[Joan Macbeth]

Assignment – Lesson 6, Module 4
Joan Macbeth’s Completed Problem/Solution Grid #1
What I learned doing this assignment is… Problem/Solution Grid is an excellent tool! Thank you!

2. Select one thing you are going to improve right now.
Problem #4 – Structure – Do my acts work?
3. Using the “Possible Solutions,” brainstorm how you might solve or improve it.
Possible Solutions:
Isolate the Structure – List out one or two sentences for each Act to see which are weak, etc. It should tell a story and each beat should fulfill its purpose. (See Module 3, Lesson 3)

The second draft is still a bit short, but not bad, at 40 pages.
Also I want to look deeper into B & C Stories.

Joan Macbeth

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth Has Finished Acts 1 – 5 and Teaser

What I learned doing these assignments is… I can use High Speed Writing Rules fairly consistently. Sometimes I find it faster and easier to skip around, rather than write everything in order, especially if I’ve visualized scenes before actually writing them. Those scenes go much faster, and by the time I’d written those, the draft was really fleshed out. Often my drawback to using High-Speed Writing Rules is my old habit of curiosity as to details – I might tend to look up answers (such as historical information) and that of course really slows me down. I try to just put in a marker, such as “research X” and move on quickly. Sometimes I can, and sometimes not.

Happy to have a rough first draft completed!

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Beat Sheet

What I learned doing this assignment is… it’s coming along! I can see that it will probably need to be longer, but I can fill in the blanks as I go along.

1. Tell us your Show Concept and Inciting Incident.

How did a destitute girl, pregnant from rape, become the most notorious con woman of the nineteenth century? Small-town girl of 18, May Dugas, finds herself trapped in Chicago due to poverty; she miscarries her baby but still cannot return home and pretend like it never happened. She uses her charm and cleverness to swindle upper-class men, because she believes any man is a potential rapist.

2. List your A, B, and C Stories.

• A story = High Concept story – May’s survival as a con artist (vs. Detective Reed Dougherty)
• B story = Colleagues and Competitors – May’s search for love
• C story = Other relationships – friends, family, colleagues

3. Present your current Beat Sheet with no dialogue.

(SluglineDescription only – no dialogue)

BEAT SHEET

Teaser:

INT. ANDREWS HOUSE – BALLROOM – NIGHT

Intro May, waltzing with Dale Andrews. May becomes uneasy when she recognizes two men, whose names she doesn’t know. They are “Andy” Andrews, and Reed Dougherty.

Dale proposes – it’s very public and makes May nervous, but she covers. Accepts. Her friends, Melody and Melissa, are at the engagement ball, as well as Dale’s wealthy parents.

INT. ANDREWS HOUSE – ALCOVE – NIGHT

May complains to Dale that two strange men, older, are causing her distress. She wants them thrown out.

Dale laughs and says one of them is his Uncle Andy. The other, he doesn’t know.

Dale introduces May and Uncle Andy – May is reluctant. Reed introduced by Andy. Return to ballroom, Dale introduces Reed to Melody and Melissa. All very open, but Reed is actually gathering information on May.

INT. ANDREWS HOUSE – BALLROOM – NIGHT

Reed watches May dance with Uncle Andy.

Reed and Dale talk; Reed dances with Melody; Dale with Melissa.

Act 1

INT. MELODY and MELISSA’S HOUSE – DAY

May, Melody, Melissa agog at May’s engagement ring.

EXT. MELODY and MELISSA’S HOUSE – DAY

May leaves the fine house, all well-to-do.

INT. PALMER HOUSE HOTEL – CAFE – DAY

May’s upset. She meets with her debonair friend, Claude Montcrief, and tells him about the men at her engagement party. She’s seen them before, in a place that she thought had been kept a secret. Claude plays it down, then finally admits that he knows who the men were, and reveals a plan that will make a good deal of money for him and for May. Turning Point: A secret from May’s past is revealed and she’s not the debutante she pretends to be.

??? More

Act 2

EXT. CHICAGO STREET – DAY

May runs into a young woman who knows her – only slightly. Miss Frank, who seems concerned for May’s health. May seems in a hurry to leave. Miss Frank seems to have a crush on May.

EXT./INT. JEWELRY SHOP – DAY

May takes her engagement ring to be appraised at her favourite jeweller.

Act 3:

INT. PALMER HOUSE HOTEL – MEETING ROOM – DAY

Claude and May meet with “the gentlemen” Andy and Reed, to discuss a copper mine investment. May poses as the daughter of a mining engineer from Upper Michigan – or is that who she actually is? Reed Dougherty seems quite interested in her, in several ways.

The investment scheme is a swindle, where Claude intends to get money from Andy and Reed, and he’ll split it with May.

Reed has invited two “working girls” who know May to attend the meeting and expose her unsavoury past, while Mr. Andrews and Dale are in the next room.

Turning Point: Reveal Reed Dougherty is a Pinkerton agent. Arrest in imminent!

But May slips away, while Claude is arrested, and the Andrews family is in pandemonium.

Act 4

EXT. CHICAGO STREETS – DAY

May flees – gets a carriage – speeds away – pays the driver to carry on in one direction while she flees on foot in the opposite way, into a poorer neighbourhood.

EXT. OLD HOUSE – DAY

May rings and is let in by a Black woman, apparently a servant, but it turns out everyone in the house is Black. MIZ HELENE welcomes May. They shelter her without question. May gives them some money – her guise for coming because apparently she donates to help shelter women. She confesses that Claude is in trouble – probably arrested.

EXT. CHICAGO JAIL – DAY

Dougherty seems much more interested in May than Claude – who hired him?

Deception: Reed Dougherty threatens Claude with prison, but Claude was coerced to commit the swindle so Reed knows Claude will have a defense. May is the one Reed wants.

INT. OLD HOUSE – DAY

• Wound: May is reminded of her past troubles – the rape and having to leave town to avoid scandal. Also, Claude is her friend and she feels she has betrayed him – guilt for that as she takes refuge with his sister/cousin.
• Hidden Agenda: Escape the law. (Not too hidden….) But maybe she’s not too forthcoming with Helene on information about Claude.

May writes some letters.

Claude comes to the house.

Act 5:

EXT./INT. JEWELRY SHOP – DAY

May picks up her jewelry, she’s had a paste copy of her ring made. She puts the real ring in her bag and wears the paste ring.

INT. MR. ANDREWS’ BANK – DAY

She meets Dale’s father at his bank – he pays her to get out of town. She’s good at negotiations. She has dirt on his brother Andy. Mr. Andrews accepts the blackmail because he doesn’t trust his brother.

He’s the one who hired the detective. She returns Dale’s ring, only it’s the paste one. May leaves.

EXT. CHICAGO STREETS – DAY

May runs into Miss Frank on the way to the station. May’s a bit desperate to get away. But some attraction…

INT./EXT. TRAIN STATION – DAY

Act 5 (Lock In): Cat and Mouse at the Train Station. Pinkerton guy is still out to get her. (May gets away, but faces another problem.)

