[jim ramsay]

Ramsay First Scene

RAMSAY – Module 5 – Lesson 1: Basic Formatting, Description, and Dialogue

My Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
I learned every scene has a beginning, middle, and end.
The process went very smoothly.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 4 – Lesson 10: Making Every Scene Fascinating

Act 1: Introduction
Scene 1: Dream Flashback
Slug Line: INT. MIC’S BEDROOM – NIGHT Description: Mic (Michaela) and her younger sister are caught in gang initiation crossfire. Her sister is killed and dies in Mic’s arms.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Flashback): Mic is asleep, dreaming of a peaceful day in Los Angeles.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Shock): The scene turns chaotic as gang members open fire, and Mic’s sister is shot.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Emotional Impact): Mic’s sister dies in her arms, and Mic wakes up in terror.
Scene 2: Character Establishment
Slug Line: INT. FEDERAL AGENCY GYM – DAY Description: Mic, a tough and caustic Federal Agent, trains intensely in Krav Maga, showing her determination and skill.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Action): Mic trains aggressively, displaying her physical prowess and determination.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Flashback): Brief flashbacks show her journey and rise through the ranks.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Revelation): Mic ends her training session, revealing her obsession with finding Carlito.
Scene 3: Catalyst Incident
Slug Line: INT. CARTEL SAFE HOUSE – NIGHT Description: Mic infiltrates the Mexican Cartel, but the mission is compromised when she kills the terrorists trying to rape and kill her.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Tension): Mic delivers Cartel assets to the safe house.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Conflict): Mic is attacked by the terrorist assets, and in self-defense, she kills the terrorists.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Consequence): The mission is blown, Mic has been shot several times, and she must escape before the cartel discovers her actions.
Scene 4: Fallout
Slug Line: INT. FEDERAL AGENCY OFFICE – DAY Description: Mic’s frequent violent recklessness has alienated her fellow agents and department bosses. She is given an ultimatum.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Confrontation): Mic’s boss, TJ Thyne, reprimands her for her actions. He tells her the suits want her gone, but he convinces them to give her a second chance.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Ultimatum): TJ gives her a choice: transfer to the Human Trafficking Division or be fired.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Decision): Mic, angry and frustrated, decides to quit.
Act 2: Transformation
Scene 5: New Assignment
Slug Line: INT. MIC’S APARTMENT – NIGHT Description: Mic’s relationship with her neighbor’s teenage daughter, Hannah, becomes her only solace. When Hannah is abducted after Mic’s bad advice, she is guilt-ridden and accepts the transfer to the Human Trafficking Division.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Character Development): Mic interacts with Hannah, showing her softer side.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Turning Point): Hannah is abducted, and Mic, believing she is partially responsible, is overwhelmed with guilt.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Resolve): Mic accepts the transfer to the Trafficking Division to use their resources to find Hannah.
Scene 6: Trafficking Division
Slug Line: INT. TRAFFICKING DIVISION OFFICE – DAY Description: Mic meets her new boss, Chief Kirchner, who allows her a second chance but prohibits using violence.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Introduction): Mic is introduced to Chief Kirchner, who is wary of her. Mic corrals her acerbic attitude because it’s to help Hannah.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Restriction): Kirchner lays down strict rules, prohibiting Mic from using violence, or she will be fired. No exceptions.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Challenge): Mic has been given her first assignment. She is to track down a godly vigilante who is saving sex-trafficked girls.
Scene 7: The Vigilante
Slug Line: EXT. CHRISTIAN BAND VENUE – NIGHT Description: Mic’s investigation leads her to a Christian Band. She believes the band leader, David, is the vigilante she’s tracking.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Discovery): Mic attends the band’s performance, observing David.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Revelation): Mic realizes David is the vigilante she has been looking for. She has no proof but is sure he is the vigilante.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Alliance): David is charismatic and convinces Mic to join him in his quest. She agrees to help him, but only if he prioritizes finding Hannah.
Scene 8: Planning and Rescue
Slug Line: INT. CARTEL SAFEHOUSE—NIGHT Description: A lead takes Mic and David to an estate in Beverly Hills owned by the Cartel. They discover Hannah and other girls being held.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Suspense): Mic and David follow a lead to the cartel safe house.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Discovery): They confirm that Hannah and the other girls are inside. Mic’s mission is complicated when she learns about a pending fentanyl deal.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Conflict): Mic and David clash over how to approach the Mansion, with Mic wanting to storm in and David advocating for a more strategic plan.
Act 3: The Plan in Motion
Scene 9: Tactical Planning
Slug Line: INT. CARTEL SAFEHOUSE – NIGHT Description: David agrees to help Mic save Hannah and extract the girls, but he doesn’t want her to use violence.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Compromise): David agrees to help but insists on a nonviolent approach. Mic knows his idea is unreasonable, but she will do what it takes.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Strategy): They devise a plan to infiltrate the Mansion.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Preparation): Mic contacts TJ for backup, but he orders her to stand down and promises his agents will take charge in the morning. But the morning will be too late. Hannah will be gone, and the fentanyl deal will be completed.

Scene 10: The Final Showdown
Slug Line: INT. CARTEL MANSION – NIGHT Description: Mic can’t wait on the Agency, so she goes ahead with the rescue on her own, fighting her way to Hannah and confronting Carlito.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Defiance): Mic proceeds with the rescue despite orders to stand down.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Action): She fights a furious and unrelenting battle with the cartel soldiers and miraculously escapes several deadly situations.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Confrontation): Mic confronts Carlito, revealing her history with him and her true intentions.
Act 4: Resolution
Scene 11: The Choice
Slug Line: INT. CARTEL MANSION – NIGHT Description: Mic must choose between killing Carlito, saving Hannah, or stopping the fentanyl deal.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Dilemma): Mic faces down Carlito and has the opportunity to kill him.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Moral Conflict): Influenced by David’s guidance, Mic struggles with her desire for vengeance and saving Hannah.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Decision): Mic decides to save Hannah and stop the fentanyl deal, foregoing her vendetta against Carlito.
Scene 12: Climax
Slug Line: INT. CARTEL MANSION—NIGHT Description: Mic confronts Carlito in a fierce battle. Although she doesn’t want to kill him, he gives her no choice, and she kills him and rescues Hannah. She even manages to stop the fentanyl deal that would have killed thousands.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Showdown): Mic engages in a fierce battle with Carlito.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Revelation): She reveals her past and true intentions during the fight.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Victory): Mic kills Carlito, rescues Hannah, and stops the fentanyl distribution.
Scene 13: Aftermath
Slug Line: EXT. CARTEL MANSION – DAWN Description: Mic is severely wounded but successful. She and David rescue Hannah and the girls, but the Chi-Com General escapes.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Aftermath): Mic, wounded, is surrounded by the battle’s aftermath.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Resolution): Mic and David rescue Hannah and the girls.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Escape): The Chi-Com General with the fentanyl escapes, and TJ’s agents arrive too late. Mic has already taken out the cartel and saved the day.
Scene 14: Final Moments
Slug Line: EXT. CARTEL MANSION – DAWN Description: Mic reflects on her journey, finding peace and redemption as she faces the consequences of her actions.
• Beginning (Interest Technique: Reflection): Mic, bloody and exhausted, reflects on her journey.
• Middle (Interest Technique: Emotional Closure): She finds peace and redemption, has saved the innocent, and has confronted her past and done the righteous thing.
• Ending (Interest Technique: Ambiguity): David stays with Mic, offering comfort and spiritual solace as she faces the consequences of her unsanctioned actions, leaving the ending ambiguous. Will Mic be back to fight another day? In a sequel?

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – WIM+AI – Module 4 – Lesson 9: Scene Requirements
Act 1: Introduction to Mic and her Obsession
Scene 1: Mic’s Dream Sequence
Slug Line: INT. MIC’S BEDROOM – NIGHT Description: Mic dreams about being shot and witnessing her sister’s death at Carlito’s hands. Scene Requirements:
• Scene Arc: Starts with a peaceful sleep; ends with Mic waking up in terror.
• Essence: Establish Mic’s traumatic past and motivation for vengeance.
• Conflict: Mic’s internal struggle with her sister’s death.
• Subtext: Mic’s deep-seated guilt and unresolved anger.
• Hope/Fear: Hope that Mic can overcome her trauma; fear that it will continue to haunt her.
Scene 2: Undercover Operation Gone Wrong
Slug Line: INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE – NIGHT Description: Mic, undercover, loses control during an attempted rape, blowing her cover and killing cartel members. Scene Requirements:
• Scene Arc: Starts with Mic undercover; ends with the operation blown and cartel members dead.
• Essence: Showcase Mic’s skills and inner turmoil.
• Conflict: External conflict with cartel members; internal conflict with her control.
• Subtext: Mic’s recklessness driven by unresolved trauma.
• Hope/Fear: Hope that Mic maintains her cover; fear of losing control and blowing the operation.
Scene 3: Mic’s Demotion
Slug Line: INT. FEDERAL AGENCY OFFICE – DAY Description: Mic is reprimanded and demoted to the Human Trafficking Division. She quits in protest. Scene Requirements:
• Scene Arc: Starts with reprimand; ends with Mic quitting.
• Essence: Highlight Mic’s conflict with her superiors and her refusal to accept the demotion.
• Conflict: Mic vs. her superiors.
• Subtext: Mic’s disdain for bureaucratic limitations.
• Hope/Fear: Hope Mic accepts her demotion; fear that her rage will lead her to quit.
Scene 4: Mic Meets David
Slug Line: EXT. STREET NEAR MIC’S APARTMENT – NIGHT Description: After quitting, Mic meets David, a vigilante, after her neighbor Hannah is abducted. Scene Requirements:
• Scene Arc: Starts with Mic’s despair; ends with a renewed sense of purpose.
• Essence: Introduce David and establish their alliance.
• Conflict: Mic’s internal conflict about returning to work.
• Subtext: Mic’s inner struggle between vengeance and duty.
• Hope/Fear: Hope that Mic finds a new purpose; fear that she will spiral further.

