Jack Purdie
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Jack P loves character depth!
VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a screenplay that will result in a produced movie, and that will lead to multiple successful movies in the future.
WHAT I LEARNED: By dissecting my story using the three depth tools, I was able to dig deeper into the story arc of the main characters and find new ways strengthen their relationship to the overarching themes. I was able to identify and improve on the triggers – reactions of these characters using these new skills.
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MOD 7 LESSON 1
Jack P loves character depth!
VISION: I am committed to developing a screenplay that will result in a produced movie, and that will lead to multiple successful movies in the future.
WHAT I LEARNED: By dissecting my story using the three depth tools, I was able to dig deeper into the story arc of the main characters and find new ways strengthen their relationship to the overarching themes. I was able to identify and improve on the triggers – reactions of these characters using these new skills.
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ASSIGNMENT 6.4
Jack P Solved Scene Problems!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple produced movies and tv shows.
WHAT I LEARNED: I went through the script scene-by-scene and rewrote several that were not up to the standards of the Problem/Solution grid. I also eliminated several unnecessary scenes and reordered one critical scene sequence to improve the arc of the sequence.
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ASSIGNMENT 6.3
I absolutely love discovering cliches and making the scenes unique.
JACK P IS CLICHÉ BUSTING!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: I re-read the entire draft
and didn’t find a clearly identifiable cliché. It may be that I haven’t seen
enough movies, but I have made a concerted effort to watch (or rewatch) as many
films in the relevant genres (romance, spiritual, reincarnation-themed). I’ll
set this aside for now and keep looking. -
ASSIGNMENT 6.2
JACK P’S SOLVED CHARACTER PROBLEMS!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
I absolutely love discovering and solving character problems!
WHAT I LEARNED: My script is a spiritual romance without a discernable antagonist. The protagonists are in a love/hate/transformative relationship so they switch back and forth from being protag to antag as the story progresses. The opening scene is benign on the surface, with a lot of subtext and hidden conflict for the female lead, playing off her initial meeting with the male lead. There is an incident that triggers much of the inner turmoil for the female early in the scene. I think the female character has a strong intro, not so much the male. While I am pondering strengthening the male character intro, nothing is coming to me. It seems like a natural progression for his time in the spotlight to come later. Maybe that will change in the next draft.
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ASSIGNMENT 6.1
JACK P’S STRUCTURE SOLUTIONS!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: My script is far from perfect. My original structure guideposts are scrambled. I reworked them per the instructions in the assignment but still have a long way to go to get it right. I was able to add several key scenes and rearrange existing scenes so the story is stronger using the re-structuring process. My list of identified problems and necessary changes is shorter but on-going.
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ASSIGNMENT 6.2
JACK P’S SOLVED CHARACTER PROBLEMS!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: My script is a spiritual romance without a discernible antagonist. The protagonists are in a love/hate/transformative relationship so they switch back and forth from being protag to antag as the story progresses. The opening scene is benign on the surface, with a lot of subtext and hidden conflict for the female lead, playing off her initial meeting with the male lead. There is an incident that triggers much of the inner turmoil for the female early in the scene. I think the female character has a strong intro, not so much the male. While I am pondering strengthening the male character intro, nothing is coming to me. It seems like a natural progression for his time in the spotlight to come later. Maybe that will change in the next draft.
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JACK P’S STRUCTURE SOLUTIONS!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: My script is far from perfect. My original structure guideposts are scrambled. I reworked them per the instructions in the assignment but still have a long way to go to get it right. I was able to add several key scenes and rearrange existing scenes so the story is stronger using the re-structuring process. My list of identified problems and necessary changes is shorter but on-going.
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MOD 5 LESSON 14
JACK P – HAS FINISHED ACT 4!
EMPOWERMENT: I AM COMPLETELY CAPABLE OF FINISHING THE FIRST DRAFT!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: I am catching up turning in assignments and
it feels good. It’s OK to work at my own pace, and it is OK to find the time to
move forward using my creative engine, finishing the draft, then coming back
around to completing the assignments after the flow is complete. -
MOD 5 LESSON 13
JACK P – CONTINUES ACT 4
EMPOWERMENT: I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO FINISHING THIS DRAFT!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: This is an asynchronous process for me. I
completed the 1<sup>st</sup> draft before completing the assignments. I just
kept moving, and I forgive myself for not following the rules. I have a
draft that is at least 30% quality (maybe even 31% : }) and I am following up
with the assignments. Nothing bad happened, nobody slapped my wrists with a
ruler, and I am learning new insights from the assignments that I can use in
Draft 2. Hooray! -
Mod 5 Lesson 12
JACK P – STARTED ACT 4
EMPOWERMENT: I ABSOLUTELY LOVE PUTTING MY CHARACTERS IN THE ULTIMATE CONFLICT!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: Speed over quality / write in drafts /
EMPOWER! / continue without all the answers / keep moving / give it up to my
creative mind. -
Lesson 11: Finish up Act 3! Final 6 – 10 pages
JACK P – FINISHING ACT 3
EMPOWERMENT: I WRITE FIRST DRAFTS ON THE WAY TO GREAT FINAL DRAFTS!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: I’m totally open to making mistakes on the
way to creating something truly amazing! Keep moving forward without being
critical of my creative work. -
Lesson 10: Continue Act 3. Next 6 – 10 Pages
JACK P. – CONTINUING ACT 3
I love moving forward with my script!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT
I LEARNED: “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” -
Lesson 9: Start Act 3! 6 – 10 Pages
JACK P. – BEGIN ACT 3
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT
I LEARNED: Review High Speed Writing Rules – Speed over quality / write in
drafts / continue without all the answers / keep moving! / let my creative mind
do the hard work. -
Lesson 8: Finish up Act 2. Final 6 – 10 pages Jack P. – Completed Act 2
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
It
really is possible to have control of my creative processes.What
I learned: It’s OK to work ahead on the first draft. I’m doing “Draft 1.5” work
now and that’s perfectly fine. Draft 2 work is almost here. -
Lesson 7: Continue Act 2. Next 6 – 10 Pages.
