Harley Grant
Forum Replies Created
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Harley Grant’s Act 4 – Resolution
What I learned doing this assignment is that my protagonist has gone from being a weak character to a strong leader.
Key Scene 4: Resolution – Wrap it up and show us the “new normal.”
Act 4, Scene 4 A
Beginning: Priyanka is still pointing her gun at Rohan. She tells Sia to wait at the front door. Priyanka tells Rohan to put the knife on the table. He shakes his head no.
Middle: Rohan starts to laugh. He starts to walk toward Priyanka. She tells him to stop. Rohan says, “What? Are you going to shoot me?” Rohan takes one more step and Priyanka shoots him in the leg.
End: Priyanka tells him, “If you take one more step, it will be your last.” Rohan screams. He lunges toward Priyanka with the knife and she shoots him in the stomach. Rohan lands hard on the kitchen floor. A pool of blood begins to form. Sia yells, “Are you okay mommy?” Priyanka calls back, “Yes! I will be right there.” She leans down and whispers to Rohan, “Looks like you will never get to walk her down the aisle.”
Act 4, Scene 4B
Beginning: Priyanka and Sia attend a family meeting at the same house where the wedding took place in Act 1, Scene 1.
Middle: There are relatives old and young from all over the U.S. Priyanka tells Sia to go play with her cousins.
End: Priyanka walks into the study and is surrounded by the matriarchs of her family. Sia looks back and sees her mom hugging her aunts. Priyanka sees Sia, winks at her, and then closes the door.
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Harley Grant’s Act 4 – Climax
What I learned doing this assignment is that I don’t need my climax to be perfect right now, but it does check all the boxes.
Key Scene 3: Climax – The Ultimate Expression of The Conflict.
First Scene:
Beginning: The two guards take Priyanka to the laundry room to get cleaned up. She asks them if they could bring her a clean shirt. One of the guards takes off his work shirt and puts it on a table.
Middle: Priyanka asks the guards to take off her handcuffs and turn around while she changes. They agree. She takes off her shirt, changes into the new shirt, and takes out her gun.
End: Priyanka says that she is ready. The guards turn around and she is pointing her gun at them. Priyanka rips her t-shirt in half and shoves them in each of the guard’s mouths. She also handcuffs them to a pipe behind the washing machine.
Second Scene:
Beginning: Priyanka walks out of the laundry room and slowly makes her way towards the sounds of Rohan and Sia in the kitchen.
Middle: Rohan looks up and sees Priyanka holding a gun. He says, “What a pleasant surprise” and grabs Sia and holds a knife to her throat.
End: Rohan tells Priyanka to put the gun down. She she can’t win. As Priyanka goes to put the gun down, Sia winks at her. Priyanka hesitates for a second as Sia pokes Rohan in the eye. He puts her down, Sia runs to Priyanka, and she raises the gun back up and points it back at Rohan.
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Assignment 21
Harley Grant’s Act 4 First Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is that things are starting to move quickly and my main character needs to make tough decisions fast.
Key Scene 1 – Key Scene 1: Reaction to the 3rd Act Turning Point
Beginning: Priyanka leaves the house and emerges from the back on to the street. Rick is waiting for her inside his car. Priyanka walks over to Rick. He tells her to hurry up and get in.
Middle: Priyanka opens the car door. She stops. Priyanka tells Rick that she can’t leave without Sia.
End: Rick hands her his gun. He tells Priyanka to kill Rohan and bring our girl home.
Key Scene 2 – Protagonist Faces Their Dilemma
Beginning: Priyanka snakes her way through the ventilation system and back into the bedroom. She knows that she cannot risk Sia’s life with a shootout.
Middle: Priyanka decides that the safest thing she can do is to fake an illness.
End: Priyanka makes herself throw up and bangs on the bedroom room door as she hurls. One of the guards show up, sees the mess on the floor and shirt, and calls for another guard to come. They shackle Priyanka’s hands, take her out of the room, but don’t frisk her.
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Harley Grant’s Completed Act 3
What I learned doing this assignment is to focus on the action and move the story forward without trying to be perfect.
Key Scene 1: Reaction/Rethink.
Beginning: Priyanka opens the envelope and takes out the letter. She carefully places the sheets of paper in front of her as she reads each page. When Priyanka finishes, she starts to cry.
Middle: Rick asks her what the letter says. Priyanka tells him that unless the document is a sick joke, her father may be alive.
End: Priyanka takes Rick’s car and heads out alone in search of her father.
Act 3, Key Scene 2
Beginning: Priyanka pulls up to a cabin on a lake. This is where her family used to spend the summer before her parents died. She walks up to the front door, opens it, and no one is there.
Middle: Priyanka opens empty cabinets, drawers with only cutlery, and a fridge with some stale food. Then, she takes her time to examine family photos. Priyanka pauses while looking at one picture with just her father and her. She smiles and decides to take it with her. As Priyanka begins to walk out, she hears a rustling under the floorboards. She turns around and her father Brahm walks up from a hidden door in the floor.
End: Beginning: Brahm and Priyanka embrace. She is in complete shock. Brahm explains that he was in a medically induced coma. When he woke up, his partner Ranu explained that Rohan had killed his wife and nearly killed him. Ranu persuaded Brahm that would be best if he stayed “dead” until things were either safe or it was necessary for him to come out of hiding. As a result of Rohan being released from prison, Brahm decided to have Ranu reach out to Priyanka.
Act 3, Key Scene 3:
Beginning: Priyanka has a ton of questions and explains to her father that Rohan has taken Sia. They decide that they will need to develop a plan to get Sia back.
