY

    The door gets stuck, and the CEO can’t get out. Smoke starts to fill the office. The fire monster tries to come through the door, but it can’t get through, so it smashes through a glass window to get at him. Wounded and scared, he falls on the floor, and the fire begins to engulf him. But he crawls away into a closet and slams the door. The fire engulfs the wall and door and he screams within.

    Horror Situation: The fire monster smashes into the office and tries to kill the CEO
    PANIC: The door won’t open
    DREAD: Smoke starts filling the office
    SURPRISE: The monster smashes through the glass
    FEAR: He’s wounded and scared on the ground as the fire engulfs him
    RELEASE: He crawls into a closet and slams the door.
    HYSTERIA: He screams wildly as the fire covers the door
    REVEAL: The fire door stops the fire

    23 INT. UNFINISHED CORRIDOR – DAY

    The Security Guard leads the others through the unfinished corridors, looking for a way out, when the fire erupts from an empty office. He grabs a fire extinguisher and tries to fend it off while the Assistant and Janitor escape. But it runs out and the fire creature overtakes him. As it slowly burns him to death, he pulls out his pistol and shoots himself in the head to escape the pain.

    Horror Situation: The Security Guard dies protecting the others
    PANIC: Trying to put out fire
    MONSTER REVEAL: The fire extinguisher can’t kill it
    PAIN: He is burning to death
    ANGUISH – They watch him burn

    HORROR: He shoots himself in the head
    HYSTERIA – The Assistant freaks out.

    24 INT. MACHINE ROOM – DAY

    The Assistant and Janitor duck into a machine room to take refuge. They try to come up with a plan to extinguish the fire creature. But water and fire extinguishers won’t work. The fire comes through large air ducts into the room and quickly surrounds them. They embrace each other in the impending doom.

    Horror Situation: The fire surrounds them
    SHOCK: The fire comes through the air ducts into the room
    RELEASE: They embrace each other and prepare to die

    25 INT. OFFICE – DAY

    The CEO bursts through the flames wrapped in fire retardant insulation. His flesh is charred but he is still alive. He gives them the insulation and tells them to run. The fire creature grabs him and throws him through the glass window to his death. The air rushes into the room and the fire swells.

    Horror Situation: The CEO saves them but then is killer
    SURPRISE: The CEO is burned horribly but still alive!
    SHOCK: The fire creature grabs him
    ANGUISH: Their savior is thrown out the window
    DREAD: The fire swells
    MONSTER REVEAL: The fire monster is affected by oxygen and wind

    26 INT. HALLWAY – DAY

    The Janitor and Assistant make it out into the hallway and close the fire proof door. The Janitor realizes the fire needs oxygen, and he can reverse the HVAC machine to suck all the air out of the room, but he’ll have to go back in. And he’ll need the Assistant to distract the fire.

    27 INT. OFFICE – DAY

    They wrap themselves in insulation and he grabs a fire extinguisher and they rush into the room. He blasts the fire creature with the extinguisher which slows it enough for the Assistant to run into the room and distract it.

    Horror situation: They take on the fire creature
    APPREHENSION: They must go back into the burning room
    SUSPENSE: Can they distract the creature?
    RELEASE: The Janitor makes it to the HVAC unit

    28 INT. HVAC CLOSET – DAY

    The Janitor begins work on the HVAC machine.

    29 INT. OFFICE – DAY

    The fire closes in on the Assistant backing her up towards the wall. Just as it’s about to close in on her the Janitor reverses the HVAC unit and the creature is sucked back into the air vents.

    Horror Situation: The fire closes in on the Assistant.
    FEAR: The fire pushes her towards the wall.
    PANIC: She is up against the wall and trapped
    SURPRISE: The HVAC Unit engages

    RELEASE: The fire monster is sucked into the air vents

    He embraces the Assistant. It’s over. But as they hug, smoke starts spewing from every vent in the room and the air ducts start shaking violently. All at once the fire explodes from every vent, and a hundred fiery tendrils reach out and grab the Janitor. He is pulled away from the Assistant, and the fire slowly burns him to death as she watches.

    Horror Situation: The fire creature is not gone and attacks again
    SURPRISE: The fire explodes into the room from every opening!
    MONSTER REVEAL: Fiery tendrils grab the Janitor
    PANIC: The assistant tries to hold onto him

    FEAR: He is pulled away by the fire creature
    HORROR: He is burned to death
    ANGUISH: She watches as he dies

    30 INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

    With the Janitor gone, the fire creature turns on the Assistant, forcing her into the conference room and toward the window. She climbs out on the ledge to get away, 50 stories up. The fire follows. It looks her in the face, she thinks she’s about to die and so she jumps from the ledge. But the fire creature has its arm around her and keeps her from falling. It gives her a sympathetic look and then the creature dives off the ledge taking all of the fire with it. It evaporates into smoke and disappears in the air. The assistant crouches, crying, on the window ledge.

    Horror Situation: The fire closes in on the Assistant
    SHOCK: Having just watched the Janitor die, she is in shock
    FEAR: The fire creature chases her into the conference room
    PANIC: She climbs out on the window ledge
    DREAD: She is about to jump to her death
    SURPRISE: The monster grabs her
    MONSTER REVEAL: The monster is sympathetic and lets her go
    RELEASE: The fire monster disappears into thin air

    31 EXT. BUILDING – DAY

    The Assistant is in an ambulance being tended to. The Fire Marshal talks to her about the fire and tells her that it looks like it was due to shoddy construction. She tries to tell him about the creature, but he dismisses it as trauma. He tells her it happens. A similar thing happened some years ago, at another building that took shortcuts – and their fire chief was killed.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    February 18, 2022 at 8:11 pm in reply to: Day 14 Assignments

    This lesson I learned that crafting out a sequence of emotional horrors can really help drive the dynamics of a scene.

    Horror Situation: Lost: He’s trying to find his way out of the maze but is stopped at every turn.
    Arc: Panic to Anguish
    Emotions: Suspense, Fear, Hysteria
    Sequence: Panic, Suspense, Fear, Hysteria, Anguish
    Panic: He runs back and forth down the hallways
    Suspense: Will the next turn free him?
    Fear: He comes to a dead end
    Hysteria: He freaks out as fire approaches, scraping at the walls
    Anguish: He is hugged by the flaming creature and burned to death

    INT. UNFINISHED HALLWAY – DAY

    Julian rounds the corner, racing down an unfinished hallway to get further away from the fire. Looking back over his shoulder.

    The hallway walls are unfinished, a mix of metal framing, particle board and insulation.

    As Julian gets further down it, the construction becomes more sparse, just an endless grid of metal framework that all looks the same.

    JULIAN
    (yells)
    Hello? Is anyone in here? Carina? Osmond? Hello??

    Julian surveys the site for signs of a passage. Smoke begins to waft into the area. He hurries off through what looks like it might be a doorway.

    INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE – DAY

    Smoke billows across the floor as Julian makes his way through a maze of construction. He turns left, but runs into a barrier. He goes to the right, but metal armature blocks his way.

    The smoke intensifies. Julian starts moving faster, but seems to be going in circles. Just when he thinks he’s found a way out, he turns around and everything looks the same.

    Julian is now running through the construction, trying to find a way out. The smoke seems to be following him. He accelerates, but runs smack into a metal post and falls to the ground. Smoke envelops him.

    JULIAN
    (yells)
    Anyone?! Help!

    He jumps to his feet, coughing, and sprint off through an opening in the maze of metal beams and columns.

    INT. HALLWAY – DAY

    Julian rounds a corner, and smiles as he appears to have found a hallway, but it’s filling fast with smoke. He races down the hall, but as he breaks through a cloud of smoke, he runs into a wall. It’s a dead end.

    He spins to both sides looking for a way out, but there is none except back from where he came. He turns around to retreat, but flames rise up at the other end of the hallway. The smoke recedes to reveal a fiery figure moving towards him.

    JULIAN

    Holy shit.

    He can’t believe what he sees. The fiery figure has a face. With a devlish smile.

    JULIAN
    (yells)
    Help! Someone help me!

    But no one is there. He’s cornered. The fiery figure moves down the hall toward him.

    Julian spins around and starts banging on the wall, a futile attempt to bust through it.

    The fire creature is getting closer. Julian is hysterical now, clawing at the wall with his fingers until they are bloodied. But it’s no use. The monster is upon him.

    He turns around to face his fate. The fire creature grins as it extends two fiery limbs, which slowly wrap around Julian. He SCREAMS.

    JULIAN
    (screaming)
    Ahhhhhhh!

    The fire creature pulls Julian in, as if to hug him, then with a flash the flames erupt and engulf him, his body burning to a crisp and falling apart in ashes.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    February 17, 2022 at 3:50 am in reply to: Day 13 Assignments

    I’m learning it’s hard to sustain the scares and creepy moments – and releases are challenging to create and have them be realistic when there is panic occurring.