Jack P. – CONTINUING Act 2
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
I’m completely capable of writing without wordsmiting!
What I learned: Wordsmithing is the 4<sup>th</sup> draft,
not the 1<sup>st</sup> draft. -
Lesson 6: Start Act 2. Write 6 – 10 Pages.
Jack P. – Begin Act 2
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
It is so much fun to race with a timer!
What I learned: This is all about inertia now. Honestly, I
freeze with a 5 minute timer, but if I give myself a 45 minute deadline I can
complete the scene. Just Keep Moving! -
Lesson 5: Finish up Act 1. Final 6 – 10 pages.
JACK P. FINISHED ACT 1
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
I am completely empowered to write this draft very quickly!
What I learned: This is all about inertia now. Keep moving!
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ASSIGNMENT Lesson 4: Continue Act 1. Next 6 – 10 Pages JACK P. Next Act 1 Scenes
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
I truly enjoy writing a high speed first draft!
What I learned: I’m forced to stay with my outline, even
though I see improvements every other scene or so, I’m staying with the process
of speed over perfection. I will fix these things later. -
Lesson 3: Act 1. Write 3 – 5 pages a day.
JACK P. Act 1 First Draft Part 1
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
I absolutely love writing this first draft!
What I learned: Purpose of Act 1, Draft 1: Introducing main
characters in action, enticing audience into going on the journey with my
protagonist. I have already completed Draft 1 of Act 1, so I am using the
insights of this lesson to rewrite faster. -
MODULE 5 LESSON 2: High Speed Writing
JACK P. High Speed Writing Rules
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
I am going to be great at the High Speed Writing model!
What I learned: I had
already completed the first scene before this lesson, so I used this as an
opportunity to rewrite and refine – so I’m into the second draft of the first act.
I am using the 6 High Speed Writing Rules as I continue through the process:
Speed over quality; write in drafts; empowerment; write without all the
answers; keep moving; give it up to my creative mind. -
MODULE 5 – LESSON 1: Basic Formatting, Description, and Dialogue
Jack P. First Scene
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
I am excited to write this first draft!
What I learned: I had
already completed the first scene before this lesson, so I used this as an
opportunity to rewrite and refine – so I’m into the second draft of the first act. -
Jack P’s intriguing moments
VISION: I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL SCRIPT THAT IS PRODUCED AND LEADS TO MULTIPLE MOVIES.
WHAT I LEARNED: By analyzing the dramatic beats I can create more depth and interest in the story by adding intrigue.
ACT ONE
Secret/cover up: Jay is married, but lies to Lina about it.
Hidden identity: Lina is a lesbian, but has sex with Jay and doesn’t mention it.
Mystery: Why is Lina traumatized (Space Girl escape) at different times throughout the script.
Intrigue: Jay is struck by lightning and encounters Lina and others during an NDE.
ACT TWO
Superior position: The audience knows Jay is married, but Lina doesn’t know; they know Lina is a lesbian, but Jay doesn’t know.
Intrigue/cover up: Lina pretends Cici is her sister, but she is really her daughter.
Intrigue: We find out Jay’s wife has left him for another woman; we find out that Lina is a lesbian but has recently broken up with her long-time girlfriend.
ACT THREE
Mystery/intrigue: Lina is verbally abused by her father and it triggers the RAPE scene where she is impregnated by an older man and has a baby (Cici), then turns it over to her parents to raise.
Intrigue: Jay and Lina fight and break up again. Jay apologizes to Lina, she lets him know she is in love with Marita.
ACT FOUR
Secret: Jay tells Lina he understands that he was wrong, and understands why she would return to Marita. He professes his intent to be “just friends” but secretly is planning to get back together with Lina.
Scheme: Jay has settled his affairs in the US and comes to CAC with $$$. He secretly buys a compound where Lina’s family can live and starts a business where they can prosper. He reveals this at the family gathering.
Intrigue: Lina brings Marita to the family gathering and Jay meets Marita. They hit it off and Marita suggests they all move in together.
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Jack P’s Emotional Moments
VISION: I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL SCRIPT THAT IS PRODUCED AND LEADS TO MULTIPLE MOVIES.