Middle Brahm tells Priyanka that according to Ranu, Rohan has taken Sia to the family home with Raj who does not know that he is alive. Brahm tells her that he designed the house and it cannot be penetrated. Priyanka laughs and explains that she found a secret route out when she was a teen. Brahm smiles. Priyanka is smiling.
End: Things go well, until… The door swings open. Raj walks in. He points a gun at Brahm and says, “Hi, old man.”
Act 3 Turning Point
What I learned doing this assignment is that my protagonist’s low point is both a key part of her journey and another way to show the complexity of her character.
Beginning: Raj tells Brahm and Priyanka how happy and disappointed he is to see their father. Brahm tells Raj and Priyanka that Rohan killed their mother and nearly killed him. They were both left for dead. Brahm was forced to watch as his wife died in his arms.
Middle: Raj does not believe his father’s story. Brahm tells him to ask his partner. Raj sends a message to Rohan who arrives a few minutes later. Brahm confronts Rohan.
End: Rohan confirms the story. He shoots and kills Brahm and Raj. He takes a sobbing Priyanka out to his car and drives away.
Beginning: Priyanka turns on her cell phone and dials Rick. She yells at Rohan about killing her entire family.
Middle: Rohan and Priyanka arrive at the Priyanka’s childhood home. When they enter the house, Rohan’s guards take Priyanka’s phone and lock her in a bedroom.
End: Priyanka uses the only escape route – through the ventilation system and Rick is waiting for her at the back of the house.
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Harley Grant’s Act 3 Turning Point
What I learned doing this assignment is that my protagonist’s low point is both a key part of her journey and another way to show the complexity of her character.
Beginning: Raj tells Brahm and Priyanka how happy and disappointed he is to see their father. Brahm tells Raj and Priyanka that Rohan killed their mother and nearly killed him. They were both left for dead. Brahm was forced to watch as his wife died in his arms. He passed out and awoke in a mob owned health facility.
Middle: Raj does not believe his father’s story. Brahm tells him to ask his partner. Raj sends a message to Rohan who arrives a few minutes later. Brahm confronts Rohan.
End: Rohan shoots and kills Brahm and Raj. He takes a sobbing Priyanka out to his car and drives away.
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Assignment 18
Harley Grant’s Act 3 Middle Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is that I didn’t realize how much tension I could create with having things go well and then take a bad turn.
Act 3, Key Scene 2
Beginning: Priyanka pulls up to a cabin on a lake. This is where her family used to spend the summer before her parents died. She walks up to the front door, opens it, and no one is there.
Middle: Priyanka opens empty cabinets, drawers with only cutlery, and a fridge with some stale food. Then, she takes her time to examine family photos. Priyanka pauses while looking at one picture with just her father and her. She smiles and decides to take it with her. As Priyanka begins to walk out, she hears a rustling under the floorboards. She turns around and her father Brahm walks up from a hidden door in the floor.
End: Beginning: Brahm and Priyanka embrace. She is in complete shock. Brahm explains that he was in a medically induced coma for a year. When he woke up, his partner Ranu explained that Rohan had killed his wife and nearly killed him. Ranu persuaded Brahm that would be best if he stayed “dead” until things were either safe or it was necessary for him to come out of hiding. As a result of Rohan being released from prison, Brahm decided to have Ranu reach out to Priyanka.
Act 3, Key Scene 3:
Beginning: Priyanka has a ton of questions and explains to her father that Rohan has taken Sia. They decide that they will need to develop a plan to get Sia back.
Middle Brahm tells Priyanka that according to Ranu, Rohan has taken Sia to the family home with Raj who does not know that he is alive. Brahm tells her that he designed the house and it cannot be penetrated. Priyanka laughs and explains that she found a secret route out when she was a teen. Brahm smiles. Priyanka is smiling.
End: Things go well, until… The door swings open. Raj walks in. He points a gun at Brahm and says, “Hi, old man.”
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Harley Grant’s Act 3 Reaction to Midpoint (place in first line)
What I learned doing this assignment is that needed to make my script more compelling. As a result, I added a wrinkle that will set my main character on a new, but relevant journey.
Key Scene 1: Reaction/Rethink.
Beginning: Priyanka opens the envelope and takes out the letter. She carefully places the sheets of paper in front of her as she reads each page. When Priyanka finishes, she starts to cry.
Middle: Rick asks her what the letter says. Priyanka tells him that unless the document is a sick joke, her father may be alive.
End: Priyanka takes Rick’s car and heads out alone in search of her father.
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Harley Has Completed Act 2 Draft 1
What I learned doing this assignment is that I am enjoying this 20% quality writing. It is very freeing.
INT. RICK’S BAR – DAY
Beginning: A distraught Priyanka stumbles into Rick’s place and sits at a corner table. Rick sees that she is shaking and brings a bottle of Jack Daniels.
Middle: Priyanka explains that Rohan has taken Sia and plans to take over the family business.
End: Rick goes back to the bar and opens the cash register. He takes out the envelope, brings it to the table, and holds it tightly. Priyanka asks: What is that? Rick says, Something you need to read now.
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Harley Grant’s Act 2 TP – Midpoint
What I learned doing this assignment is that I still need to work on my midpoint scene, but I need to keep moving.
INT. PAWNSHOP – DAY
Beginning: Priyanka calls Rick. He tells her that Sia is at lunch with Raj.
Middle: Priyanka destroys the pawnshop while out of her mind with rage.
End: Priyanka takes the gun and jumps in her car.
INT. RESTAURANT – DAY
Beginning: Priyanka enters a diner and confronts Raj who is eating lunch with Sia. Priyanka tells Sia to stay while she and uncle Raj go outside and argue.