    INT. HALLWAY – DAY

    While Stan works on the elevator the others gather nervously in the hallway. Dmitri paces back and forth.

    DMITRI
    This is not good.

    JULIAN
    Everyone knows you’re not supposed to use an elevator during a fire.

    CARINA
    The stairs are out of play.

    KEELAN
    I’ll be back.

    He heads off down the hallway.

    Izumi fiddles with her smart phone, shakes her head.

    IZUMI
    Still no signal.

    DMITRI
    We are like standing ducks here.

    JULIAN
    I think you mean sitting.

    DMITRI
    You sit. I’m going to get out of here.

    He hands Julian the flashlight, then slides a chair into the middle of the hallway and climbs up on it.

    CARINA
    What are you doing?

    Dmitri unscrews a panel on the ceiling.

    DMITRI
    The air duct leads across the building. To the other staircase.

    JULIAN
    You’re crazy.

    DMITRI

    Not crazy enough to wait here for fire to come. Follow me.

    The others just stare at him, no one moves.

    DMITRI
    Very well. I go alone.

    He pulls the panel off the air duct, hands it to Julian and smiles at the group.

    DMITRI
    Wish me luck.

    He sticks his head up into the duct. The others watch anxiously.

    Dmitri SCREAMS.

    CARINA
    Dimitri!

    His legs flail and then go limp.

    IZUMI

    Help him!

    Julian moves to help, but Dmitri drops down from the duct onto the chair, laughing.

    DMITRI
    Got you!

    CARINA

    Bastard.

    JULIAN

    Not funny.

    DMITRI
    I need hand getting up.

    He motions to Julian to give him a boost. Julian huffs, but grabs Dmitri’s legs and helps lift him up into the duct.

    DMITRI
    (from within duct)
    Give me flashlight.

    Carina hands him the small flashlight.

    DMITRI
    Okay, everything okay.

    Julian sits on the chair. Carina squeezes onto the edge. Izumi leans against the wall.

    INT. AIR DUCT – DAY

    The air duct is dark. Dmitri turns on the light, illuminating the tunnel.

    He begins to shimmy through the passageway, twisting his body to squeeze through the seams.

    With each slides forward, the light illuminates a little more of the tunnel. But darkness persists beyond the flashlight’s range.

    He moves forward, using the walls of the duct as leverage to pull himself through the tight space.

    DMITRI
    (to self)
    Time for diet again.

    He shines the light ahead to reveal an intersection. As he begins moving towards it, a scratching noise can be heard growing louder from around the corner.

    Dmitri illuminates the passage. Suddenly, a swarm of cockroaches races into the intersection. They hurry by, as if running away from something.

    A few of them peel off and come at Dmitri, but he manages to wave them off and they follow the others, disappearing down the darkened tunnel.

    Dmitri lets out a deep breath, then continues in the direction they came from.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    February 15, 2022 at 4:19 am in reply to: Day 12 Assignments

    This lesson again shows that if you plan out the horror emotions beforehand, it becomes easier to write the scenes since you have an emotional map you can follow.

    INT. CORRIDOR – DAY

    Keelan, Stan and Izumi hurry down an unfinished corridor, past exposed sheetrock and metal framing. A layer of smoke wafts at their feet. Keelan carries a fire extinguisher.

    KEELAN
    That architect said there was another stairwell on the other side of the building.

    Stan surveys the hallway.

    STAN
    How can you tell where we are?

    They come to an intersection, and Keelan stops.

    KEELAN
    I can’t. But it feels like it should be this way.

    He leads the others to the right.

    KEELAN
    Stay close together…I think we’re almost there.

    They make their way down a long hallway with several framed open doorways. The smoke is thicker.

    About halfway down the corridor, FLAMES explode from one of the doorways, then another.

    Izumi SCREAMS. Stan grabs her hand as Keelan moves in front of them both.

    The flames swirl and combine as a humanoid form takes shape at the center of the maelstrom. A fiery face takes shape, its flaming visage contorting into a sinister grin.

    KEELAN
    Go back! The other way!

    Stan ushers Izumi back down the hallway. Keelan grabs the fire extinguisher hose and pulls the pin from the handle as the fire creature moves toward him.

    KEELAN
    Let’s see how you like this!

    He squeezes the extinguisher and white foam shoots from the nozzle, enveloping the creature.

    KEELAN
    Ha! Take that!

    The flaming figure is pushed back and begins to lose its form.

    Keelan moves forward spreading the white spray over the fire. He seems to be getting the better of it, as the flames begin to shrink away.

    But just when it feels like he might be able to squelch the flams, the white foam sputters, then ceases. The extinguisher is empty.

    Stan and Izumi halt at the other end of the hallway.

    STAN
    Get out of there!

    Keelan shakes the extinguisher, trying to get some more out of it. But the fire flares up, and the flaming figure reforms and moves towards Keelan.

    He squeezes the extinguisher’s lever repeatedly, then gives up, throwing it at the flames and turning to run.

    But the creature is upon him, its fiery tendrils reaching out to grab his legs.

    Keelan falls to the ground, and the flames pull him back down the hallway.

    Stan lets go of Izumi and rushes down the hallway toward Keelan.

    IZUMI
    No!

    Stan grabs Keelan by the hands and pulls, but the flames are wrapped around his legs and pulling him in the other direction. Keelan bellows in pain as the flames engulf his lower half.

    STAN
    Hold on!

    Stan struggles to pull Keelan from the fire, but he loses his grip and goes tumbling backwards. Keelan slides down the hall in the fire’s clutches.

    The flames engulf his body. He screams in agony.

    Stan watches, but there’s nothing he can do. He retreats to where Izumi cowers against the wall.

    The flames dance over Keelan’s body, burning off his clothes and searing his flesh. He writhes in pain.

    Izumi SCREAMS. Stan holds her tightly.

    Keelan rolls on the floor trying to extinguish the flames, but it’s no use, the fire runs over his body, incessantly burning him to a crisp.

    Keelan’s blackened arm reaches for his waist. He pulls the pistol from its holster, raises it to his head, and pulls the trigger.

    The GUN FIRES and blood splatters across the hallway as Keelan’s body goes limp on the floor.

    Izumi SCREAMS again as Stan buries her head in his shoulder to avert her view.

    The fiery creature kneels over the Keelan’s dead body, let’s out a sizzling shriek, and retreats back through the open doorways flanking the hall. The layer of smoke wafts away, and the hallway is quiet.

    Izumi cries hysterically. Stan rubs his hand over her hair.

    STAN
    It’s okay. It’ll be okay.

    He glances back at Keelan’s charred body lying in a pool of blood.

    STAN
    Let’s get out of here.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    February 9, 2022 at 5:16 pm in reply to: Day 11 Assignments

    Level 2 Emotions

    This lesson I learned that using these emotions can really help you design the specifics of a scene in a way that allows it to unfold in a compelling way.

    INT. OFFICE – DAY

    Carina and Dmitri take turns tossing paperclips into a waste basket, while Julian pours over his blueprints.

    Osmond and Adrienne are in the small glass enclosed conference room, reviewing files.

    Izumi is moving about the room, Windex bottle in hand, cleaning desktops and surfaces.

    She gets close to Julian with the spray bottle and he pulls his blueprints away quickly.

    JULIAN
    Hey, hey, hey. Watch it.

    IZUMI
    Sorry. It’s a mess in here. There’s a layer of dust on everything.

    Carina sinks a paperclip shot.

    CARINA
    Yes! I win.

    DMITRI
    I don’t even know what we’re playing.

    Izumi continues her dusting.

    IZUMI
    Did the guard say how long it would take to fix?

    CARINA
    Nope. He went to find out though.

    Julian folds the blueprint.

    JULIAN
    There’s another way out of here, that is, if Dmitri put the stairs in the right places.

    Dmitri throws a paper clip at Julian.

    Osmond and Adrienne exit the conference room to join the others.

    ADRIENNE
    I thought you all were going for a drink?

    CARINA
    Elevator’s broken.

    ADRIENNE
    Are your legs broken too? Take the stairs.

    Julian shoots her a look.

    JULIAN
    Now there’s an idea.

    OSMOND
    I’m actually glad you’re all here, because I can share some exciting news. Adrienne has come up with a way to close Mumbai.

    Carina perks up. Julian is perplexed.

    JULIAN
    There were some serious code issues to deal with there.

    OSMOND
    Nothing our savvy SVP couldn’t navigate.

    CARINA
    That’s great. I can already see the marketing. Reach for the sky, in Mumbai.

    Dmitri chuckles.

    DMITRI
    That is good. Very good.

    The office door bursts open, and Keelan comes bounding in, breath racing, pale faced. The whole gang turns to look at him. Even Izumi stops mid-spray.