WHAT I LEARNED: I need to build in and enhance the emotional beats in my script with stronger set-ups and pay offs. I need to increase the intensity and raise the stakes of the emotional moments of the story.
TITLE: WAITING ON A FRIEND
ACT ONE
Distress: A drunk attacks Lina, Jay saves her.
Excitement: Jay and Lina go on a road trip. They get drunk and have wild sex.
Betrayal: Jay lies to Lina about being married.
Moral issue: Lina feels remorse for sleeping with Jay. She is shamed by an unknown caller.
Excitement/distress: Jay is struck by lightning and discovers his many reincarnations and Lina is his soulmate from multiple lifetimes.
Dilemma: Lina is forced to choose between going with Jay and returning to live with her parents. Neither is a good choice for her.
ACT TWO
Moral issue: Jay is still married, but in love with Lina.
Betrayal: Jay’s wife leaves him for another woman.
Love: Lina reveals she is in love with Jay;
Dilemma: but is a lesbian.
Distress: Jay’s son is shot and killed days before he returns to CR.
ACT THREE
Love: Jay and Lina reunite and are in love.
Wound: Lina was raped at age 17 and her “niece” Cici is actually her daughter.
Hidden weakness: Lina still has feelings for her old flame Marita.
Excitement: Jay and Lina go on another road trip to celebrate her birthday. Plane ride, waterfalls, bungee jumping, white water rafting etc.
Distress: Jay and Lina have a final falling out. They have an emotional farewell.
ACT FOUR
Love/affection: Jay returns to CR, tells Lina he still loves her, is willing to be friends if that’s what she wants also.
Bonding: Jay attends a family gathering with Lina’s family, they all celebrate.
Excitement/surprise: Jay invites Lina and Marita to come and live with him, along with Cici. They are now one big happy dysfunctional family of soulmates.
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Jack P’s New Outline Beats
I am absolutely capable of plotting my story!
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS LESSON IS: Moving back in forth in my storyline/beats helps to clarify the story. This is a lot like proofreading. I’m still not sure I can distinguish between Outline, Plot, Beats etc.
2. Starting from the beginning –
A. Are there any logic jumps?
Answer: No major logic jumps
B. Is the focus on the lead character’s journey?
Answer: Yes
C. Does it feel like anything is missing?
Answer: Yes. I added a scene to fill one major gap.
3. Work backwards –
A. Look back from each beat to make sure there is logical progression.
Answer: Yes
B. Made some changes in beat progressions to set them up better.
Answer: OK
4. Go to major events and ask –
A. What has to be in place for these events to happen?
Answer: OK checked backwards
B. What change will this event cause in the rest of the story?
Answer: OK for events to change future events
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Jack’s Beat Sheet – Draft 1
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS LESSON IS: I need to trust that I am creating a beat sheet, but still not clear how that differs from structure.
4-ACT STRUCTURE
Beginning: – Jay meets Lina on vacation at a café. Lina is attacked by a drunken customer and Jay saves the day.
Inciting incident: Jay and Lina go on a road trip, a fling for both that includes a near hook-up with another girl, stumbling drunk with Jay carrying Lina, and a quarrel. It appears to be over before it even began. Jay discovers that Lina is a lesbian and has tendencies toward alcoholism.
Turning Point 1: – Jay continues by himself, is struck by lightning during an electrical storm, and discovers in a NDE he and Lina are soulmates with multiple past lives together. Jay tells Lina his revelations. She calls him a fool and they part ways.
Act 2: Jay returns home to the US and is haunted by dreams of past lives with Lina and others. Lina is ejected from her parents’ house in CR. His wife announces she is leaving him for another woman. His son is shot and killed during a drug deal gone bad. She contacts Jay and he agrees to help her find her own place in the city.
Turning Point 2/Midpoint: Jay has multiple epiphanies about past lives, including with Cicilia (Cici), Lina’s “niece”, who was his mother in this life and who was born the day his mom died. Jay’s son is murdered days before he is set to return to CR. Lina reveals that Cici is actually her daughter, the result of a violent rape at the age of 17.
Act 3: Jay returns to CR in grief over the loss of his son and deeply in love with Lina. They start out in love/lust, then slowly deteriorate as the extreme opposites of their lives become apparent.
Turning Point 3: They reconcile again and go on another road trip to celebrate her birthday. They again are on a drunken roller-coaster and she rejects Jay’s sexual advances. He explodes, belittles her, and they are enemies again. They have a tearful farewell and Jay leaves once again, this time for good.
4th Act Climax: Jay apologizes to Lina and tells her how much he loves her. He brings up the soulmates relationship and although she is grateful for their time together, she doesn’t believe in reincarnation and will never have the same feelings for him as he does for her. Jay says he still feels the same for her and will spend the rest of this life – or as many lives as necessary – “Waiting on Friend”.
PROTAG JOURNEY (PJ) STRUCTURE
ACT 1: Jay meets on his first night of vacation in CR.
JAY PJ 1: A drunk attacks Lina and Jay saves the day.