INT. TRAIN PRIVATE COMPARTMENT – DAY

A conductor checks her ticket. The train’s on the move. May settles in, relieved to be safe from the Pinkerton guy. A knock at the door, claiming to be checking tickets. May is terrified. The door opens and May is shocked to see a young man – Robbie – her beau from Menominee.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Setting Up The Future

What I learned doing this assignment is… because my story is non-linear now, it’s both easy and challenging to work with set-ups and pay-offs. But maybe easier…

REVEALS FOR SEASON 1:

Make a list of events/character reveals/under-the-surface info that COULD be set up in the pilot. Just use the obvious ones. You don’t need to create the entire season right now.

Who is Miss Frank?

How did May meet Claude Montcrief?

How does May know a Black midwife (Helene) well enough to be welcome to hide in her house?

What’s in May’s past that Reed Dougherty knows about and, if revealed, can destroy May’s life and reputation?

Why did May leave her home in Menominee and who is the young man who confronts her on the train?

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Adding Empathy/Distress!

What I learned doing this assignment is…Previously, I’d gone off ChatGPT for awhile, due to really generic, cliché answers and a few messages about potential non-compliance – working on a crime drama can be a little tricky with them. However, I thought I’d give them another shot with Lesson 8’s prompt and I received quite a few good suggestions.

My situation is this – in a previous Bingeworthy class, I wrote a pilot that got good responses, however one producer in particular said that the writing was good and it was a solid episode, but not quite exciting enough to be the pilot. I didn’t see any funding or contract coming from this producer, so I moved on to another project, and another. But suddenly, during Module 2, it came upon me that I could take some events from that show’s later episodes in the pitch bible, which were more exciting and also use the final episode’s cliffhanger for the pilot cliffhanger instead. I guess that was a breakthrough, but it didn’t really feel like it at the time, because I was into some other story entirely. But, oh well. I’m excited to be working on “Parlor Games” again.

Here are a few Empathy/Distress big picture items I can work into the pilot:

A. <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Crucible: Trapped in a situation of severe test where great change takes place.

B. Betrayal: The violation of a trust, relationship, or contract that results in physical or psychological damage.

F. Exposed: Something hidden about the character is uncovered, either good or bad. How does the character respond?

G. Must Make Decision with Future Consequences. (Cliffhanger ending.)

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Character Story Lines

What I learned doing this assignment is … this is really helping me with structuring my pilot episode – don’t think I’ve been covering enough of the story when I’ve been outlining, and giving each principal character concrete story beats is really helpful.

2 Main Characters:

REED DOUGHERTY, A Pinkerton Detective

• Beginning: Reed shows up at May’s engagement ball with Andy Andrews, a ne’er-do-well.
• Turning Point: May gets Reed thrown out.
• Midpoint: Reed swindles the swindlers, trying to expose May as a fraud and break up her engagement to Dale. Dale’s father is in on it; Dale in denial. Reed thinks he’s caught May…
• Turning Point 2: But May gets away!
• Major Conflict: Law-and-order Reed wants to catch swindler May in the act of a crime that Reed helped to set up as a sting.
• Ending: After a chase, Reed narrowly misses capturing the fugitive May.
• (Dilemma is optional.) There’s something about May that Reed finds attractive….

MAY DUGAS, a debutante con-girl

• Beginning: A fancy ball to announce May’s engagement to Dale Andrews, son of a Chicago banker.
• Turning Point: Dale offers May a diamond ring – May uses the moment to get 2 shady characters kicked out of the ball, and finds out Andy Andrews is Dale’s uncle – but who is the man with him, the mysterious Reed Dougherty?
• Midpoint: Claude and May have plotted a swindle and meet with the marks in the Palmer House Hotel. The marks are Andy Andrews and undercover detective, Reed Dougherty.
• Turning Point 2: May’s shady past is exposed to Dale and his father… but May escapes arrest.
• Major Conflict: How can May keep her secret life from being exposed?
• Ending: After a chase, May tricks the Pinkerton detective and escapes on a train.
• (Dilemma is optional.)

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Pilot Structure

What I learned doing this assignment is… even though ChatGPT’s responses seem rather generic, I can see that it seems to “understand” what I’m attempting to write. Might need a few more runs at it to see if more original ideas can be generated. Moving on…

1. Present the first draft of your pilot Acts.

Teaser:

• Essence: May Dugas makes her dazzling debut in Chicago’s high society at a lavish soirée hosted by her fiance’s family. As she navigates the glittering world of the city’s elite, she is startled by the presence of mysterious characters who have no business being at this event.
• Turning Point: When Dale gets down on one knee to offer May a diamond ring, her instinct is to flee like Cinderella, but she steels herself instead, and insists that Dale have these strange “guests” removed. But one of them is Dale’s uncle.

Act 1:

• Essence: Not what things seem – May meets with her debonair friend, Claude Montcrief, and tells him about the men at her engagement party. She’s seen them before, in a place that she thought had been kept a secret. Claude plays it down, then finally admits that he knows who the men were, and reveals a plan that will make a good deal of money for him and for May.
• Turning Point: A secret from May’s past is revealed and she’s not the debutante she pretends to be.

Act 2:

• Essence: Secrets are revealed – who is May really? May takes her engagement ring to be appraised at her favourite jeweller. She runs into a young woman who knows her – only slightly. Miss Frank, who seems concerned for May’s health.
• Turning Point/Midpoint: Miss Frank seems to have a crush on May. May has to rush away to a meeting with Claude and the mysterious men.

Act 3:

• Essence: Claude and May meet with “the gentlemen” to discuss a copper mine investment. May poses as the daughter of a mining engineer from Upper Michigan – or is that who she actually is? Reed Dougherty seems quite interested in her, in several ways.
• Turning Point: Reveal Reed Dougherty is a Pinkerton agent. Arrest in imminent!

Act 4:

• Essence: Escape – May knows a place she can hide – with a Black woman who is a midwife. How does May know a mid-wife? But Claude is arrested.
• Turning Point: Claude in jail – will he expose May? Dougherty, the Pinkerton man seems much more interested in May than Claude – who hired him?

Act 5:

• Essence: Get out of town – May picks up her jewelry, she’s had a paste copy of her ring made. She meets Dale’s father at his bank – he pays her to get out of town. He’s the one who hired the detective. She returns Dale’s ring, only it’s the paste one. May leaves for the station.
• Lock In: Cat and Mouse at the Train Station. Pinkerton is still out to get her.

[Joan Macbeth]

LESSON 2, MODULE 3

(Posting here because I couldn’t post under Lesson 2’s thread)

Joan Macbeth’s Amazing Inciting Incident

What I learned doing this assignment is… start in the middle! With the midpoint – a major turning point – then write Act 1 to cover up the new reality that appears at the midpoint, with a reality that isn’t real.

1. What is the “Inciting Incident” of your series that this pilot needs to deliver powerfully?

The Inciting Incident needs to dramatically introduce the two main characters who will spend the entire series in a cat-and-mouse chase.

2. Give us the main beats of that Inciting Incident:

• Intriguing Concept: How did May Dugas a destitute girl from a Michigan backwater end up travelling the world, to find her place in high society as a Baroness welcome in Europe’s royal households?