Act 2: Alliances and Conflict
Scene 5: Mic and David Investigate
Slug Line: INT. DAVID’S SAFEHOUSE – NIGHT Description: Mic and David investigate leads on Hannah’s abduction, revealing the cartel’s involvement. Scene Requirements:
• Scene Arc: Starts with confusion; ends with a clear lead.
• Essence: Develop Mic and David’s partnership.
• Conflict: Overcoming resistance and gathering clues.
• Subtext: Building trust and camaraderie.
• Hope/Fear: Hope they find useful leads; fear they hit dead ends.
Scene 6: Confrontation with Agency Colleagues
Slug Line: INT. FEDERAL AGENCY OFFICE – DAY Description: Mic faces resistance from her colleagues when she returns to the Human Trafficking Division. Scene Requirements:
• Scene Arc: Starts with Mic’s return; ends with increased tension.
• Essence: Highlight internal agency conflicts.
• Conflict: Mic vs. her colleagues.
• Subtext: Mic’s growing isolation.
• Hope/Fear: Hope Mic can rally support; fear of betrayal and isolation.
Scene 7: Discovery of Carlito’s Involvement
Slug Line: INT. CARTEL HIDEOUT – NIGHT Description: Mic and David uncover evidence linking Carlito to the trafficking and drug operations. Scene Requirements:
• Scene Arc: Starts with suspicion; ends with confirmation.
• Essence: Raise stakes by revealing Carlito’s involvement.
• Conflict: Gathering evidence while staying hidden.
• Subtext: Mic’s escalating personal vendetta.
• Hope/Fear:

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 4 – Lesson 5: Character Action Tracks 5.26.24
Based on the character profiles, journeys, and four-act structure, here are specific actions Michaela (Mic) can take in each act that are unique to her character. Each action is tailored to her traits, motivations, and the unique dynamics of the story.
Act 1: Establishing Motivation and Conflict
Action 1: Undercover Takedown
• Details: During an undercover operation with the cartel, Mic reacts with a risky solo takedown of terrorists she is transporting after they attempt to rape her. Her disheveled young appearance and casual demeanor gave them a false sense of security before she struck with brutal efficiency, showcasing her combat skills and deep-seated anger.
• Character-Specific: Mic’s actions highlight the lack of concern for her safety and her pushing boundaries to accomplish her mission. She is driven by unresolved trauma and anger caused by her sister’s murderer, Carlito Bonino, and her goal of killing him.
Action 2: Confronting Authority
• Details: After the operation is over, Mic’s confrontation with her superiors, is intense and angry. She openly challenges their decisions and defiantly refuses to accept her demotion.
• Character-Specific: Her abrasive nature and disregard for what others think come to the forefront, demonstrating her obsessive focus on her own mission.
Action 3: Reluctant Mentor
• Details: Despite her personal turmoil, Mic gives love advice to her teen neighbor, Hannah, showcasing a rare moment of vulnerability and kindness typically masked by her hardened exterior.
• Character-Specific: This interaction reveals Mic’s hidden compassion and protective instincts, hinting at her internal struggle between vengeance and protecting the innocent. When Mic realizes she may be responsible for Hannah’s online interaction with a sex trafficking groomer, Hannah is abducted. Mic accepts her demotion to human trafficking.
Act 2: Entering the Fray
Action 4: Reluctant Alliance
• Details: Mic’s first assignment is tracking down a Godly vigilante. Instead of arresting him, she reluctantly agrees to join forces, driven by her need to find Hannah. She clarifies she’s doing this for Hannah, not out of any newfound sense of justice. Vigilante agrees.
• Character-Specific: Mic’s decision to team up with someone she initially distrusts emphasizes her pragmatic approach and her singular focus on her goals, even if it means compromising her principles.

Action 5: Tactical Operations
• Details: During the search for Hannah, Mic employs military-style tactics to take down cartel operatives, showcasing her offensive skills and strategic mindset. She leads several high-risk actions, demonstrating her relentless pursuit of her goals.
• Character-Specific: These operations underscore Mic’s indestructible presence and obsessive personality, illustrating her willingness to endanger herself for the mission.
Action 6: Moment of Vulnerability
• Details: Mic has a private moment where she reflects on her sister’s death, revealing her vulnerability and crisis of faith. This is a rare glimpse into her internal pain, seen only by the vigilante. His counseling softens Mic to reconsider her faith in God.
• Character-Specific: This moment shows her internal conflict and deep-seated emotional wounds, adding depth to her tough exterior. But emotional change won’t be easy for Mic.
Act 3: Heightened Stakes and Confrontations
Action 7: Strategic Deception
• Details: Mic devises a plan to infiltrate Carlito’s inner circle by posing as a high-value cartel ally, using her disheveled appearance and street-smart tactics to gain their trust. This requires her to suppress her rage and act with calculated coldness.
• Character-Specific: This action leverages Mic’s ability to play a role, get close to Carlito, and manipulate situations to her advantage, reflecting her adaptability.
Action 8: Confronting Carlito
• Details: Mic engages in a series of tactical battles with Carlito and his men, using her intimate knowledge of his operations to sabotage key points. She confronts Carlito directly but prioritizes damaging his empire over personal revenge for now.
• Character-Specific: Her tactical prowess and personal vendetta drive these actions, demonstrating her strategic mindset and the tension between her need for revenge and her duty to rescue Hannah, stop the cartel drug transaction, and finally kill Carlito.
Action 9: Moral Crossroads
• Details: Faced with the opportunity to kill Carlito, Mic hesitates, torn between her desire for vengeance and her need to save Hannah. This moment of hesitation allows Carlito to escape temporarily, but it solidifies Mic’s internal conflict.
• Character-Specific: This hesitation highlights her internal struggle and growth as she prioritizes the greater good over personal revenge.
Act 4: Climax and Resolution
Action 10: Ultimate Sacrifice
• Details: In the final confrontation, Mic has Carlito at her mercy. She’s prepared to kill him but realizes that doing so would jeopardize Hannah’s rescue. She chooses to spare Carlito and save Hannah, showing her ultimate growth.
• Character-Specific: This action signifies Mic’s character arc completion, where she chooses justice and protection over personal vengeance, reflecting her internal reconciliation with her past trauma.
Action 11: Overpowering Carlito
• Details: As Carlito attempts to kill Hannah, Mic steps in and uses all her skills to overpower him without killing him, showing her control over her anger and her commitment to saving lives. But Carlito is relentless and forces Mic to kill him.
• Character-Specific: Her ability to subdue Carlito without giving in to her rage demonstrates her final transformation and adherence to her values despite the intense personal stakes.
Action 12: Final Redemption
• Details: In the aftermath, Mic offers Carlito a chance at redemption, embodying the forgiveness she’s struggled with throughout the story. When Carlito rejects it violently, she ensures he cannot harm anyone again but does so with a sense of justice rather than revenge.
• Character-Specific: This action encapsulates Mic’s journey from vengeance to redemption, showing her growth and resolving her internal conflict.
By integrating these specific actions into each act, Mic’s journey becomes compelling and unique, driven by her distinctive traits, motivations, and the complex dynamics of the story.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – WIM+AI – Module 4 – Lesson 4: Basic Plotting 5.23,24
My Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
1. Starting at the beginning of the outline, move through it to see if there are any noticeable missing beats. If so, add them. If you think of any new additions as you look for missing beats, this is also an excellent time to add them.
A. Are there any logic jumps?
B. Is the focus on the lead character’s journey?
C. Does it feel like anything is missing?
2. When you get to the end of the outline, work backward. With each beat, ask these questions:
A. What needed to be there for this beat to happen?
B. What could set this beat up better?
3. Go to significant events (like Turning Points) and ask:
A. What has to be in place for this event to have happened?
B. What change will this event cause in the rest of the story?
SAVING INNOCENTS OUTLINE: 5.25.24

Act 1: Introduction

1. Opening Scene: Dream Flashback to Los Angeles, Mic (Michaela) and her younger sister are caught in gang initiation crossfire. Her sister is killed and dies in Mic’s arms.
2. Character Establishment:
a. Mic, a Federal Agent: Tough, caustic, chain-smoking, whisky-drinking loner.
b. Flashbacks show her ascension and offensive Krav Maga training.
c. Mic is obsessed with finding and killing Carlito, her sister’s murderer.
3. Catalyst Incident:
a. Mic infiltrated the Mexican Cartel; monitoring terrorists being trained by the Cartel.
b. The mission is compromised when Mic kills terrorists trying to rape and kill her.
4. Fallout:
a. Her violent recklessness and obsession with Carlito alienate her colleagues.
b. Her only ally, her boss, TJ Thyne, gives her an ultimatum: transfer to the Human Trafficking Division or be fired.
c. Mic is angry with being demoted and quits.

