Helen Roberts
Forum Replies Created
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Update, my lesson 6 in the class has had a prompt added to it. If you didn’t before, maybe check again 🙂
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Hi all, just an update – I managed to get ChatGPT to create the table properly by tweaking the lesson instructions. I have posted the process with my show below, sorry it’s so long, but I hope this helps. Note, I included quite a bit of detail from the previous class in the characters =
After it created the relationships, I used this prompt and it spit it out as tables:
“Can you create 3 different table’s for the relationships and input the information you just gave into those charts”
Create a Relationship Map in a table format for [THREE lead characters] from this [TV show concept].
2. Using the Relationship map, pick a main character (place in upper left hand corner), and with each character he or she is in relationship with, give us the 6 relationship experiences listed below:
Surface:
Common Ground:
Conflict:
History:
Subtext:
Relationship Arc:
3. Do the same process for the second lead character and the third lead character.
Concept = Eighteen year old Bethany Ayzariyyah – Highly gifted medium, descendent of Lazereth of Bethany, discovers she has awakened paranormal powers, and by touching a likeness of a deceased person, she can communicate with them. With the help of her BFF’s Ghost, she goes on a hunt to solves cold cases, and find her BFF’s murderer.
3 lead characters = 1. BETHANY AYZARIYYAH A. Situational Hope / Fear: Hope: Bethany hopes to use her paranormal powers to bring justice to the deceased and their families by solving cold cases. Fear: She fears the unknown origin of her powers and whether they could lead to unintended consequences. B. Motivation: Want / Need Want: Bethany wants to uncover the truth behind her abilities and her connection to Lazereth of Bethany. Need: She needs to find her best friend Rachel’s murderer to provide closure for both herself and Ghost. C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask Base Negative Emotion: Bethany struggles with the sadness and grief of losing her best friend, but she often puts on a brave and determined public face. D. Weaknesses Bethany’s vulnerability lies in her curiosity and her desire to seek answers, even when it puts her in dangerous situations. E. Triggers Bethany is triggered by the sight of her best friend Ghost, which pushes her to continue her paranormal investigations and search for Rachel’s killer. The way her father avoids eye contact is another trigger for her. She reminds him too much of her mother. F. Coping Mechanism Bethany copes with her internal struggles by channeling her emotions into solving cold cases and helping ghosts find peace. 2. RACHEL “GHOST” GREENBLUNT A. Situational: Hope / Fear Hope: Ghost hopes to find a way to express her love for Bethany even in her spectral form. Fear: She fears that her romantic feelings for Bethany will never be reciprocated, and she’ll never find peace. B. Motivation: Want / Need Want: Ghost wants to see Bethany happy and fulfilled, even if it means she can’t be with her in the same way. Need: She needs to find her own closure and move on to the afterlife. C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask Base Negative Emotion: Ghost’s base emotion is unrequited love. Hides it behind a cheerful and supportive facade. D. Weaknesses Ghost’s weakness lies in her inability to let go of her feelings for Bethany and her longing to be with her. E. Triggers Seeing Bethany in danger or sad is a trigger for Ghost, motivating her to help and protect her, even from the afterlife. F. Coping Mechanism Ghost copes by assisting Bethany in her investigations, as it keeps her close to the one she loves, even if it’s in spirit form. 3. DR. SCOTT LOGAN A. Situational: Hope / Fear Hope: Dr. Logan hopes to maintain his secret about Bethany’s birth mom and protect her from danger. Fear: He fears that Bethany will discover the truth about her origins and potentially get involved in dangerous situations. B. Motivation: Want / Need Want: Dr. Logan wants to maintain his daughter’s safety and protect her from the paranormal world. Need: He needs to balance his loyalty to his family with his commitment to his job as an FBI medical examiner. C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask Base Negative Emotion: Dr. Logan’s base emotion is guilt for lying to Bethany, but he masks it with protective behavior. D. Weaknesses Dr. Logan’s weakness is his inability to be completely honest with Bethany, which strains their relationship. E. Triggers Discovering Bethany’s involvement in paranormal investigations and the danger she faces is a trigger for Dr. Logan. F. Coping Mechanism Dr. Logan copes by continuing to lie to Bethany to keep her safe, even though it weighs heavily on his conscience.
Here is a table format relationship map for the three lead characters in your TV show concept:
Now, let’s explore the six relationship experiences for each character:
Bethany Ayzariyyah:
Surface: Bethany maintains a close friendship with Ghost and seeks justice for her murder. She also has a strained relationship with her father, Dr. Logan, due to his secrecy.
Common Ground: Bethany and Ghost share a desire to solve cold cases and find Rachel’s killer. She also shares a family connection with her father, Dr. Logan.
Conflict: Bethany’s conflict lies in her internal struggles and the danger her investigations bring. Her strained relationship with Dr. Logan adds to the conflict.
History: Bethany has a history of friendship and shared secrets with Ghost, while her history with Dr. Logan is marked by his efforts to protect her by keeping secrets.
Subtext: The subtext in Bethany’s relationship with Ghost includes unspoken romantic feelings from Ghost’s side. With Dr. Logan, the subtext involves the hidden truth about Bethany’s birth mom.
Relationship Arc: Bethany’s relationship arc with Ghost revolves around finding closure for Rachel’s spirit and potentially addressing their unspoken feelings. Her relationship arc with Dr. Logan involves discovering the truth about her origins and finding a balance between her paranormal investigations and her father’s protective instincts.
Rachel “Ghost” Greenblunt:
Surface: Ghost’s surface relationship is with Bethany, as she supports her paranormal investigations from the afterlife.
Common Ground: Ghost and Bethany share a common goal of solving cold cases and bringing closure to spirits. They also have a deep, unrequited love for each other.
Conflict: Ghost’s internal conflict is her unrequited love for Bethany and her inability to move on to the afterlife. There is no significant external conflict in her relationship with Bethany.
History: Ghost and Bethany have a history of friendship and love, which has continued even beyond death.
Subtext: The subtext in Ghost’s relationship with Bethany is her unspoken romantic love, which she hides behind a cheerful facade.
Relationship Arc: Ghost’s relationship arc revolves around finding a way to move on and express her love for Bethany, even if it means letting go. Her arc with Bethany is about supporting her investigations and ensuring her safety from the afterlife.
Dr. Scott Logan:
Surface: Dr. Logan’s surface relationship is as Bethany’s father and a protector.
Common Ground: He and Bethany share a family bond, and both want to keep her safe, although their methods differ.
Conflict: The conflict in Dr. Logan’s relationship with Bethany arises from his need to keep her safe through secrecy, which strains their trust.
History: Dr. Logan has a history of raising Bethany and concealing the truth about her birth mom from her.
Subtext: The subtext in his relationship with Bethany is his guilt for lying to her, which he masks with protective behavior.
Relationship Arc: Dr. Logan’s relationship arc revolves around maintaining his daughter’s safety, discovering a balance between his loyalty to his family and his job, and eventually coming clean about the truth regarding her origins.
Can you create 3 different table’s for the relationships and input the information you just gave into those charts
Certainly, here are three separate tables for the relationships of the lead characters in your TV show concept.
Note, the table was perfect, unfortunately it won’t let me post it here properly formatted.
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Hey guys, just a thought for those that do not have lessons unlocked. I had to click on the bottom of each lesson that it was competed, before the next was showing as available. Just mentioning in case some of you hadn’t figured it out, and I didn’t think it was obvious. Some do say they are not available until a specified date, but those are in the next module in my class content. I hope this is helpful 🙂
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There was not a prompt in the lesson I have for my class here, and the title of the lesson is <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>BWTV-AI Module 1 – Lesson 6: Build Your Character Relationship Map. 🙄 Guess we will have to ask, cause I could have sworn I watched Hal in the video paste one in AI.
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BWTV-AI Module 1 – Lesson 6: Build Your Character Relationship Map
cheryl croasmun October 13, 2023
Hi everyone,
Character relationships are a big part of any TV series. Throughout a series, you’ll be bringing characters together in many ways. Sometimes, you’ll create relationships. Sometimes, you’ll destroy them. Either way, relationships are the cause of much of the drama and intrigue in your show.
In some ways, relationships are as important as characters.
But here is the key: Relationships need to have multiple layers to work for an ongoing series.
Today, you will create a relationship map that shows the relationships each of the main characters have and gives us multiple layers of basic understanding. Combine this with Lesson 2: Engaging Character, Lesson 3: Layers of Character Intrigue, and Lesson 4: Depth of Emotion, and you will have endless amounts of intriguing set ups for the show.
OBJECTIVE: Create distinct and unique character relationships that are clearly defined on multiple levels, thus making it easier to write interesting interactions between them.