LINA PJ 1: Lina invites herself to go on a road trip with Jay.
Deeper layer: Jay is recovering from a bad marriage breakup and problems with his son. Lina is a heavy drinker and is on the verge of getting kicked out of her parent’s house.
JAY PJ 2: Jay is not ready for a new relationship, but agrees to take Lina with him on his vacation. He lies to Lina and says he is not married.
LINA PJ 2: Lina gets drunk on their first date and sleeps with Jay. She spends most of the next day on the phone arguing with someone. The phone fight continues through Act 1. She tearfully apologizes to Jay for making a mess of his vacation and says he should go on without her, but he says no, he wants her with him .
INCITING INCIDENT: Jay and Lina go on a road trip, a fling for both that includes too much to drink, rough sex, a near hook-up with another girl (Kayling), and quarrels with make up sex. They part after a few days, exhausted and confused.
JAY PJ 3: Jay continues on his trip alone.
LINA PJ 4: Lina returns home and has a big fight with her parents who are fed up with her drinking and perpetual unemployment. It was her mom she was fighting with on the phone all this time.
TURNING POINT 1: Jay is struck by lightning during an electrical storm, and discovers in a NDE he and Lina are soulmates with multiple past lives together. Jay tells Lina his revelations, including that he is in love with her. She calls him a fool – there is no such thing as reincarnation, he said so himself! and they part ways. He agrees to pay for her to have a tattoo as a memory of their brief encounter.
Act 2: Jay returns home to the US and is haunted by dreams of past lives with Lina and others.
LINA PJ 4: Lina is ejected from her parents’ house in CR. She contacts Jay and he agrees to help her find her own place in the city.
JAY PJ 4: His wife announces she is leaving him for another woman. His son is shot and killed during a drug deal gone bad.
Deeper layer reveal: We learn that Jay is still married. We learn more about Jay’s history with family addiction and alcoholism – his parents, his 1<sup>st</sup> wife, his children.
Turning Point 2/Midpoint: Jay has multiple epiphanies about past lives, including with Cicilia (Cici), Lina’s “niece”, who was Jay’s mother in this life and who was born the day his mom died. Jay’s son is murdered days before he is set to return to CR.
Act 3: Jay returns to CR in grief over the collapse of his marriage, loss of his son, and deeply in love with Lina. They start out in love/lust, then slowly deteriorate as the extreme opposites of their lives become apparent.
LINA PJ 5: Lina reveals that Cici is actually her daughter, the result of a violent rape at the age of 17.
JAY PJ 5: Jay reveals he is still married, and lets her know her wife has left him for another woman, a friend who he introduced to his wife.
LINA PJ 5.1: Lina goes to visit her old flame Marita. She comes home to Jay drunk very late and they have a big fight. Lina assures Jay that it’s over with Marita the next day, they are just friends now.
Turning Point 3: Jay and Lina reconcile again and go on another road trip to celebrate her birthday.
LINA PJ 6: They are again on a drunken roller-coaster and she rejects Jay’s sexual advances.
JAY PJ 6: He explodes, belittles her, and they are on the outs again.
Jay and Lina have a tearful farewell and Jay leaves once again.
LINA PJ 7: LINA hooks up with her old flame Marita.
4th Act Climax: One year later – Jay apologizes to Lina and tells her how much he loves her. He brings up the soulmates relationship, she admits to loving him too despite of all the trouble in their relationship, she still doesn’t believe in reincarnation. Jay says he still feels the same for her – even if she doesn’t believe in reincarnation – and will spend the rest of this life – or as many lives as necessary – “Waiting on Friend”.
Ending: They reconcile and all “soulmates” are together at Cici’s birthday party, including Jay, Lina, and Marita, who are now a threesome.
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Jack P’s Supporting Characters
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: Supporting characters have a critical role in revealing the subtext and background for the leads.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Lina: Kayline, Mari, Sophie
Jay: Ex-wife, daughter, son
BACKGROUND CHARACTERS: Father, mother, uncle, aunt, kids
SUPPORT 1:
NAME: Sophie
ROLE: Lani’s daughter
PURPOSE: Reveal rape secret, resolve mother/daughter separation
Value: Lani’s chance to leave her irresponsible past behind and become a parent; Sophie is Jay’s mom reincarnated
SUPPORT 2:
NAME: Kayline
ROLE: Cute girl at the swim-up bar
PURPOSE: Reveal Lani’s bisexuality
VALUE: Show the “other side” of Lani (drunk, lesbian)
SUPPORT 3:
NAME: Mari
ROLE: Lani’s former lover and best friend
PURPOSE: Reveal Lani’s past, discuss love for Jay
VALUE: Show Lani’s past and set up for conflict and resolution of relationship with Jay
SUPPORT 4:
NAME: Flora
ROLE: Jay’s ex-wife in US
PURPOSE: Show Jay’s relationship betrayal
VALUE: Reveal Jay’s relationship wound
SUPPORT 5:
NAME: Michele
ROLE: Jay’s adult daughter
PURPOSE: Show Jay’s path through a child’s addiction-recovery
VALUE: Reveal the subtext of addiction, resolve by showing recovery can be life-changing
SUPPORT 6:
NAME: Jameson
ROLE: Jay’s adult son
PURPOSE: Show Jay’s path through a child’s addiction tragedy
VALUE: Reveal the subtext of Jay’s loss of a child, reveal reincarnation and soulmate journey
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Jack’s Character Profiles Part 2
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: The pieces of the character puzzle are starting to connect.