    OSMOND
    My lord, you look like you’ve seen a ghost young man.

    KEELAN
    There’s been an accident.

    OSMOND
    An accident?

    KEELAN
    The mechanic…I was…he..I don’t know how…but his skin…

    ADRIENNE
    Slow down hon, have a seat.

    She escorts him to a chair.

    KEELAN
    He’s dead.

    CARINA
    Oh my god.

    JULIAN
    What?

    OSMOND
    Are you sure?

    Keelan fidgets, too spooked to sit still.

    KEELAN
    I don’t know what happened. But it’s not pretty I’ll tell you that.

    DMITRI
    Where?

    KEELAN
    In the machine room.

    DMITRI
    Let’s have a look.

    Dimitri heads out the doorway.

    OSMOND
    Izumi, call 911.

    Osmond rushes after him, and Carina follows him.

    Izumi puts down her cleaner and picks up the phone. She taps it repeatedly, then hangs it up.

    IZUMI
    No dial tone.

    Adrienne pulls out her cell phone, tries to make a call. She waves the phone around the room.

    ADRIENNE
    No service.

    Julian does the same with his phone.

    JULIAN
    No fucking way.

    He and Adrienne exchange looks, then hurry out of the office after the others.

    Keelen takes a deep breath, stands and follows, leaving Izumi alone in the office. She wipes one last clump of dust off the desktop, then rushes off too.

    IZUMI
    Wait for me!

    INT. HALLWAY – DAY

    The group of six make their way down the hallway, Osmond in the lead. He holds up his hand.

    OSMOND
    I smell smoke.

    He turns back to the group, notices Dmitri behind him smoking a cigarette. He glares at the contractor, who puts the butt out on the floor.

    CARINA
    I smell it too…it’s like an electrical fire.

    OSMOND
    Maybe you all should wait here.

    Dmitri pushes past him.

    DMITRI
    I check it out.

    Osmond motions for the others to stay put, then waves for Kellan to join him as they move down the hallway.

    The others stick together, taking small steps slowly in the same direction.

    INT. VESTIBULE – DAY

    Dmitri approaches a vestibule with a door marked “MACHINE ROOM” and reaches for the knob.

    KEELAN (O.S.)
    Wait!

    Dmitri pulls his hand back and Osmond and Keelan join him.

    KEELAN
    It might be hot.

    He removes a handkerchief from his pocket, wraps it around his hand, and hesitantly grabs the door knob. Satisfied he nods to the others.

    KEELAN
    You sure you want to see this?

    OSMOND
    No.

    DMITRI
    Yes.

    KEELAN
    Here goes.

    He opens the door and the odor hits them. Osmond covers his nose. Dmitri eagerly peers into the room.

    DMITRI
    Oh man.

    Keelan takes a quick look to confirm what he saw earlier, then looks away.

    Osmond squints as if that will make what he sees les painful to look at.

    The mechanics body lies against the wall, his clothing tattered and burned, and his flesh blackened and blistered. His face is a mess of burned flesh and bone.

    OSMOND
    Was he electrocuted?

    KEELAN
    Maybe. The circuit board is fried.

    Osmond examines the panel, looks at the body again.

    OSMOND
    Looks like he was burned by fire, but I don’t see any other evidence of a blaze.

    Dmitri reaches for the control panel. Osmond pulls him back and closes the door.

    OSMOND
    It could be dangerous. Let’s get the others out of here.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    February 7, 2022 at 8:46 pm in reply to: Day 10 Assignments

    This lesson I learned that even the smallest moments in a scene can create apprehension, surprise and shock.

    INT. OFFICE – DAY

    Julian canvases the office, inspecting moldings, door jambs, corner edges and other construction details. Carina follows behind him, taking pictures with her smart phone.

    JULIAN
    The edging is terrible. And the door jambs don’t look plumb.

    CARINA
    No problem. I’ll just shoot this way.

    She turns toward the plate glass windows and takes a photo.

    Julian surveys the back wall and shakes his head. He pulls a blueprint out of his shoulder bag and unfolds it.

    JULIAN
    There should be an exit door here. This wasn’t done according to plan.

    Carina spins around to look at the wall.

    CARINA
    More wall space. For huge photos of Singapore, Dubai and Toronto.

    Julian kneels to inspect an electrical outlet which seems to be loose. He tugs on it and the entire housing falls out exposing unsheathed wires. He grunts.

    JULIAN
    Terrible work. This is not safe.

    CARINA
    You should see the wires under my desk at home.

    Julian stands, notices a doorway in the corner. He walks over to it.

    JULIAN
    And what is this closet doing here? There shouldn’t be a closet…

    He opens the door and DIMITRI PIERNO leaps from behind it.

    DMITRI
    Ahhhhha!

    Julian jumps back, face flushed, startled by the hairy, middle-aged man in a wrinkled track suit.

    JULIAN
    Dmitri! You scared the shit out of me.

    Dmitri laughs in slow, staccato baritone.

    JULIAN
    And by the way there should not be a closet there!

    DMITRI
    Is not closet. Is exit.

    JULIAN
    The exit is supposed to be over there…

    Julian points toward the opposite wall.

    JULIAN
    …next to the your shoddy edging and the broken outlet.

    Dmitri saunters over to the outlet. He pushes it back into place.

    DMITRI
    You see? I fix.

    Carina chuckles.

    CARINA
    No problemo.

    Julian rests his head in his hands.

    JULIAN
    You’re going to be working here. What if that started a fire?

    CARINA
    We’ll escape. Through the closet.

    She smirks. Julian sighs. Dmitri pats him on the back.

    DMITRI
    You worry too much. Everything fine. Just behind little bit. Come, we have drink downstairs, celebrate building.

    JULIAN
    It’s a bit premature for Champagne.

    DMITRI

    Beer. We drink beer.

    CARINA
    Sounds good to me, let’s go.

    EXT. ELEVATOR LOBBY – DAY

    The three of them turn the corner of the elevator lobby where three banks of elevators line the wall.

    CARINA
    Let’s hit that bar across the street. They have some great microbrews.

    Carina pushes the button. It doesn’t light up. She pushes it again. And again. Nothing.

    The floor indicators above the elevators are not lit up either.

    CARINA
    Damn. No elevators.

    JULIAN
    They were just working.

    CARINA
    Something must have happened.

    JULIAN
    (to Dmitri)
    Can you fix that too?

    Dmitri pushes the button. Nothing. He pushes it again. And again.

    DMITRI
    Elevator not my expertise.

    JULIAN
    Obviously.

    CARINA
    I wonder what happened.

    KEELAN FINN answers her with confidence and a slight Irish accent.

    KEELAN (O.S.)
    Problem with the mechanism.

    The tall, red-haired security guard approaches. He’s in his thirties and wears his badge proudly, along with a small sidearm.

    KEELAN
    The mechanic is working on it as we speak. I’ll go see about his progress. If you all want to wait in the office I’ll come let you know.

    Julian turns and heads back towards the office.

    JULIAN
    Back to the drawing board.

    Dmitri and Carina follow.

    DMITRI
    Is there beer in there?

    Carina shakes her head as they disappear around the corner.

    The security guard heads down the opposite hallway.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    February 6, 2022 at 5:43 am in reply to: Day 9 Assignments

    I learned that even with all the planning we’ve done up until now, you still need to turn it into a story by adding details that execute on the plan.

    Readable Outline

    Fire rages through an apartment building. The Fire Department arrives, but it’s not going to be an easy one to fight and there are still people in the building.

    The fire chief rushes in to save them, but he gets trapped by falling debris, the result of shoddy construction. He has to watch the residents perish, while he himself burns to death slowly, and is engulfed in a ball of flames.

    Some years later, another brand new building is seeing its first occupants, as the CEO of Haven Development welcomes his staff to their new office. The building isn’t even fully done yet, in fact their floor is the only one that is occupied. But nevertheless, several of the key employees are there, including the Senior VP, the Marketing Director and the CEO’s Assistant. Also in attendance for the walk through are the Architect of the building and the Contractor responsible for construction.

    As the architect inspects the building, he notices some things that are not up to his standards, and points them out. But the Contractor dismisses his concerns and the Marketing Director puts her usual positive spin on things.

    When they try to leave, they find the elevator is not working. A Security Guard who is making his rounds tells them that a mechanic is working on it.

    When they try to access the stairwell, the door appears to be fused shut and won’t open. The Security Guard suggests they wait in the office while he goes to check on the mechanic.

    The Security Guard goes to the machine room, where he discovers that the mechanic has been charred to death and the control board and communications panels have been fried.

    He hurries back to the others to tell them to evacuate.

    A Janitor who is waxing the floor helps them get the stairway door open. They begin to descend, but there are flames below that block their way.

    They retreat and try another stairwell, but discover it is also blocked by fire.