Don’t worry. It will actually be easy. Just take the steps I give you today and you’ll be surprised how much depth this process will create for your show.
WHAT IS A RELATIONSHIP?
Usually, when people say “I have a relationship with them,” they mean they have a “good” relationship. They like each other. But in reality, even if two people hate each other, there is still a relationship.
Definition of Relationship: A connection, association, or involvement between people.
To get this, let’s think of the two extremes; love and hate. If two people love each other deeply, they can’t stop thinking about each other. They feel emotional when in each other’s presence. They plan for their interactions together. They obsess about their moments together. Anything they have done together becomes imbued with emotion. Right?
Isn’t all of that also true for two people who hate each other?
Why is this important to know? Because those two extreme experiences are identical; except for the specific emotion. In fact, take any extreme emotion and plug it in there and you’ll see similar results. Consider the relationships that are created when two people are experiencing suspicion or jealousy or competition or have a common enemy or in a power struggle with each other. If they are on the same side, it is a bonding relationship. If they are on opposite sides, it is a adversial relationship.
The point is that relationship happens when any two people interact. Our job as writers is to make that connection, association, or involvement interesting and emotional.
GIVING RELATIONSHIPS MULTIPLE LAYERS
One of the easiest ways to create interesting relationships is to look beneath the surface. The good news is that this is easy to do. You just have to ask the questions and see what answers show up for you. Then, you allow the relationships to evolve as you take future steps.
To accomplish this, we’ll use our unique Relationship Map.
Essentially, we’re going to map out one character’s relationships with the other characters. Then, we will move to another character, comparing them to the others, etc..
EXAMPLE: The Relationship Map for Chuck Rhoades on the show BILLIONS might look like this:
THE SPECIFICS OF THE RELATIONSHIP MAP
When looking at the Relationship Map, you’ll notice that we’ve listed the relationships that Chuck has with Bobby Axelrod, Wendy Rhoades, and Brian Connerty. With each relationship, we’ve looked at the following categories:
Surface:Common Ground:Conflict:History:Subtext:Relationship Arc:WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?
The instant thing that this allows us to do is to look beneath the surface of the relationship. If you have two police officers working together, on the surface, they are partners. Beneath the surface, they could have all kinds of things going on — hating each other, competing, cheating, backstabbing, setting the other up for a fall, etc..
Our job is to EXPLORE the possibilities, then make decisions that could create drama in the show. But just to be clear, you do not need the perfect answers right now. In fact, I encourage you to use the “fill in the blanks” strategy to come up with AN answer — any answer that is in the ballpark. Then “keep the question open” so you can improve it in the future.
THE CATEGORIES OF THE RELATIONSHIP MAP
As you are working with each of these, remember you are not talking about a single character, but instead about the RELATIONSHIP of each character with the main character.
Surface: How does this relationship appear on the surface? Are they teammates, competitors, drinking buddies, married couple, business partners, co-anchors, friends, or what?
Common Ground: What do they have in common? Job, school, friends, goals, needs, values, beliefs, experience, background, common enemies, etc.. Look for what these two share. Even if they hate each other, they likely have something in common. It will all come in handy as you write the show.
Conflict: What things, issues, or situations will they fight about? Power, control, property, relationships, jealousy, competition, betrayal, different political views, physical conflicts, etc.. First look for the big conflicts because those will be the ones that run throughout the entire season.
History: What is the past of this relationship that makes it what it is today? Are they old lovers? Did they fight like cats and dogs? Was one superior to the other? Did one betray the other? There may be thousands of details, but you are looking for the moments that define this relationship.
Subtext: What is under the surface, hidden, or covert? Unexpressed love or hate, competition, schemes, or maybe it is a secret that has been present the whole time, but won’t come out until the season finale!
Relationship Arc: Where does the relationship start at the beginning of the series and end at the completion of the season? From friends to enemies. From unknown to lovers. From competitors to partners. From suspicion to believing in each other. Think of how the relationship might change by the end of the season.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELATIONSHIP AND CHARACTER
It is easy to focus on character, rather than relationship. For example, Relationship History is not the history of one character, but rather the past experiences between these two people.
When creating your own Relationship Map, you want to brainstorm possible answers for each of the categories. When you do, just compare the characters to each other and ask “How might these characters have related to each other in this category?”
BASIC RELATIONSHIP MAP
Use this Relationship Map document. Across the top, list a main character, then the characters they will interact with the most. From there, just fill in the blanks for each category.
DOWNLOAD the Relationship Map with this link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/bingeworthytv/tv-relationship-map-5.docx
<hr>ASSIGNMENT 1:
Watch the next episode of your Example Show and focus on ONE of the main characters and how they interact with others. Notice how much you discover that could go into their Relationship Map.
Create a Relationship Map for one lead character and their relationship with three others.
Purpose: Give you a deeper experience of the relationships in a well written show.
Deadline: 24 hours
<hr>ASSIGNMENT 2:
1. Create a Relationship Map for THREE lead characters from YOUR SHOW IDEA.
2. Using the Relationship map, pick a main character (place in upper left hand corner), and with each character he or she is in relationship with, give us the 6 relationship experiences listed below:
Surface:Common Ground:Conflict:History:Subtext:Relationship Arc:
3. Do the same process for the second lead character and the third lead character.
4. Answer the question, “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
5. Post your assignment in the forums at https://www.screenwritingclasses.com/forums/
Subject line: (Your Name’s) Show Relationship Map (place in first line)
Deadline: 3 days (including both Assignment 1 + 2)
<hr>
As with previous lessons, just fill in the blanks with whatever comes to you. Then start putting together the puzzle. And leave the question open so you can continue to discover more about these character relationships.
The most important thing is to ask the question and see what emerges. As you do, know that you are free to change or evolve these relationships at any time in the future.
Have fun creating relationships!
Hal
<hr>
Copyright 2017 – 2021, Hal Croasmun, All rights reserved
http://ScreenwritingU.com -
Here it is for those who are missing it in lessons 🙂
BWTV-AI Module 1 – Lesson 6: Build Your Character Relationship Map
cheryl croasmun October 13, 2023
Hi everyone,
Character relationships are a big part of any TV series. Throughout a series, you’ll be bringing characters together in many ways. Sometimes, you’ll create relationships. Sometimes, you’ll destroy them. Either way, relationships are the cause of much of the drama and intrigue in your show.
In some ways, relationships are as important as characters.
But here is the key: Relationships need to have multiple layers to work for an ongoing series.
Today, you will create a relationship map that shows the relationships each of the main characters have and gives us multiple layers of basic understanding. Combine this with Lesson 2: Engaging Character, Lesson 3: Layers of Character Intrigue, and Lesson 4: Depth of Emotion, and you will have endless amounts of intriguing set ups for the show.
OBJECTIVE: Create distinct and unique character relationships that are clearly defined on multiple levels, thus making it easier to write interesting interactions between them.
Don’t worry. It will actually be easy. Just take the steps I give you today and you’ll be surprised how much depth this process will create for your show.
WHAT IS A RELATIONSHIP?
Usually, when people say “I have a relationship with them,” they mean they have a “good” relationship. They like each other. But in reality, even if two people hate each other, there is still a relationship.
Definition of Relationship: A connection, association, or involvement between people.
To get this, let’s think of the two extremes; love and hate. If two people love each other deeply, they can’t stop thinking about each other. They feel emotional when in each other’s presence. They plan for their interactions together. They obsess about their moments together. Anything they have done together becomes imbued with emotion. Right?
Isn’t all of that also true for two people who hate each other?
Why is this important to know? Because those two extreme experiences are identical; except for the specific emotion. In fact, take any extreme emotion and plug it in there and you’ll see similar results. Consider the relationships that are created when two people are experiencing suspicion or jealousy or competition or have a common enemy or in a power struggle with each other. If they are on the same side, it is a bonding relationship. If they are on opposite sides, it is a adversial relationship.
The point is that relationship happens when any two people interact. Our job as writers is to make that connection, association, or involvement interesting and emotional.
GIVING RELATIONSHIPS MULTIPLE LAYERS
One of the easiest ways to create interesting relationships is to look beneath the surface. The good news is that this is easy to do. You just have to ask the questions and see what answers show up for you. Then, you allow the relationships to evolve as you take future steps.
To accomplish this, we’ll use our unique Relationship Map.
Essentially, we’re going to map out one character’s relationships with the other characters. Then, we will move to another character, comparing them to the others, etc..