JAY
HIGH CONCEPT: An old gringo falls in love with a young lesbian and they discover they are soulmates from countless reincarnations.
JOURNEY: A controlling, over-confident “ugly
American” closed-minded spiritual skeptic becomes a compassionate listener with a generous heart and awakened soul.ACTOR ATTRACTOR: A challenging role for an older actor as he is confronting life-long beliefs, prejudices, and relational issues, then is compelled to change everything for the unsuspected love of a much younger woman.
LINA
HIGH CONCEPT: A young lesbian falls in love with an old gringo and is awakened to reincarnation and the true love of her soulmate.
JOURNEY: A timid lesbian, unsure of herself and skeptical of true love and soulmates, falls in love with an older straight man and awakens to reincarnation and soulmates by the end of the story.
ACTOR ATTRACTOR: Lina is a 30-something Latina lesbian with a traumatic past. She is a heavy drinker, homeless and broke when she meets an old gringo and goes on a lark. Her life is transformed when she falls in love with her soulmate and discovers her immortal soul.
JAY
1 Role in the Story: Old gringo
2 Age range and Description: Mid-sixties and in good shape for his age
3 Core Traits: Skeptic, quiet, wants to help
4 Motivation; Want/Need: Want: To be left alone; Need: True love with his soulmate
5 Wound: Betrayed by his wife, loss of his son
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Gruff but charming, ugly American on vacation, wounded in love and as a parent
7 Character subtext: He is bringing psychological baggage, including betrayal by his wife and loss of his son, while putting on the appearances of a gruff old gringo on vacation.
8 Character intrigue: He has recently separated from his wife. She left him for another woman – someone he had introduced her to – because the woman was rich and could provide things he couldn’t. He is losing his son to drugs and violence but doesn’t want to deal with it on vacation.
9 Flaw: Cowardice – Hiding the truth about his wife and son, stuffing the emotions caused by betrayal and loss.
10 Values: Family, love, spirituality
11 Character dilemma: Loving and giving versus controlling and insecure; agnostic versus soul searching; spiritual skeptic versus evidence of reincarnation and immortality
LINA
1 Role in the Story: Young Latina lesbian
2 Age range and Description: Early thirties, darkly beautiful, petite, body art, piercings
3 Core Traits: Reserved until drunk, cautious with men, spiritual skeptic
4 Motivation; Want/Need: WANT: Financial security; NEED: True love and a soulmate
5 Wound: Sexual trauma, losing her daughter
6 Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Pretty, creative; young woman fighting poverty; empathy for her trauma, economic situation, longing for her daughter.
7 Character subtext: Hiding something: Bisexuality, addiction, past trauma, relationship averse, motherhood, spirituality.
8 Character intrigue: Secrets: Homosexual, Addiction, past trauma, relationship averse, motherhood, spirituality.
9 Flaw: Overdoing, poor decisions, undervalues self
10 Values: Family, intelligence, being your best
11 Internal dilemma: Being true to herself vs pleasing others; being responsible vs doing whatever comes up
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Jack P’s Character Intrigue
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: Jay and Lina’s secrets and hidden wounds will be a source of conflict, and also a source of their characters evolution and resolution.
CHARACTER NAME: Jay
ROLE: He has secrets and an unspoken wound.
SECRETS: He has recently separated from his wife. She left him for another woman – someone he had introduced her to – because the woman was rich and could provide things he couldn’t.
UNSPOKEN WOUND: He considers himself homophobic, but kept it hidden. His wife leaving him for another woman was a major blow to his ego and causes him a great deal of embarrassment and humiliation, which is one reason he is on this vacation.
HOW THIS WILL SHOW UP AS SUBTEXT IN THE MOVIE: Jay is resentful of his wife and has a great disdain for lesbians in general.
CHARACTER NAME: Lina
ROLE: She has secrets and an unspoken wound.
SECRETS: She is a lesbian, but doesn’t tell Jay that until she reveals it when she is drunk. She has a child that her mother and father are raising.
UNSPOKEN WOUND: She was raped when she was 17, became pregnant and had a daughter. This is the child her parents are raising.
HOW THIS WILL SHOW UP AS SUBTEXT IN THE MOVIE: Lina discovers she is bisexual and has sex with Jay. She finds out he is homophobic and hides her homosexual past from him. She is ashamed and keeps the fact of her rape and daughter from him for as long as possible, but we sense the relationship between Lina and her daughter is more than aunt and niece before it is revealed.
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Jack P’s Subtext Characters
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: I learned more about the subtext my characters are working with by answering the subtext questions for the leads in my story.