    The Janitor thinks he can access the elevator override, so he pries open the elevator doors and gets to work inside it.

    The Contractor tells them there is a viaduct that can take them to the other side of the building, where the rear stairwell is. No one else is willing to crawl into the viaduct, so the Contractor goes alone.

    The Contractor crawls through the viaduct but becomes stuck. Smoke begins to surround him from behind, and flames crawl up his legs. He writhes in pain, trying to pat the fire out and get loose, but he can’t. Right before the fire engulfs him, he sees a face in the flames.

    Back in the office, the others hear a scream. The duct collapses and the Contractor’s charred body falls to the ground, but there is no sign of the fire.

    They flee for the elevator and the Janitor now has it working, so they get in and try to go down. But the fire burns through the cable, and causes the elevator to drop suddenly and stop abruptly between floors.

    Smoke starts to fill the car. The Janitor tries to pry open the doors, but he has trouble. The SVP thinks she has a better idea to escape through the hatch, but when she opens it, the fire bursts through the hole with human-like arms and pulls her from the car and envelops her.

    The Janitor gets the doors open and they all climb out onto an unfinished floor of the building. The fire erupts into the hallway and they scatter for safety, separated by the flames.

    The Architect tries to escape down a hallway, but without being finished, it quickly becomes a maze of corridors. At every turn, there is fire at the end of the corridor. He frantically runs back and forth trying to find an exit, when he comes to a dead end. He turns around to backtrack, but the fire has him cornered. It takes human form and hugs him to death in flames.

    Meanwhile the CEO is trying to lead the rest of them to safety, but the fire erupts in a hallway. The Marketing Director is cut off from the rest. She grabs a fire hose and the fire monster pulls back, but the hose doesn’t work. The creature laughs and attacks her, grabbing the hose and strangling her with it (so she can’t even scream). She is then engulfed in flames and burned to death.

    The others take refuge in an empty, unfinished office, where they argue about the fire and it’s strange behavior. The Assistant admits that she knows the shortcuts her boss takes. The Janitor supports her and the Security Guard is outraged. “If you took shortcuts in this building, then these deaths are on you.” They leave him in the office, slamming the door behind them on the way out.

    The door gets stuck, and the CEO can’t get out. Smoke starts to fill the office. The fire tries to come through the door, but it can’t get through, so it smashes through a glass window to get at him. Wounded and scared, he falls on the floor, and the fire begins to engulf him. But he crawls away into a closet and slams the door. The fire engulfs the wall and door and he screams within.

    The Security Guard leads the others through the unfinished corridors, looking for a way out, when the fire erupts from an empty office. He grabs a fire extinguisher and tries to fend it off while the Assistant and Janitor escape. But it runs out and the fire overtakes him. As it slowly burns him to death, he pulls out his pistol and shoots himself in the head to escape the pain.

    The Assistant and Janitor duck into a machine room to take refuge. They try to come up with a plan to extinguish the fire. But water and fire extinguishers don’t work. The fire comes through large air ducts into the room and quickly surrounds them. They embrace each other in the impending doom.

    The CEO bursts through the flames wrapped in fire retardant insulation. His flesh is charred but he is still alive. He gives them the insulation and tells them to run. The fire grabs him and throws him through the glass window to his death. The air rushes into the room and the fire swells.

    The Janitor and Assistant make it out into the hallway and close the fire proof door. The Janitor realizes the fire needs oxygen, and he can reverse the HVAC machine to suck all the air out of the room, but he’ll have to go back in. And he’ll need the Assistant to distract the fire.

    They wrap themselves in insulation and he grabs a fire extinguisher and they rush into the room. He blasts the fire creature with the extinguisher which slows it enough for the Assistant to run into the room and distract it. The Janitor begins work on the HVAC machine.

    The fire closes in on the Assistant backing her up towards the window. Just as it’s about to close in on her, the Janitor reverses the HVAC unit and the creature is sucked back into the air vents.

    He embraces the Assistant. It’s over. But as they hug, smoke starts spewing from every vent in the room and the air ducts start shaking violently. All at once the fire explodes from every vent, and a hundred fiery tendrils reach out and grab the Janitor. He is pulled away from the Assistant, and the fire slowly burns him to death as she watches.

    With the Janitor gone, the fire turns on the Assistant, forcing her toward the window. She climbs out on the ledge to get away, 50 stories up. The fire follows. It looks her in the face, she thinks she’s about to die and so she jumps from the ledge. But the fire creature has its arm around her and keeps her from falling. It gives her a sympathetic look and then the creature dives off the ledge taking all of the fire with it. It evaporates into smoke and disappears in the air. The assistant crouches, crying, on the window ledge.

    The Assistant is in an ambulance being tended to. The Fire Marshal talks to her about the fire and tells her that it looks like it was due to shoddy construction. She tries to tell him about the creature, but he dismisses it as trauma. He tells her it happens. A similar thing happened some years ago, at another building that took shortcuts – and their fire chief was killed.

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by  Gregg Guest.
  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    February 4, 2022 at 5:42 am in reply to: Day 8 Assignments

    This lesson I learned that it helps to flesh out each character with details that can help drive their reactions, behaviors and choices and to underscore the themes of the horror.

    Character Profiles

    Osmond Deighton (50’s)
    Role: Leader, CEO of Haven Development
    Traits (main characteristics): Well educated and sophisticated
    Fears (Primal fears): Fears he will lose power/control
    Wants/Needs (main motivations):Enjoys power, influence and wealth.
    Likability / Rooting factors: He is a typical business leader, inspires confidence and loyalty
    How they react under stress: Unemotional and direct, always calculating and strategizing.
    Relationship with other characters: Ultimately cares more about himself than those that work for him.
    Character Intro: Leads everyone into the new offices, makes a toast
    Denial: Dismisses the fact that the building is not up to code
    Their reaction at first horror: Dismisses the severity
    Relation to group after first horror: Tries to calm everyone
    Reaction as horror increases: Loses control
    How they fight back: Redeems and rises to the challenge to save the others
    End Point: Sacrifices himself for the others
    What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Redemption through sacrifice

    Adrienne Tupper (40’s)
    Role: Obnoxious, Senior Vice President at Haven Development.
    Traits (main characteristics): Pretentious and phony, a name dropper
    Fears (Primal fears): Afraid of being second fiddle, subpar or left out
    Wants/Needs (main motivations): Always needs to be the most striking one in the room
    Likability / Rooting factors: Feminine but holds her own with the “boys club.”
    How they react under stress: She always believes she is right and knows what to do.
    Relationship with other characters: Insulting and arrogant
    Character Intro: Chugs her drink and mentions missing out on a celebrity event
    Denial: Thinks its some sort of joke
    Their reaction at first horror: Oblivious
    Relation to group after first horror: Insists that its not dangerous and she knows what to do
    Reaction as horror increases: Gets drunker
    How they fight back: Defiance
    End Point: Stays in the elevator and gets pulled out by the fire
    What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Being arrogant will get you killed

    Julian Fowler (30’s)
    Role: Loner, Architect
    Traits (main characteristics): Intelligent and nerdy with a dark sense of humor
    Fears (Primal fears): Scared of not accomplishing anything
    Wants/Needs (main motivations): Wants to be known for something, to be an “artist” or “genius”
    Likability / Rooting factors: Knows his stuff when it comes to design and science,
    How they react under stress: He uses logic and fact to solve problems
    Relationship with other characters: Doesn’t like to impose his ideas on others, awkward socially
    Character Intro: Admires the architectural detail of his design
    Denial: Doesn’t want to believe his art could burn
    Their reaction at first horror: Can figure it out by looking at blueprints
    Relation to group after first horror: Thinks they should do what they want to do
    Reaction as horror increases: Tries to find a logical escape
    How they fight back: By compartmentalizing the fire
    End Point: He is compartmentalized and trapped
    What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? A map alone won’t save you.

    Carina Hernandez (30’s)
    Role: Complainer, Marketing Director at Haven Development
    Traits (main characteristics): Saucy and brash
    Fears (Primal fears): Scared of the truth and deep emotion
    Wants/Needs (main motivations): Motivated and focused on doing her job
    Likability / Rooting factors: Tells it like it is, Sarcastically funny
    How they react under stress: She is always looking to put a spin on things
    Relationship with other characters: Seems to have a negative opinion on most everything and loves to make her thoughts known
    Character Intro: Reveals new marketing for the building
    Denial: Dismisses it sarcastically
    Their reaction at first horror: Tries to explain it away
    Reaction as horror increases: Gets negative about escape
    Relation to group after first horror: Tries to give them hope by spinning things
    How they fight back: Uses a hose on the fire
    End Point: Gets strangled and burned
    What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? No truth in advertising is unethical

    Dimitri Pierno (40’s)
    Role: Rebel, Owner of Pierno Contracting, builder for Haven Development
    Traits (main characteristics): Surly and unsophisticated
    Fears (Primal fears): Being ignored, having to work forever
    Wants/Needs (main motivations): Wants to make as much money as he can, but refuses to apply himself
    Likability / Rooting factors: Looking for quick ways to succeed
    How they react under stress: Utilizes shortcuts to get what he wants
    Relationship with other characters: Always bucking trends
    Character Intro: Working on last minute construction
    Denial: Too lazy to check it out, assumes its no big deal
    Their reaction at first horror: Looks for the quickest way out to protect himself
    Relation to group after first horror: Doesn’t agree with their ideas and goes his own way
    Reaction as horror increases: Tries to get out quickly
    How they fight back: Kicks and struggles
    End Point: Dies alone in an HVAC vent that collapses
    What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Shortcuts don’t work.