• Act 1: May gets engaged to her beau Dale, then goes about her daily routines, which include getting her new diamond engagement ring appraised. She appears to be a high-society girl, and her fiancé is the son of a Chicago banker in the 1880’s.

• Midpoint: May is working on a con, in cahoots with her friend Claude, to swindle rich “Andy” Andrews and some other investors, selling them shares in a bogus mining company. One of the investors turns out to be a Pinkerton detective – will May get caught?

• Lock In: May boards a train, still fearful she’ll be caught by the Pinkerton man. A knock at her compartment door reveals someone else who’s after her – the young man from her hometown in Michigan who sent her away to Chicago, to cover up the fact that he got her pregnant a few months ago. What happened to their baby?

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Big Picture Components

What I learned doing this assignment is… one way to empower myself – I have substituted a different project of mine that is much more fully developed because the project I’ve been working on in Modules 1 and 2 just isn’t ready yet to start an outline. I’ll try to switch between the two projects eventually, but what’s needed for the substitute project is a rethink on the pilot.

I originally wrote the previous pilot episode for “Parlor Games” the first time I took the Bingeworthy class. It received mixed results from the pitches that I did, and one producer in particular spent a lot of time with me on notes and suggestions. Basically, he said the pilot I wrote would be excellent as an episode, but it was not quite exciting enough to be the series pilot. And so:

1. Give us the basic Series Info:

SERIES INFO:

• World: The life of a female swindler in the late 1800’s – true life character Baroness de Pallandt van Erde, also known as May Dugas, from the lumber town of Menominee, Michigan.

• Main mystery: How did a destitute girl from a Michigan backwater end up travelling the world to find her place in high society, as a Baroness welcome in Europe’s royal households.

• Impossible Goal: Can May evade arrest by the persistent Pinkerton Detective, Reed Dougherty, who dubs her “the Most Dangerous Woman in the World?”

• Main Conflict: Dougherty vs. May

• Second Mystery: Will May succeed with her desires for fortune and happiness?

• Season 1 Arc: Pregnant from rape, May escapes gossip and ruin in her small hometown, to follow her dreams in the big city – but Chicago has its own pitfalls.

• Season 1 Protagonist Internal Journey: …TBA

2. Tell us the basic Pilot Info:

PILOT INFO:

• Pilot Conflict: The pilot is a flash-forward to Introduce the main conflict between May and the Pinkerton detective, Reed Dougherty.

• Characters Introduced: May Dugas, Reed Dougherty, May’s friend Claude Montcrief, May’s beau Dale, Dale’s father – a banker – and Dale’s uncle, a ne’er-do-well. Plus some girls from the whorehouse.

• Inciting Incident of Season 1: May and Reed deceive each other, setting off a cat-and-mouse chase across three continents.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Intrigue Patterns

What I learned doing this assignment is that intrigue is about BOTH giving and withholding information – not just cagey language that only withholds.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s TV Pitch Bible Investigation

What I learned doing this assignment is… this is feeling premature due to where I am right now. Revisit later.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Episode Descriptions (Module 2, Lesson5)

What I learned doing this assignment is… I feel like I am treating my episode summaries more like scenes, so I need a little more fleshing out. ChatGPT gave me a content warning for the first time, so that was a little curious. It gave me some answers, but they were very milquetoast. I’m going to try the 5-minute deadline for episode descriptions next, and move it along.

EPISODES:

1. Romeo meets Juliet – Set up their worlds (including Bard Worship) and their mutual attraction.

• Hook/Intrigue: Romeo is trapping rabbits which he freezes in fear – he hears someone reciting Shakespeare.
• Main Character journey: A boy and a girl meet in a no-man’s-land on the woodsy border of her reproduction collective, initially in fear which turns to attraction.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: Fear vs. Flirtation
• Action/Reaction: Romeo draws his knife, Juliet pretends she’s not afraid – they have a conversation
• Cliffhanger: Someone is coming – will they be discovered?

2. Juliet’s world – Juliet confides in best friend Kate, who fears the Outsiders and threatens to tell on Juliet, but Juliet knows how to manipulate Kate; Intro something mysterious about Ophelia.

• Hook/Intrigue: Why is Ophelia always watching Juliet?
• Main Character journey: Juliet was always satisfied with her life, but now all she wants is to return to the trysting place to see if Romeo comes back.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: Juliet is excited to tell her secret to Kate, but Kate insists they must tell authorities about the Outsider.
• Action/Reaction: Juliet must persuade Kate not to tell.
• Cliffhanger: Is Kate going to tell and get Juliet in trouble? Serious consequences!

3. Romeo’s world – intro fiancee & brother, matriarch Abuela, and tribal life as Romeo and his brother quarrel over their differences.

• Hook/Intrigue: Why is Romeo so nervous, while his brother teases him – and why doesn’t Romeo have his knife.
• Main Character journey: Hiding his fear of discovery.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: Romeo’s brother is being a jerk.
• Action/Reaction: Fist fight.
• Cliffhanger: Abuela threatens them.

4. Romeo &Juliet return to trysting place and develop a relationship; Juliet is torn because she’s not supposed to be there.

• Hook/Intrigue: Juliet sneaks away from the collective to the border.
• Main Character journey: Risking danger to be together.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: If discovered, Juliet will be punished. If the Militia is alerted to Romeo’s presence, his tribe will be attacked, and he will be killed.
• Action/Reaction: Juliet gives Romeo his lost knife – and other gifts of food she has stolen. They make love.
• Cliffhanger: Sirens sound from the reproduction collective.

5. Juliet’s birthday/coming of age celebration, to intro the General, Chief of Staff, Lady Macbeth and some intrigue with Ophelia.

• Hook/Intrigue: Romeo runs toward the woods – trips and falls – it is his brother who tripped him – spying on Romeo.
• Main Character journey: Romeo and Juliet are separated; Juliet was scared but it was only a drill at the collective.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: Separation – Juliet prepares for her 15th birthday celebration, in which she directs a Shakespeare play. Important guests attend, including the collective guardian, Lady Macbeth, plus the General and the Chief of Staff.
• Action/Reaction: After the play, Juliet is surprised to be received by the Chief of Staff, in a private room.
• Cliffhanger: The Chief of Staff attempts to seduce Juliet, and when she refuses, he threatens rape.

6. Rape of Juliet by Chief of Staff.

• Hook/Intrigue: Aftermath of the rape.
• Main Character journey: Juliet has lost her innocence and commiserates with Kate over why she was raped instead of having an artificial insemination procedure, as the women of the collective have been led to believe.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: Juliet vows to run away – Kate is adamant that she shouldn’t.
• Action/Reaction: Juliet and Kate quarrel.
• Cliffhanger: Juliet flees in the darkness to the trysting place – danger!

7. Romeo & Juliet decide to run away together, tribe is attacked by militia, fiancee killed, reveal Brother was in love with her; anger at Romeo for causing this tragedy, but he’s gone.