Movie Title: Waiting on a Friend
Character Name: Jay
Subtext identity: An old gringo who is afraid of love and his spirituality
Subtext Activity: Plays the ugly American and is agnostic
Subtext Logline: Jay is an old gringo on vacation who falls in love with a young lesbian and discovers his eternal soul.
Possible Areas for Subtext: Controlling, set in his ways, homophobic, agnostic, recovering enabler, skeptic regarding women’s ability to be honest.
Character Name: Lina
Subtext Identity: Young Latina lesbian, insecure but with a wild side.
Subtext trait: Suspicious, spiritual skeptic, doesn’t trust men, but willing to explore new experiences and relationships.
Subtext Logline: Lina is a hard drinking young Latina lesbian who doesn’t trust men, is a spiritual skeptic, but is willing to explore new experiences and relationships.
Possible Areas of Subtext: Bisexuality, addiction, past trauma, relationship depths, motherhood, spirituality.
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Jack P’s Actor Attractors
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: My lead characters are interesting and have the potential to attract quality actors.
ASSIGNMENT
LEAD CHARACTER NAME: Jay
ROLE: Protagonist
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
This is a challenging role for an older male actor as he is confronting life-long beliefs, prejudices, and relational issues, then is compelled to change everything for the unsuspected love of a woman.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
He is an older man who meets a younger woman and falls in love, realizes they are soul mates from previous/multidimensional relationships, then navigates his psychological and spiritual evolution in a foreign culture.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
1 – Saving his leading lady from a drunken attacker; 2 – going on a wild road trip with his leading lady; 3 – being struck by lightning and dying; 4- having a near death experience and an epiphany that his soul is immortal and learning about his spiritual relationships with other characters in the story …
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
A May-December romance with a young lesbian woman that is tumultuous, erotic, and transformational, and that takes him on an evolutionary journey through his psyche and elevates him as a spiritual being.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range
From an uptight and emotionally cold gringo to a loving partner with an expanded world and spiritual perspective.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Surface: Typical American gringo on vacation, shallow and selfish; Subtext: damaged father and grieving widower escaping from a bad situation; Surface: Cold, unemotional; Subtext: deeply empathetic and spiritually evolving.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
His relationship with a young lesbian and other characters in the story he knows from other lives.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
How he is transformed after an NDE into a sensitive man with an immortal soul.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
His transformation from shallow gringo to enlightened soul.
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Jack P’s Actor Attractors for Roman Holiday
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
Movie Title: Roman Holiday
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Joe (Gregory Peck)
This is the iconic rom-com leading man: strong but romantic; ambitious and willing to deceive for his career, but a gentleman in the end; smart and funny; good lines and pratfalls; chase scene; gets to have adventures and fall in love with the leading lady.
Anna (Audrey Hepburn)
A princess goes missing, has an adventure in Rome, and falls in love with a handsome older man.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
SEE ABOVE
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Joe
Meets the princess passed out on the street; takes her home to his tiny apartment; follows her through the streets of Rome to trick her into getting photos; Vespa chase; street dance and fight scene; changes his mind in the end and doesn’t write “the story.”
Anna
Escapes from the embassy, passes out on the street; awakes in a strange man’s apartment; goes on a wild lark in Rome; goes to a street dance that ends in a brawl; falls in the water; returns to the embassy to resume her duties.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Joe
Handsome older man on the skids trying to make some money as a reporter, then meets and falls in love with a beautiful princess.
Anna
Beautiful young princess runs away from her duties, meets a handsome older man and falls in love.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Joe
From shallow and devious to a romantic gentleman.
Anna
From dutiful princess to wild young woman on an adventure and falling in love with a commoner, older man.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Joe
Surface: Ambitious and ruthless “anything to get the story” – subtext: an honest man willing to crush the story for love and honor; surface: could take advantage of the girl’s vulnerability – subtext: is a gentleman and doesn’t touch her.
Anna
Surface: Dutiful princess; subtext: vibrant young lady who wants to let her hair down and do all the things she really wanted to do.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Joe
With the princess; with Irving; with the editor.
Anna: with Joe; with Irving; with her staff.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Joe
Struggling reporter intent on getting the story and the buck, to a romantic and vulnerable gentleman in love.
Anna
Uptight formal then to adventurous lady wanting to experience life.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Joe
Combination of good looks, intelligence, subtle humor, ability to play pitfalls and action comedy, and a tearful romantic who is a good sport in the end.
Anna
Young, beautiful, smart, adventurous, able to return to her real life after tasting a life she is not destined for.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The scene where Joe and Anna are at the street dance, and the secret police try and take Anna away, and they cause a riot and escape.
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Jack P’s Genre Conventions
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: Applying the genre conventions added a surprising comedic dimension to the structure of my story.
TITLE: WAITING ON A FRIEND
CONCEPT: A young lesbian and old man fall in love and discover they have shared multiple lifetimes as soulmates.
GENRE: ROM-COM
GENRE CONVENTIONS:
· PURPOSE: To have the audience experience falling in love again.
· JOURNEY OF LOVE: Two people who are complete opposites meet and go on a lark, then have a drunken falling out, then reconcile, then endure a long-distance romance, then move in together, and find they are incompatible, then go on a road trip, then have a nasty break-up, then reunite as friends and lovers.