Middle: Raj and Priyanka fight outside the restaurant.
End: Rohan shows up with his bodyguard. He tells Raj and the bodyguard to go sit with Sia. Rohan explains to Priyanka that it is his turn to be head of the family. Priyanka tells him no and pulls the gun on him. He quickly disarms her and knocks her to the ground. Rohan leaves with the other men and Sia.
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Harley Grant’s Act 2 Middle Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is that I am finally getting a feel for my main characters.
EXT. JAIL – MORNING
Beginning: Raj picks up Rohan as he walks out of jail. They talk about business and it is obvious that Rohan is the one who is actually in charge.
Middle: Rohan is angry when Raj tells him that that his men were unable to secure his daughter Sia.
End: Raj says he has it under control. He will pick up Sia and without the need for violence. Rohan agrees and Raj drops him off at his apartment.
INT. PAWNSHOP BASEMENT – MORNING
Beginning: Priyanka wakes up with a massive headache. She is confused and tries to understand what happened the night before. Her phone is gone she locked in the basement of the pawnshop.
Middle: Priyanka tries to get out by picking the lock and knocking down the door. These options do not work.
End: Priyanka realizes that there must be guns hidden somewhere in the basement. After rummaging through boxes and opening crates, Priyanka finds a hidden compartment under the stairs that leads to a full arsenal. She grabs a shotgun, loads it, and blows the basement door off its hinges.
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Harley’s Act 2 Reaction to TP 1
What I learned doing this assignment is that I need to keep moving to develop a plan for my lead character.
INT. RICK’S BAR – LATE NIGHT
Beginning: Priyanka goes to Rick’s bar. She explains the attack.
Middle: Priyanka asks Rick if she can leave Sia with him for the night to keep her safe.
End: Rick reluctantly agrees. Priyanka explains to Sia that she needs to make everything okay. Priyanka tells Rick that she will be back the next day.
INT. FAMILY PAWN SHOP – MORNING
Beginning: Priyanka meets up with her brother Raj at the family pawnshop/gun smuggling operation. She tells Raj about the attack and that Sia is with Rick. Priyanka tries to get Raj to help her and shut down the family business.
Middle: Raj tells Priyanka that business is booming and he has been working with Rohan to get guns to newly released prisoners.
End: Priyanka discovers that she cannot depend on her brother. She realizes that she has messed up by telling Raj where Sia is in hiding. Raj knocks her unconscious and locks her in the basement.
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Harley Grant’s Finish Act 1
What I learned doing this assignment is that finishing is more important that being perfect.
INT. PRIYANKA’S CAR – DUSK
Beginning: Sia asks Priyanka why they had to leave the party so early. Priyanka says that all the fun was over. Sia says that she wanted to dance. Priyanka says that they can dance when they get home.
Middle: Priyanka checks her rearview mirror. She shakes her head. Sia asks what’s wrong. Priyanka explains that she thought she saw someone she knew, but it was a mistake.
End: Priyanka pulls into the driveway of a plain, suburban home. Priyanka parks and immediately Sia opens the car door and runs to the front lawn. She tells Priyanka that it’s time to dance. They begin to twirl around, laughing, and singing old songs.
INT. RICK’S BAR – NIGHT
Beginning: Rick carefully places the letter back in the envelope like it could bite him. (Pauses) He re-opens the envelope and reads the message slowly. Rick shakes his head
Middle: Phone rings. Rick answers. He tells Priyanka to be safe and he will meet her out back.
End: Rick puts the paper in the envelope and carefully hides it under the money slot in the cash register.
INT. JAIL – NIGHT
Beginning: Rohan’s friends come by his cell. One by one they wish him well, hand him notes to pass on to loved ones, and tell him about scores still needing to be settled.
Middle: One inmate, George lingers outside Rohan’s cell. Rohan joins him and they walk down to a common area table. They exchange stories. George hands Rohan a note. Rohan reads it and nods.
End: Rohan stands up. He announces to the general population that George is not to be touched.
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Assignment 11
Harley Grant’s Turning Point Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is that I didn’t realize what a turning point scene was and now I can’t stop thinking of them in my favorite movies!
INCITING INCIDENT
INT. HOUSE – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Priyanka hears her front door smash open. She tells Sia to hide under the daybed and not to come out until she comes back.
MIDDLE: Priyanka encounters two masked invaders in her kitchen. One ties her to a table while the other searches for Sia. The invaders want to take Priyanka’s daughter for her ex-husband.
END: While tied up in her kitchen, Priyanka slips free and grabs a gun from one of the invaders and kills him. Then the other invader comes rushing toward her and she shorts him.
REACTION TO THE TURNING POINT
INT. HOUSE – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Priyanka stands shaking with the gun in her hand. She puts it in her purse and then goes to Sia’s room and gets her from the daybed.
MIDDLE: They quickly pack their bags.
END: Priyanka puts Sia in the backseat over her car and place a blanket over her. Priyanka pulls the car onto the street and siphons some gas. She walks back into the house, pours it all over her house, and sets it on fire. Priyanka runs back to the car, checks on Sia, and the house burst into flames as she speeds away.
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Assignment 10
Harley Grant’s Inciting Incident
What I learned doing this assignment is to trust the process and keep moving.
INCITING INCIDENT
INT. HOUSE – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Priyanka puts Sia to sleep.
MIDDLE: Priyanka gets an automated call from the county saying that her ex-husband Rohan is getting out of jail the next morning:
<font face=”inherit”>END: Priyanka </font>realizes that her safe, quiet life is coming to an end.