Act 2: Transformation

5. New Assignment:
a. Haunted by her failures, Mic’s relationship with her neighbor’s teenage daughter, Hannah, becomes her only solace.
b. Mic gives Hannah some bad advice, and Hannah is abducted by an online trafficker.
c. Guilt-ridden, Mic accepts the transfer to Trafficking to give resources to find Hannah.
6. Trafficking Division:
a. Mic’s new boss, Chief Kirchner, is doing TJ a favor by allowing Mic a second chance, but Kirchner knows Mic is a ticking time bomb and prohibits her use of violence.
b. Her first assignment is tracking down a Godly vigilante rescuing trafficked kids.
7. The Vigilante:
a. Mic’s investigation leads her to a Christian Band, and she discovers the band leader, David, is the vigilante she is searching for.
b. David ingratiates Mic, and she reluctantly joins forces, agreeing to help him if he prioritizes finding Hannah.
8. Planning and Rescue:
a. A lead takes them to a cartel-safe house in Holmby Hills Estate.
b. Mic discovers Hannah and other girls are being held at the estate, and the cartel has a huge fentanyl deal pending with Chi-Coms, and Carlito Bonino is in charge.
c. Conflict arises when Mic wants to storm the estate and kill the bad guys, but David wants to take a step back, devise a plan, and sneak into the estate.
9. Act 3: The plan in Motion:
a. David agrees to help Mic save Hannah and extract the girls but must avoid violence.
b. Mic contacts TJ for backup, but he orders her to stand down, promising his agents will take charge in the morning.
c. Mic learns that Carlito is sending the fentanyl into the U.S. and will be leaving for Mexico tonight, and he’s given Hannah to the Chi-Com General who’s leaving tonight.
10. The Final Showdown:
a. Mic decides to go ahead with the rescue on her own, knowing she will probably be killed in the process, but she must try and save Hannah and stop the fentanyl deal.
b. Once inside, confrontations ensue, and Mic miraculously escapes several deadly situations as she fights her way to Hannah.
c. During the battle, Mic’s history with Carlito is revealed, hinting that she may have killed Carlito’s younger brother as a Federal Agent.
d. Mic navigates through Chi-Com guards and cartel soldiers, aided and distracted by David’s non-violent techniques.
11. The Choice:
a. Mic is confronted with the opportunity to kill Carlito, save Hannah, or stop the fentanyl deal that will kill thousands of Americans.
b. She must choose between her need for personal vengeance and a higher moral path influenced by David’s spiritual manipulation and guidance.
Act 4: Resolution
12. Climax:
a. Mic decides to forgo her vengeance, save Hannah, and try and stop the fentanyl.
b. In the process, she confronts Carlito, revealing her past and true intentions.
c. A fierce battle ensues, and Carlito will not let her forgive him; the battle ends with Mic killing Carlito; she rescues Hannah and stops the fentanyl distribution.
13. Aftermath:
a. Mic is severely wounded, but the mission is successful.
b. She and David have rescued Hannah and the girls, but the Chi-Com General escapes.
c. TJ and his agents finally show up, but Mick has completed the operation alone.
14. Final Moments:
a. Mic is a bloody mess; she is exhausted and reflects on her journey.
b. She finds a sense of peace and redemption, having saved the innocent, confronted her past, and forgiven herself and God.
c. David stays with her, offering comfort and spiritual solace as she faces the consequences of her unsanctioned actions in the operation.
d. The film ends ambiguously, with Mic’s fate uncertain, but her spirit is redeemed.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 4 – Lesson 3: Beat Sheet Draft 1 5.20.24
My Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
Activity: Create a sequence of events for my Beat Sheet!
Let’s start with your 4-act structure. Then, add the Protagonist Journey Structure, Antagonist Journey Structure, Deeper Layer, and Genre Conventions to your story. This will create the first draft of your Beat Sheet.
4-Act Structure
Act 1: Introduction to Mic and her Obsession:
Use dynamic visuals and flashbacks to establish Mic’s traumatic past and her relentless pursuit of vengeance against her sister’s killer, Carlito Bonino.
Showcase Mic’s skills as a competent federal agent, but also her inner turmoil and emotional scars from Carlito shooting her and killing her sister.
The act ends with Mic’s reckless response during an undercover operation, which led to her demotion to the Human Trafficking Division. Mic doesn’t accept the demotion and quits, setting the stage for her unplanned journey.
The Catalyst:
When her teenage neighbor Hannah is abducted, Mic is forced to reevaluate her priorities.
Mic accepts the Trafficking position with plans to use the agency resources to find Hannah, and her return leads her to an unexpected alliance with David, a Godly vigilante saving trafficked children.
Act 2: Alliances and Conflict:
We explore Mic and David’s burgeoning partnership as they delve deeper into the world of child exploitation and trafficking, which leads them to discover the cartel’s involvement.
Conflicts and obstacles they face will be highlighted, including resistance from Mic’s agency colleagues and increasingly dangerous encounters with cartel soldiers.
Escalating Tensions:
The stakes are raised as Mic discovers the man who killed her sister, Carlito Bonino, is the cartel boss running the trafficking and drug empire and his connections to influential U.S. officials.
Mic’s isolation increases because betrayals within her agency shake her trust and push her to rely on her instincts, lean more on David’s help, and start operating alone.
Act 3: Internal Struggles:
Mic grapples with intense internal conflict when she assesses her drive for revenge against Carlito and her competing moral obligation to save Hannah, help David’s quest, and stop the fentanyl deal.
We explore Mic’s wavering trust in God and her struggle to reconcile her vendetta.
The Race Against Time:
The tension is amplified as Mic races against the clock to rescue Hannah and thwart Carlito’s plans to gift Hannah as part of a drug deal, pushing her into impossible odds and deadly adversaries.
The anticipation is building for the climactic showdown between Mic and Carlito, and this is where Mic must make a fateful decision that will determine her future.

Act 4: Final Confrontation:
The final confrontation between Mic and Carlito is intense and gripping, filled with pulse-pounding action, emotional catharsis, and miracles collide.
Mic is forced to confront her inner demons and realize that God has cleared the path for her to reach the moment she must make a decisive choice that will define her character.
Resolution:
Mic finds closure, achieving all of her goals: saving Hannah, stopping the fentanyl deal, and bringing Carlito to justice. With David’s guidance, she finds her way back to faith in God.
Mic has grown and transformed from a bitter, hate-driven woman to finding forgiveness and a new sense of purpose after her harrowing journey.
Epilogue:
Mic has a reflective and introspective moment as she contemplates the road she took to get here and the relief she feels having ended her pain. She has overcome her past and emerged as a strong and committed person. Mic and Hannah walk away from the cartel mansion, free from the imprisonment they both were forced to live in—the End.
Protagonist Journey Structure
• Beginning: A dream sequence of Mic being shot and her little sister getting killed by Carlito.
• Inciting Incident: A grown federal agent, Mic, is undercover with the cartel when terrorists try to rape her, and she loses control and kills them all, blowing the undercover operation. She is demoted, quits, and goes on a drinking binge. She gives her teen neighbor boy advice.
• Turning Point 1: Her teen neighbor is abducted by what she thought was a boy online. Mic gives her lousy advice and feels responsible; she accepts her demotion to search for Hannah.
• Act 2: Mic is tasked with finding a good Samaritan. She joins forces with him to find Hannah. During their search, she discovers cartel boss Carlito is involved with Hannah’s abduction.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Mic wants to kill Carlito, but she needs to rescue Hannah first. Mic and Carlito engage in several tactical battles. Mic damages the cartel’s operations, and even though Mic manages to stay one step ahead of Carlito, she can’t rescue Hannah.
• Act 3: Mic devises a new plan to save Hannah and Kill Carlito, but he is ready for her. After a long battle with Carlito, he foils her plans. She takes one more run at him and gets to Carlito.
• Turning Point 3: Mic uses all her skills, and by some miracle, she is prepared to kill him, but she must choose between finally killing Carlito and saving Hannah. She can’t do both.
• Act 4 Climax: Mic gives up her revenge and decides to let Carlito go so she can save Hannah.
• Resolution: Mic overpowers Carlito. She wins their battle, and she decides she will forgive him, but Carlito won’t let her forgive him, and he tries to kill Hannah. Mic stops him.
Antagonist Journey Structure
• Beginning: Cartel boss Carlito’s faction runs human trafficking and drug operations from Highway Interstate 8 in California into Mexico. His organization abducted Hannah.
• Inciting Incident: Someone has disrupted Carlito’s operations, costing him a fortune.
• Turning Point 1: Carlito is furious and directs his soldiers to bring the man who breached his security and damaged his operations to him so he can kill him and send a message.
• Act 2: Mic takes out all of Carlito’s best soldiers, and she sends a message back to Carlito.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Mic attempts to rescue Hannah but confronts Carlito. He finds out who Mic is and realizes she wants revenge and to rescue. He and his men fight with Mic, his soldiers help Carlito, and he escapes Mic’s grasp, taking Hannah with him.
• Act 3: Carlito devises a plan to ambush Mic and kill her and Hannah, but he is ready for her. After a long battle, he foils her plans. Mic takes one more run at him, and she gets to Carlito.
• Turning Point 3: By some miracle, Mic is finally prepared to kill Carlito, but she discovers his soldiers have taken Hannah to send her out of the country. Carlito has gotten the best of Mic; he forces her to choose between finally killing him or saving Hannah. She can’t do both.
• Act 4 Climax: Mic decides she will forgive Carlito and save Hannah. Carlito won’t accept her forgiveness, and he orders Hannah to be killed.
• Resolution: Mic overpowers Carlito. She wins their battle, but Carlito won’t let her forgive him, and he makes the call and orders Hannah’s death. Mic does what she must do to stop his call. And Mic saves Hannah.
Deeper Layer
The cartel’s abduction of Hannah uncovers a painful truth about Mic’s guilt for not protecting her little sister, complicating her quest for justice, and she realizes that killing Carlito may not be as clear-cut as she once believed.
Along the way, Mic navigates complex relationships and betrayals and learns who she can trust in a world where everyone has their agenda. Mic’s journey is not just about seeking justice for her sister’s death but also about finding redemption for her actions and learning to forgive herself.
Through her interaction with vigilante David and processing all she has done to get to this point, Mic processes the challenges she faces to complete her mission. David has covertly guided Mic through a gradual spiritual transformation, and she questions her beliefs during her final confrontation with Carlito.
Genre Conventions
CONVENTIONS OF ACTION
PURPOSE: To excite your audience with an adrenaline-stirring, fast-paced, big-event story.
DEMAND FOR ACTION: There is a problem or goal for which the only solution is a high level of action (Intense fighting, running, escaping, and/or competing). Plot, character, and situations are all designed to demand Action!
MISSION: There is a stated or implied mission. The Hero must take down the antagonistic force, defend against overwhelming odds, or escape the inescapable.
ESCALATING ACTION: Overcoming the problem requires greater and greater heights of action (and involving higher stakes) as the story progresses.
HERO: Highly capable and skilled. They often bring a unique skill or talent to the fight that makes them stand out from other heroes in the genre.
ANTAGONISTS: Evil/corrupt/malicious, necessitating decisive and expedient action to deal with them.
4. CONVENTIONS OF THRILLERS
PURPOSE: To thrill your audience with high stakes, plot twists, and suspense that never lets up until the adrenalin-packed climax.
LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS: They face danger at every step — either physically, emotionally, or mentally. The hero needs to either be in danger or there is the implication of future danger.
MYSTERY/INTRIGUE/SUSPENSE: A mystery must be solved to survive. Intrigue is the underhanded and covert Villain’s plan. The suspense comes from the danger the Hero faces.
HERO: Unknowing, unwitting, but resourceful hero
VILLAIN: Dangerous, devious, and unrelenting. Committed to destroying anyone who gets in their way.
MAIN EMOTIONS: Suspense, intrigue, mystery, tension, anticipation, uncertainty, and surprise.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – WIM – Module 4 – Lesson 3: Beat Sheet Draft 1 5.16.24

Vision: My ultimate gratification will be creating worlds for my characters and producing my films.