• Hook/Intrigue: When Juliet arrives at the trysting place, Romeo is there. He’s been sleeping there after a fight with his brother.
• Main Character journey: Romeo and Juliet decide to run away together.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: Danger of getting caught by the Collective authorities (Lady Macbeth), or worse, the Militia.
• Action/Reaction: Militia attacks Romeo’s tribe. His fiancee is killed. Brother was secretly in love with her – heartbroken! And furious with Romeo.
• Cliffhanger: Romeo and Juliet run through the woods and Juliet injures her ankle.

8. Cliffhanger: The young couple are caught and are imprisoned separately, each believing the other is dead.

• Hook/Intrigue: How will they get away, if Juliet is injured? Brother watches from afar and doesn’t help them.
• Main Character journey: Romeo realizes their mistake – it’s hopeless. Juliet tries to be strong, but it’s hopeless.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: They hear Militia soldiers coming for them.
• Action/Reaction: Romeo and Juliet embrace. Fear.
• Cliffhanger: Militia forces arrive and tear them apart.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Episode List Rough Draft (Lesson 4, Module2)

What I learned doing this assignment is… I’m thinking more in terms of the bigger picture, and how to flesh out many episodes, which isn’t quite the objective here. A five-season series is a really big story – call it a 40-hour movie. That’s quite a lot compared to a 100-page feature script, which is what I’m used to writing. 2400 pages, I think, for only 8 episodes per season. So it’s a bit challenging for me to work out a viable structure. I think my episodes so far may be a bit skimpy, so I’m beginning to think more about the details of individual story threads and how those would be structured. This might all be beyond the scope of this class; however it’s certainly a good reason to become conversant with AI. I suppose the breakthrough I’m having is that a successful TV series is likely to need a complete story arc for each principal character, compared to a 2-hour movie that has fewer main characters and the others are there to support the main character’s story, rather than everyone having an arc. However, not always in TV, as I noticed in my example TV show, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which is more conducive to using supporting characters, at least in the early part of Season 1. On the other hand, “West World” has story arcs up the ying-yang. So, thanks for the opportunity to expand my thinking, and now I will try to contract it back to thinking about a pilot episode and one season.

1. Use the Cheat Sheet above to do Step 1 – 5, answering the questions.

CHEAT SHEET:

1. Beginning……………………………………………………………………….Season End/Cliffhanger

• Question A: What is the Beginning of the season and the End of the season? ROMEO MEETS JULIET – THEY WANT TO BE TOGETHER AND FREE, BUT THEY ARE CAPTURED
• Question B: What possible cliffhanger could be in that last scene of the season, thus demanding that we watch the next season? ROMEO AND JULIET ARE CAUGHT AND IMPRISONED SEPARATELY, EACH BELIEVING THE OTHER IS DEAD.

2. Season 1 Mystery Set up…………………………………..………………Season 1 Mystery Solved

• Question A: What is the mystery? WHY ARE THEY ENEMIES?
• Question B: How could the mystery be set up? What parts will be left out that must be solved? WHY ARE ROMEO’S PEOPLE FREE, BUT DESTITUTE, AND JULIET’S PEOPLE ARE IMPRISONED BUT HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED? WHAT’S LEFT OUT – JULIET’S INSTITUTIONAL SOCIETY IS RUN BY A CRUEL & HYPOCRITICAL DICTATORSHIP.
• Question C: What it the ultimate solution that the characters must work to discover? JULIET CHANGES HER CONCEPT OF FREEDOM.

3. Journey begins……………………………………………………….Journey peaks, but continues.

• Question A: Where does the Lead Character journey begin and end for this season? BOTH LOSE THEIR FREEDOM AND BECOME PRISONERS.
• Question B: Think about where this character goes in future seasons. That might give you an idea also. ROMEO HAS A CONCEPT OF FREEDOM THAT IS MORE TRADITIONAL IN AMERICAN SOCIETY – THAT YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO FREEDOM, BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WORK OR SACRIFICE TO MAINTAIN IT. (LIFE, LIBERTY, PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS). JULIET’S REALITY IS THAT SHE CAN TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT ALL HER WANTS AND NEEDS ARE PROVIDED FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT.

4. ……Layer….…Layer………Layer………Layer………Layer………Layer………Layer……Layer

• Question A: What layers have you already discovered in your BW Framework? PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.
• Major scheme revealed – Juliet’s escape from the Reproduction Collective – leads to others plotting to do the same, or instigates a change to exercise more freedoms.
• Mystery revealed – Ophelia reveals she is Juliet’s mother, but who is the father? Because it wasn’t artificial insemination, which is the law.
• Thought the story was one thing, but it is another – Is it simply another Romeo & Juliet tragic love story, or can the last remaining free people of Cascadia reveal how the oppressed and imprisoned can be freed?
• Major shift in Meaning – What is Bard Worship and why do the Cascadia people follow it?
• Hidden history – How did the Plague change reproduction dynamics for the people of Cascadia?
• Hidden plan – Someone wants to threaten the leadership of the Chief of Staff.
• Major betrayal – A plot against the Chief of Staff is being run by his loyal General, who turns out to be Ophelia’s lover and Juliet’s father.
• Question B: Are there any other layers that you could think of? STILL DEVELOPING CHARACTER LAYERS, BUT YES.

5. Make a list of the Major Story Lines.

• Question A: What main characters have story lines that affect everyone else? ROMEO, JULIET, OPHELIA, THE GENERAL, THE CHIEF OF STAFF
• Question B: What are the most important story lines of this show? WILL ROMEO AND JULIET SURVIVE AND GET TOGETHER; WILL THE MILITIA RETALIATE AGAINST ROMEO’S TRIBE; WHAT WAS THE CAUSE BEHIND THE SOCIETY BECOMING WHAT IT IS; ROMEO AND HIS BROTHER ARE AT ODDS – WILL THEY RECONCILE?; WILL OPHELIA’S AND THE GENERAL’S SECRET BE DISCOVERED; WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE CRUEL CHIEF OF STAFF?

2. Turn those answers into a list of 8 to 13 Episodes with one sentence explanations.

1 Romeo meets Juliet – Set up their worlds (including Bard Worship) and their mutual attraction.

2 Juliet’s world – Juliet confides in BFF Kate, who fears the Outsiders and threatens to tell on Juliet, but Juliet knows how to manipulate Kate; Intro something mysterious about Ophelia.

3 Romeo’s world – intro fiancee & brother, matriarch Abuela, and tribal life as Romeo and his brother quarrel over their differences.

4 R&J return to trysting place and develop a relationship; Juliet is torn because she’s not supposed to be there.

5 Juliet’s birthday/coming of age celebration, to intro the General, Chief of Staff, Lady Macbeth and some intrigue with Ophelia.

6 Rape of Juliet by Chief of Staff.

7 R&J Decide to run away together, tribe is attacked by militia, fiancee killed, reveal Brother was in love with her; anger at Romeo for causing this tragedy, but he’s gone.

8 Cliffhanger: The young couple are caught and are imprisoned separately, each believing the other is dead.

3. With each episode, make a list of bullet points that describe the most important events of that episode. JUST GOING TO SKIP THIS PART FOR NOW, AS MY PREVIOUS ANSWERS WERE FAIRLY DETAILED RUN-ON SENTENCES. I RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO FLESH OUT THE EPISODES, IN SOME CASES, THOUGH. THANK YOU.