EXAMPLE: The Relationship Map for Chuck Rhoades on the show BILLIONS might look like this:
THE SPECIFICS OF THE RELATIONSHIP MAP
When looking at the Relationship Map, you’ll notice that we’ve listed the relationships that Chuck has with Bobby Axelrod, Wendy Rhoades, and Brian Connerty. With each relationship, we’ve looked at the following categories:
Surface:Common Ground:Conflict:History:Subtext:Relationship Arc:WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?
The instant thing that this allows us to do is to look beneath the surface of the relationship. If you have two police officers working together, on the surface, they are partners. Beneath the surface, they could have all kinds of things going on — hating each other, competing, cheating, backstabbing, setting the other up for a fall, etc..
Our job is to EXPLORE the possibilities, then make decisions that could create drama in the show. But just to be clear, you do not need the perfect answers right now. In fact, I encourage you to use the “fill in the blanks” strategy to come up with AN answer — any answer that is in the ballpark. Then “keep the question open” so you can improve it in the future.
THE CATEGORIES OF THE RELATIONSHIP MAP
As you are working with each of these, remember you are not talking about a single character, but instead about the RELATIONSHIP of each character with the main character.
Surface: How does this relationship appear on the surface? Are they teammates, competitors, drinking buddies, married couple, business partners, co-anchors, friends, or what?
Common Ground: What do they have in common? Job, school, friends, goals, needs, values, beliefs, experience, background, common enemies, etc.. Look for what these two share. Even if they hate each other, they likely have something in common. It will all come in handy as you write the show.
Conflict: What things, issues, or situations will they fight about? Power, control, property, relationships, jealousy, competition, betrayal, different political views, physical conflicts, etc.. First look for the big conflicts because those will be the ones that run throughout the entire season.
History: What is the past of this relationship that makes it what it is today? Are they old lovers? Did they fight like cats and dogs? Was one superior to the other? Did one betray the other? There may be thousands of details, but you are looking for the moments that define this relationship.
Subtext: What is under the surface, hidden, or covert? Unexpressed love or hate, competition, schemes, or maybe it is a secret that has been present the whole time, but won’t come out until the season finale!
Relationship Arc: Where does the relationship start at the beginning of the series and end at the completion of the season? From friends to enemies. From unknown to lovers. From competitors to partners. From suspicion to believing in each other. Think of how the relationship might change by the end of the season.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELATIONSHIP AND CHARACTER
It is easy to focus on character, rather than relationship. For example, Relationship History is not the history of one character, but rather the past experiences between these two people.
When creating your own Relationship Map, you want to brainstorm possible answers for each of the categories. When you do, just compare the characters to each other and ask “How might these characters have related to each other in this category?”
BASIC RELATIONSHIP MAP
Use this Relationship Map document. Across the top, list a main character, then the characters they will interact with the most. From there, just fill in the blanks for each category.
DOWNLOAD the Relationship Map with this link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/bingeworthytv/tv-relationship-map-5.docx
<hr>ASSIGNMENT 1:
Watch the next episode of your Example Show and focus on ONE of the main characters and how they interact with others. Notice how much you discover that could go into their Relationship Map.
Create a Relationship Map for one lead character and their relationship with three others.
Purpose: Give you a deeper experience of the relationships in a well written show.
Deadline: 24 hours
<hr>ASSIGNMENT 2:
1. Create a Relationship Map for THREE lead characters from YOUR SHOW IDEA.
2. Using the Relationship map, pick a main character (place in upper left hand corner), and with each character he or she is in relationship with, give us the 6 relationship experiences listed below:
Surface:Common Ground:Conflict:History:Subtext:Relationship Arc:
3. Do the same process for the second lead character and the third lead character.
4. Answer the question, “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
5. Post your assignment in the forums at https://www.screenwritingclasses.com/forums/
Subject line: (Your Name’s) Show Relationship Map (place in first line)
Deadline: 3 days (including both Assignment 1 + 2)
<hr>
As with previous lessons, just fill in the blanks with whatever comes to you. Then start putting together the puzzle. And leave the question open so you can continue to discover more about these character relationships.
The most important thing is to ask the question and see what emerges. As you do, know that you are free to change or evolve these relationships at any time in the future.
Have fun creating relationships!
Hal
<hr>
Copyright 2017 – 2021, Hal Croasmun, All rights reserved
http://ScreenwritingU.com -
Assignment 1.
Emotional Profiles: Show – Wednesday
Wednesday
A. Situational: Hope / Fear
Hopes to solve the miters and murders happening.
Fears that her father may have murdered someone
B. Motivation: Want / Need
Wants to find out what the visions mean and to solve the mysteries and murders
She needs to be open to her mother’s wisdom from experience
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask
Base emotion
ASSIGNMENT 2: Your Show My BFF’s Ghost
Helens Character Emotions
What I learned doing this assignment is my instincts and original ideas on the emotions were good, but Ai helped to expand the possibilities even more.
BETHANY AYZARIYYAH
A. Situational Hope / Fear:
Hope: Bethany hopes to use her paranormal powers to bring justice to the deceased and their families by solving cold cases.
Fear: She fears the unknown origin of her powers and whether they could lead to unintended consequences.
B. Motivation: Want / Need
Want: Bethany wants to uncover the truth behind her abilities and her connection to Lazereth of Bethany.
Need: She needs to find her best friend Rachel’s murderer to provide closure for both herself and Ghost.
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask
Base Negative Emotion: Bethany struggles with the sadness and grief of losing her best friend, but she often puts on a brave and determined public face.
D. Weaknesses
Bethany’s vulnerability lies in her curiosity and her desire to seek answers, even when it puts her in dangerous situations.
E. Triggers
Bethany is triggered by the sight of her best friend Ghost, which pushes her to continue her paranormal investigations and search for Rachel’s killer.
The way her father avoids eye contact is another trigger for her. She reminds him too much of her mother.
F. Coping Mechanism
Bethany copes with her internal struggles by channeling her emotions into solving cold cases and helping ghosts find peace.
RACHEL “GHOST” GREENBLUNT
A. Situational: Hope / Fear
Hope: Ghost hopes to find a way to express her love for Bethany even in her spectral form.
Fear: She fears that her romantic feelings for Bethany will never be reciprocated, and she’ll never find peace.
B. Motivation: Want / Need
Want: Ghost wants to see Bethany happy and fulfilled, even if it means she can’t be with her in the same way. Need: She needs to find her own closure and move on to the afterlife.
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask
Base Negative Emotion: Ghost’s base emotion is unrequited love.
Hides it behind a cheerful and supportive facade.
D. Weaknesses
Ghost’s weakness lies in her inability to let go of her feelings for Bethany and her longing to be with her.
E. Triggers
Seeing Bethany in danger or sad is a trigger for Ghost, motivating her to help and protect her, even from the afterlife.
F. Coping Mechanism
Ghost copes by assisting Bethany in her investigations, as it keeps her close to the one she loves, even if it’s in spirit form.
DR. SCOTT LOGAN
A. Situational: Hope / Fear
Hope: Dr. Logan hopes to maintain his secret about Bethany’s birth mom and protect her from danger. Fear: He fears that Bethany will discover the truth about her origins and potentially get involved in dangerous situations.
B. Motivation: Want / Need
Want: Dr. Logan wants to maintain his daughter’s safety and protect her from the paranormal world. Need: He needs to balance his loyalty to his family with his commitment to his job as an FBI medical examiner.
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask
Base Negative Emotion: Dr. Logan’s base emotion is guilt for lying to Bethany, but he masks it with protective behavior.
D. Weaknesses
Dr. Logan’s weakness is his inability to be completely honest with Bethany, which strains their relationship.
E. Triggers
Discovering Bethany’s involvement in paranormal investigations and the danger she faces is a trigger for Dr. Logan.
F. Coping Mechanism
Dr. Logan copes by continuing to lie to Bethany to keep her safe, even though it weighs heavily on his conscience.
Inferiority complex with her mother, but superiority complex with everyone else. Self righteousness
Public Mask
Everyone is beneath her. She’s judge, jury and executioner if she chooses to be.
D. Weaknesses
Inability to show emotion or acknowledge others feelings
E. Triggers
Showing of true emotions
Her parents being openly and excessively affectionate to each other. Her mother’s professing love and wanting her to be like her. Also being underestimated.