• A FOUR-ACT STRUCTURE:
• Act 1: Introduction to Mic and her Obsession:
• Use dynamic visuals and flashbacks to establish Mic’s traumatic past and her relentless pursuit of vengeance against her sister’s killer, Carlito Bonino.
• Showcase Mic’s skills as a competent federal agent, but also her inner turmoil and emotional scars from Carlito shooting her and killing her sister.
• The act ends with Mic’s reckless response during an undercover operation, which led to her demotion to the Human Trafficking Division. Mic doesn’t accept the demotion and quits, setting the stage for her unplanned journey.
• The Catalyst:
• When her teenage neighbor Hannah is abducted, Mic is forced to reevaluate her priorities.
• Mic accepts the Trafficking position with plans to use the agency resources to find Hannah, and her return leads her to an unexpected alliance with David, a Godly vigilante saving trafficked children.
• Act 2: Alliances and Conflict:
• We explore Mic and David’s burgeoning partnership as they delve deeper into the world of child exploitation and trafficking, which leads them to discover the cartel’s involvement.
• Conflicts and obstacles they face will be highlighted, including resistance from Mic’s agency colleagues and increasingly dangerous encounters with cartel soldiers.
• Escalating Tensions:
• The stakes are raised as Mic discovers the man who killed her sister, Carlito Bonino, is the cartel boss running the trafficking and drug empire and his connections to influential U.S. officials.
• Mic’s isolation increases because betrayals within her agency shake her trust and push her to rely on her instincts, lean more on David’s help, and start operating alone.
• Act 3: Internal Struggles:
• Mic grapples with intense internal conflict when she assesses her drive for revenge against Carlito and her competing moral obligation to save Hannah, help David’s quest, and stop the fentanyl deal.
• We explore Mic’s wavering trust in God and her struggle to reconcile her vendetta.
• The Race Against Time:
• The tension is amplified as Mic races against the clock to rescue Hannah and thwart Carlito’s plans to gift Hannah as part of a drug deal, pushing her into impossible odds and deadly adversaries.
• The anticipation is building for the climactic showdown between Mic and Carlito, and this is where Mic must make a fateful decision that will determine her future.
• Act 4: Final Confrontation:
• The final confrontation between Mic and Carlito is intense and gripping, filled with pulse-pounding action, emotional catharsis, and miracles collide.
• Mic is forced to confront her inner demons and realize that God has cleared the path for her to reach the moment she must make a decisive choice that will define her character.
• Resolution:
• Mic finds closure, achieving all of her goals: saving Hannah, stopping the fentanyl deal, and bringing Carlito to justice. With David’s guidance, she finds her way back to faith in God.
• Mic has grown and transformed from a bitter, hate-driven woman to finding forgiveness and a new sense of purpose after her harrowing journey.
• Epilogue:
• Mic has a reflective and introspective moment as she contemplates the road she took to get here and the relief she feels having ended her pain. She has overcome her past and emerged as a strong and committed person. Mic and Hannah walk away from the cartel mansion, free from the imprisonment they both were forced to live in—the End.
Protagonist character’s journey structure:
• Beginning: A dream sequence of Mic being shot and her little sister getting killed by Carlito.
• Inciting Incident: A grown federal agent, Mic, is undercover with the cartel when terrorists try to rape her, and she loses control and kills them all, blowing the undercover operation. She is demoted, quits, and goes on a drinking binge. She gives her teen neighbor boy advice.
• Turning Point 1: Her teen neighbor is abducted by what she thought was a boy online. Mic gives her lousy advice and feels responsible; she accepts her demotion to search for Hannah.
• Act 2: Mic is tasked with finding a good Samaritan. She joins forces with him to find Hannah. During their search, she discovers cartel boss Carlito is involved with Hannah’s abduction.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Mic wants to kill Carlito, but she needs to rescue Hannah first. Mic and Carlito engage in several tactical battles. Mic damages the cartel’s operations, and even though Mic manages to stay one step ahead of Carlito, she can’t rescue Hannah.
• Act 3: Mic devises a new plan to save Hannah and Kill Carlito, but he is ready for her. After a long battle with Carlito, he foils her plans. She takes one more run at him and gets to Carlito.
• Turning Point 3: Mic uses all her skills, and by some miracle, she is prepared to kill him, but she must choose between finally killing Carlito and saving Hannah. She can’t do both.
• Act 4 Climax: Mic gives up her revenge and decides to let Carlito go so she can save Hannah.
• Resolution: Mic overpowers Carlito. She wins their battle, and she decides she will forgive him, but Carlito won’t let her forgive him, and he tries to kill Hannah. Mic stops him.
Antagonist character’s journey structure:
• Beginning: Cartel boss Carlito’s faction runs human trafficking and drug operations from Highway Interstate 8 in California into Mexico. His organization abducted Hannah.
• Inciting Incident: Someone has disrupted Carlito’s operations, costing him a fortune.
• Turning Point 1: Carlito is furious and directs his soldiers to bring the man who breached his security and damaged his operations to him so he can kill him and send a message.
• Act 2: Mic takes out all of Carlito’s best soldiers, and she sends a message back to Carlito.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Mic attempts to rescue Hannah but confronts Carlito. He finds out who Mic is and realizes she wants revenge and to rescue. He and his men fight with Mic, his soldiers help Carlito, and he escapes Mic’s grasp, taking Hannah with him.
• Act 3: Carlito devises a plan to ambush Mic and kill her and Hannah, but he is ready for her. After a long battle, he foils her plans. Mic takes one more run at him, and she gets to Carlito.
• Turning Point 3: By some miracle, Mic is finally prepared to kill Carlito, but she discovers his soldiers have taken Hannah to send her out of the country. Carlito has gotten the best of Mic; he forces her to choose between finally killing him or saving Hannah. She can’t do both.
• Act 4 Climax: Mic decides she will forgive Carlito and save Hannah. Carlito won’t accept her forgiveness, and he orders Hannah to be killed.
• Resolution: Mic overpowers Carlito. She wins their battle, but Carlito won’t let her forgive him, and he makes the call and orders Hannah’s death. Mic does what she must do to stop his call. And Mic saves Hannah.