1 Romeo meets Juliet – Set up their worlds (including Bard Worship) and their mutual attraction.

2 Juliet’s world – Juliet confides in BFF Kate, who fears the Outsiders and threatens to tell on Juliet, but Juliet knows how to manipulate Kate; Intro something mysterious about Ophelia.

3 Romeo’s world – intro fiancee & brother, matriarch Abuela, and tribal life as Romeo and his brother quarrel over their differences.

4 R&J return to trysting place and develop a relationship; Juliet is torn because she’s not supposed to be there.

5 Juliet’s birthday/coming of age celebration, to intro the General, Chief of Staff, Lady Macbeth and some intrigue with Ophelia.

6 Rape of Juliet by Chief of Staff.

7 R&J Decide to run away together, tribe is attacked by militia, fiancee killed, reveal Brother was in love with her; anger at Romeo for causing this tragedy, but he’s gone.

8 Cliffhanger: The young couple are caught and are imprisoned separately, each believing the other is dead.

4. Use this prompt to brainstorm an AI version:

PROMPT: Generate 8 Episodes

Teaser:

Main Character journey:

Major Challenge/Conflict:

Midpoint:

Action/Reaction:

Cliffhanger:

Number of Episodes = 8

Format/Genre =

Series concept =

Season beginning =

Season ending =

Main characters =

ChatGPT

Number of Episodes: 8

Format/Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Thriller

Series Concept: In a future where women are enslaved for reproduction, Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden love sparks a rebellion against a totalitarian military regime in the wilds of Northwest/Cascadia.

Season Beginning: Juliet escapes the reproductive collective, encountering Romeo, a tribal freedom fighter. Their love challenges the oppressive regime, setting the stage for a rebellion.

Season Ending: Separated, Juliet’s capture exposes her pregnancy, hinting at possible immunity. The militia intensifies the pursuit, while Juliet’s fate hangs in the balance.

Main Characters: Romeo, Juliet, The Chief of Staff, The General, Romeo’s Brother, Ophelia, Kate, Nurse

Episode 1: “Embers Ignite”

• Teaser: Juliet’s daring escape from the reproductive collective.
• Main Character Journey: Romeo discovers Juliet, a girl from the enemy collective.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: The militia discovers Juliet’s escape, launching a pursuit.
• Midpoint: Romeo and Juliet share a clandestine meeting.
• Action/Reaction: The militia intensifies efforts to recapture Juliet.
• Cliffhanger: Juliet’s capture seems inevitable.

Episode 2: “Veiled Secrets”

• Teaser: Romeo struggles with guilt over Juliet’s capture.
• Main Character Journey: Juliet faces harsh conditions in captivity.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: The militia suspects Juliet’s pregnancy.
• Midpoint: Juliet’s pregnancy becomes a source of intrigue.
• Action/Reaction: The tribe plans a rescue mission for Juliet.
• Cliffhanger: Juliet’s captors discover her pregnancy.

Episode 3: “Whispers of Rebellion”

• Teaser: The tribe executes a daring plan to rescue Juliet.
• Main Character Journey: Juliet contemplates escape amid growing danger.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: Romeo’s brother reveals a secret resistance.
• Midpoint: Juliet’s escape plan takes a dangerous turn.
• Action/Reaction: The resistance gains strength against the militia.
• Cliffhanger: Juliet reunites with Romeo, but the militia closes in.

Episode 4: “Echoes of the Past”

• Teaser: Juliet’s reunion with Romeo is cut short by an ambush.
• Main Character Journey: The tribe and the resistance form an alliance.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: The militia’s dark past is exposed.
• Midpoint: Romeo’s brother confronts The Chief of Staff.
• Action/Reaction: Internal dissent grows within the militia.
• Cliffhanger: The tribe and the resistance prepare for a full-scale rebellion.

Episode 5: “Whirlwind of Change”

• Teaser: The rebellion gains momentum across Cascadia.
• Main Character Journey: Juliet’s pregnancy becomes symbolic.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: The militia faces internal strife.
• Midpoint: The Chief of Staff’s hidden past is revealed.
• Action/Reaction: Cascadia stands on the brink of transformation.
• Cliffhanger: The militia launches a counteroffensive against the rebellion.

Episode 6: “Fires of Revolution”

• Teaser: The rebellion faces a brutal counterattack.
• Main Character Journey: Romeo and Juliet struggle to unite the factions.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: The plague’s origin is revealed.
• Midpoint: The rebellion gains an unexpected ally.
• Action/Reaction: The militia intensifies efforts to crush the rebellion.
• Cliffhanger: Juliet’s child becomes a symbol of hope.

Episode 7: “The Rising Phoenix”

• Teaser: The rebellion spreads, challenging militia control.
• Main Character Journey: The truth about the plague surfaces.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: Full-scale conflict erupts.
• Midpoint: Juliet’s child becomes a focal point in the rebellion.
• Action/Reaction: The origin of the plague propels Cascadia toward transformation.
• Cliffhanger: Humanity’s fate hangs in the balance.

Episode 8: “Eclipsed Destiny” (Season Finale)

• Teaser: The final battle for Cascadia begins.
• Main Character Journey: Romeo and Juliet lead the rebellion against the militia.
• Major Challenge/Conflict: The climax of the rebellion unfolds.
• Midpoint: Revelations reshape the characters’ understanding of the past.
• Action/Reaction: Cascadia stands at the precipice of a new era.
• Cliffhanger: The outcome of the rebellion leaves the characters’ fates uncertain.

[Joan Macbeth]

I haven’t been able to post anything since I started on Module 2. I’ve just finished Lesson 3 and will post in here since it’s the only thread that I can open right now. Thanks!

Joan Macbeth’s Five Seasons (Lesson 3, Module 2)

What I learned doing this assignment is that I had a hard time distinguishing stair steps from building blocks, but I was still able to identify arcs and write season descriptions

1. Brainstorm to find the arc of the entire journey, from Season One to Five.

Beginning of Season One: Romeo meets Juliet on the borderlands of their two worlds – Romeo is destitute but free in the post-apocalyptic wilderness; Juliet is captive in a government-run human reproduction facility.

End of Season Five: Juliet frees her people from the fascist government – Romeo returns with their child, but dies in the effort.

2. Brainstorm the Stair Step version.

Simply list the main mystery, conflict, opponent, layer, etc., that each season is about.