    Keelan Finn (30’s)
    Role: Rescuer, Security Guard
    Traits (main characteristics): Charming and respectful but strong-willed
    Fears (Primal fears): Scared of being weak, not being masculine
    Wants/Needs (main motivations): To help people, to be a hero
    Likability / Rooting factors: He tends to easily trust people
    How they react under stress: Brave but niave
    Relationship with other characters: Always looking for ways to help others
    Character Intro: Doing a check on the building
    Denial: Can’t believe it would happen on his first day
    Their reaction at first horror: Calls for help
    Relation to group after first horror: Feels guilty about the mechanic
    Reaction as horror increases: Wants to fight
    How they fight back: Tries to extinguish the fire
    End Point: Can’t escape the pain, so he takes his own life
    What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? If you can’t protect yourself, you cant protect others

    Stanislav Zitnik (20’s)
    Role: Love Interest, Janitor
    Traits (main characteristics): Handsome and rugged
    Fears (Primal fears): Fear of being an outsider
    Wants/Needs (main motivations): Dedicated to doing a good job
    Likability / Rooting factors: Smart and easygoing with a strong sense of compassion and fairness
    How they react under stress: Calm and measured
    Relationship with other characters: Wants to make the world a better place
    Character Intro: Cleaning the construction debris
    Denial: Figures everything will be fine there are others to deal with it
    Their reaction at first horror: Remains calm
    Relation to group after first horror: Joins them for security
    Reaction as horror increases: Protects Izumi
    How they fight back: tries to destroy fire by creating a vaccuum
    End Point: Tortured to death with burns after nearly stopping the fire
    What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Love cannot save you.

    Izumi Okumura (20’s)
    Role: Moral One, Administrative Assistant
    Traits (main characteristics): Unassuming, quiet and funny
    Fears (Primal fears): Doesn’t want to be held back, fear of being a bad person
    Wants/Needs (main motivations): Always trying to understand things and find meaning and lessons in them
    Likability / Rooting factors: A desire to continually grow and improve herself
    How they react under stress: Tries to analyze stress away
    Relationship with other characters: Ethical and caring
    Character Intro: Trying to please the CEO
    Denial: Too busy to take notice
    Their reaction at first horror: Wants details
    Relation to group after first horror: Soothes everyone and insures them the CEO will lead them
    Reaction as horror increases: Begins to mistrust the company
    How they fight back: Works with Janitor to extinguish the fire, uses fire retardant material to fend off fire
    End Point: Forced onto window ledge and spared
    What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Being ethical and caring will save you.

    Terance Cornett (30’s)
    Role: Innocent, Building Mechanic
    Traits (main characteristics): Serious but warm
    Fears (Primal fears): Losing his family
    Wants/Needs (main motivations): Wants to provide for his family
    Likability / Rooting factors: Muscular build, strength
    How they react under stress: Always trying to solve problems.
    Relationship with other characters: Services others
    Character Intro: Comes to help with elevator
    Denial: Assumes he can fix it
    Their reaction at first horror: Investigates it curiously
    Relation to group after first horror: Dead
    Reaction as horror increases: Caught unawares
    How they fight back: Doesn’t have a chance
    End Point: First to die, electrocuted and charred
    What insight do their deaths or survival bring to the others/audience? Innocent people are not safe

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by  Gregg Guest.
  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    February 2, 2022 at 4:41 am in reply to: Day 7 Assignments

    This lesson I learned that you need to have a plan to reveal the characteristics of the monster that builds suspense and pushes the story to its conclusion.

    Assignment:

    Who or what is the monster? The spirit of a dead fire chief that manifests in a corporeal form of fire.

    Monster’s Terror:
    Powers? Smoke, Fire, Speed, Surprise, Can Go Anywhere, Has a corporeal form, Can have Physical Interaction, exists even when not burning (spiritual transcendence),
    Limitations? Cannot speak, Can’t go through fire retardants/fire doors
    Weaknesses? Afraid of water, Needs oxygen to thrive/survive
    Plan/Purpose/Appetite? Revenge on Corrupt and selfish people

    Sequence & Demand of Reveals:
    Smoke – curiosity
    Fire – terror

    Can’t burn retardants – discovery
    Speed – terror

    Has a corporeal form – terror
    Surprise – curiosity

    Can Go Anywhere – terror
    Can’t get through fire doors – putting things together
    Can have Physical Interaction – terror
    Afraid of water – discovery
    Can exist even when extinguished – curiosity
    Needs oxygen to survive – putting things together

    Updated Outline with Monster Reveals:

    ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR

    Atmosphere of Evil established
    A fire chief is trapped in a burning building trying to save a family, but he is unable to save them and must watch them die while he slowly burns to death.

    Horror Situation: Fire is raging, a family is trapped.
    Reaction – Try to Solve: The Fire Chief tries to rescue them
    Horror Situation: The ceiling collapses and traps him. He watches the family die while he burns to death.
    Character Death: Fire Chief
    Why: The building is not safe
    How: Ceiling collapse, burned to death

    Connect with the characters
    First day at the new office of Haven Development. The CEO welcomes everyone to the new office – the VP, Marketing Manager, Architect, Builder and Assistant.

    The characters are warned not to do it.
    The Architect is concerned that certain elements of the building are not to spec with his plans.

    Denial of Horror
    The Builder says everything is fine and ready. The Marketing Manager is skeptical but puts a positive spin on it.

    Safety taken away
    The elevator is not working (shorted), and the stairwell door won’t open (Fused shut), so they must stay in the office. The mechanic gets to work on the elevator.

    Horror Situation: They are trapped in the office

    Reaction: Try to solve problem- Mechanic tries to fix elevator, goes to machine room.

    Monster: The nature of the beast.
    The security guard smells smoke. He goes to check the alarm system in the machine room and discovers the mechanic and the alarm system and communications have been charred. He joins the other characters to tell them about the death and to evacuate.

    Horror Situation: Smoke coming into the office, electrocuted, charred mechanic and alarm system
    Reaction: Panic, Escape.
    Character Death: Terance Cornett, Mechanic
    Why: He’s trying to save the others
    How: Electrocuted
    Monster Reveal: Smoke – curiosity

    ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN

    Isolated / Trapped / Abducted
    They get the stairway open, but the fire breaks out and blocks their way. They try another stairwell, but it is also blocked. The elevator is still not functioning.

    Horror Situation: Smoke fills the stairway
    Reaction: They escape through another stairway
    Monster Reveal: Speed – terror

    Horror Situation: Flames erupt in the stairway
    Reaction: They retreat to the elevator but it’s still not working. The janitor tries to solve and fix it.

    One of us killed
    The Builder suggests they climb through the air vent to get out, but no one will go with him. He goes alone and he gets trapped in the duct, where the fire slowly burns him to death and we see it’s “human” form for the first time. The duct collapses and his charred body falls to the ground for the others to see..

    Horror Situation: Claustrophobia in air vent and legs catch on fire.
    Reaction: Tries to fight and put out fire, but it spreads over his body
    Monster Reveal: Can Go Anywhere – terror

    Horror Situation: The fire has a face
    Reaction: Denial, then death
    Monster Reveal: Has a corporeal form – terror

    Horror Situation: The body falls through the vent to the floor for everyone to see
    Reaction: Confusion, since there is no fire
    Character Death: Dmitir Pierno, Contractor
    Why: He is a coward and tries to escape his own way
    How: Trapped and burned from the bottom up
    Monster Reveal: Surprise – curiosity

    MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!

    Full pursuit by the killer
    The janitor gets the elevator working and they all try to escape, but the fire burns the cable and the car halts. They manage to escape but the fire comes into the car and pulls the VP out of it to kill her. The rest of them escape onto the nearest floor.

    Horror Situation: Elevator drops
    Reaction: Escape

    Horror Situation: VP pulled out of car by fire
    Reaction: Denial, Escape
    Character Death: Adrienne Tupper, SVP
    Why: She is arrogant and thinks she knows what to do
    How: Pulled from the elevator by the fire
    Monster Reveal: Can have Physical Interaction – terror

    Terrorized
    The fire now erupts into the hallway and they all flee to get away, one by one they are trapped and killed, the loner, the marketing director and then the CEO.