REACTION TO THE INCITING INCIDENT
INT. HOUSE – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Priyanka calls Rick to ask him if they can stay with him.
MIDDLE: Priyanka wakes up Sia and tells her that she needs to pack a bag.
END: Priyanka calls Raj to say that she will come by later to talk to him about the news.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by Harley Grant.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by
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Harley Grant’s Act 1: Opening Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is quick way to create intros to my main characters.
Opening scene, introducing Priyanka, protagonist:
EXT. BACKYARD — NIGHT
BEGINNING: As Priyanka and her daughter Sia walk into the reception of a small family wedding, the crowd hushes. All eyes focus on them.
MIDDLE: Raj, Priyanka’s brother, suggests that they are taking the focus away from the event and should leave.
END: Priyanka agrees. Before exiting, she walks directly to the head table. She congratulates the bride and groom, hugs the bride’s parents, and tells a dirty joke to the groom’s parents.
Opening scene, introducing Rohan, antagonist:
INT. JAIL – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Rohan, handcuffed and guarded, is lead past admiring inmates and is escorted into warden’s office. The warden informs him that his parole will happen the next day.
MIDDLE: Rohan talks to his cellmate about his plans to see his daughter after he gets out and to restart his business.
END: Rohan calls Raj about his release and picking him up in the morning. Rohan is very specific about the clothes he wants and to schedule a visit from his barber.
Opening scene, introducing Rick, secondary important character:
INT. BAR – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Rick is talking sports with Jack, his last customer of the evening.
MIDDLE: Jack leaves. As Rick is putting away some glasses, there is a knock at the door and he walks over. No one is there.
END: He looks down. There is an envelope on the ground and Rick picks it up. He closes and locks the door. Rick opens the envelope and slowly shakes his head.
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Harley Grant’s High Speed Beat Sheet Draft 2
What I learned doing this assignment is that I needed to get a better take on my antagonist to propel the story forward.
MY BEAT SHEET
Pass 1: Interweave theme throughout the beat sheet.
Pass 2: Build in the Antagonist Journey.
ACT 1.
EXT. BACKYARD — NIGHT
Opening: Priyanka and her daughter Sia attend a family wedding. Priyanka talks with her brother Raj and spends most of the time with Sia and catching up wish some of her cousins.
Priyanka overhears comments about this is her first family event that she has attended since her mom died five years ago. There are other people who comment about how Priyanka should have inherited the family business instead of Raj.
Sia yawns and Priyanka gathers up their coats and give congratulations to the bride and groom and their parents.
INT. JAIL – NIGHT
Rohan calls Raj about his release and picking him up in the morning. He is very specific about the clothes he wants and to have his barber waiting for him.
INT. BEDROOM — NIGHT
Priyanka puts Sia to sleep.
TE1: Priyanka gets an automated call from the county saying that her ex-husband Rohan is getting out of jail the next morning.
Placeholder: Show Priyanka’s reaction as she realizes that her safe, quiet life is coming to an end. Maybe she calls her friend Rick.
TE2: Two men invade Priyanka’s home in the middle of the night.
INCITING INCIDENT: The invaders want to take Priyanka’s daughter for her ex-husband.
Placeholder: Priyanka recognizing the true threat of her ex-husband.
TE3: While tied up in her kitchen, Priyanka slips free and grabs a gun from one of the invaders and kills both of them.
EXT. FRONT YARD – NIGHT
Placeholder: Priyanka pulls her car out of her garage, siphons gas, and pours it all over her house. She sets it on fire and takes Sia to Rick’s place and leaves her daughter Sia with him.
INT. JAIL – NIGHT
Placeholder Rohan talks to his cellmat about his plans for when he is released the next day.
ACT 2
INT. FAMILY PAWN SHOP – NIGHT
Priyanka meets up with her brother Raj at the family pawnshop/gun smuggling operation. She tries to get Raj to help her and shut down the family business.
TE4: Raj tells Priyanka that business is booming and he has been working with Rohan to get guns to newly released prisoners.
Placeholder: Priyanka discovers that she cannot depend on her brother. Priyanka decides to give up her current life and sees the world as kill or be killed.
INCITING INCIDENT: Priyanka realizes that she has messed up by telling Raj where Sia is in hiding. Raj knocks her unconscious and locks her in the basement.
EXT. JAIL – MORNING
Raj picks up Rohan as he walks out of jail. They talk about business and it is obvious that Rohan is the one who is actually in charge. He is also frustrated when he learns that his men were unable to secure his daughter Sia. Raj says he has it under control Raj drops Rohan off at his apartment.
ACT 3
INT. BASEMENT – DAY
Priyanka wakes up to her phone ringing. It’s Rick telling her that Raj came by to take Sia for lunch.
TE5: Priyanka must figure out a way to escape the basement and have the power to protect her daughter. She breaks open the gun cases and takes as many weapons that she can carry in a duffel bag. Priyanka use a shotgun to blow the lock off the basement door to gain her freedom.
Placeholder: Priyanka knows that instead of shutting down the gun smuggling business she must take it over.
INT. ROHAN’S APARTMENT DAY
Rohan is getting a haircut. He talks to 8 large men who hang on his every word. Rohan describes his future plans for running the business.
INT. RESTAURANT – DAY
Priyanka enters a diner and confronts Raj who is eating lunch with Sia. Priyanka tells Sia to stay while she and Raj go outside and argue.
TE7: Raj and Priyanka are fighting outside the restaurant. Rohan shows up. He exchanges words with both of them. Ultimately, he shoots Raj and slaps Priyanka.
When Priyanka tries to go back into the restaurant, Rohan’s goon holds her. She can only watch as Rohan talks to Sia and the two of them leave together. The goon lets Priyanka go with a warning.