• Season 1: (Bigger Opponent, Bigger Arena, New Layer)
• A. High Concept or major hook of the season. Romeo and Juliet are from different worlds – can their love survive? Can they?
• B. Big Picture Arc/Journey: Exploring the separate worlds of R&J – Juliet is about to become of age – 15 – when she will be clinically inseminated for the first time. Romeo is horrified by this – his tribe does things the old-fashioned way. He is betrothed to a woman of his tribe, but he falls in love with Juliet.
• C. Main Conflict: When Romeo and Juliet run away together, Romeo’s despised “Terrista” tribe – a group of undocumented nomadic families who have been on the run from Government forces for generations – faces retaliation.
• D. Mystery/Open Loops: Will Romeo forsake his fiancee to be with Juliet? Romeo’s brother is in love with Romeo’s fiancee. So when government soldiers kill her, will his brother ever forgive Romeo?
• E. Cliffhanger: The young couple is caught and are imprisoned separately, each believing the other is dead.
• (Characters: R&J, Brother & Fiancee, Abuela, tribe members; Ophelia, Nurse, The General, Kate, The Chief of Staff, Lady Macbeth, collective residents, soldiers/guards)

• Season 2:
• A. High Concept or major hook of the season. Discovery of Juliet’s pregnancy leads her to be returned to the reproduction collective where she is placed in solitary confinement – believing Romeo has been killed.
• B. Big Picture Arc/Journey: She is to be executed for treason after her baby is born.
• C. Main Conflict: Life & Death
• D. Mystery/Open Loops: Juliet discovers her origins, forbidden information about her parents. Flashback to Romeo’s past with the “Keepers” – he is delusional and unconscious in prison – but not dead.
• E. Cliffhanger: Not dead, Romeo is brutalized in prison until he is finally released into a work camp as a slave – where he meets up with his brother, who wants to kill him.
• (Characters: R&J, Brother, guards, Abuela, tribe members including Romeo’s parents w/Young Romeo, Keepers, Grandfather; Ophelia, Nurse, The General, Kate, The Chief of Staff, Lady Macbeth, collective residents)

• Season 3:
• A. High Concept or major hook of the season. After suffering in the gruesome prison camp doing dangerous factory work, Romeo and his brother lead an escape.
• B. Big Picture Arc/Journey: Prisoners to escapees. Romeo returns to the Keepers and undertakes an arduous journey with an unknown treasure.
• C. Main Conflict: He returns to the borders of the Reproduction Collective with the hope of finding Juliet, but finds security has been increased. His tribe has scattered, so Romeo undertakes journey to Keepers.
• D. Mystery/Open Loops: Will R&J ever be reunited, or is Juliet destined to be executed? What happened to the survivors of Romeo’s tribe? What will brother do?
• E. Cliffhanger: In a swift river Romeo loses hold of the treasure box and it is swept away, along with Romeo himself – apparently drowning.
• (Characters: R&J, Brother, guards, prisoners, tribe members, Keepers,; Ophelia, Nurse, The General, Kate, The Chief of Staff, Lady Macbeth, collective residents)

• Season 4:
• A. High Concept or major hook of the season. Juliet struggles with the birth of her baby girl, who is tested for genetics – she has the disease-resistant genes. But who is the father? Romeo, or The Chief of Staff? Or was she properly inseminated as Juliet claims?
• B. Big Picture Arc/Journey: Redouble efforts to survive.
• C. Main Conflict: Juliet’s survival. Returning to Cascadia, Romeo has a run-in with The General. The Terristas take hostages, some are killed. The Chief of Staff is executed and the General is spared.
• D. Mystery/Open Loops: Juliet conspires with Kate to switch babies and tattoo her with the wrong mark – why? Will Juliet get away?
• E. Cliffhanger: What will happen to Juliet and her baby?
• (Characters: R&J, Brother, tribe members; soldiers, Ophelia, Nurse, The General, Kate, Lady Macbeth, collective residents)

• Season 5:
• A. High Concept or major hook of the season. What will Juliet sacrifice to save herself, her baby, Romeo, her secret family, the people of her society?
• B. Big Picture Arc/Journey: Selfish goals to society goals.
• C. Main Conflict: Romeo and the General break into the Reproduction Collective where they are confronted by Ophelia and Lady Macbeth. Juliet escapes with the baby, as far as the security fence where she and Romeo first met. But she won’t go with Romeo.
• D. Mystery/Open Loops: She finds Romeo’s “treasure” box and is examining it when Romeo appears. He explains the treasure to Juliet and she hands over their baby for him to escape with it. Why does she refuse to escape?
• E. Cliffhanger/Resolution: Juliet refuses to go with them, as she must use the treasure to save the people of Cascadia from fascism. Juliet frees her people from the fascist government – Romeo returns with their child, but dies in the effort.

3. For each season, brainstorm the Building Blocks.

Season 1: Title:

• A. High Concept or major hook of the season.
• B. Big Picture Arc/Journey:
• C. Main Conflict:
• D. Mystery/Open Loops:
• E. Cliffhanger:
• See #2

4. Write a description of each season and give us the 5 seasons.

• Season 1
• Exploring the separate worlds of R&J – Juliet is about to become of age – 15 – when she will be clinically inseminated for the first time. Romeo is horrified by this – his tribe does things the old-fashioned way. He is betrothed to a woman of his tribe, but he falls in love with Juliet. When Romeo and Juliet run away together, Romeo’s despised “Terrista” tribe – a group of undocumented nomadic families who have been on the run from Government forces for generations – faces retaliation. The young couple is caught and are imprisoned separately, each believing the other is dead. (Brother & Fiancee, Abuela, tribe members; Ophelia, Nurse, The General, Kate, The Chief of Staff, Lady Macbeth, collective residents)

• Season 2:
• Discovery of Juliet’s pregnancy leads her to be returned to the reproduction collective where she is placed in solitary confinement. Juliet discovers her origins, forbidden information about her parents. She is to be executed for treason after her baby is born. Flashback to Romeo’s past with the “Keepers” – he is delusional and unconscious in prison – but not dead. Once conscious, Romeo is brutalized in prison until he is finally released into a work camp as a slave – where he meets up with his brother.

• Season 3:
• After suffering in the gruesome prison camp doing dangerous factory work, Romeo and his brother lead an escape. He returns to the borders of the Reproduction Collective with the hope of finding Juliet, but finds security has been increased. Romeo returns to the Keepers and undertakes an arduous journey with an unknown treasure. In a swift river Romeo loses hold of the treasure box and it is swept away, along with Romeo himself – apparently drowning.

• Season 4:
• Juliet struggles with the birth of her baby girl, who is tested for genetics – she has the disease-resistant genes. But who is the father? Romeo, or The Chief of Staff? Or was she properly inseminated as Juliet claims? Juliet conspires with Kate to switch babies and tattoo her with the wrong mark. Romeo has survived, and retrieves the treasure. Returning to Cascadia, Romeo has a run-in with The General. The Terristas take hostages, some are killed. The Chief of Staff is executed and the General is spared.

• Season 5:
• A. High Concept or major hook of the season.
• B. Big Picture Arc/Journey:
• C. Main Conflict:
• D. Mystery/Open Loops:
• E. Cliffhanger:
• Romeo and the General break into the Reproduction Collective where they are confronted by Ophelia and Lady Macbeth. Juliet escapes with the baby, as far as the security fence where she and Romeo first met. She finds Romeo’s “treasure” box and is examining it when Romeo appears. He explains the treasure to Juliet and she hands over their baby for him to escape with it. Juliet refuses to go with them, as she must use the treasure to save the people of Cascadia from fascism.