· RELATIONSHIP SET-UP: Two people who couldn’t be more different meet, fall in love, stumble over their myriad differences, then finally come back together in their mutual awareness as soulmates.
· ISSUES: Jay must come to terms with his macho/insecure/agnostic demons that are overcome by his growing spiritual awareness and love for Lina; Lina must overcome her tough-girl insecurities by confronting her abusive past and destructive lifestyle and opening her heart to the possibility of true love and reincarnation.
· SEPARATION: Lifestyle, insecurities, and language coupled with a 7,000 mile long-distance relationship.
· COMEDY: Humor in language misunderstandings, cultural differences, sexual friction, relationships with multiple related souls converging on Jay and Lina’s current life. Ex: Jay’s mom comes back as Lina’s daughter Sophia; Jay’s dad comes back as Lina’s nephew Esteban.
STRUCTURE
ACT 1
OPENING: Jay meets Lina on vacation at a café. Lina is attacked by a drunken customer and Jay saves the day.
INCITING INCIDENT: Jay and Lina go on a road trip, a fling for both that (ends with a near hook-up with another girl, stumbling home drunk with Jay carrying Lina, and a drunken quarrel). It appears to be over before it even began.
TURNING POINT: Jay goes off by himself, is struck by lightning during an electrical storm, and discovers in a NDE he and Lina are soulmates with multiple past lives together. Jay meets with Lina and tells her his revelations. She calls him a fool and they part ways.
ACT 2
REACTION: Jay returns home (US) and is haunted by dreams of past lives with Lina and others. Lina is kicked out of her parents’ house in CAC. She contacts Jay and he agrees to help her find her own place in the city.
NEW PLAN: Even though Lina doesn’t believe they are soulmates, she accepts his help and they begin a long-distance relationship.
PLAN IN ACTION: Jay researches reincarnation, begins to believe he has {multiple soulmates in this lifetime including Sophie (Jay’s past mom) and Estaban, (Jay’s past dad)}, and realizes he is in love with Lina. She is grateful for his help, says she loves him too and they begin planning a life together when he returns.
MIDPOINT TURNING POINT: Jay returns to Lina and they are madly in love. They share the tiny apartment in the slums of CAC and become a (naïve but blissful couple.)
ACT 3
RETHINK EVERYTHING: At first all is well. Then they slowly revert to their old selves: Old Jay is controlling, insecure, teetotaler, non-smoker, homophobe. He is having money problems and tells her she needs to get a job. Lina is an alcoholic, smoker, spends most of her free time texting or talking in Spanish on the phone. She is trying this domestic thing with a man, but it’s not really her. (Ruined meals, bleaching his laundry) She misses her old life and girlfriends. She comes come drunk very late one night and they have a big fight.
NEW PLAN: Jay confronts her about her lifestyle and says she has to change. Lina tells him she’s not really attracted to him and she is going to do whatever she wants. She gets drunk and passes out in the bathroom. She packs her bag and leaves after a quicky. Jay leaves the apartment and starts to make his exit plans from this miserable failure.
TURNING POINT/HUGE FAILURE/MAJOR SHIFT: They reconcile again and go on another road trip to celebrate her birthday. It is a roller coaster ride – (comical UBER eats, stoned in the taxi cab, to crazy birthday party on the beach) – ending with her rejecting his advances one last time. He explodes and belittles her, then refuses to talk for the remainder of the trip. He leaves for home after an emotional farewell.
ACT 4
CLIMAX/ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE CONFLICT: THREE MONTHS LATER. Jay writes to Lina apologizing for his actions. He reiterates his love for her and everything he has learned makes it clear they are soulmates and should keep trying. He returns to CAC and they have dinner. She thanks him for everything he has done for her but she has moved on, she doesn’t feel anything for him, there is no such thing as soulmates.
RESOLUTION: ONE YEAR LATER. Jay returns to CAC and meets Lina’s girlfriend. Lina admits to realizing there is something unique, they may be soulmates, but too much has happened to go back to being a couple. They agree to be “friends for life.” (They end up as a threesome happy ever after.)
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Jack P’s 4 Act Transformational Structure
MY VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED: This formula works for setting up a story structure. Hard work, but effective!
CONCEPT: A young lesbian and old man fall in love and discover they have shared multiple lifetimes as soulmates.
MAIN CONFLICT: Two people fall in love who couldn’t be more different and must navigate their differences in order to succeed as a couple and as friends.
OLD WAYS/NEW WAYS:
Jay
Old ways: Controlling, over-confident “ugly
American” closed-minded spiritual skeptic.New ways: Compassionate listener with a generous heart and awakened soul.
Lina
Old ways: Naïve and impetuous; self-destructive; closed off to emotion, spiritually conflicted.
New ways: Self-aware and focused; overcoming addictions and bad behavior; emotionally and spiritually aware.
ACT 1
OPENING: Jay meets Lina on vacation at a café. Lina is attacked by a drunken customer and Jay saves the day.