INT. RICK’S BAR – DAY
Priyanka stumbles to Rick’s place and asks him to come out of retirement and train her for battle.
ACT 4:
EXT. RICK’S BAR – DUSK
Placeholder – training sequences that last all night with Rick and Priyanka. While Priyanka knows some of the basics about guns, Rick shows her how to shoot several weapons and work on her speed and agility.
INT. MANSION – DAY
Rohan is talking to Sia about how he is sorry that he has not seen her for so long. That he has missed her and he now has the ability to give her anything she wants. Sia wants to be with her mom. Rohan tries to remain calm and explain that it his turn to be the parent. He also talks about being an only child like her, but an orphan who moved from one foster family to the next.
Placeholder: Priyanka knows that Rohan has taken Sia to her child-hood home. A place that Rohan grew up admiring. It is protected with fortified walls, armed guards, and only one entrance. However, Priyanka’s mom taught her how to sneak out when her father used to get drunk and abusive.
EXT. MANSION – NIGHT
Priyanka uses an unknown passage to enter. Shoots all of the guards. Then, it’s a one-on-one fight to the between her and Rohan.
INT. MANSION – NIGHT
TE8: Rohan grabs Sia as a hostage. Priyanka puts her weapon down. Just as all looks lost, Sia pretends like she is going to kiss Rohan and instead stabs him in the eye with a fork. Rohan releases her in pain; Priyanka picks up her gun and kills Rohan.
INT. MANSION – DAY
Priyanka and Sia attend a family meeting and all of her cousins give support to Priyanka as the new leader.
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Harley Grant’s High Speed Beat Sheet
What I learned doing this assignment is to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good in my writing.
MY BEAT SHEET
Pass 1: Structure and TEs
Pass 2: Add Slug Lines
Pass 3: Add Placeholders and Additional Scenes
ACT 1.
EXT. BACKYARD — NIGHT
Opening: Priyanka and her daughter Sia attend a family wedding. Priyanka talks with her brother and spends most of the time with Sia and her younger cousins. Sia yawns and Priyanka gathers up their coats and give congratulations to the bride and groom and their parents.
INT. BEDROOM — NIGHT
Priyanka puts Sia to sleep.
TE1: Priyanka gets a call saying that her ex-husband Rohan is getting out of jail.
Placeholder: Show Priyanka’s reaction as she realized that her safe, quiet life is coming to an end. Maybe she calls her friend Rick.
TE2: Two men invade Priyanka’s home in the middle of the night.
INCITING INCIDENT: The invaders want to take Priyanka’s daughter on behalf of her ex-husband.
Placeholder: Priyanka recognizing the true threat of her ex-husband.
TE3: While tied up in her kitchen, Priyanka slips free and grabs a gun from one of the invaders and kills both of them.
EXT. FRONT YARD – NIGHT
Placeholder: Priyanka pulls her car out of her garage, siphons gas, and pours it all over her house. She sets it on fire and takes Sia to Rick’s place and leaves her daughter Sia with him.
ACT 2
INT. FAMILY PAWN SHOP – NIGHT
Priyanka meets up with her brother Raj at the family pawnshop/gun smuggling operation. She tries to get Rohan to help her and shut down the family business.
TE4: Raj tells Priyanka that business is booming and he has been working with Rohan to get guns to newly released prisoners.
Placeholder: Priyanka discovers that she cannot depend on her brother. Priyanka is now all in and make the decision to give up her current life and see the world as kill or be killed.
INCITING INCIDENT: Priyanka realizes that she has messed up by telling Raj where Sia is in hiding. Raj knocks her unconscious and leaves her in the basement.
EXT. JAIL – NIGHT
Rohan gets out of jail and Raj picks him up.
ACT 3
INT. BASEMENT – MORNING
Priyanka wakes up to her phone ringing. It’s Rick telling her that Raj came by to take Sia for lunch.
TE5: Priyanka must figure out a way to escape the basement and have the power to protect her daughter. She breaks open the gun cases and takes as many weapons that she can carry in a duffel bag. Priyanka use a shotgun to blow the lock off the basement door to gain her freedom.
Placeholder: Priyanka knows that instead of shutting down the gun smuggling company she must take it over.
INT. RICK’S BAR – DAY
Priyanka goes to Rick’s place and asks him to come out of retirement and train her for battle.
EXT. RESTAURANT – DAY
Priyanka finds Raj and Sia. Priyanka and Raj fight.
TE7: Priyanka kills Raj, but Rohan shows up. Rohan kills Rick and mortally wounds Priyanka. Rohan leaves Priyanka for dead, takes Sia, and takes off with a truck of guns and ammo.
ACT 4:
EXT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT
Priyanka wakes up stumbles to Rick’s place to get weapons.
Placeholder: Priyanka knows that Rohan has taken Sia to her childhood home. A place that Rohan grew up admiring. It is protected with fortified walls, armed guards, and only one entrance. However, Priyanka’s mom taught her how to sneak out and in when her father used to get drunk and abusive.
EXT. MANSION – NIGHT
Priyanka uses an unknown passage to enter. Shoots all of the guards. Then, it’s a one-on-one fight to the between her and Rohan.
INT. MANSION – NIGHT
TE8: Rohan grabs Sia as a hostage. Priyanka puts her weapon down. Just as all looks lost, Sia pretends like she is going to kiss Rohan and instead stabs him in the eye with a fork. Rohan releases her in pain; Priyanka picks up her gun and kills Rohan.
INT. MANSION – DAY
Priyanka and Sia attend a family meeting and all of her cousins give support to Priyanka as the new leader.