5. Use these TWO PROMPTS one after another in the same AI chat. Do Prompt 1, then wait for an answer. Then do Prompt 2 right underneath the answer that Prompt 1 gave.

ChatGPT

Season 1: “Embers of Rebellion”

• A. High Concept: Forbidden love ignites a rebellion in Cascadia’s dystopian landscape.
• B. Big Picture Arc: Juliet’s escape challenges the dictatorship, unraveling hidden truths.
• C. Main Conflict: Militia captures the lovers; Juliet’s pregnancy sparks a power struggle.
• D. Main Mystery/Layers: Paternity of Juliet’s child; the child’s potential immunity.
• E. Cliffhanger: Militia discovers the child’s potential immunity, intensifying the conflict.

Season 2: “Shadows of Deceit”

• A. High Concept: Separated lovers unearth hidden truths, testing their resilience.
• B. Big Picture Arc: Juliet’s pregnancy unveils mysteries, including potential plague immunity.
• C. Main Conflict: Romeo and Juliet’s separate escapes, intensifying the mystery.
• D. Main Mystery/Layers: Origins of the plague; Juliet’s immunity and child’s fate.
• E. Cliffhanger: The revelation of Juliet’s child’s potential immunity shocks both lovers.

Season 3: “Whispers of Betrayal”

• A. High Concept: Juliet’s child becomes a symbol, driving a wedge in the militia.
• B. Big Picture Arc: Internal strife within the militia; the rise of a resistance.
• C. Main Conflict: Speculation about Juliet’s child’s immunity divides the militia.
• D. Main Mystery/Layers: The origin of Juliet’s child’s immunity; the secret resistance.
• E. Cliffhanger: Romeo’s brother reveals the existence of a clandestine resistance.

Season 4: “Echoes of Redemption”

• A. High Concept: A resistance gains strength, revealing dark secrets and driving a wedge.
• B. Big Picture Arc: The militia faces internal strife as the resistance strengthens.
• C. Main Conflict: The Chief of Staff’s dark past is exposed, escalating the conflict.
• D. Main Mystery/Layers: The Chief of Staff’s secrets; internal strife within the militia.
• E. Cliffhanger: Cascadia stands on the brink as the rebellion gains momentum.

Season 5: “Rising Phoenix”

• A. High Concept: A rebellion spreads, and the truth about the plague’s origin surfaces.
• B. Big Picture Arc: Cascadia faces transformation; humanity’s fate hangs in the balance.
• C. Main Conflict: A full-scale rebellion erupts, spreading to other regions.
• D. Main Mystery/Layers: Origins of the plague; the rebellion’s impact on Cascadia.
• E. Cliffhanger: Cascadia stands at the brink of transformation, and the final conflict unfolds.

Thank you. Please revise these into paragraph form.

ChatGPT

5 SEASON SUMMARY:

Season 1: “Embers of Rebellion”

In a dystopian world, escape sparks forbidden love between Juliet and Romeo. Their flight challenges the oppressive regime, with the militia in relentless pursuit. The contested mystery of Juliet’s pregnancy becomes a focal point, as her capture ends the season with the revelation of potential immunity, intensifying the conflict.

Season 2: “Shadows of Deceit”

Separated, secrets unravel as Romeo and Juliet uncover hidden truths about their post-apocalyptic world. Militia speculation intensifies about the impact of Juliet’s pregnancy, setting the stage for rebellion. The child’s potential immunity becomes a source of tension, paving the way for a tumultuous journey.

Season 3: “Whispers of Betrayal”

Juliet’s pregnancy fuels internal strife within the militia, while Romeo’s brother reveals a clandestine resistance group. Internal dissent grows as the resistance gains strength, exposing the dark past of The Chief of Staff. The growing rebellion sparks internal strife within the militia, creating a complex web of alliances and betrayals.

Season 4: “Echoes of Redemption”

Juliet’s child becomes a symbol of hope in a rebellious world. The resistance gains strength, and The Chief of Staff’s dark past is exposed, escalating internal strife within the militia. Cascadia stands at the brink of transformation, with the revelation of the plague’s origin, leaving the fate of humanity hanging in the balance.

Season 5: “Rising Phoenix”

A rebellion erupts, spreading as the truth about the plague surfaces. Full-scale conflict unfolds, and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance. The revelation of the plague’s origin propels Cascadia toward transformation, leaving the characters at the precipice of a new era with uncertain outcomes.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth has completed the BW Framework!

More or less. It is still a work in progress, but getting there.

What I learned doing this process is that my “Circles of Characters” is more of a “Venn Diagram of Characters.” I understood the concept of concentric circles being Main Characters, Connected Characters, and Environmental Characters, but I have a situation where the two leads interact with each other, and they each interact with with connected characters in their own environments, but those two environments and their characters don’t overlap until much later in the show. So, just mulling that over and moving on.

[Joan Macbeth]

Lesson 12

Subject line: Joan Macbeth’s Creating Irony!

What I learned doing this assignment is… ChatGPT seems to know a lot about irony! Some of the answers were fairly generic, and others have potential to work well in my show. I will be working on these in more detail as the course progresses.

ASSIGNMENT 1: Example Show

Watch the next episode of your Example Show and notice where irony shows up in this show — both in this episode and throughout the episodes you’ve already seen.

Tell us the irony you have already discovered in the Example Show.

EXAMPLE SHOW: THE HANDMAID’S TALE

So much irony!

There’s a society based on a religion that is supposed to be good, moral, devout, etc. but they are treating the women in very immoral and cruel ways.

It is these women who can save civilization by bearing children for the religious leaders, but the religious system is destroying the lives of the women.

June/Offred and the other Handmaids dress like nuns – but her Commander dresses her up like a hooker to take her to Jezebels. She pretends to like it at Jezebels, but she’s going to help find a package in aid of the Underground. And she doesn’t actually know what the package is.

Later in the episode, Aunt Lydia calls upon Offred to stop Janine from jumping off a bridge with her baby. June saves the baby, but is horrified when Janine jumps.

June’s friend Moira who works at Jezebels tells her it’s stupid to try to pick up a package she knows nothing about. But the package appears when June goes shopping at the meat market.

ASSIGNMENT 2: Your Show

1. Look back through your previous assignments and find at least 10 different situations or character components that you could go opposite to create irony.

Romeo and Juliet – star-crossed lovers have a situation of built-in irony. They want to be together, but circumstances prevent them from being together.

Romeo lives free in a difficult environment where he has to struggle to survive, while Juliet lives in an institution where all is provided, yet she longs to live “free.”

The institutional environment of the Reproduction Collective forbids the women to know their own offspring – they are separated at birth and all relationships are kept anonymous. But some, including Juliet’s own mother, have found a way to subvert these rules and show favouritism.

They are Romeo and Juliet – so at some point they each will believe the other is dead. But in fact they are both alive.

Juliet has a best friend she can confide in – Kate – but she ends up betraying Juliet.

Romeo is meant to marry a woman from his tribe, but he will reject her. His own brother is in love with her and it will cause a rift between the brothers.

Romeo has studied with “The Keepers” who have collected ancient books and papers in remote cave dwellings, with the objective of preserving civilization, but because his tribe is starving he must leave to become a hunter to aid their survival. He is hopelessly untrained for hunting.