DEEPER LAYERS:
• The cartel’s abduction of Hannah uncovers a painful truth about Mic’s guilt for not protecting her little sister, complicating her quest for justice, and she realizes that killing Carlito may not be as clear-cut as she once believed.
• Along the way, Mic navigates complex relationships and betrayals and learns who she can trust in a world where everyone has their agenda. Mic’s journey is not just about seeking justice for her sister’s death but also about finding redemption for her actions and learning to forgive herself.
• Through her interaction with vigilante David and processing all she has done to get to this point, Mic processes the challenges she faces to complete her mission. David has covertly guided Mic through a gradual spiritual transformation, and she questions her beliefs during her final confrontation with Carlito.
GENRE CONVENTIONS:
Act #1: Introduction to Mic and her obsession:
• Dream flashbacks reveal the deadly encounter when Mic was a teen, resulting in Carlito Bonino shooting Mic and killing her younger sister. Mic denounces God for allowing her sister’s death, blames herself for not protecting her, and she promises revenge.
• Mic is shown to be a driven, determined, and angry federal agent who is excellent at her job but haunted by her past and obsession with finding and killing Carlito Bonino.
• Mic blows an undercover operation while transporting three terrorists for the Mexican cartel. She loses control and kills all three terrorists when they try to rape her.
• Mic quits when the agency demotes her to human trafficking for her deadly screw-up.
The Catalyst:
• Mic gives her neighbor’s teen daughter, Hannah, some short-sighted advice, and she is abducted by online groomers with cartel ties.
• Hannah’s abduction causes Mic to return to the agency for resources to find Hannah.
• Mic crosses paths with David, a Godly vigilante rescuing trafficked children.
Act #2: Allies and Conflict:
• Mic allies with David, agreeing to help with his mission if he prioritizes finding Hannah.
• Mic and David’s investigation uncovers a drug and trafficking operation and that the cartel boss in charge is Carlito Bonino, and in their pursuit, they will face extreme danger.
Escalating Tensions:
• Mic’s pursuit intensifies as she investigates Carlito’s cartel operations, which are involved with the U.S. government and the Communist Chinese military.
• She also discovers betrayals within her agencies, shaking her trust and forcing her to rely on her instincts and offensive skills as she mounts her attack on Carlito’s cartel.
Act #3: Internal Struggles:
• Mic’s desire for revenge against Carlito clashes with her need to save Hannah, rescue other trafficked girls, and stop the deadly fentanyl deal Carlito is doing with the Chi-Coms.
• She grapples with conflicting emotions as she confronts Carlito. She is torn between revenge, justice and stopping Carlito’s illicit dealings with U.S. and Chinese governments.
Race Against Time:
• With Hannah’s life at stake and a fentanyl deal that will kill tens of thousands of Americans, Mic navigates obstacles that will threaten her life as she attempts to accomplish her goals.
• She faces a climactic showdown with Carlito and the Chi-Com military, forcing her to choose between exacting vengeance and pursuing the greater good.
Act #4: Final Confrontation:
• In a dramatic showdown, Mic faces off with Carlito, seeking closure for her past traumas.
• Mic must confront her demons and make a choice that will define her future.
Resolution:
• Mic finds closure, forgiveness, and a newfound sense of purpose.
• With Hannah safe and justice served, Mic learns to embrace faith and forgiveness.
Epilogue:
• Mic reflects on her journey and acknowledges the challenges and lessons learned.
• She emerges stronger and more compassionate, ready to face the future.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 4 – Lesson 2: The Deeper Layer 5.15.24
Vision: Creating extraordinary worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
Activity: …building in an engaging deeper layer!
2. As we did above with The Sixth Sense, create each piece of this “Deeper Layer” puzzle.
• Surface Layer: Mic wants to revenge her sister’s death
• Deeper Layer: Mic needs to forgive herself and God for her sister’s death.
• Major Reveal: The final scene is a pivotal moment when Mic attempts to forgive Carlito, but he resists, leading to a significant shift in the narrative.
• Influences Surface Story: Mic’s perception is critical. She believes she’s aiding Hannah, but Hannah is guiding and helping Mic.
• Hints: They’re not together much, but Mic recognizes the results of Hannah’s decisions.
• Changes Reality: Taking Carlito’s life will not change anything for Mic.
3. Add the rest of the structure to the characters and script. Try to get to the point, as in the Iron Man example above.
• Beginning: Mic is not the weak and defenseless girl who lets her sister get killed.
• Inciting Incident: Mic massacres three terrorists, which causes her demotion.
• Turning Point 1: Mic’s advice to Hannah may have contributed to her abduction.
• Act 2: Mic returns to work to find Hannah, where she joins forces with the Godly vigilante.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Mic and the Samaritan discover Carlito, the gang member who killed her sister, is the one who has Hannah. And Carlito is now the boss of a Cartel faction.
• Act 3: Mic directs all her rage at killing Carlito and saving Hannah. But he is formidable.
• Turning Point 3: Although Mic damages Carlito’s operations, she escapes deadly situations no mortal should survive, and he successfully blocks her reaching Hannah and killing him.
• Act 4 Climax: In their final battle, Mic can finally kill Carlito, but she realizes no justice can fill the void of losing her sister and that killing him will not change anything for her, so she forgives him. But Carlito won’t let her forgive him.
• Resolution: Carlito gives Mic no choice; because he wants to die, and Mic must kill Carlito to save Hannah.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 4 – Lesson 1: Character Journey Structure 5.14.24

My Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
3. Add the rest of the structure to the characters in the script.
• Beginning: A dream sequence of Mic being shot and her little sister getting killed by Carlito.
• Inciting Incident: A grown federal agent, Mic, is undercover with the cartel when terrorists try to rape her, and she loses control and kills them all, blowing the undercover operation. She is demoted, quits, and goes on a drinking binge. She gives her teen neighbor boy advice.
• Turning Point 1: Her teen neighbor is abducted by what she thought was a boy online. Mic gives her bad advice and feels responsible; she accepts her demotion to search for Hannah.
• Act 2: Mic is tasked with finding a good Samaritan. She joins forces with him to find Hannah. During their search, she discovers cartel boss Carlito is involved with Hannah’s abduction.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Mic wants to kill Carlito, but she needs to rescue Hannah first. Mic and Carlito engage in several tactical battles. Mic damages the cartel’s operations, and even though Mic manages to stay one step ahead of Carlito, she can’t rescue Hannah.
• Act 3: Mic devises a new plan to save Hannah and Kill Carlito, but he is ready for her. After a long battle with Carlito, he foils her plans. She takes one more run at him and gets to Carlito.
• Turning Point 3: Mic has used all her skills, and by some miracle, she is prepared to kill him, but she must choose between finally killing Carlito and saving Hannah. She can’t do both.
• Act 4 Climax: Mic gives up her revenge and decides to let Carlito go so she can save Hannah.
• Resolution: Mic overpowers Carlito. She wins their battle, and she decides she will forgive him, but Carlito won’t let her forgive him, and he tries to kill Hannah. Mic stops him.
4. Repeat the above process with your Antagonist.
• Beginning: Cartel boss Carlito’s faction runs human trafficking and drug operations from Highway Interstate 8 in California into Mexico. His organization abducted Hannah.
• Inciting Incident: Someone has disrupted Carlito’s operations, which has cost him a fortune.
• Turning Point 1: Carlito is furious and directs his soldiers to bring the man who breached his security and damaged his operations to him so he can kill him and send a message.
• Act 2: Mic takes out all of Carlito’s best soldiers, and she sends a message back to Carlito.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Mic attempts to rescue Hannah but ends up confronting Carlito. He finds out who Mic is and realizes she wants revenge and to rescue. He and his men fight with Mic, his soldiers help Carlito, and he escapes Mic’s grasp, taking Hannah with him.
• Act 3: Carlito devises a plan to ambush Mic and kill her and Hannah, but he is ready for her. After a long battle, he foils her plans. Mic takes one more run at him, and she gets to Carlito.
• Turning Point 3: By some miracle, Mic is finally prepared to kill Carlito, but she discovers his soldiers have taken Hannah to send her out of the country. Carlito has gotten the best of Mic; he forces her to choose between finally killing him or saving Hannah. She can’t do both.
• Act 4 Climax: Mic decides she will forgive Carlito and save Hannah. Carlito won’t accept her forgiveness, and he orders Hannah to be killed.
• Resolution: Mic overpowers Carlito. She wins their battle, but Carlito won’t let her forgive him, and he makes the call and orders Hannah’s death. Mic does what she must do to stop his call. And Mic saves Hannah.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY– Module 3 – Lesson 8: Purpose-Driven Supporting Characters 5.14.24

Vision: My ultimate gratification will be creating worlds for my characters and producing my films.
Activity: …creating purpose-driven supporting characters.
2. Tell us the supporting and background characters.
• Supporting Characters:
• Background Characters:
3. Focusing on those supporting characters, fill in the basic profile for each.
Support 1:
Name: David Patron
• Role: Mentor and facilitate Mic’s arc
• Primary purpose: Soften Mic’s obsession and support her hunt for Hannah
• Value: Pave Mic’s journey back to her belief in God
Support 2:
Name: Hannah Evans
• Role: Force Mic to divert from her quest for revenge
• Main purpose: Give Mic a second chance to save her little sister
• Value: Give Mic an avenue to care for someone

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 3 – Lesson 7: Character Profiles Part 2

Vision: Creating extraordinary worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
Protagonist: Michaela “Mic” Alverez

1. Role in Story: A determined federal agent haunted by her past and driven by retribution.
2. Age Range and Description: Late 20s to early 30s. Attractive but disheveled, with a hardened exterior that thinly veils her profound vulnerability.
3. Core Traits: Relentless, abrasive, vulnerable and dangerous.
4. Motivation: Want/Need: Want = Revenge against Carlito for murdering her sister. Need = Redemption and reconciliation with her past trauma.
5. Wound: The deep-seated emotional wound of witnessing her sister’s death and feeling responsible for it, compounded by her anger towards God for allowing it to happen.
6. Likability, Relatability, Empathy: Despite her tough exterior, audiences empathize with Mic’s pain and root for her to find closure and redemption.
7. Character Subtext: Mic hides her inner turmoil and vulnerability beneath a façade of anger and determination. Her crisis of faith and struggle with forgiveness are painful secrets that affect her interactions with others.
8. Character Intrigue: While Mic outwardly seeks revenge, internally, she battles with her guilt for not protecting her sister and denouncing God and the idea of forgiveness. Her hidden agenda is to reconcile her desire for revenge and her duty to protect the innocent.
9. Flaw: Mic’s internal issue is her inability to let go of her anger and desire for revenge, which often clouds her judgment and puts her and others in danger.
10. Values: Mic believes in justice, protecting the innocent, and ultimately, finding redemption for her past mistakes and being a champion of God’s will.
11. Character Dilemma: Mic’s internal conflict lies in her desire for revenge against Carlito, which conflicts with her duty to save Hannah and stop the cartel’s deadly operation. She must choose between vengeance and justice and wrestle with her Christian beliefs and values.