INCITING INCIDENT: Jay and Lina go on a road trip, a fling for both that ends with a hook-up with another girl and a drunken quarrel. It appears to be over before it even began.
TURNING POINT: Jay goes off by himself, is struck by lightning during an electrical storm, and discovers in a NDE he and Lina are soulmates with multiple past lives together. Jay meets with Lina and tells her his revelations. She doesn’t believe him and they part ways.
ACT 2
REACTION: Jay returns home (US) and is haunted by dreams of past lives with Lina and others. Lina is kicked out of her parents’ house with no options. She contacts Jay and he agrees to help her find her own place in the city.
NEW PLAN: Even though Lina doesn’t believe they are soulmates, she accepts his help and they begin a long-distance relationship.
PLAN IN ACTION: Jay researches reincarnation, begins to believe he has multiple soulmates in this lifetime, and realizes he is in love with Lina. She is grateful for his help, says she loves him too and they begin planning a life together when he returns.
MIDPOINT TURNING POINT: Jay returns to Lina and they are madly in love. They share the tiny apartment in the slums of CAC (Central American City) and become a blissful couple.
ACT 3
RETHINK EVERYTHING: At first all is well. Then they slowly revert to their old selves: Old Jay is controlling, insecure, teetotaler, non-smoker, homophobe. He is having money problems and tells her she needs to get a job. Lina is an alcoholic, smoker, spends most of her free time texting or talking in Spanish on the phone. She is trying this domestic thing with a man, but it’s not really her. She misses her old life and girlfriends. She comes come drunk very late one night and they have a big fight.
NEW PLAN: Jay confronts her about her lifestyle and says she has to change. Lina tells him she’s not really attracted to him and she is going to do whatever she wants. She gets drunk and passes out in the bathroom. She packs her bag and leaves after a quicky. Jay leaves the apartment and starts to make his exit plans from this miserable failure.
TURNING POINT/HUGE FAILURE/MAJOR SHIFT: They reconcile again and go on another road trip to celebrate her birthday. It is a roller coaster ride ending with her rejecting his advances one last time. He explodes and belittles her, then refuses to talk for the remainder of the trip. He leaves for home after an emotional farewell.
ACT 4
CLIMAX/ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE CONFLICT: THREE MONTHS LATER. Jay writes to Lina apologizing for his actions. He reiterates his love for her and everything he has learned makes it clear they are soulmates and should keep trying. He returns to CAC and they have dinner. She thanks him for everything he has done for her but she has moved on, she doesn’t feel anything for him, there is no such thing as soulmates.
RESOLUTION: ONE YEAR LATER. Jay returns to CAC and meets Lina’s girlfriend. Lina admits to realizing there is something unique, they may be soulmates, but too much has happened to go back and try again. They agree to becoming “friends for life.”
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Jack P’s Transformational Journey
VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a script that is produced, recognized by the industry, and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT: My lead characters must change internally and externally to create a compelling arc for the story.
Jay
CHARACTER ARC
Arc beginning: Macho American controlling male, “recovering Catholic” agnostic and skeptical about love and reincarnation.
Arc ending: In love and believing in soul mates
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL JOURNEY
Internal journey: From hard and jaded to empathetic and romantic
External journey: Cold divorcee to romantic lover
OLD WAYS/NEW WAYS
Old ways: Controlling, over-confident “ugly
American” skepticNew ways: Compassionate listener with a generous heart
Lina
CHARACTER ARC
Arc beginning: Timid lesbian unsure of herself and love and rejecting true love and soul mates.
Arc ending: In love and believing in soul mates.
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL JOURNEY
Internal journey: From insecure and immature to strong and self-confident.
External journey: From helpless victim to empowered and independent woman.
OLD WAYS/NEW WAYS
Old ways: Naïve and impetuous; self-destructive; closed off to emotion.
New ways: Self-aware and focused; overcoming additions and bad behavior; emotionally and spiritually aware.
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Jack P’s Intentional Lead Characters
VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT: That a succinct logline for each main character is essential to determine the uniqueness of the characters within the concept.
LOGLINE: Natalina is a hard-drinking young lesbian on the rebound from a string of bad relationships when on impulse she goes on a road trip with and old straight gringo.
LOGLINE: Jay is a recovering alcoholic teetotaler/pothead gringo escaping from a failing marriage when he meets a young lesbian on vacation.
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Jack P’s Title, Concept, and Character Structure
VISION: I will do whatever it takes to write a produced script that is recognized by the industry and leads to multiple successful movies.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT: That my script will be a Rom-Com with the two lead characters owning the story.
TITLE: Waiting on a Friend
CONCEPT: A young lesbian and old man fall in love and discover they have shared multiple lifetimes as soulmates.
CHARACTER STRUCTURE: Rom-Com
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Hello everybody,
My name is Jack Purdie. I have written three scripts: (1) science fiction feature, book adaptation; (2) Christian feature, historical adaptation; (3) historical fiction pilot, based on a short story series. I intend to use the methods and insights from this class to become contest, agent, and manager ready. I split my time between Idaho and Costa Rica.
Looking forward to learning from you all.
Jack
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Jack Purdie
I agree to the terms of this release form.