    Horror Situation: Can’t find way out of hallway maze (Lost)
    Reaction: Tries to find the way out, but gets hysterical and in denial
    Character Death: Julian Fowler, Architect
    Why: He is complicit with the poor design of the building
    How: Cornered and trapped in the hallway and burned

    Horror Situation: Wrapped up in fire hose (Trapped)
    Reaction: Tries to use hose to fight fire, then tries to escape by cutting the hose
    Character Death: Carina Hernandez, Marketing Director
    Why: She lies about the safety of the buildings
    How: Strangled with a fire hose and burned
    Monster Reveal: Afraid of water – discovery

    Horror Situation: The corrupt CEO is found out and given over to the fire (infiltrated)
    Reaction: Try to solve by giving up the CEO
    Character Death: Osmond Deighton, CEO
    Why: Greedy and corrupt developer with no regard for safety
    How: Locked in closet and left to die (false death)

    Horror Situation: Burned to a char and crawling to get away (injured)
    Reaction: Fight/Escape
    Monster Reveal: Can;t get through fire doors – putting things together

    ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR

    Fight to the death
    The security guard manages to hold off the fire with a fire hose, but the water can’t kill it, and the fire burns him to a crisp – he is in so much pain that he shoots himself in the head.

    Horror Situation: Someone shoots themselves in the head to avoid painful death (see other killed)
    Reaction: Fights but loses and has to escape by suicide
    Character Death: Keelan Finn, Security Guard
    Why: For trying to protect the others
    How: Shoots himself in the head to end the pain of being charred
    Monster Reveal: Fire charring – terror

    Hysteria
    The assistant has a breakdown, but the Janitor consoles her. They come up with a plan to defeat the fire creature (with water)

    Horror Situation: Take refuge in a room, lock out the fire, but the fire is in there (out of frying pan into fire)
    Reaction: Hide, denial/false safety

    The thrilling escape from death
    The janitor and assistant work together to defeat the fire just in time by creating a vacuum that deprives it of air.

    Horror Situation: Room engulfed in flames (impending doom)
    Reaction: Hiding in room, has to fight the flames

    ? The CEO Returns to save them and dies by being blown out the window?

    Horror Situation: Blown out window, fall to death
    Reaction: Shock
    Character Death: Osmond Deighton, CEO
    Why: Redeems himself to fend off the monster
    How: Blown out window and falls to death
    Monster Reveal: Needs oxygen to survive – putting things together

    Death returns to take one or more.
    But at the last minute, the fire flares up and kills the Janitor. The assistant is spared.

    Horror Situation: Thinking the fire is out, but it flares back up to get them (tricked)
    Reaction: denial that it is over, tries to fight the fire
    Monster Reveal: Can exist even when extinguished – curiosity

    Horror Situation: Slowly burned while loved one watches (mentally tortured)
    Reaction: fights/tries to escape
    Character Death: Stanislav Zitnik
    Why: For trying to save the assistant
    How: Charred slowly in front of her
    Monster Reveal: Can’t burn retardants – discovery

    Horror Situation: Forced onto window ledge by fire (forced into danger)
    Reaction: Tries to hide, denial, but it discovered

    Horror Situation: Someone is about to be burned by the fire but is spared (face to face)
    Reaction: hide, escape

    Resolution
    The fire marshll determines the building was built shoddily, and the same thing happened in a fire several years ago in which the fire chief perished.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    January 29, 2022 at 6:16 pm in reply to: Day 6 Assignments

    With this lesson I learned how much fun it can be to come up with different ways for characters to die! It also helped me understand better the progression of deaths and the reasons for them.

    Character Death: Fire Chief
    Why: The building is not safe
    How: Ceiling collapse, burned to death

    Character Death: Terance Cornett, Mechanic
    Why: He’s trying to save the others
    How: Electrocuted

    Character Death: Dmitir Pierno, Contractor
    Why: He is a coward and tries to escape his own way
    How: Trapped and burned from the bottom up

    Character Death: Adrienne Tupper, SVP
    Why: She is arrogant and thinks she knows what to do
    How: Pulled from the elevator by the fire

    Character Death: Julian Fowler, Architect
    Why: He is complicit with the poor design of the building
    How: Cornered and trapped in the hallway and burned

    Character Death: Carina Hernandez, Marketing Director
    Why: She lies about the safety of the buildings
    How: Strangled with a fire hose and burned

    Character Death: Osmond Deighton, CEO
    Why: Greedy and corrupt developer with no regard for safety
    How: Locked in closet and left to die (false death)

    Character Death: Keelan Finn, Security Guard
    Why: For trying to protect the others
    How: Shoots himself in the head to end the pain of being charred

    Character Death: Osmond Deighton, CEO
    Why: Redeems himself to fend off the monster
    How: Blown out window and falls to death

    Character Death: Stanislav Zitnik
    Why: For trying to save the assistant
    How: Charred slowly in front of her

    ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR

    Atmosphere of Evil established
    A fire chief is trapped in a burning building trying to save a family, but he is unable to save them and must watch them die while he slowly burns to death.

    Horror Situation: Fire is raging, a family is trapped.
    Reaction – Try to Solve: The Fire Chief tries to rescue them
    Horror Situation: The ceiling collapses and traps him. He watches the family die while he burns to death.
    Character Death: Fire Chief
    Why: The building is not safe
    How: Ceiling collapse, burned to death

    Connect with the characters
    First day at the new office of Haven Development. The CEO welcomes everyone to the new office – the VP, Marketing Manager, Architect, Builder and Assistant.

    The characters are warned not to do it.
    The Architect is concerned that certain elements of the building are not to spec with his plans.


    Denial of Horror

    The Builder says everything is fine and ready. The Marketing Manager is skeptical but puts a positive spin on it.


    Safety taken away

    The elevator is not working (shorted), and the stairwell door won’t open (Fused shut), so they must stay in the office. The mechanic gets to work on the elevator.

    Horror Situation: They are trapped in the office

    Reaction: Try to solve problem- Mechanic tries to fix elevator, goes to machine room.


    Monster: The nature of the beast.

    The security guard smells smoke. He goes to check the alarm system in the machine room and discovers the mechanic and the alarm system and communications have been charred. He joins the other characters to tell them about the death and to evacuate.

    Horror Situation: Smoke coming into the office, electrocuted, charred mechanic and alarm system
    Reaction: Panic, Escape.
    Character Death: Terance Cornett, Mechanic
    Why: He’s trying to save the others
    How: Electrocuted


    ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN

    Isolated / Trapped / Abducted
    They get the stairway open, but the fire breaks out and blocks their way. They try another stairwell, but it is also blocked. The elevator is still not functioning.

    Horror Situation: Smoke fills the stairway
    Reaction: They escape through another stairway

    Horror Situation: Flames erupt in the stairway
    Reaction: They retreat to the elevator but it;s still not working. The janitor tries to solve and fix it.

    One of us killed
    The Builder suggests they climb through the air vent to get out, but no one will go with him. He goes alone and he gets trapped in the duct, where the fire slowly burns him to death and we see it’s “human” form for the first time. The duct collapses and his charred body falls to the ground for the others to see..

    Horror Situation: Claustrophobia in air vent and legs catch on fire.
    Reaction: Tries to fight and put out fire, but it spreads over his body

    Horror Situation: The fire has a face
    Reaction: Denial, then death

    Horror Situation: The body falls through the vent to the floor for everyone to see
    Reaction: Confusion, since there is no fire
    Character Death: Dmitir Pierno, Contractor
    Why: He is a coward and tries to escape his own way
    How: Trapped and burned from the bottom up


    MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!

    Full pursuit by the killer
    The janitor gets the elevator working and they all try to escape, but the fire burns the cable and the car halts. They manage to escape but the fire comes into the car and pulls the VP out of it to kill her. The rest of them escape onto the nearest floor.

    Horror Situation: Elevator drops
    Reaction: Escape

    Horror Situation: VP pulled out of car by fire
    Reaction: Denial, Escape
    Character Death: Adrienne Tupper, SVP
    Why: She is arrogant and thinks she knows what to do
    How: Pulled from the elevator by the fire

    Terrorized
    The fire now erupts into the hallway and they all flee to get away, one by one they are trapped and killed, the loner, the marketing director and then the CEO.