F. Coping Mechanism
Sarcastic barbs, demands the truth be told
Enid
A. Situational: Hope / Fear
Hopes she will someday Wolf out and not be a failure in her mother’s eyes
Fears she won’t and will be kicked out of the pack
B. Motivation: Want / Need
Wants to do things on her own terms
Needs to accept her mother’s expectations will never change
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask
Base Negative Weak, shame
Public Mask
Cheery positive pollyanna
D. Weaknesses
Lack of self confidence
E. Triggers
Her mother, and being reminded she hasn’t wolfed out
F. Coping Mechanism
Confronts, self deprecation, but calls it like it is
Tyler
A. Situational: Hope / Fear
Hopes to have a better relationship with his father
Fears it will never happen
B. Motivation: Want / Need
Wants to be able to get out of town somehow
Needs to resolve family issues about losing his mom
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask
Base Negative Worthless
Public Mask Nice Guy
D. Weaknesses
Victim
E. Triggers
His father
F. Coping Mechanism
Secretly Defying his father’s authority
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Helen’s Character Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is sometimes AI doesn’t work like you expect it to, so you have to adjust and reword slightly. I also learned that if you ask it to regenerate, it will pause half way through and ask if the response was better, worse or same. Very interesting and helpful. It did actually stall on me for this lesson, saying there was an issue generating the response and it did not finish.
BETHANY AYZARIYYAH (Beth)
Character name: Bethany Ayzariyyah
Role: Teen Traveling Medium
Hidden Agendas:
Bethany is determined to uncover the truth about her powers and the mysteries surrounding her ancestor, Lazereth of Bethany. Her ultimate agenda is to understand her unique abilities.
Competition:
Bethany faces competition from other mediums and paranormal investigators who are either skeptical of her powers or seek to prove themselves superior. Her quest to solve cold cases becomes a race against rival investigators.
Conspiracies:
Bethany becomes entangled in a web of conspiracies as she delves deeper into the paranormal world. There are secret organizations, some even connected to her powers, that aim to control or manipulate her abilities.
Secrets:
Bethany carries the secret of her rare connection to Lazereth of Bethany, and her powers have a hidden origin. There may also be family secrets she uncovers about her mother’s past.
Deception:
Bethany sometimes uses deception to gain access to restricted information or to communicate with the deceased. Her ability to navigate the world of the living and the dead sometimes requires her to be cunning.
Wound:
The loss of her best friend Rachel is a deep emotional wound that propels her quest for justice and closure. It’s a wound she carries with her throughout the series. Never knowing her mother is another wound.
Secret Identity:
Bethany’s secret identity is her medium persona, which she keeps hidden from the public and some of her friends. She is also searching for her true identity and the origin of her powers.
RACHEL “GHOST” GREENBLUNT
Character Name: Rachel “Ghost” Greenblunt
Role: Deceased Best Friend
Hidden Agendas:
Ghost’s hidden agenda is to find her own killer and seek justice for her murder. However, she also secretly harbors romantic feelings for Bethany, and finding her own killer might mean leaving Bethany behind in the living world.
Competition:
As a spirit, Ghost competes with other supernatural entities for the opportunity to communicate with Bethany. She’s in a constant struggle to maintain her connection with the living world.
Conspiracies:
Ghost may uncover conspiracies surrounding her own death, which could have far-reaching consequences in the paranormal world. These conspiracies might include revelations that could change her relationship with Bethany.
Secrets:
Ghost holds secrets related to her own murder and her unfinished business in the afterlife, which could prove crucial to solving the cases Bethany investigates. However, these secrets may also affect her relationship with Bethany.
Deception:
Ghost occasionally uses deception or trickery to help Bethany in her investigations, and her spectral form allows her to move undetected. She may also hide her romantic feelings for Bethany to avoid complicating their mission.
Wound:
The unresolved nature of her murder and her unrequited love for Bethany are wounds that shape her character and motivations. The potential separation from Bethany adds another layer of emotional complexity.
Secret Identity:
Ghost’s secret identity is her spectral existence, hidden from the living world, which allows her to assist Bethany in her quest for justice. However, her secret romantic feelings for Bethany are an even more deeply hidden aspect of her character.
DR. SCOTT LOGAN
Role: FBI Medical Examiner
Hidden Agendas:
Dr. Logan’s hidden agenda is to protect his daughter, Bethany, from the truth about her mother’s past, especially if it’s connected to the paranormal world.
Competition:
He faces professional competition within the FBI and may be unaware of the supernatural investigations his daughter is involved in.
Conspiracies:
Dr. Logan could inadvertently become involved in the paranormal conspiracies that Bethany uncovers, and he may need to navigate these hidden elements within the FBI.
Secrets:
Dr. Logan keeps the truth about Bethany’s mother hidden from her, and he may have his own secrets related to his professional work in the FBI.
Deception:
His deception involves keeping the truth about Bethany’s mother from her, and he may also need to be deceptive within the FBI to protect his daughter’s interests.
Wound:
Dr. Logan’s wound is the fear of losing his daughter or seeing her harmed due to her involvement in the paranormal world, which motivates his protective actions.
Secret Identity:
His secret identity is his role as an FBI medical examiner, which he must maintain while also managing his family life.
KAMILLA WHITEMORE (Kami)
Character name: Kamilla Whitemore
Role: Daughter of Katrina Whitemore
Hidden Agendas:
Kamilla’s hidden agenda is to impress her mother, Katrina, by aiding the nefarious organization. She is driven by a desire to gain her mother’s approval.
Competition:
Kamilla may face competition within the organization, particularly if others seek to undermine her in the race to become the next head of the organization.
Conspiracies:
Kamilla’s involvement in the organization may lead her to uncover hidden conspiracies or dark secrets that challenge her loyalty.
Secrets:
Kamilla is unaware that Bethany is her half-sister, which remains a secret that could dramatically alter her perspective and motivations when revealed.
Deception:
Kamilla may need to use deception to navigate the secretive and treacherous world of the organization, all while trying to maintain the appearance of loyalty to her mother.
Wound:
Kamilla’s wound may be the emotional strain of seeking approval from her mother and the realization that her loyalty to the organization may come at a significant cost.
Secret Identity:
Kamilla’s secret identity is that of a seemingly obedient daughter who is actually working behind the scenes to impress her mother within the nefarious organization.
ALPHONSO BERTINELLI (UNCLE Al)
Character name: Alphonso Bertinelli
Role: Salon owner and plastic surgeon
Hidden Agendas:
Alphonso’s hidden agenda is to protect his loved ones from the dark organization that he has ties to. He is willing to do anything to keep them safe.
Competition:
Alphonso may face competition or threats from within the organization itself, and his efforts to protect his loved ones may be at odds with the organization’s goals.
Conspiracies:
Alphonso’s ties to the dark organization expose him to its hidden conspiracies and dangerous secrets. His actions to protect his loved ones may inadvertently reveal these conspiracies.
Secrets:
Alphonso is being blackmailed by the organization, which is a secret that he struggles to keep hidden from his family and friends.
Deception:
To protect his loved ones, Alphonso may need to use deception to navigate the dangerous situation he finds himself in while avoiding the organization’s suspicions.
Wound:
The guilt he carries for the accident that killed his niece Rachel is a deep emotional wound that drives his actions to protect those he loves.
Secret Identity:
Alphonso’s secret identity is that of a caring and protective family member, concealing his ties to a dangerous organization.
KATRINA WHITEMORE
Character name: Katrina Whitemore
Role: Heartless Nefarious Organization Head
Hidden Agendas:
Katrina’s hidden agenda is to maintain her husband’s political power through the nefarious organization, which is a web of women who will stop at nothing to ensure their husbands remain in power.
Competition:
Katrina may face competition or internal power struggles within the organization as she works to maintain control.
Conspiracies:
She is responsible for maintaining the organization’s secrets and cover-ups to protect her husband’s political standing.
Secrets:
Katrina possibly holds the secret to Bethany’s mother’s death, which could be a key revelation in the series.
Deception:
Her role as a heartless organization head may require her to be highly deceptive in order to protect her husband’s political career and the organization’s goals.
Wound:
The emotional wound for Katrina may be the sacrifices she’s made to keep her husband in power, even if it involves dark and morally questionable actions.
Secret Identity:
Katrina’s secret identity is that of a ruthless organization head, which she must maintain while navigating the political and secretive world she inhabits.
SPECIAL AGENT JOSEPHINE CASH
Character Name: Special Agent Josephine Cash
Role: FBI Investigator
Hidden Agendas:
Josephine’s agenda is to solve cases and uphold justice within the FBI. She becomes drawn to Bethany’s unique abilities, recognizing their potential to provide crucial insights into unsolved cases.
Competition:
Josephine may face competition within the FBI, both from colleagues and other law enforcement agencies, as she works to solve complex cases.
Conspiracies:
Her pursuit of justice may lead her to uncover hidden conspiracies within the cases she investigates, which could test her resolve and dedication to her work.
Secrets:
Josephine’s secrets may include her personal history, which she keeps hidden from her professional life, or her fascination with the supernatural, which she hides to maintain her credibility as an FBI agent.