Antagonist: Carlito Bonino

1. Role in the Story: Carlito is the primary antagonist, representing the embodiment of evil and the main impediment to Mic’s journey of seeking justice and redemption. He is the leader of a cartel faction with vast operations, including human trafficking and drug dealing.
2. Age Range and Description: Carlito is in his early 40s. He has a menacing presence that exudes deadly authority and danger. He carries himself with confidence and superiority and embodies all the characteristics of the stereotypical cartel boss.
3. Core Traits: He is ruthless, Narcissistic, unapologetic, and charismatic in a twisted way.
4. Motivation: Want/Need: Want: Carlito’s primary goal is to protect his criminal enterprise and maintain his power at any cost. He thrives on control and dominance over others, and he loses control and is extremely pissed when Mic threatens his empire. Need: His internal need is driven by his insatiable ambition and desire for power. He craves validation and recognition of his authority and takes any threat to his dominance as a personal affront.
5. Wound: A deep-seated emotional injury haunts Carlito. He was horrendously physically and sexually abused as a child and teen. He witnessed unspeakable violence in his community. This upbringing instilled in him a survival mentality and a ruthless determination to never be vulnerable again. He also learned to kill first and ask questions later.
6. Likability, Relatability, and Empathy: Carlito lacks these three qualities. He is a cold and calculating sociopath who views others as pawns or obstacles to further his agenda. His lack of remorse and empathy makes him an unsettling and chilling character.
7. Character Subtext: Carlito harbors a deep-seated fear of vulnerability and weakness because of his learned response to his father’s brutality. This fear drives his façade of invincibility and ruthlessness and hides any semblance of vulnerability from others.
8. Character Intrigue: Although evident, Carlito hides his agenda of expanding his empire and taking out his cartel rivals. He operates behind a façade while using his influential government connections to undermine the other cartel bosses and further his ambitions.
9. Flaw: Carlito’s flaw lies in his overconfidence and belief that he is invincible, which blinds him to Mic and the danger she presents, leading to his downfall.
10. Values: Carlito’s values, above all else, are power, control, and wealth. Morality and ethics are below him, and he is willing to commit any atrocity if it will further his interests.
11. Character Dilemma: Carlito has no dilemma. He just balances his ruthless ambition with the need to maintain his perceived invincibility.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 3 – Lesson 7: Character Profiles Part 2 5.7.24
Vision: Creating extraordinary worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
Activity: …to discover what is under the surface of my characters.
With each of your lead characters, first tell us the following:
1. High Concept: Michaela “Mic” Alverez has been obsessed since she was a teenager with hunting down the man who killed her sister.
2. Character’s Journey: Mic is the central character, a determined federal agent driven by past traumas and her compulsion for vengeance. Her original goals are derailed after joining forces with a Godly vigilante.
3. Actor Attractors: Mic has been driven to become powerful and invulnerable in preparation for her confrontation with Carlito. She’s indifferent and derisive and has high-pressure, violent interactions with the bad guys. She’s merciless to those associated with Carlito, yet she can quickly become compassionate toward those who are vulnerable. Completing her arc, she attempts to show him mercy, but Carlito will not allow her to spare his life.
Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
4. Character Subtext: Her good and bad actions originate from emotional pain and guilt.
5. Character Intrigue: What she does now is always just one step in her bigger plan.
6. Character Flaw: Her temper has a hair trigger, which causes setbacks in her plans.
7. Character Values: Even though she denounces God, she still tries to do what’s right.
8. Character Dilemma: She struggles to give up her ultimate goal for the greater good.

1. High Concept: Carlito is the embodiment of soulless evil; his secrecy is an impediment to Mic’s journey, and he is the ruthless leader of a faction with vast criminal operations.
2. Character’s Journey: Carlito has insatiable ambition and inculpable brutality. He ascended the Cartel ranks through atrocious barbarity, eliminating all threats without hesitation. He doesn’t recall his deadly encounter with Mic and her sister, but he understands Mic has become a threat he hasn’t been able to eliminate and it fuels his rage toward Mic.
Carlito’s primary goal is to protect his criminal empire and maintain his power at any cost, but he is so narcissistic Carlito doesn’t fathom the magnitude of Mic’s resolve for revenge.
3. Actor Attractors: Carlito thinks he is funny, it’s his only joy, and no one will disagree with him. He acts as if all his violent actions are mundane. He is a control freak but takes Mic’s successful destruction of his dealings unemotionally, but eventually, he loses control.

4. Brainstorm these profile components for each character.
5. Character Subtext:
6. Character Intrigue: What happened to make him into this monster?
7. Character Flaw: He believes he is infallible.
8. Character Values: He truly believes his violent actions against threats are just business.
9. Character Dilemma: He wants to understand why some people are selfless.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY-Module 3 – Lesson 6: Character Profiles Part 1 5.5.24
Vision: Creating extraordinary worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
Protagonist Michaela:
1. Concept: Michaela “Mic” Alverez has been obsessed since she was a teenager with hunting down Carlito, the man who killed her sister.
2. Journey: Also blaming her weakness, vulnerability, and God for letting her sister get killed. Mic denounces God and learns skills that make sure she is never vulnerable again, putting herself in ICE, where she has the resources and dedication to find and kill Carlito. After searching for years, overcoming circumstances and obstacles forced her to change her path.
3. Mic was severely damaged emotionally living through the brutal death of her sister. Obsessed with revenge, her life is miserable; she alienates everyone except a young teenage girl, Hannah, whom she inadvertently puts in danger. Now, her hunt for Carlito and her quest to save Hannah merge, putting her on a path of redemption or destruction. It’s her choice.
Protagonist Michaela:
1. Role: Mic is a determined federal agent driven by past traumas and her compulsion for vengeance. A teenage girl and joining forces with a Godly vigilante derail her goal of revenge.
2. Description: Mic is a 30-year-old Latina who would be beautiful, but she’s disheveled and hard-looking. Her anger is all over her face and body language. Attributing her vulnerability to her sister’s death Mic has learned offensive skills that give her an indestructible presence.
3. Core Traits: Doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks. Except for Hannah, she needs to protect the innocent and cause severe harm to those who might hurt them. She doesn’t care about herself, just exacting revenge on Carlito. Her obsessive personality makes her a great federal agent. She has to accomplish her mission no matter what boundaries she pushes.
4. Motivation: She wants Revenge. She needs resolution and closure for the pain caused by her sister’s death.
5. Wound: That she could have prevented her sister’s death. That God would let her sister die.
6. Mic’s love and loss of her sister, her kindness and help for the vulnerable, her sense of humor and everyman’s presence, and her own vulnerability, doubts, and flaws.
Antagonist Carlito:
1. Role: Carlito is the primary antagonist of the story. He represents the embodiment of evil, the main impediment to Mic’s journey, and the ruthless leader of a faction with vast criminal operations.
2. Description: Late 30s, Latin, fastidious, always with a condescending look, he has a tick that no one dares mention,
3. Core Traits: He lacks humanity and has no remorse or empathy. Violence and murder are mundane exercises to him; he doesn’t enjoy or dislike committing heinous acts. They are just actions necessary to maintain his authority and control. His unapologetic nature and unwavering commitment to his interests make him a formidable adversary for Mic.
4. Motivation: Carlito’s odyssey is one of insatiable ambition and inculpable brutality. He ascended the Cartel ranks through atrocious barbarity, eliminating all threats to his power without hesitation. At first, he doesn’t recall his encounter with Mic and the death of her sister, but when he understands her motivation for revenge, it fuels his antagonism toward her. Throughout the story, Carlito’s primary goal is to protect his criminal empire and maintain his power at any cost, destroying anyone who stands in his way. So narcissistic Carlito can’t fathom the magnitude of Mic’s threat.
5. Wound: We don’t know yet.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 3 – Lesson 5: Audience Connection to Characters
My Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
State: I have fun…making my characters likable, relatable, and empathetic!
Protagonist Michaela:
Likability:
1. Mic demonstrates acts of kindness by helping or standing up for someone mistreated.
2. Humor and wit in interactions with others make Mic more endearing to the audience.
3. Mic forms genuine connections with other characters, making her more likable.
4. Dedication to her mission emphasizes her admirable qualities and make her someone the audience can root for.
5. Moments of vulnerability or self-doubt in her character allow the audience to empathize with Mic’s struggles and flaws, ultimately making her likable.
Relatability:
1. Mic’s backstory and personal struggles, such as her traumatic past and feelings of loss will have many audience members relate to her on some level.
2. Mic faces everyday challenges or dilemmas like those experienced by the audience, such as balancing work and personal life or navigating complicated relationships.
3. Internal conflicts and moral dilemmas illustrate Mic’s character complexities, making her relatable as she grapples with universal themes like justice, revenge, and redemption.
4. Mic makes mistakes and faces setbacks, demonstrating that she is flawed and imperfect like everyone else, which makes her more relatable and human.
5. Display authentic emotions and reactions to the events unfolding around Mic, allowing the audience to connect emotionally and see themselves reflected in her experiences.
Empathy:
1. Mic’s deep inner thoughts and motivations allow the audience to understand her emotions and fears more clearly.
2. Empathy and compassion towards those who are vulnerable or in need highlight Mic’s ability to connect on an emotional level.
3. Experiencing moments of growth or transformation, during which Mic learns to understand perspectives different from her own, demonstrating her capacity for growth.
4. Supporting characters who mirror Mic’s struggles or vulnerabilities, allow the audience to empathize with Mic and those around her as they navigate challenges.
5. Scenes such as moments of vulnerability or self-reflection, where she grapples with her shortcomings and desires for redemption evoke empathy from the audience toward Mic.

Antagonist Carlito:

Likability:
1. Carlito’s backstory includes elements that may evoke understanding from the audience, but not justification, such as past traumas or injustices that have shaped his character and motivations.
Relatability:
1. Carlito’s motivations and desires, illustrate how his actions stem from relatable human emotions such as ambition, fear, or a desire for revenge.
2. Carlito’s challenges and obstacles mirror somewhat those experienced by the audience, maybe his facing betrayal from those he trusts.
3. Carlito’s flaws demonstrate that he is a complex and multidimensional character capable of making mistakes and facing consequences.
4. Navigating complex relationships shows us that Carlito is not immune to the same struggles and conflicts that everyone faces.
5. Carlito appears to have no humanity but does have moments of introspection where he grapples with regret for the inconsistency of his actions.
Empathy:
1. Backstory and motivations, allow the audience to understand the traumas or injustices that may have shaped Carlito’s character or lack of that led him down a dark path.
2. Internal conflict or obscurity, where Carlito struggles to reconcile his actions with his personal sense of right and wrong.
3. Carlito has temporary moments where he shows some regret for the harm he has caused but it’s not enough to elicit empathy from the audience.
4. Brief moments of empathy toward his illegitimate son can challenge the audience’s perceptions of him as a purely evil man.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 3 – Lesson 4: Character Intrigue 5.2.24
Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
State: I love discovering…the intrigue of my characters!
Brainstorm more Intrigue items that might apply to each of your main characters.
Character One Name: Michaela
• Role: Protagonist
• Hidden agendas: Seeking freedom from her guilt
• Competition: Herself
• Conspiracies: wants to show up suits that fired her
• Secrets: Killed Carlito’s brother/Carlito doesn’t know
• Deception: Not vulnerable
• Unspoken Wound: vulnerability
• Secret Identity: Dragon Slayer
Character Two Name: Carlito
• Role: Antagonist – Cartel Boss
• Hidden agendas: Power over all
• Competition: besting other Cartel bosses
• Conspiracies:
• Secrets: Brutally beaten by his father
• Deception: That he is fair
• Unspoken Wound: Brutally beaten by his father
• Secret Identity: Satan’s Dragon
Character Three Name: David
• Role: Triangle
• Hidden agendas: Turning Mic back to God
• Competition: Besting Traffickers
• Conspiracies: none
• Secrets: He was trafficked as a child
• Deception: He never doubts God
• Unspoken Wound: Powerless as an abused child
• Secret Identity: Good Samaritan
Character Three Name: Hannah
• Role: Triangle – Mic’s neighbor
• Hidden agendas: Wants Mic to be her new mother
• Competition: The love of a mother
• Conspiracies: none
• Secrets: She fears dying like her mom
• Deception: She is tough
• Unspoken Wound: Losing those she loves
• Secret Identity: Wants to be Joan of Arc-type