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Harley Grant’s Transformational Events
What I learned doing this assignment is to go with the flow of my lead character’s personality and motivations.
Old Ways – Priyanka did not want anything to do with her family of gun smugglers. She wanted a safe, quiet life for her and her daughter after her ex-husband went to jail.
New Ways – Priyanks realizes the only way to keep her daughter safe is to become an outlaw.
Sequence of Transformational Steps from easiest to most difficult
Priyanka sees that her safe, quiet life is coming to an end.
Discover that she cannot depend on her brother.
She needs to recognize the true threat of her ex-husband.
Make the decision to give up her current life and see the world as kill or be killed.
Recognize that she has the power to protect her daughter.
Learn how to use weapons and become a skilled negotiator.
Stand up to her brother.
Kill her ex-husband.
Take control of her family and their business.
Act 1:
Opening – Priyanka and her daughter Sia attend a family wedding. Later, they go home and Priyanka puts Sia to sleep.
Transformational event 1: – Priyanka gets a voice mail saying that her ex-husbnd Rohan is getting out of jail.
As a result, Priyanka sees that her safe, quiet life is coming to an end.
Transformational event 2: Two men invade Priyanka’s home in the middle of the night.
Inciting Incident – The invaders want to take Priyanka’s daughter on behalf of her ex-husband.
As a result, Priyanka recognizes the true threat of her ex-husband.
Turning Point – While tied up in her kitchen, Priyanka slips free and grabs a gun from one of the invaders and kills both of them.
Then, Priyanka goes to her closest friend Rick’s place and leaves her daughter Sia with best friend.
Act 2:
New plan – Priyanka decides that the only way to stop Rohan is to go to her estranged brother Raj for help.
Plan in action – Priyanka meets up with Raj at the family pawnshop/gun smuggling operation. She tries to get Rohan to help her and shut down the family business.
Transformational event 3: Raj tells Priyanka that business is booming and he has been working with Rohan to get guns to newly released prisoners.
Thus, Priyanka discovers that she cannot depend on her brother.
Transformational event 4: Priyanka is now all in and make the decision to give up her current life and see the world as kill or be killed.
Midpoint Turning Point: Priyanka realizes that she has messed up by telling Raj where Sia is in hiding. Raj knocks her unconscious and leaves her in the basement.
Rohan gets out of jail and Raj picks him up.
Act 3:
Rethink everything: Priyanka wakes up to her phone ringing. It’s Rick telling her that Raj came by to take Sia for lunch.
Transformational event 5: Priyanka must figure out a way to escape the basement and have the power to protect her daughter. She breaks open the gun cases and takes as many weapons that she can carry in a duffel bag. Priyanka use a shot gun to blow the lock off the basement door to gain her freedom.
New plan: Priyanka knows that instead of shutting down the gun smuggling company she must take it over.
Transformational event 6: She goes to Rick’s place and asks him to come out of retirement and train her for battle.
Turning Point: Priyanka finds Raj and Sia. They fight.
Transformational event 7: Priyanka kills Raj, but Rohan shows up. Rohan kills Ricks and mortally wounds Priyanka. Rohan leaves Priyanka for dead, takes Sia, and takes off with a truck of guns and ammo.
Act 4:
Priyanka goes to Rick’s place to get the rest of his armor and weapons.
She knows that Rohan has taken Sia to her childhood home. A place that Rohan grew up admiring. It is protected with fortified walls, armed guards, and only one entrance.
However, Priyanka’s mom taught her how to sneak out and in when her father used to get drunk and abusive.
Transformational event 8: Priyanka uses an unknown passage to enter. Shoots all of the guards. Then, it’s a one-on-one fight to the between her and Rohan.
Transformational event 9: Rohan grabs Sia as a hostage. Priyanka puts her weapon down. Just as all looks lost, Sia pretends like she is going to kiss Rohan and instead stabs him in the eye with a fork. Rohan releases her in pain, Priyanka picks up her gun and kills Rohan.
Transformational event 10: Priyanka and Sia attend a family meeting and all of her cousins give support to Priyanka as the new leader.
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Harley’s 4 Act Transformational Structure
What I learned doing this assignment is that I might actually see the makings of a movie.
Concept – After her safe house is destroyed, Priyanka must fight to keep her daughter safe and gain control of her family business.
Main Conflict – Rohan wants Priyanka dead, his daughter back, and control of the business.
Old Ways – Priyanka did not want anything to do with her family of gun smugglers. She wanted a safe, quiet life for her and her daughter after her ex-husband went to jail.
New Ways – Priyanks realizes the only way to keep her daughter safe is to become an outlaw.
2. Fill in each of these with the answers you have right now.
Act 1:
Opening – Priyanka is putting her daughter Sia to sleep when hitmen invade Priyanka’s home in the middle of the night.
Inciting Incident – The invaders want to take Priyanka’s daughter on behalf of her ex-husband Rohan who is getting out of jail soon.
Turning Point – While tied up in her kitchen, Priyanka slips free of her captor and uses his gun again all the invaders. She grabs guns from her own secret arsenal and heads out under cover of the night. Then, Priyanka goes to her closest friend Rick’s place and leaves her daughter Sia with best friend.
Act 2:
New plan – Priyanka decides that the only way to stop Rohan is to go to her estranged brother Raj for help.
Plan in action – Priyanka meets up with Raj and tries to establish a way to stop Rohan by shutting down the family business.
Midpoint Turning Point: Raj and Rohan are in business together. Priyanka has messed up by telling Raj where Sia is in hiding. Raj drugs her.
Rohan gets out of jail and Raj picks him up.