Deception:
To succeed in her role, Josephine may need to use deception to extract information or navigate the intricacies of the cases she investigates.
Wound:
Her wound may be a past failure or a case that haunts her, motivating her to seek justice for victims and closure for herself.
Secret Identity:
Josephine’s secret identity is that of an FBI investigator, which she maintains while also managing her personal life and interests.
LILY THORNFIELD
Character name: Lily Thornfield
Role: Forensic Pathologist
Hidden Agendas:
Lily’s agenda is to provide expertise in forensic medicine to assist Dr. Logan and Bethany in their investigations into cold cases. She is driven by a desire to solve mysteries. This needs work.
Competition:
Lily may compete with other forensic experts or face professional competition in the field as she works to assist in solving complex cases.
Conspiracies:
Her collaboration with Bethany and Dr. Logan may lead her to uncover hidden conspiracies or secrets connected to the cases they investigate.
Secrets:
Lily’s main secret is that she is keeping that she is helping Bethany in her cold case investigations. Lily’s Other secrets may include her personal background, hidden talents, or a hidden passion for the supernatural that she keeps concealed in her professional life.
Deception:
To assist Bethany and Dr. Logan, Lily may occasionally use deception to access restricted information or gain insights into the cases they’re working on.
Wound:
Her wound may be a personal connection to a cold case or a tragic event that drives her dedication to solving mysteries and helping others find closure.
Secret Identity:
Lily’s secret identity is her role as a forensic pathologist, which she maintains while assisting in the investigations into cold cases.
JAMES GREENBLUNT (Jimmy)
Character name: James Greenblunt
Role: Rachel’s Older Brother – Tech Genius
Hidden Agendas:
James’s agenda is to support Bethany and Rachel with his technical skills, helping them gather information during their travels across the US. He is driven by a desire to help them in their quest for justice.
Competition:
James may face competition from other tech-savvy individuals or rival investigators in the field of paranormal investigations.
Conspiracies:
His knowledge of technology may expose him to hidden conspiracies or technological mysteries connected to the cases they investigate.
Secrets:
James’s secrets may involve his own past, technological talents, or a personal connection to the supernatural that he keeps hidden from others.
Deception:
James may need to use deception or hacking skills to uncover crucial information or navigate the digital aspects of their investigations.
Wound:
His wound may be a personal connection to Rachel’s murder, motivating his dedication to helping Bethany and Rachel find justice.
Secret Identity:
James’s secret identity is that of a tech-savvy ally who supports Bethany and Rachel in their investigations, all while concealing his personal secrets and talents.
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Helen’e Engaging Characters
What I learned doing this lesson is that there is always something more to add to ones character and to see after a first watch in a bingeworthy series, and that AI is a really good friend 🙂
Assignment 1. Wednesday
A. Role in the show: A dark cloud
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: An expert at most everything, especially solving mysteries and will be our guide to solving all of the mysteries of Nevermore.
C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? She masks a softer side, buries emotion so not to be hurt.
D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Wednesday doesn’t have many moral boundaries and takes pleasure in seeing certain other people suffer.
E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Her lack of moral boundaries means Wednesday will do just about anything, and her imagination for extremes makes her delicious to watch.
F. Empathetic: Why do we care? She’s been hurt and bullied in the past and present and now forced to go to a school where she does not want to be. An outcast that doesn’t fit in, even in a school for outcasts.
Assignment 2.
Bethany Ayzariyyah
A. Role in the show: Teen Traveling Medium
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Bethany has the extraordinary ability to communicate with the deceased by touching their likeness, making her the key investigator in solving cold cases.
C. Intrigue: Bethany possesses a rare and unexplained connection to Lazereth of Bethany, and her powers have a mysterious origin that may hold the key to understanding her abilities.
D. Moral Issue: She must grapple with the ethical questions surrounding her ability to speak with the dead and the potential consequences of her actions, how it might affect the families of victims still living Bethany hides her secret abilities from her father. While she is doing this, she is willing to lie to authorities and break laws.
E. Unpredictable: We don’t know how she will navigate the challenges of her powers, cold cases, and her personal life. What will they do next? Who will she expose next as a murderer.
F. Empathetic: Bethany lost her best friend in a freak accident, was recently diagnosed as a diabetic. She is a compassionate and determined young woman on a quest to bring closure to grieving families and find justice for her deceased friend.
RACHEL “GHOST” GREENBLUNT
A. Role in the show: Deceased Best Friend
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Ghost provides emotional support and guidance to Bethany as they work together to solve cold cases, even from beyond the grave.
C. Intrigue: Ghost secretly harbors romantic feelings for Bethany and is deeply connected to her. She longs to find a way to express her love, even in her spectral form, as she accompanies Bethany on her travels.
D. Moral Issue: Ghost faces the dilemma of wanting to protect and guide Bethany while struggling with her unfulfilled love for her best friend.
E. Unpredictable: Ghost’s actions are unpredictable as she navigates the challenges of being a spirit in the mortal world and her complicated emotions.
F. Empathetic: We care about Ghost because of her unwavering loyalty and love for Bethany, even in death.
DR. SCOTT LOGAN
A. Role in the show: FBI Medical Examiner
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Dr. Logan plays a crucial role in assisting Bethany with forensic expertise and access to FBI resources.
C. Intrigue: Dr. Logan is unaware of his daughter’s abilities. He’s been lying to Bethany about her birth mom and will do anything to keep the truth hidden.
D. Moral Issue: He grapples with the moral dilemma of concealing the truth about her mother’s death, his involvement in the clandestine organization, Bethany’s heritage and her supernatural abilities.
E. Unpredictable: Dr. Logan’s actions may become unpredictable as he learns more about Bethany’s powers and we don’t know how far he will go to keep his daughter safe.
F. Empathetic: We care about Dr. Logan because he is a dedicated father who is caught in a web of secrets and moral dilemmas, torn between protecting his daughter and revealing the truth.
Kamilla Whitemore
A. Role in the show: daughter of Katrina Whitemore, eager to help Bethany.
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Kamilla eventually becomes Bethany’s ally in solving cold cases, and is driven by a desire to impress her mother.
C. Intrigue: In line to be the next head of the organization, she is unaware of her true connection to Bethany as her half-sister. She is secretly spying on Bethany and reporting back to her mother.
D. Moral Issue: Kamilla may face moral dilemmas related to loyalty to her mother and the organization when she discovers the truth about her family.
E. Unpredictable: Kamilla’s actions become unpredictable as she uncovers the hidden secrets about her heritage and her sister.
F. Empathetic: We care about Kamilla because she is torn between loyalty to her family and her growing bond with Bethany.
Uncle Alphonso
A. Role in the show: Salon owner and plastic surgeon
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Alphonso provides identity changes and assistance to Bethany and others involved in her investigations.
C. Intrigue: He has ties to a dark organization and is being blackmailed by them. He was also responsible for the accident that killed Rachel.
D. Moral Issue: Alphonso grapples with the moral boundaries he has crossed, his involvement with the dark organization, and his responsibility for Rachel’s death.
E. Unpredictable: Alphonso’s actions are unpredictable as he navigates his involvement with the organization, the threat of blackmail.
F. Empathetic: We care about Alphonso because he accidentally killed his niece, Bethany was supposed to be the victim in the freak accident. He is being blackmailed and doesn’t want to be doing what he is being forced to do.
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Helen’s Three Circles of Characters
What I learned doing this assignment is one person can’t think of everything, having help is well, helpful 🙂 So I learned one more way to use AI as a helpful friend, not foe.
Assignment #2
Main Characters:
BETHANY AYZARIYYAH
Unique Role: Traveling Medium
Secret or Intrigue: Bethany possesses a rare and unexplained connection to Lazereth of Bethany, and her powers have a mysterious origin that may hold the key to understanding her abilities.
RACHEL “GHOST” GREENBLUNT
Unique Role: Deceased Best Friend
Secret or Intrigue: Ghost secretly harbors romantic feelings for Bethany and is deeply connected to her. She longs to find a way to express her love, even in her spectral form, as she accompanies Bethany on her travels.
DR. SCOTT LOGAN
Unique Role: FBI Medical Examiner
Secret or Intrigue: Dr. Logan, Bethany’s father, is unaware of his daughter’s abilities. He’s been lying to Bethany about her birth mom and will do anything to keep the truth hidden.
KAMILLA WHITEMORE
Unique Role: Daughter of Katrina Whitemore, She will do anything to impress her mother by helping the cause.
Secret or Intrigue: In line to be next head of the organization, doesn’t know it, but Bethany’s half sister.
UNCLE ALPHONSO
Unique Role: Salon owner and hair stylist who does plastic surgery to change identities.