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – WIM+AI – Module 3 – Lesson 3: Character Subtext 5.1.2024
My Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
State: I love discovering…the subtext of my characters!
• Movie Title: Columbiana
• Character Name: Cataleya
• Subtext Identity: In severe emotional pain
• Subtext Trait: Secretive – Concealing – Crafty – Treacherous
• Subtext Logline: Everyone she loves is killed because of her actions
• Possible Areas of Subtext: Cataleya is leaving a signature on her targets so she will be found by her parents’ killers. She is causing loved ones to be killed
3. For lead number one:
• Character Name: Marco
• Subtext Identity: He’s been outsmarted by a little girl
• Subtext Trait: Corrupt – Deceitful – Treacherous
• Subtext Logline: He fears Cataleya but pretends she is not a problem
• Possible Areas of Subtext: He is driven by his failure to kill 9-year-old Cataleya
For lead number two:
• Character Name: FBI Agent Ross
• Subtext Identity: His failure to find Cataleya for four years and 22 assassinations
• Subtext Trait: Suspicious – Secretive – Thankful bad guys are being assassinated
• Subtext Logline: Dislikes and doesn’t trust CIA agent Richard
• Possible Areas of Subtext: He sympathizes with Cataleya, but she is a killer and he must catch her.

[jim ramsay]

ACTOR ATTRACTOR TEMPLATE 2
RAMSAY- My Vision: My ultimate gratification will be creating worlds for my characters and producing my films.
Lead Character Name: Michaela “Mic” Alverez
Role: Protagonist
1. *What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? If time allows, Mic will explain to the bad guys why she must kill them. But really, she is justifying her actions, permitting herself to take their lives.
2. *What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? Mic is indifferent and derisive toward her adversaries and pretty much everyone except Hannah, and over time, she softens to David’s charisma and influence.
3. *What are the most exciting actions the Lead could take in the script? Mic has high-pressured, violent interactions, all ending in the death of those harming children or involved with Carlito. In the last scene, she tries to do the right thing, the Godly thing, and let Carlito live. But….
4. *How can you introduce this role in a way that would sell it to an actor? It’s a two-part introduction. We see Michaela relive her sister’s murder in her dream. When she awakens, she is undercover with the cartel and moves into a situation where the cartel’s terrorist clients try to rape her. She tries to handle the situation, but she ends up mercilessly killing all three terrorists, blowing a two-year operation.
5. *What could be this character’s emotional range? Mic is merciless toward all those related to Carlito’s organization. Yet she can quickly turn merciful toward Hannah and the trafficked girls she and David rescue.
6. *What subtext can the actor play? Mic always has seconds of doubt before she takes what appear to be emotionless actions against her adversaries. Her doubt gradually reduces as she gets closer to her forgiveness of God.
7. *What are the most exciting relationships this character can have? Mic’s tolerance of Hannah. Mic’s opposition and collision with David’s Christian point of view. Mic’s indignation with Carlito’s contempt for the value of life.
8. *How will this character’s unique voice be presented? Mic hates God, David loves God, and Carlito is Godless.
9. *What could make this character special and unique? Since her sister’s murder, she has spent every moment becoming powerful and invulnerable while hunting down and killing Carlito. Only to attempt to show him mercy in the end, but Carlito will not allow her to spare his life.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – ACTOR ATTRACTORS Template
Ramsay: Actor attractors for Columbiana
My Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
What I learned:
Movie Title: Columbiana – Action/Drama/Thriller
Lead Character Name: Zoe Saldana

1. Why would an actor want to be known for this role? Cataleya, who has buried the pain of seeing her parents murdered, becomes the most dangerous woman on the planet; she is emotionally unflappable and gets the bad guys.
2. What makes this character one of the most exciting characters in the movie? She causes herself severe pain every time she takes an action that harms someone she loves. But she continues.
3. What are the most exciting actions the Lead takes in the movie? In the opening scene, she escapes her parents’ killers at age 9. The shark scene. In the end where, she fights and kills Jordi.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Two introductions: Her courage escaping Jordi and her second. Deceiving cops to get in and out of the jail to kill her target.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Cold-blooded killer to regretful and moved to tears.
6. What subtext can the actor play? No matter what she says, she is always moving toward her goal.
7. What are the most exciting relationships this character has? Her uncle gives her targets to kill.
8. How is this character’s voice presented? Her voice is consistently demonstrated through action.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Cataleya never deviates from her goal of revenge. She is emotionally weary and depleted every time someone close dies because of her actions.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.) The transformation jumps from a 9-year-old with one goal to an assassin with the same goal.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Genre Conventions
My Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
Structure:
Act 1: Introduction to Mic and her Obsession:
• Use dynamic visuals and flashbacks to establish Mic’s traumatic past and her relentless pursuit of vengeance against Carlito Bonito.
• Showcase Mic’s skills as a competent federal agent, but also her inner turmoil and emotional scars from her sister’s death.
• The act ends with Mic’s reckless actions during an undercover operation, which lead to her demotion to the human trafficking division, setting the stage for her journey.
The Catalyst:
• The inciting incident of Hannah’s abduction forces Mic to reevaluate her priorities.
• Mic returns to the agency to use human trafficking resources to help find Hannah, and her return leads Mic to an unexpected alliance with David, the godly vigilante saving kids.
Act 2: Alliances and Conflict:
• Explore Mic and David’s burgeoning partnership as they delve deeper into the world of child trafficking and the cartel’s involvement.
• Highlight the conflicts and obstacles they face, including resistance from Mic’s former colleagues and dangerous encounters with cartel members.
Escalating Tensions:
• Raise the stakes as Mic uncovers the man who killed her sister; Carlito is the cartel boss running a criminal empire and his connections to influential government figures.
• Show Mic’s increasing isolation because of betrayals within her agency that shake her trust and force her to rely on her own instincts and act alone.
Act 3: Internal Struggles:
• Dive into Mic’s internal conflict as she grapples with her desire for revenge against Carlito and her competing moral obligation to save Hannah and stop the fentanyl deal.
• Explore Mic’s wavering faith and her struggle to reconcile her personal vendetta.
Race Against Time:
• Amp up the tension as Mic races against the clock to rescue Hannah and thwart Carlito’s plans, facing insurmountable odds and deadly adversaries.
• Build anticipation for the climactic showdown between Mic and Carlito, where Mic must make a fateful choice that will determine her future.
Act 4: Final Confrontation:
• Stage an intense and gripping final confrontation between Mic and Carlito, filled with pulse-pounding action, emotional catharsis, and miracles that interdict.
• Force Mic to confront her inner demons and realize that God has been helping her as she makes a decisive choice that tests her convictions and defines her character.
Resolution:
• Provide closure as Mic achieves all of her goals: saving Hannah, stopping the fentanyl deal, bringing Carlito to justice, and renewing her faith in God.
• Show Mic’s growth and transformation as she finds forgiveness, redemption, and a renewed sense of purpose after her harrowing journey.
Epilogue:
• Offer Mic a reflective and introspective moment as she contemplates her journey and looks toward the future with hope and resilience.
• Leave the audience with a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, knowing that Mic has overcome her past and has emerged a much stronger person.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – Module 2 – Lesson 5
My Vision: Creating worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
Four-Act Structure:
Act 1:
Introduction to Mic and her Obsession:
• Flashbacks reveal the deadly encounter when Mic was a teen, resulting in Carlito Bonito shooting Mic and killing her sister. Mic denounces God and promises to kill Carlito for revenge for her sister’s death.
• Mic is shown as a driven and determined federal agent who is excellent at her job but haunted by her past and obsessed with hunting down Carlito.
• Mic blows an undercover operation by killing three terrorists who try to rape her.
• When the agency demotes Mic to the human trafficking division, she quits.
The Catalyst:
• Hannah, her neighbor’s daughter, is abducted by online groomers with cartel ties.
• Mic had quit the agency but returned to access resources to find Hannah.
• Mic crosses paths with David, a godly vigilante rescuing trafficked children.
Act 2:
Alliances and Conflict:
• Mic allies with David, agreeing to help in his mission if he prioritizes finding Hannah.
• Mic and David uncover a drug and cartel trafficking operation. Once they find Carlito, is the Cartel boss in charge, they realize the danger they face.
Escalating Tensions:
• Mic’s pursuit intensifies as she uncovers Carlito’s cartel operations are involved with the Communist Chinese government and has U.S. government ties.
• Betrayals within Mic’s agency shake her trust, forcing her to rely on her instincts and offensive skills as she moves forward on her own.
Act 3:
Internal Struggles:
• Mic grapples with conflicting emotions as she confronts Carlito. She’s torn between revenge and justice, stopping illicit government dealings.
• Her desire for revenge against Carlito clashes with the need to save Hannah and stop the deadly fentanyl deal that will kill tens of thousands in the U.S.