Act 3:
Rethink everything: Priyanka wakes up to her phone ringing. It’s Rick telling her that Raj came by to take Sia for lunch.
New plan: Priyanka knows that instead of shutting down the gun smuggling company she must take it over. She asks Rick to come out of retirement and train her for battle.
Turning Point: Priyanka finds Raj and Sia. They fight. Priyanka kills Raj, but Rohan shows up. Rohan kills Ricks and mortally wounds Priyanka. Rohan leaves Priyanka for dead, takes Sia, and takes off with a truck of guns and ammo.
Act 4:
Priyanka goes to Rick’s place to get the rest of his armor and weapons.
She knows that Rohan has taken Sia to her childhood home. A place that Rohan grew up admiring. It is protected with fortified walls, armed guards, and only one entrance.
However, Priyanka’s mom taught her how to sneak out and in when her father used to get drunk and abusive.
Priyanka uses an unknown passage to enter. Shoots all of the guards. Then, it’s a one-on-one fight to the between her and Rohan. In the end, Rohan grabs Sia as a hostage. Priyanka puts her weapon down. Just as all looks lost, Sia pretends like she is going to kiss Rohan and instead stabs him in the eye with a fork. Rohan releases her in pain, Priyanka picks up her gun and kills Rohan.
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Subject line: Harley’s Character Interviews
What I learned doing this assignment is … that my character are becoming real people with dreams and desires. They are conflicted and complicated. I also realize that I must take the time to get to know them.
Tell me about yourself.
I grew up in Chicago. My parents worked together in a small pawnshop. My older brother and I always used to fight. When I went away to college, my extended family disowned me. Then, I married Rohan and everyone was excited for while.
Why do you think you were called to this journey? Why you?
When I realized that my daughter’s life was at stake, I knew that I had to take action to protect her at all costs.
You are up against Rohan. What is it about them that makes this journey even more difficult for you?
Rohan is my ex-husband and I still have some conflicted feelings for him. He is a jerk who abused me, but he is still the father of my child.
In order to survive or accomplish this, you are going to have to step way outside of your box. What changes do you expect to make and which of them will be the most difficult?
I will have to shift from a quiet, outsider life to getting violent to protect my daughter. It will be most difficult to go up against my ex-husband and my brother.
What habits or ways of thinking do you think will be the most difficult to let go of?
I will have to give up the idea that a life as a good person will lead to a good life.
What fears, insecurities and wounds have held you back?
After my failed marriage, I was cast out of her family and left to fend for myself. My ex-husband has not paid child support and yet he still claims to want to be a father.
What skills, background or expertise makes you well-suited to face this conflict or antagonist?
My mother taught me how to defend myself and I have the guns to show it.
What are you hiding from the other characters? What don’t you want them to know?
My parents were gun smugglers.
What do you think of Rohan?
He fooled me into believing he was a kind, sensitive soul. In reality, he just wanted to take over my family’s business.
Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story. The cops think I have money. My ex-husband wants to kill me, take my daughter, and be in charge of my family’s business. I refuse to allow this to happen no matter what.
What does it do for your life is you succeed here?
I will no longer live in fear of Rohan and I will finally take my proper place in my family.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR ANTAGONIST
Tell me about yourself.
I am Rohan and you should be happy to know me. I was a loner as a child and moved around from one foster family to another. I had to work hard for everything I have. I don’t trust anyone who is not on my payroll. The only person I really care about is my daughter.
Having to do with this journey, what are your strengths and weaknesses?
I am smart and resourceful, but I have a blind spot for my daughter.
Why are you committed to making the Protagonist fail? Or for a relationship movie, why are you committed to making them change?
I want Priyanka to fail so that I can be a father and head of her family.
What do you get out of winning this fight / succeeding in your plan / taking down your competition?
I will get the power, money, and family that I always wanted.
What drives you toward your mission / agenda, even in the face of danger, ruin, or death?
I want to be a father and head of the family business.
What secrets must you keep to succeed? What other secrets do you keep out of fear / insecurity?
I was in jail for a robbery, but that was my alibi for when I actually killed Priyanka’s mother.
Compared to other people like you, what makes you special?
I am smarter, more powerful, and better connected than anyone else in this town.
What do you think of Priyanka?
While she is pretty, she is a weak woman who stands in my way.
Tell me your side of this whole conflict / story.
When I went to jail, I lost my daughter and my business. Now that I am free, I deserve to be a father and a head of the family business again.
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Subject line: Harley’s Character Profile Part 2
What I learned doing this assignment is that my characters are now becoming real people with wants and dreams. Instead of getting ahead of myself, I am taking the time to get to know them and their motivations.
Priyanka
What draws us to this character? Priyanka is an outsider who is on the run. She is a mom fighting for the safety of her daughter. Priyanka struggles in a man’s world while trying to find her place in her family.
Traits: Naïve, pretty, smart, caring, determined
Subtext: She uses comedy to avoid confrontation and connection.
Flaw: She expects that being a good person will lead to a good life.
Values: Motherhood, honor, family, respect
Irony: Will resort to violence if it means protecting her child.
What makes this the right character for this role?
Pryinka is the daughter of gun smugglers who knows how to fight when needed. She will put her life in danger to protect her daughter.
Protagonist Role in the story:
Protaganist: Priyanka is runner/hero. She is escaping the police and needs to keep her young son safe. On her journey, Priyanka will need to stand up for herself and stake her rightful place in her family.
Priyanka is single mother living with her young daughter in a suburban neighborhood.She is in her 30s, medium build who has lost her way in the world. Priyanka thinks she has escaped her ex-husband and brother, but an act of violence sets her on a new path.