Secret or Intrigue: He has ties to a dark organization and will do anything to protect loved ones from it, but he is being blackmailed by the organization. Was responsible for the freak accident which killed his niece Rachel.
B. Connected Characters:
KATRINA WHITEMORE
Unique Roll: heartless nefarious organization head, an expert at coverups.
Secret or Intrigue: possibly responsible for Bethany’s mother’s death.
SPECIAL AGENT JOSEPHINE CASH
Role: FBI Investigator
Connection: Josephine works closely with Bethany’s father on cases, and will be drawn to Bethany’s unique abilities, which have the potential to provide crucial insights into unsolved cases.
LILY THORNFIELD
Role: Forensic Pathologist
Connection: Lily collaborates with Dr. Logan, providing her expertise in forensic medicine while also secretly assisting Bethany with her investigations into cold cases.
JAMES GREENBLUNT
Role: Rachel’s older brother – Tech Genius and Paranormal Investigator
Connection: a tech-savvy ally, supports Bethany and Rachel with his technical skills while helping them gather information during their travels across the US.
GIDEON ROURKE
Role: Paranormal Historian friend of James
Connection: Gideon’s knowledge of supernatural occurrences and history adds depth to Bethany’s investigations, especially as they span various US locations.
C. Environment Characters (Jobs Only):
FBI Director Alan Reynolds
Local Police Chief (Varies by Location)
Coroner (Varies by Location)
Forensics Technician (Varies by Location)
Other murdered ghosts
Murdered victim’s families
Murderers
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Assignment 1.
ASSIGNMENT 1:
Watch the next episode of your Example Show to see how the characters fit into these three circles:
A. Main Characters Circle: Wednesday Addams,
Enid Sinclair, (Wednesday’s roomie, and near opposite),
Xavier, possible love interest for Wednesday
Thing
Tyler Galpin, (Sheriff’s son and another possible love interest for Wednesday),
Bianca, (Queen B of the quad and basically Wednesday’s nemesis.
B. Connected Circle: Pugsley, (her brother),
Gomez and Morticia,( Wednesday’s father and mother),
Sheriff Galpin,
Larissa Weems, (principal at Nevermore Academy)
Ms. Novak (Dorm mom),
Dr. Valerie Kinbott, (Wednesday’s therapist),
Bullies who work at Pilgrim World.
C. Environment Circle: The school cliques, including Fangs, (Vampires) Furs,(werewolves) Stoners, (Gorgons) and Scales, (Sirens), The towns people, the people who work at the Sheriff’s office, the people getting killed by a creature. The other teachers and students at the school.
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Subject line: Wednesday (Adams) 5 Star Model
What I learned doing this assignment is the number of questions which can be left unanswered in the pilot episode is nowhere near what is acceptable with a serial. Things do not need to be all tied up neatly at the end.
2. The 5 Star Points for Wednesday.
1. Big Picture Hooks
Ask this: What is the big hook of this show?
Teen Wednesday Addams, with macabre interests, attends a school for outcasts with a dark history, unraveling mysteries, including her father’s possible murderous past.
2.Amazing and Intriguing Character
Ask this: What makes these main characters intriguing and interesting?
Wednesday Addams is a teen who is the anything but the stereotypical teen of today; she loves all that is morbid, rejects social norms, technology and social media.
3. Empathy / Distress
Ask this: What situations causes us to feel both empathy and distress for these characters?
Wednesday doesn’t fit in anywhere, even at a school for outcasts, freaks and monsters.
She’s being bullied by towns people, others at the school and being kept under close watch by the headmaster and a dorm mom.
She has to see a therapist by court order for anger management, which she doesn’t want any part of.
She’s challenged by numerous other students including a siren who marks her face when Wednesday loses to her in a fencing match.
A student tries to kill her by pushing a giant gargoyle down on her, and then he lets her know she was part of a prophecy, and it was his destiny to kill her.
When a horrific monster stops him, she witnesses the brutal ripping apart of his body.
She’s vowed to never cry again after kids killed her pet scorpion, when she cried and it didn’t help.
4.Layers / Open Loops
Ask this: What questions are created by this first episode that can only be answered by watching the entire season?
Did her father murder someone, if so who?
Who or what attacked and killed hikers in the area?
How are the visions related to the necklace given to her by her mom?
Why can’t her roommate wolf out? Will she be able to if challenged?
What is the dorm mom’s story?
Will a romantic involvement happen with Wednesday between herself and either of the teenage boys who have helped her?
Will her brother survive conventional school now that she is gone?
Will the Siren best her again?
Will the Sheriff finally be able to send Wednesday’s father to prison?
5. Inviting Obsession
Ask this: How does this pilot create the need to see every single episode?
By establishing all of the above in the pilot. I think it’s the combination which makes it invite obsession.
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Hi all, Helen Rose Roberts here.
I’ve written eight features, one animation/live action hybrid special and my binge worthy pilot was optioned before last Christmas. Still working on my last bingeworthy class.
I hope this class will help me hone my skills in working faster with using AI.
Something unique, hmmm, a little I guess, I’m from that town the Broadway hit Come From Away was inspired by.
I did my pro series so long ago I can’t remember what number it was, but I completed it in 2010. This is my third time around for binge worthy, I was in Master Screenwriter certificate 3.
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Helen Rose Roberts I agree to the terms of this release form.
2. The words “I agree to the terms of this release form.”
3. Please leave the entire text below to confirm what you agree to.
OR
NOT AGREE, in which case, you hit “Reply to this topic” and type in the words “I’ll do the class privately.”
If you agree to the terms of the release form, then you can post your assignments into the group and your cohort can give feedback on them.
Also, if you don’t agree to this group confidentiality agreement, you’ll still need to sign an agreement that says you will keep the strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential.
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.
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Helen’s Key Business Decisions (place in first line)
What I learned doing this assignment is PLM 27 Lethal Knowledge is a pretty marketable script. Since I have yet to sell it, this means I have not reached the level of credibility needed to reach the bigger players. I need to work more on raising my credibility.
1. Give us the decisions that are in your current High Budget script:
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Title: PLM 27-Lethal Knowledge
Concept: An awkward teen kidnaps the philandering father she never knew she had to save her spy-mom from a rogue KGB killer and Nazi war criminals – All on the friendly island of Newfoundland!
Inspired by true events surrounding the sinking of the PLM 27 off the coast of Newfoundland by a German Submarine in WWII
Audience Females under 25, teen and young adult
Budget 60 – 80 million or more depending on the stars attracted
Lead Characters
Mari – 18, Awkward duck and tomboy, she is uncomfortable with being the woman she’s growing into, but is totally comfortable with her skills as a marks person. She’s blunt and speaks her mind without reservation.
Jonathan – An aging, but still not hard on the eyes, philandering spy. Self assured, a bond knock off.
Journey / Character Arc
Mari – While rescuing her mother with the help of her newly found father, Marie goes from the awkward teen she was to a more comfortable in her skin teen. She bonds with her father and learns to own her kick ass abilities.
Jonathan – Neither he, nor Mari, knew the other existed. Goes from being a self centered, lone wolf in the world of spies to learning the importance of family and embracing his role as a father in a spy world.
Opening / Ending
Opening:
Finding out that her mother has been kidnapped, Mari is frantically searching for clues connected to a sunken ship, PLM 27, she believes may have answers. When she finds nothing helpful and fears the worst for her mom, her grandfather spills the truth, her father isn’t dead, and he’s a spy.
Ending:
The family are reunited safely, Mari is self assured in her spy capabilities, and has become more comfortable with her feminine side. They toast with Newfy Screech, drink to defeating the bad guys, and proudly sing a Newfy shanty. But out to sea another spy plots to return in search of the lost Nazi loot; it’s revealed the map to the loot is in a hidden compartment in the piano seat at the bar where the family are drinking.
2. Tell us which of those decisions you could improve to make your script more marketable.
I think I could reduce the budget, but – this is like a James Bond parody spy movie, so demands a higher budget, super yachts, exotic locations, explosions, bank robberies, sunken ships, so I am unsure if that would be wise.
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Helen’s Speciality — Coming of Age Adventure
What I learned doing this assignment is that genre conventions easily combine and that it is tough to narrow down and define your specialty when you are writing for a younger audience.
1. Tell us your speciality. This has always been a tough one for me. I consider myself to be a family, teen and young adult writer with most of it being fantasy, adventure and a little bit of action.
So I don’t fit into any of the genre’s we are exploring. Trying to sell myself as a writer who specializes in action would be misleading. But some of my adventure scripts have action, it’s related.