    Horror Situation: Can’t find way out of hallway maze (Lost)
    Reaction: Tries to find the way out, but gets hysterical and in denial
    Character Death: Julian Fowler, Architect
    Why: He is complicit with the poor design of the building
    How: Cornered and trapped in the hallway and burned

    Horror Situation: Wrapped up in fire hose (Trapped)
    Reaction: Tries to use hose to fight fire, then tries to escape by cutting the hose
    Character Death: Carina Hernandez, Marketing Director
    Why: She lies about the safety of the buildings
    How: Strangled with a fire hose and burned

    Horror Situation: The corrupt CEO is found out and given over to the fire (infiltrated)
    Reaction: Try to solve by giving up the CEO
    Character Death: Osmond Deighton, CEO
    Why: Greedy and corrupt developer with no regard for safety
    How: Locked in closet and left to die (false death)

    Maybe dont need this one? Or combine with CEO to make us think hes dead?
    Horror Situation: Burned to a char and crawling to get away (injured)
    Reaction: Fight/Escape

    ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR

    Fight to the death
    The security guard manages to hold off the fire with a fire hose, but the water can’t kill it, and the fire burns him to a crisp – he is in so much pain that he shoots himself in the head.

    Horror Situation: Someone shoots themselves in the head to avoid painful death (see other killed)
    Reaction: Fights but loses and has to escape by suicide
    Character Death: Keelan Finn, Security Guard
    Why: For trying to protect the others
    How: Shoots himself in the head to end the pain of being charred

    Hysteria
    The assistant has a breakdown, but the Janitor consoles her. They come up with a plan to defeat the fire creature.

    Horror Situation: Take refuge in a room, lock out the fire, but the fire is in there (out of frying pan into fire)
    Reaction: Hide, denial/false safety

    The thrilling escape from death
    The janitor and assistant work together to defeat the fire just in time by creating a vacuum that deprives it of air.

    Horror Situation: Room engulfed in flames (impending doom)
    Reaction: Hiding in room, has to fight the flames

    ? The CEO Returns to save them and dies by being blown out the window?

    Horror Situation: Blown out window, fall to death
    Reaction: Shock
    Character Death: Osmond Deighton, CEO
    Why: Redeems himself to fend off the monster
    How: Blown out window and falls to death

    Death returns to take one or more.
    But at the last minute, the fire flares up and kills the Janitor. The assistant is spared.

    Horror Situation: Thinking the fire is out, but it flares back up to get them (tricked)
    Reaction: denial that it is over, tries to fight the fire

    Horror Situation: Slowly burned while loved one watches (mentally tortured)
    Reaction: fights/tries to escape
    Character Death: Stanislav Zitnik
    Why: For trying to save the assistant
    How: Charred slowly in front of her

    Horror Situation: Forced onto window ledge by fire (forced into danger)
    Reaction: Tries to hide, denial, but it discovered

    Horror Situation: Someone is about to be burned by the fire but is spared (face to face)
    Reaction: hide, escape

    Resolution

    The fire marshal determines the building was built shoddily, and the same thing happened in a fire several years ago in which the fire chief perished.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    January 28, 2022 at 6:46 am in reply to: Day 5 Assignments

    In this lesson I learned that there are many different ways to create horror situations, and a limited number of reactions the characters might have to them. I also learned that you need to include these horror situations at almost every step of the way – seeing them in the outline really helps to immediately know if you are scaring people often enough.

    ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR

    Atmosphere of Evil established
    A fire chief is trapped in a burning building trying to save a family, but he is unable to save them and must watch them die while he slowly burns to death.

    Horror Situation: Fire is raging, a family is trapped.
    Reaction – Try to Solve: The Fire Chief tries to rescue them

    Horror Situation: The ceiling collapses and traps him. He watches the family die while he burns to death.

    Connect with the characters
    First day at the new office of Haven Development. The CEO welcomes everyone to the new office – the VP, Marketing Manager, Architect, Builder and Assistant.

    The characters are warned not to do it.
    The Architect is concerned that certain elements of the building are not to spec with his plans.

    Denial of Horror
    The Builder says everything is fine and ready. The Marketing Manager is skeptical but puts a positive spin on it.

    Safety taken away
    The elevator is not working (shorted), and the stairwell door won’t open (Fused shut), so they must stay in the office. The mechanic gets to work on the elevator.

    Horror Situation: They are trapped in the office

    Reaction: Try to solve problem- Mechanic tries to fix elevator, goes to machine room.

    Monster: The nature of the beast.
    The security guard smells smoke. He goes to check the alarm system in the machine room and discovers the mechanic and the alarm system and communications have been charred. He joins the other characters to tell them about the death and to evacuate.

    Horror Situation: Smoke coming into the office, charred mechanic and alarm system

    Reaction: Panic, Escape.

    ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN

    Isolated / Trapped / Abducted
    They get the stairway open, but the fire breaks out and blocks their way. They try another stairwell, but it is also blocked. The elevator is still not functioning.

    Horror Situation: Smoke fills the stairway
    Reaction: They escape through another stairway

    Horror Situation: Flames erupt in the stairway
    Reaction: They retreat to the elevator but it;s still not working. The janitor tries to solve and fix it.

    One of us killed
    The Builder suggests they climb through the air vent to get out, but no one will go with him. He goes alone and he gets trapped in the duct, where the fire slowly burns him to death and we see it’s “human” form for the first time. The duct collapses and his charred body falls to the ground for the others to see..

    Horror Situation: Claustrophobia in air vent and legs catch on fire.
    Reaction: Tries to fight and put out fire, but it spreads over his body

    Horror Situation: The fire has a face
    Reaction: Denial, then death

    Horror Situation: The body falls through the vent to the floor for everyone to see
    Reaction: Confusion, since there is no fire

    MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!

    Full pursuit by the killer
    The janitor gets the elevator working and they all try to escape, but the fire burns the cable and the car halts. They manage to escape but the fire comes into the car and pulls the VP out of it to kill her. The rest of them escape onto the nearest floor.

    Horror Situation: Elevator drops
    Reaction: Escape

    Horror Situation: VP pulled out of car by fire
    Reaction: Denial, Escape

    Terrorized
    The fire now erupts into the hallway and they all flee to get away, one by one they are trapped and killed, the loner, the marketing director and then the CEO.

    Horror Situation: Can’t find way out of hallway maze (Lost)
    Reaction: Tries to find the way out, but gets hysterical and in denial

    Horror Situation: Wrapped up in fire hose (Trapped)
    Reaction: Tries to use hose to fight fire, then tries to escape by cutting the hose

    Horror Situation: The corrupt CEO is found out and given over to the fire (infiltrated)
    Reaction: Try to solve by giving up the CEO

    Horror Situation: Burned to a char and crawling to get away (injured)
    Reaction: Fight/Escape

    ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR

    Fight to the death
    The security guard manages to hold off the fire with a fire hose, but the water can’t kill it, and the fire burns him to a crisp – he is in so much pain that he shoots himself in the head.

    Horror Situation: Someone shoots themselves in the head to avoid painful death (see other killed)
    Reaction: Fights but loses and has to escape by suicide

    Hysteria
    The assistant has a breakdown, but the Janitor consoles her. They come up with a plan to defeat the fire creature.

    Horror Situation: Take refuge in a room, lock out the fire, but the fire is in there (out of frying pan into fire)
    Reaction: Hide, denial/false safety

    The thrilling escape from death
    The janitor and assistant work together to defeat the fire just in time by creating a vacuum that deprives it of air.

    Horror Situation: Room engulfed in flames (impending doom)
    Reaction: Hiding in room, has to fight the flames

    Death returns to take one or more.
    But at the last minute, the fire flares up and kills the Janitor. The assistant is spared.

    Horror Situation: Thinking the fire is out, but it flares back up to get them (tricked)
    Reaction: denial that it is over, tries to fight the fire

    Horror Situation: Slowly burned while loved one watches (mentally tortured)
    Reaction: fights/tries to escape

    Horror Situation: Forced onto window ledge by fire (forced into danger)
    Reaction: Tries to hide, denial, but it discovered

    Horror Situation: Someone is about to be burned by the fire but is spared (face to face)
    Reaction: hide, escape

    Resolution

    The fire marshal determines the building was built shoddily, and the same thing happened in a fire several years ago in which the fire chief perished.

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by  Gregg Guest.
  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    January 25, 2022 at 6:16 am in reply to: Day 4 Assignments

    With this lesson I learned of a great, easy to use map for outlining a horror movie that helps make sure we hit all the dramatic points necessary to keep building tension and escalating the terror and death while revealing the monster.

    ACT 1 — SET UP FOR HORROR

    Atmosphere of Evil established
    A fire chief is trapped in a burning building trying to save a family, but he is unable to save them and must watch them die while he slowly burns to death.

    Connect with the characters
    First day at the new office of Haven Development. The CEO welcomes everyone to the new office – the VP, Marketing Manager, Architect, Builder and Assistant.

    The characters are warned not to do it.
    The Architect is concerned that certain elements of the building are not to spec with his plans.

    Denial of Horror
    The Builder says everything is fine and ready. The Marketing Manager is skeptical but puts a positive spin on it.

    Safety taken away
    The elevator is not working, and the stairwell was just painted, so they must stay in the office. The maintenance man gets to work on the elevator.