Race Against Time:
• With Hannah’s life at stake and the fentanyl deal looming, Mic navigates treacherous obstacles.
• She faces a climactic showdown with Carlito, forced to choose between revenge and the greater good.
Act 4:
Final Confrontation:
• In a dramatic showdown, Mic faces Carlito, seeking closure for her past traumas.
• She must confront her own demons and make a choice that defines her future.

Resolution:
• Mic finds closure, forgiveness, and a newfound sense of purpose.
• With Hannah safe and justice served, Mic learns to embrace faith and forgiveness.

Epilogue:
• Mic reflects on her journey, acknowledging challenges and lessons learned.
• She emerges stronger and more compassionate, ready to face the future.

[jim ramsay]

Ramsay Module 2 Lesson 4
Superior Position—Early on, we begin following Hannah with her captors to the mansion. We know where she is before Mic has located her, and we know that Hannah is held captive by the cartel traffickers and is being taken out of the country. Mic must find her soon.

Competitive Agendas – Carlito wants Hannah for a gift to a Chinese General, and Mic needs to find Hannah. Mic discovers that Carlito is planning a large fentanyl deal with the Chinese, and she must stop it, or tens of thousands will die.
Subtext Plot: Superior Position
As the story unfolds, the audience is introduced to Hannah, the teenage neighbor abducted by cartel traffickers. We witness her harrowing journey as she is transported to the cartel’s mansion, unaware of her fate. Meanwhile, Mic begins her investigation to locate Hannah, but the audience already knows her whereabouts. This creates tension as Mic races against time to find Hannah before it’s too late, unaware of the imminent danger she faces.

Subtext Plot: Competitive Agendas
Throughout the screenplay, the audience knows Carlito’s plans to gift Hannah as part of a drug deal with a Chinese General. Meanwhile, Mic is not aware Hannah is with Carlito and his fentanyl deal; she is focused on finding Hannah. As Mic closes in on rescuing Hannah, the audience experiences the tension of knowing the full extent of Carlito’s agenda and its imminent danger. This subtext highlights Mic’s mission’s stakes and adds suspense.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY – WIM+AI – Module 2 -Lesson 3: Transformational Journey
My Vision: Creating stories and fun worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
Arc beginning:
Mic is embittered and haunted by her tragic past. She blames herself for not protecting her little sister, and she blames God for allowing her sister’s death. Consumed by anger and the desire to exact revenge on Carlito Bonino, her sister’s killer. Mic’s coping mechanisms include excessive drinking, a caustic and hostile attitude toward others, a short temper, and a propensity for violence.
Arc Ending:
Mic undergoes a profound transformation. After surviving several deadly situations she should not have lived through, she begins to believe that God is helping with her journey. She emerges as a stronger, more compassionate individual who reconciled her past and re-discovered her faith in God. Mic no longer blames herself and God for her sister’s death, and she has let go of her obsession with revenge. She apologizes for her past behavior and re-accepts God into her life. Now, she channels her determination into fighting the evil in her world and saving innocents.
Internal Journey:
Throughout the story, Mic is incrementally overcoming her anger, bitterness, and crisis of faith. She learns to forgive herself and forgive God and finds her inner peace by reconnecting with God.
External Journey:
Mic’s progression is physical and emotional. She evolves from a vulnerable, emotionally wounded girl into a woman of formidable force capable of confronting any situation head-on. And, when miraculous actions save her, what should have been her certain death by the evil entities she is battling, allowing her to continue saving innocents, she begins believing God is helping her mission. Mic has learned inordinate offensive skills, giving her an advantage in fighting evil. She atones for her sister’s death by saving innocents and learns to prioritize the greater good over personal vendettas.
Old Ways at the Beginning:
Mic’s old ways are characterized by a caustic and hostile attitude toward others, excessive drinking to numb her emotional pain, acting out of anger, and uncontrolled use of extreme violence. She blames other’s actions for causing her outbursts and is driven solely by her hunger for revenge.
New Ways at the End:
Mic’s new ways reflect growth and transformation. She has given up dulling her pain with alcohol, and her attitude, while still blunt and direct, is more accepting and unambiguous. Mic considers the moral ramifications of her actions, prioritizing the greater good over personal vendettas.

[jim ramsay]

Ramsay Module 2 Lesson Two.
My Vision: Creating stories and worlds for my characters. Producing my films will be my ultimate gratification.
Title: “Saving Innocence” Genre: Thriller/Drama 4.23.24
Concept: An acrimonious federal agent’s quest for justice is derailed when she grudgingly joins a Godly vigilante’s crusade to save trafficked children, forcing her present and past to collide.
Characters: Mic Alverez, Carlito Bonito, David Patron.
• Protagonist Character: Michaela “Mic” Alverez
• Logline: A determined federal agent haunted by her past and driven by retribution.
• Unique: She’s attractive but disheveled, abrasive, dangerous, and pissed at God.
• Antagonist Character: Carlito Bonino
• Logline: A unrelenting Cartel boss, slovenly, deadly, and a murderous asshole
• Unique: He has zero remorse; torturing or killing is no different than going to the market.
• Triangle Character: David Samaritan
• Logline: He is zealous to save children, compassionate, and devoted to God
Unique: He/his voice is disarming when he speaks and has a way of connecting to people.
Protagonist: Michaela “Mic” Alverez
Role: Mic is the story’s central character, a determined federal agent driven by her past traumas and compulsion for vengeance.
Journey: Mic’s journey begins with her obsession for revenge against Carlito Bonino, the man who shot Mic and killed her little sister. However, when her neighbor’s daughter, Hannah, is abducted by traffickers with ties to the Cartel, Mic’s path takes an unexpected turn. She reluctantly teams up with the vigilante David to rescue Hannah and other trafficked children. Throughout the story, Mic confronts her anger towards God for letting her sister be murdered but ultimately reconciles her desire for vengeance with her duty to protect the innocent.
Uniqueness: Mic is a complex character who defies stereotypes. She is attractive yet disheveled, abrasive yet vulnerable, and dangerous beyond her size. Her relentless determination and sharp instincts make her a formidable force, but her internal conflict and emotional turmoil set her apart.
Intentional: Mic’s background as a federal agent gives her the skills and resources to navigate organized crime’s dangerous underbelly. Her personal vendetta against Carlito provides an emotional drive that propels the story forward, while her evolving relationship with the disarming David adds depth and complexity to her character arc. Mic serves as the audience’s anchor, guiding them through the thrilling journey, leading Mic to give up years of hatred to save the innocent.
Antagonist: Carlito Bonito
Role: Carlito is the primary antagonist of the story. He represents the embodiment of evil, the main impediment to Mic’s journey, and the ruthless leader of a faction with vast criminal operations.
Journey: Carlito’s odyssey is one of insatiable ambition and inculpable brutality. He ascended the Cartel ranks through atrocious barbarity, eliminating all threats to his power without hesitation. At first, he doesn’t recall his encounter with Mic and the death of her sister, but when he understands her motivation for revenge, it fuels his antagonism toward her. Throughout the story, Carlito’s primary goal is to protect his criminal empire and maintain his power at any cost, destroying anyone who stands in his way. So narcissistic Carlito can’t fathom the magnitude of Mic’s threat.
Uniqueness: What sets Carlito apart is that he’s devoid of humanity and has no remorse or empathy. Violence and murder are mundane exercises to him; he doesn’t enjoy or dislike committing heinous acts. They are just actions necessary to maintain his authority; his unapologetic nature and unwavering commitment to his interests make him a formidable adversary for Mic and others.
Intentional: Carlito’s character is the ultimate foil to Mic’s quest for vengeance and justice for her sister. His unrestrained evil forces Mic to confront the darkest aspects of herself and the world she now inhabits. Carlito’s connections to influential government figures highlight our societal corruption and criminality, adding a layer of complexity and obstruction to Mic’s end goal.
Triangle Character: David Patron
Role: David Patron connects Mic and Carlito, creating conflict and tension within the story’s dramatic triangle. He is a shepherd of faith and a Godly vigilante dedicated to saving innocence and combating those who bring evil into the world.
Journey: David is a man of faith and conviction. Motivated by his deep sense of compassion and devotion to God, he tirelessly works to rescue trafficked children and bring justice to their oppressors. His alliance with Mic challenges his relationship with the Almighty until he realizes Mic has been sent to him; he believes she’s a soldier against darkness, an archangel, Archangel Michaela.
Uniqueness: What is extraordinary about David is his disarming charisma and ability to connect with people on a profound level, even those who are hostile toward him. This makes him a compelling and enigmatic character. Despite his zealous determination, David sometimes wrestles with his own doubts and uncertainties, adding depth to his character.
Intentional: David catalyzes Mic’s obsession with Carlito and pushes her to confront her beliefs and motivations to abide by her quest for vengeance. His presence introduces an element of moral ambiguity to the story, challenging Mic and the audience to question their own preconceptions about good and evil. As the linchpin of the dramatic triangle, David’s actions drive the narrative forward, ultimately shaping the story’s outcome.

[jim ramsay]

RAMSAY Title, Concept, and Character Structure!VISION: I’m creating and producing great stories and unique worlds for my characters.
I’VE LEARNED: Chat GPT, or (Chet) as I call him, is impressive and disappointing at the same time.
TITLE: Surviving the 27th Moon
CONCEPT: A renowned Psychiatrist known for disproving supernatural phenomena finds himself in a life-or-death battle with the Hawaiian underworld. A battle he must win before tonight’s 27th Phase of the Moon or ancient spirits will claim his and his daughter’s life.
CHARACTER STRUCTURE: Dramatic Triangle

[jim ramsay]

Hi Linda, I have a story with heavy cartel involvement.
I have an Action/Thriller titled Saving Innocents.
Concept: An acrimonious Federal Agent grudgingly joins the crusade of a godly vigilante who can help her exact revenge on the cartel boss who killed her baby sister.
If you are interested in exchanging scripts for feedback, drop me a line at jim@jrramsay.com
Thanks Jim