My Sub-genres are more specific, and I will be using these two which are closely linked – Teen/young adult and Adventure These can be considered coming of age movies – about teenagers or young adults learning how to navigate the world.
Given Adventures often have elements of action as well, I will be including these in evaluating key components that deliver in analysis of movies.
Coming of age common conventions/themes include:
Parent troubles
High school life
Love interests and exploring sexuality
Friendship
Straying from the norm
Finding a sense of self
Adventure conventions/themes include:
A hero with risk-filled journeys
A quest
A villain – pitting one person or a group of people against the environment and other humans.
The risk – feature chase sequences and strong action
Transformation
2. Do a quick Google search for “top (genre) movies.” Select two of the top movies in your genre to watch.
Enola Holmes Listed as Action, Adventure, Crime
The School for Good and Evil
Genre: Listed on IMDB As Action Adventure Crime (But this really is a coming of age movie)
Title: Enola Holmes
How it delivered on the genre conventions:
Outline of the movie, highlighting the parts that fulfill the genre: Delivering on Adventure/Action Conventions and Coming of Age
Enola Holmes
Adventure/Action and Coming of Age conventions
Eudoria raised Enola on many books, sciences, and sports, and encouraged a free and playful lifestyle, unlike the stuffy and traditional schools and expectations of Victorian England.
Introduction of HERO: Highly capable and skilled.
Enola tells the audience that a week has passed since Eudoria’s disappearance, and she is on the way to the train station to receive Mycroft, now a rich aristocrat working for the government, and Sherlock, now the famous detective. This is the MISSION: There is a stated or implied mission – Find Enola’s mom and why she went missing.
Mycroft sends for Miss Harrison of Miss Harrison’s Finishing School for Young Ladies, and Enola’s free spirit and defiant attitude gains her a slap from the headmistress.Straying from the norm
Enola finds a secret coded message from her mother in the gift box she left. She decodes it and follows the clues in her booklet to a hidden envelope filled with money addressed to her, with the only note saying: “Our future is up to us.” Enola decides to run away to search for her mother, dressing as a boy and boarding a train bound for London. Straying from the norm and Finding a sense of self
Sure enough, the Bowler Hat man is approaching their carriage, and Enola leaves, not wanting to get involved, as the man passes her and finds Tewkesbury. She hears the boy scream,DEMAND FOR ACTION: and returns to find the man holding him outside the train door, about to smash him into a tunnel wall. Enola attacks the man, Linthorn, and saves Tewkesbury, jumping off the train just before a bridge to strand the attempted murderer.
Sherlock and Mycroft discover Enola has run off, angering Mycroft. Parent troubles Mrs. Lane tells Sherlock that Enola knows nothing of the outside world in practicality, and asks him not to abandon her a second time.
Enola and Tewkesbury begin to walk across the countryside toward London, stopping to rest at dark, where Tewkesbury reveals his vast knowledge of plants, flowers, and edible fungi to forage for food. Enola cuts his long hair short to help him not be recognized, as he explains that, after narrowly avoiding being crushed by a falling tree branch, he realized that he didn’t want to join the army like his uncle as his family wants him to, or take his seat in the House of Lords like his deceased father. Friendship
Enola leaves a coded message in various newspapers for her mother, HERO: Highly capable and skilled finding that the Viscount Tewkesbury’s disappearance has gotten a lot of press. She then tracks down the correspondent her mother often wrote to, Ethel, who runs Jiu-Jitsu classes for women above her tea shop and used to teach Enola self defense. HERO: Highly capable and skilled She tells Enola that Eudoria does not want to be found and has secret work to do in London, and Enola remembers her as one of the women at Eudoria’s secret meeting. Enola finds fireworks in Ethel’s office after she returns to her students, and recalls hearing coded words in their conversation at the meeting.
As she goes to leave the docks, Enola is ambushed by Linthorn, who interrogates her about Tewkesbury’s location and attempts to drown her in a water trough. DEMAND FOR ACTION: She outsmarts him, momentarily getting away, and explains to the audience how he mother taught her various subjects, including physical combat. An intense fight between her and Linthorn ensues, with Enola eventually being overpowered by Linthorn’s superior strength. ESCALATING ACTION: He throws her through the warehouse door and attempts to finish the job and stab her, though she is protected by her whalebone corset. She sets off the gunpowder in the room and escapes Linthorn.
Enola decides she cannot leave Tewkesbury to his fate, and resolves to find and help him. MISSION Enola’s mission expands.
Lestrade ambushes them, but Enola notices him and counters. DEMAND FOR ACTION: They manage to make it to Enola’s room, but struggle to keep the door closed. Enola tells Tewkesbury to go out the window and disappear, as his life will be in jeopardy if he is caught, and there is not enough time for them both to escape. Tewkesbury argues, but Enola orders him to go, holding the door just long enough for him to get away, and is caught by Lestrade.
She checks his newspaper for a possible message, and is angry about her situation. Sherlock encourages her to take the lessons to heart, as they may come in handy in future cases. She asks him about Eudoria, and he says he has tracked her trail (albeit by following separate clues) and found the docks one step behind Enola’s confrontation with Linthorn, and they discuss the bombs found there. She accuses him of helping Mycroft catch her, and seeing her only as a case, which he denies, and admits that he came because he cares about her. Parent issues
A large basket is delivered to Enola, supposedly from Mycroft, but is revealed to be Tewkesbury, having smuggled himself in. Friendship Enola is overjoyed to see him, and is relieved that he is alright. He intends to get her out the same way he came in, but Enola alters the plan to get around Miss Harrison’s watchful eye.
Enola decides to go to Basilweather and confront Sir Whimbrel. They enter, but find the house dark and deserted, and are trapped inside by Linthorn, who was waiting for them and is wielding a shotgun. DEMAND FOR ACTION: Enola and the marquis hide in the shadows, and narrowly avoid being shot. Enola jumps the gunman, but is rendered unconscious. Before Linthorn can kill her, Tewkesbury attacks him, knocking his gun away, but is also subdued. Linthorn begins to strangle Tewkesbury as Enola struggles to regain consciousness. ESCALATING ACTION: She manages to grapple Linthorn, knocking him headfirst into a sharp fixture, killing him.
The Dowager enters, and Tewkesbury is heartbroken to discover that it was she who hired Linthorn to kill him and his father. ANTAGONISTS: Clearly evil / corrupt / malicious She picks up the shotgun, telling her grandson that she had to prevent him from voting on the Reform Bill. She tells him that she sent his mother and uncle back to London to look for him, and explains that the future of the country depends on his death. She shoots Tewkesbury in the chest in cold blood, seemingly killing him.
Enola disarms the Dowager, and mourns over Tewkesbury. Friendship developing into Love interest However, Tewkesbury wakes up, having only been knocked out from the impact, and reveals that he hid a steel chest plate from one of the suits of armor under his jacket, protecting him from the shot.
She returns to her new boarding house to find her mother waiting for her. Eudoria explains that she wanted to tell Enola where she went, but that it isn’t safe and she can’t stay too long. She is proud of Enola for saving the marquis, and they briefly reunite before Eudoria leaves again, telling Enola to send her a message if she ever needs help. Enola tells the audience she will have to follow her own path, and that it’s time she found her place in the world as a detective, saying that “Our future is up to us”. Finding a sense of self
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Subject line: Helen’s Credibility is Going Up!
What I learned doing this assignment is where I am missing possible credibility opportunities and that I already have some good credibility. I need to work more on my confidence.
2 or 3 steps you’ll take in the next 30 days to increase your credibility.
1. Improve writing sample
2. Connect with more development executives
3. Improve my the pilot with producers and prove that I can take notes and direction
4. Work more on my confidence
ASSIGNMENT 1: Credibility Checklist
Put together your plan for increasing your credibility.
CREDIBILITY CHECKLIST
1. Your Writing Sample – Not a good one
‘Recommend’ from Coverage Delivers on the genre in a strong way Delivers on the business decisions
2. Screenwriting Accomplishments
Contest wins – Scripts Placed in Page and Final Draft
Smaller deals – Writing assignment with independent producer director
Series optioned and in development with producers
Movies produced – No
3. The Google factor
Google your name. How many items on the first page show you as a professional screenwriter? Buzz posts, interviews, news reports, etc..
The top five are my name as screenwriter
My website top two, Imdb, Linkedin, then twitter.
4. Your Network
How many producers are in your network? How many Connections do you have who are connected to producers?