Internal Journey:From feeling like a lost person to becoming a strong courageous women.
External Journey:From being the outcast to becoming the leader of her family.
Motivation: Priyanka needs to keep her daughter safe while achieving her rightful place in her family.
Wound: After a failed marriage, Priyanka has been cast out of her family and left to fend for herself.
Mission:Priyanka plans to get back at the people who have destroyed her home, escape her ex-husband, and take her proper place in her family.
Secret: Priyanka comes from a family of gun smugglers that was taken over by her ex-husband and then her brother.
What makes her special? Priyanka is smart, pretty, and was trained by her mother how to handle herself before she was killed.
Rohan
What draws us to this character?
Rohan is attractive, charming, and witty despite being extremely violent. He deeply cares for his daughter, but will kill to be connected to her. Rohan also craves power and wants to be back on top.
Traits: Brilliant, violent, and dedicated
Subtext: Everything Rohan does is related to his need for power and to be a father.
Flaw: If he feels disrespected, Rohan will snap and kill.
Values: Power, strength, dedication, and fatherhood.
Irony: Even thought he is power hungry, Rohan is deeply committed to being a father.
What makes him the right character for this role?
Rohan is an orphan who wants to be a father and serve as the head of a family business (despite being an outsider) at all costs.
Antagonist: Rohan who is a predator out to kill the Priyanka before she can achieve her goal.
Antagonist Role in the story:
Rohan is the ex-husband of Priyanka who has just gotten out of jail and wants his daughter back, his business back, and to kill Priyanka.
Rohan is in his mid-30s, good-looking but, he has an edge to him. He has gotten many tattoos from his time in jail and looks ready to punch anyone who gets in his way.
Internal Journey: From being alone to being a father.
External Journey: From jail to trying to run a smuggling operation
Motivation: The loss of his daughter and his business.
Wound: Rohan was an orphan and has been looking for a family since he was a young boy.
Mission/Agenda: To get his daughter back from his ex-wife and his business back from his ex-brother in-law.
Secret: He was in jail for a robbery, but that was his alibi for when he actually killed Priyanka’s mother.
What makes him special? He is brilliant and has an extensive network of criminals and cops on his payroll.
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Harley Grant’s Character Profiles Part 1
What I learned doing this assignment is to flesh out my characters without trying to figure out all their scenes. I also learned to go with my first instincts.
Protaganist: Priyanka is runner/hero. She is escaping the police and needs to keep her young son safe. On her journey, Priyanka will need to stand up for herself and stake her rightful place in her family.
Antagonist: Rohan who is a predator out to kill the Priyanka before she can achieve her goal.
Supporting characters:
The son of the protagonist who does not know the trouble his mom faces.
Best friend of the protagonist who is the only person she can trust.
The brother of the protagonist who she hasn’t seen in many years, but is competing with her for power.
Minor roles:
police who blame the antagonist for something she hasn’t done
Background characters:
Family members of the protagonist who don’t think highly of the protagonist
Genre:
Drama
Protagonist Role in the story:
Priyanka is single mother living with her young son in a suburban neighborhood.
She is in her 30s, medium build who has lost her way in the world. Priyanka thinks she has escaped her ex-husband and brother, but an act of violence sets her on a new path.
Internal Journey:From feeling like a lost person to becoming a strong courageous women.
External Journey:From being the outcast to becoming the leader of her family.
Motivation: Priyanka needs to keep her son safe while achieving her rightful place in her family.
Wound: After a failed marriage, Priyanka has been cast out of her family and left to fend for herself.
Mission: Priyanka plans to get back at the people who have destroyed her home, escape her ex-husband, and take her proper place in her family.
Secret: Priyanka comes from a family of gun smugglers that was taken over by her ex-husband and then her brother.
What makes her special? Priyanka is smart, pretty, and was trained by her mother how to handle herself before she was killed.
Antagonist Role in the story:
Rohan is the ex-husband of Priyanka who has just gotten out of jail and wants his son back, his business back, and to kill Priyanka.
Rohan is in his mid-30s, good-looking, and has an edge to him. He has gotten many tattoos from his time in jail and looks ready to punch anyone who gets in his way.
Internal Journey: From being alone to being a father.
External Journey: From jail to trying to run a smuggling operation
Motivation: The loss of his son and his business.
Wound: Rohan was an orphan and has been looking for a family since he was a young boy.
Mission/Agenda: To get his son back from his ex-wife and his business back from his ex-brother in-law.
Secret: He was in jail for a robbery, but that was his alibi for when he actually killed Priyanka’s mother.
What makes him special? He is brilliant and has an extensive network of criminals and cops on his payroll.
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Harley Grant’s Transformational Journey
What I learned doing this assignment is to focus on being in a good place and just writing instead of trying to edit every word along the way. I also learned that defining the character helped me to avoid overthinking.
My hero is Priyanka who has lost her place in the world.
Her Internal Journey: From feeling like a naive, weak, and isolated child to becoming a strong courageous woman.
Her External Journey: From being the young, clueless outcast to learning the truth and becoming the leader of her family.
Old ways:
1. Naive, weak child who left home
2. Outsider
3. Rule follower, straight-laced
New ways:
1. Sharp, strong woman who returns
2. Stakes her claim in the family as an insider
3. Bends the rules to get ahead
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Hi, I’m Harley Grant. I have written three feature scripts with my writing partner. I am hoping that this class will help me complete a screenplay on my own. Before COVID, I loved to travel, watch sports, and attend concerts. I look forward to life getting back to normal sometime soon.
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Harley Grant
I agree to the terms of this release form.
GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.