    Monster: The nature of the beast.
    The security guard smells smoke, and discovers that the alarm system and communications have been charred. He joins the other characters to tell them about the problem and to evacuate.

    ACT 2 — THE POINT OF NO RETURN

    Isolated / Trapped / Abducted
    They head down the painted stairway, but the fire breaks out and blocks their way. They try another stairwell, but it is also blocked. The elevator is still not functioning.

    One of us killed
    The Builder suggests they climb through the air vent to get out, but no one will go with him. He goes alone and he gets trapped in the duct, where the fire slowly burns him to death and we see it’s “human” form for the first time. The duct collapses and his charred body falls to the ground for the others to see..

    MIDPOINT: The monster is worse than we thought!


    Full pursuit by the killer

    The janitor gets the elevator working and they all try to escape, but the fire burns the cable and the car halts. They manage to escape but the fire comes into the car and pulls the VP out of it to kill her. The rest of them escape onto the nearest floor.

    Terrorized
    The fire now erupts into the hallway and they all flee to get away, one by one they are trapped and killed, the loner, the marketing director and then the CEO.

    ACT 3 — FULL OUT HORROR

    Fight to the death

    The security guard manages to hold off the fire with a fire hose, but the water can’t kill it, and the fire burns him to a crisp – he is in so much pain that he shoots himself in the head.

    Hysteria
    The assistant has a breakdown, but the Janitor consoles her. They come up with a plan to defeat the fire creature.

    The thrilling escape from death
    The janitor and assistant work together to defeat the fire just in time by creating a vacuum that deprives it of air.

    Death returns to take one or more.
    But at the last minute, the fire flares up and kills the Janitor. The assistant is spared.

    Resolution
    The fire marshal determines the building was built shoddily, and the same thing happened in a fire several years ago in which the fire chief perished.

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by  Gregg Guest.
  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    January 24, 2022 at 4:32 am in reply to: Day 3 Assignments

    What I learned doing this lesson is that it’s important to think about the type of character group that works best for the story and to construct that group with a good mix of different types that fit the typical roles found in horror movies. It might have helped to have a bit more detail on each of the roles to better understand their characteristics or their purpose in the story.

    My concept is a sentient fire creature terrorizing a group of people in a high rise.

    The group is a TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS – they all work at Haven Development or in the building where the offices are located, and many of them know each other, or have seen each other before.

    The dying pattern is 6-8 people who are killed off one by one.

    Characters:

    Leader: Osmond Deighton, CEO of Haven Development, 50’s, well educated and sophisticated, unemotional and direct, always calculating and strategizing. Enjoys power, influence and wealth. He is a typical business leader, but ultimately cares more about himself than those that work for him.

    Obnoxious: Adrienne Tupper, Senior Vice President at Haven Development. 40’s, pretentious and phony, a name dropper, insulting and arrogant. Always needs to be the most striking one in the room, feminine but holds her own with the “boys club.” She always believes she is right and knows what to do.

    Loner: Julian Fowler, Architect. 30’s, intelligent and nerdy, knows his stuff when it comes to design and science, awkward socially, with a dark sense of humor. He uses logic and fact to solve problems, but doesn’t like to impose his ideas on others.

    Complainer: Carina Hernandez, Marketing Director at Haven Development, 30’s, saucy and brash, motivated and focused on doing her job, but seems to have a negative opinion on most everything and loves to make her thoughts known. She is always looking to put a spin on things.

    Rebel: Dimitri Pierno, Owner of Pierno Contracting, builder for Haven Development. 40’s, surly and unsophisticated, always bucking trends. Wants to make as much money as he can, but refuses to apply himself, instead looking for quick ways to succeed. Utilizes shortcuts to get what he wants..

    Rescuer: Keelan Finn, Security Guard, 30’s, ginger, charming and respectful but strong-willed. Brave but naïve. He tends to easily trust people, and is always looking for ways to help others,

    Love Interest: Stanislav Zitnik, Janitor, 20’s, handsome and rugged, smart and easygoing with a strong sense of compassion and fairness. Dedicated to doing a good job and making the world a better place.

    Moral One: Izumi Okumura, 20’s, Administrative Assistant, attractive but unassuming, quiet and funny, ethical and caring, with a desire to continually grow and improve herself. She is always trying to understand things and find meaning and lessons in them.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    January 21, 2022 at 5:14 am in reply to: Day 2 Assignments

    I learned that it’s definitely not easy to create a monster that looks and acts scary, and working with something like fire which is not human makes it even harder – especially for the fear provoking appearance part. But that made me really envision this monster and how it needs to be anthropomorphized in a way that makes it frightening. I also learned that you don’t have to reveal the origin of the monster and can use that to set up a myth for a sequel.

    Gregg’s Monster:

    My monster is a sentient fire creature, who at first appears to be a normal fire, but it becomes clear that the fire has a spirit, and is carrying out plans with a purpose and a will of its own.

    Their Terror: Fire is pretty terrifying on its own, but imagine if fire could think, and react, and avoid. And kill intentionally. A fire extinguisher won’t work. No exit will be clear. Stop and drop won’t work. It’s terrifying to think that a fire is coming after you, with the intention of killing you. And imagine if fire could torture you – burning your flesh to a crisp slowly without killing you.

    Their Mystery: Fire is shrouded in smoke, which hides it. The fire seems normal at first, but it’s actions begin to show that it can think, and react, and execute its plans against the humans. Slowly its anthropomorphized characteristics are revealed.

    Their Fear Provoking Appearance: Again, fire and smoke can be pretty scary on their own. But imagine fire with a face, and arms and hands with long fiery fingers.

    Their Rules: Like real fire the monster moves quickly and irregularly. The more intense it gets the more smoke and heat it generates. Unlike real fire, it is impervious to water and fire extinguishers. But it does require oxygen to breathe.

    Their Mythology: The fire monster was born out of the greed of developers whose shortsightedness led to a fire chief’s death. His spirit merged with flames to create the fire creature for the sole purpose of revenge. If the creature is killed, even one small ember could ignite it again.

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    January 19, 2022 at 6:00 am in reply to: Day 1 Assignments

    Day 1 Assignments:

    Watch the movie and as you do, note its conventions.

    Title / Concept: The Mist: townspeople are terrorized by a strange mist full of creatures

    Terrorize The Characters: Wild storms, weather/fog, the Mist, Strange Creatures, End Times, Frenzied mob

    Isolation: No power, no radio, no phone signal, stuck in the supermarket

    Death: Flesh ripped open, dragged away, bitten, eaten, burned

    Monster/Villain: The mist, giant bugs and flying creatures

    High Tension: The Unknown, Lack of Visibility, Earthquakes, separation, in-fighting

    Departure from Reality: creatures that don’t exist – “what we saw was impossible”

    Moral Statement: Love thy neighbor, Have faith but do not be a zealot

    Anything else you’d like to say about what made this movie a great horror film?
    I wouldn’t say it was great at all. It had a few good performances, and the isolation and unknowing at the beginning was the best part – but the creatures were kind of ridiculous and the climax was lackluster and unfulfilling.

    My Concept:

    A. Monster: Sentient Fire Creature (spirit of dead fire chief)

    B. Terror: Being trapped, Burning, Asphyxiation, Pain, Death

    C. Environment: Skyscraper

    D. Victims: Corrupt Builders/Developers

    Then combine it with one or more of the Primal Fears.

    Fear that something terrible will happen
    Fear of pain or torture
    Fear of death
    Fear of being alone
    Fear of going insane

    Terrorize The Characters: Characters are burned and disfigured but killed slowly.

    Isolation: The characters are all trapped in a skyscraper with no way out. Specific characters are isolated and trapped in stairwells, offices, closets, etc.

    Death: Characters are first burned but not killed, then they are killed in various ways including burned alive, asphyxiated, crushed by debris, fall from building, etc.

    Monster/Villain: Sentient fire creature possessed by the soul of a dead fire chief

    High Tension: Smoke, Spreading fire, no way out, collapsing building

    Departure from Reality: Fire is a sentient creature

    Moral Statement: Cutting corners for greed puts you and others in danger

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    January 18, 2022 at 5:45 pm in reply to: Introduce Yourself To the Group

    Hi all! My name is Gregg Guest. I’ve written four feature scripts and numerous shorts. I love history and tend to gravitate toward war stories and action/adventure, but I’m trying to branch out into other genres such as Horror, so I am hoping to learn more about the form and how to truly terrorize people.

    For a few years I was Director of Special Projects at Marvel Entertainment in NY. Working for Spider-Man wasn’t easy but it was fun!

    Looking forward to some good scares 🙂

  • Gregg Guest

    Member
    January 18, 2022 at 5:37 pm in reply to: Confidentiality Agreement

    I, Gregg Guest, 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.

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