662 connections on linkedin, mostly producers and development people in film and television
5. Education specific to screenwriting
Degree in Media Arts – Emily Carr University
Master Screenwriter Certificate
Bingeworthy TV ScreenwritingU
6. Borrowed Credibility
Represented by an agent – yes
Working with a producer – Yes
Connected to a star Connected to a funding source – Yes
7. IMDB CREDITS
One Writer title in development with Autin Texas production company
One series writer creator credit – in development with production company
One short writer director credit
One song writer performer credit
One Production coordinator credit on one season of aired tv animated series
8. Other forms of credibility that is related to screenwriting:
Novels published – Children’s novel published
Director experience – Directed and written short
Worked for three time Emmy winning casting director for four years
2. Make a list of possible things you can do to increase your credibility in the future.
1. Improve writing sample
2. Connect with more development executives
3. Improve my the pilot with producers and get series greenlit
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Subject line: Helen’s Projects and Insights
The two projects that I am bringing into this class and budget range for each:
a. An idea that I would like to create – A teen and young adult murder mystery comedy. Macbeth – The Comedy
Logline is a work in progress: When rehearsing a parody of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a student utters the accursed name and the drama teacher mysteriously dies; the students think they must break the curse, which is in reality a knives out battle between teachers.
b. My finished script:
Either PLM 27-Lethal Knowledge, 15-40 million – An action comedy with a teen protagonist
Logline: A tenacious teen kidnaps the philandering father she never knew she had to save her spy-mom from a rogue KGB killer and Nazi war criminals – All on the friendly island of Newfoundland!
Or Escarghost, 5 – 15 million – A Family comedy with a teen protagonist
Logline: A culinary-inept teen wins a recipe contest thanks to her dead aunties paranormal antics and must become a master chef to stop a malicious mayor from bulldozing the family castle.
4. Tell us what you learned from the opening teleconference.
What I learned from the opening teleconference was that I hadn’t realized all of the specific steps to take in getting a writing assignment. I have used a few, but not in a concentrated effort or consistently. So I will be open to learning new ways and expand my understanding of the model.
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Hi all, Helen Rose Roberts here. I did my pro series so long ago I can’t remember what number it was, but I took it in 2010. This is my second time around for binge worthy, I was in Master Screenwriter certificate 3.
I’ve written eight features, one animation/live action hybrid special and my binge worthy pilot was optioned before Christmas.
I was hired to write a feature script three years ago, it was completed and led to an agreement to expand and cowrite the concept as a series with the producer/director.
I hope this class will help me hone my skills in working better with producers. Had my first notes come on the weekend and already wishing I had taken this course last year!
Something unique, hmmm, a little I guess, I’m from that town the Broadway hit Come From Away was inspired by.
Assignment #1, like others, didn’t see a separate thread, so posting it here 🙂
Subject line: Helen’s Projects and Insights
The two projects that I am bringing into this class and budget range for each:
a. An idea that I would like to create – A teen and young adult murder mystery comedy. Macbeth – The Comedy
Logline is a work in progress: When rehearsing a parody of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a student utters the accursed name and the drama teacher mysteriously dies; the students think they must break the curse, which is in reality a knives out battle between teachers.
b. My finished script:
Either PLM 27-Lethal Knowledge, 15-40 million – An action comedy with a teen protagonist
Logline: A tenacious teen kidnaps the philandering father she never knew she had to save her spy-mom from a rogue KGB killer and Nazi war criminals – All on the friendly island of Newfoundland!
Or Escarghost, 5 – 15 million – A Family comedy with a teen protagonist
Logline: A culinary-inept teen wins a recipe contest thanks to her dead aunties paranormal antics and must become a master chef to stop a malicious mayor from bulldozing the family castle.
4. Tell us what you learned from the opening teleconference.
What I learned from the opening teleconference was that I hadn’t realized all of the specific steps to take in getting a writing assignment. I have used a few, but not in a concentrated effort or consistently. So I will be open to learning new ways and expand my understanding of the model.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Helen Roberts. Reason: Addition of assignment #1
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This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by
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Helen Rose Roberts – I agree to the terms of this release form.
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What I learned doing this assignment is that the more I practice these lessons, the easier the answers come to my head. So it should be easier to be applied to the new series that I will write here.
EXAMPLE SHOW Supergirl
Beats:
Supergirl/Kara is sent from an exploding planet by her parents to earth to keep her baby cousin safe.
The planet explodes, her space craft is thrown into a dark hole where it stays suspended in time for years.
It breaks free and lands on earth. She is taken as a child to a home to live with a new family. Since Superman is already grown now, the world odens’t need another super hero.
She grows up there with the new families daughter who becomes her adoptive sister. She decides she just needs to fit in. Supergirl takes a job at Catco, an online and print world wide media company working for Kat Grant, one of the most powerful woman in National City.
We learn her coworker has a bit of a crush on her, but she tells him she has a date. We learn she has super hearing as she hears Mrs. Grant talking in the elevator before she gets to the floor.
Grant tells Supergirl they are downsizing and will be firing people, unless of course she can find Grant a super hero to fly around the city.
We meet the new art director. Jimmy Olson just so happens to have a picture of Super Man. Apparently they are close.
Adoptive sister going to conference in Geneva, gets help from her to pick out a dress for her date. Lists all the powers she has, but hasn’t used in years.
Supergirl goes on her date, the date ditches her. Breaking news comes on a tv at the restaurant, a plane going down over National city.
Supergirl breaks into rescue mode, takes off flies up and guides the plane down in water safely, but destroys bits of a city bridge. It was the plane her sister was on.
She gets home and she’s all over the news, everyone is on the hunt to find out who she is.
Her adoptive sister is not happy, tells her she can’t do it again.
Supergirl gets back to work, nobody recognizes that Kara is supergirl. Grant announces she Supergirl is exactly what she needs to save the tribune, her flagship company.
Kara needs to share this with someone, drags her coworker to the roof and shows him, she is Supergirl.
Guy from work makes super hero outfit for her. She starts fighting crime around the city. Gets the attention of an alien villain who wants her dead. He challenges her to meet him alone at a location surrounded by lead, just like her cousin, she can’t see through it.
They fight, she almost dies, military shows up to the rescue with her sister. We discover her adoptive sister is with them on a special force to protect the world from aliens.
Adoptive Sister starts to help her, convinces boss they need to train her and use her to help them fight the aliens.
Jimmy Olsen confesses to knowing who she is and was sent by Superman to keep an eye on her.
Adoptive Sister and Supergirl bond and start working together with the military to train Supergirl to fight better and be more prepared to take on the villain aliens.
They fight the alien again, this time Supergirl wins, but the alien kills himself rather than be captured.
We learn Kara has an aunt who blames her dead mother for taking her rightful place in the now gone planets government. She wants Supergirl dead.
5 Star Points for that show.
Big Picture Hooks
Ask this: What is the big hook of this show? Super Man’s cousin becomes a super hero in her own right and must fight crimes of the Alien villains whose prison craft was pulled to earth with her craft.
Amazing and Intriguing Character
Ask this: What makes these main characters intriguing and interesting? Supergirl is a young woman who has been hiding her powers from the world for years.
Empathy / Distress
Ask this: What situation causes us to feel both empathy and distress for this character?
Supergirl lost her real parents in the explosion of her planet. She’s treated poorly by her boss and has to relearn how to use her powers which she hasn’t used for years.
Layers / Open Loops
Ask this: What questions are created by this first episode that can only be answered by watching the entire season?
Will the Alien villains kill her and other humans?
Will Supergirl be able to defeat all of them?
Will she ever meet her aunt who we find out wants her dead.
Will she meet the expectations of the military people testing her abilities.
Will she be able to fight the villains without destroying the city or killing innocent people.
Inviting Obsession
Ask this: How does this pilot create the need to see every single episode?
I’m never sure on this one, maybe all of the above combined?
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Helen Roberts
I agree to the terms of this release form.
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.
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Hi all, Helen Rose Roberts here. I did my pro series so long ago I can’t remember what number it was, but I took it in 2010. This is my second time around for binge worthy, I was in Master Screenwriter certificate 3.
I’ve written eight features, one animation/live action hybrid special and my binge worthy pilot was completed last month.
I signed with an agent/manager last year. She is an agent, but her hands on approach of reading and giving notes for my scripts seems more like a manager. I feel blessed that she took me on and we are working together to get my projects out there.
I was hired to write a feature script three years ago, it was completed and led to an agreement to expand and cowrite the concept as a series with the producer/director.
I hope this class will help me hone my skills in developing a new binge worthy series script in my brand of comedy/dramedy for family, children, teens and young adults. Leaning more towards teens and young adult these days.
Something unique, hmmm, a little I guess, I’m from that town the Broadway hit Come From Away was inspired by.
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Hey Natalia,
Great to see you hear! Actually, there are a lot of familiar people here. Bodes well and so looking forward to it 🙂
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Nice to meet you too 🙂