The tribal society needs to stand together to survive, but Romeo’s rejection of the chosen mate, and the rift with his brother, threaten to escalate causing division amongst the tribe.

Juliet’s mother, Ophelia, had a longstanding illicit affair with The General, which he eventually confesses to the Militia’s prisoner, Romeo. When it comes down to personal relationships, Romeo and the General will be on the same side, even though they are actually enemies in the bigger picture. (Juliet being the General’s daughter.)

The General is expected to carry out orders made by the Chief of Staff, but finds his loyalties lie with his family instead, making him a traitor to the government.

2. With each, brainstorm ideas for ways it could go opposite. (TBA)

3. With AI, use this prompt to generate even more ways to use irony.

   I’m going to give you the [concept], [lead characters], and [main conflict] for my TV Series in [Format/Genre] and I’d like you to brainstorm forms of [irony] that could show up in the show.

ChatGPT

Format/Genre: Post-apocalyptic Thriller

Concept: Romeo and Juliet in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where Romeo lives in a free-roaming tribal society, and Juliet is imprisoned in an institutional human reproductive collective.

Main Conflict: Three factions – a free-roaming tribal society, a reproductive collective controlled by the military government, and a power-hungry Chief of Staff manipulating the conflict.

Lead Characters: Romeo, Juliet, Ophelia, Kate, Romeo’s Brother, The Chief of Staff, the General, Nurse.

Possible Forms of Irony:

• Situational Irony:

• Example: Romeo, educated by the Keepers, struggles in the wilderness.
• Explanation: The one groomed for a scholarly role faces survival challenges.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Plot and Character Layers

What I learned doing this assignment is… I need to cross some boundaries with my characters. It’s not just two or three factions, each against the others, but also spies with secret agendas infiltrating other camps – to complicate the plot and create more intrigue and surprises.

ASSIGNMENT 1: Example Show

Watch the next episode of your Example Show and notice how layers show up in this show — both in this episode and throughout the episodes you’ve already seen.

Tell us the layers you have discovered in the Example Show.

Deadline: 24 hours

The Handmaid’s Tale

PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.

• Major scheme revealed – Mrs. Waterford asks Offred to try to get pregnant by sleeping with Nick instead of Commander Waterford.

• Mystery revealed – A delegate from the Mexican Trade organization who is a spy reveals to June/Offred that her husband that she assumed was killed is still alive.

• Thought the story was one thing, but it is another – ???

• Major shift in Meaning – The Mexican Trade Delegation is really about trade in Handmaids.

• Hidden history – What happened to June/Offred’s daughter Hannah?

• Hidden plan – June/Offred wants to find out about rumours of an underground organization called Mayday, possibly helping Handmaids to escape.

• Major betrayal – June/Offred starts to have feelings for Nick, then finds out her husband is still alive.

CHARACTER LAYERS – identity beneath the identity.

• Secret identity – Anyone could be a spy, an eye, a traitor or a secret helper.

• Character Intrigue – Commander Waterford, or any “devout”Commander, might go to Jezebels brothel.

• Hidden relationships and conspiracies – What is Mayday and who knows about it?

• Hidden Character history – June meets up with Moira at Jezebels.

ASSIGNMENT 2: Your Show

Discover the layers that could exist for your show.

1. Brainstorm a list of possible PLOT layers.

PLOT LAYERS – Story beneath the story.

• Major scheme revealed – Juliet’s escape from the Reproduction Collective – leads to others plotting to do the same, or instigates a change to exercise more freedoms.

• Mystery revealed – Ophelia reveals she is Juliet’s mother, but who is the father? Because it wasn’t artificial insemination, which is the law.

• Thought the story was one thing, but it is another – Is it simply a another Romeo & Juliet tragic love story, or can the last remaining free people of Cascadia reveal how the oppressed and imprisoned can be freed?

• Major shift in Meaning – What is Bard Worship and why do the Cascadia people follow it?

• Hidden history – How did the Plague change reproduction dynamics for the people of Cascadia?

• Hidden plan – Someone wants to threaten the leadership of the Chief of Staff.

• Major betrayal – A plot against the Chief of Staff is being run by his loyal General, who turns out to be Ophelia’s lover and Juliet’s father.

2. Brainstorm a list of possible CHARACTER layers.

CHARACTER LAYERS – identity beneath the identity.

• Secret identity – Ophelia is secretly Juliet’s mother, but also her lover is a powerful General (Juliet’s father) plotting to overthrow the totalitarian government.

• Character intrigue – Romeo and his brother are at odds, but when Romeo is captured, his brother also is caught (on purpose?) so when they are reunited in prison they collaborate on a scheme to free many of their people.

• Hidden relationships and conspiracies – Ophelia and the General had many children together without the reproduction authorities finding out. Ophelia’s friend, Nurse, was in on the secret and later helps Juliet when she’s caught.

• Hidden Character history – Romeo’s parents were killed in an attack by the Militia when he and his brother were small. Romeo was old enough to remember, but his brother was a baby and has no memory of them – so the brothers have two separate world views. Their grandmother took Romeo to be raised by “The Keepers” – cave dwellers who guard old history of the countries that came before Cascadia was created under the current regime. Then she returned with the baby to live with their tribe.

3. Organize them each into a possible sequence of reveals.

Plot Surface:

• Layer 1: Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love.
• Layer 2: Juliet is a prisoner in the bizarre Reproduction Collective; Romeo is a member of a free but randomly oppressed tribe.
• Layer 3: Reproduction is controlled in Cascadia due to a disease they call the Plague. Certain people are genetically disease resistant, so those females were corralled for reproduction, while the males are trained as sperm donors and officers in the Militia.
• Layer 4: While the reproduction plan was formed with good intentions when the population was decimated by the Plague, it’s beginning to look a lot like a Master Race situation. Romeo’s tribe, and others like it, live outside the Militia-controlled system and are subjected to attacks and killings. They also suffer from occasional bouts of Plague. Some survive, but many die.
• Layer 5: Some people in the system didn’t follow the rules but had lovers instead. Now they want to rebel against the Military Dictatorship. But their options are limited, due to the Militia’s power.
• Etc….

Character Surface:

• Layer 1: The two lovers meet.
• Layer 2: Even though they love each other, each has their own agenda.
• Layer 3: Their relationship endangers other people; some are innocent, and some are involved in own secret agendas, or loyalty to the system, etc.
• Layer 4: Some of the most loyal people have the worst secret agendas.
• Etc.

Assume there will be a surface layer, then organize other layers beneath that surface. Don’t worry about getting the layers in the perfect order. You can change them at any time in the future.

24 November 2023 – from my ChatGPT:

I’m writing a TV Series that is [Format/Genre] about [Concept] with [Lead Characters]. Can you generate [Plot Layers] and [Character Layers] that could play beneath the surface and be revealed in Turning Points or Cliffhangers.

Definition of Layer = A new level of meaning beneath the surface that changes things. It makes us rethink what has happened up to that point and/or causes us to anticipate a new future. You start with a Surface Layer. Then a new layer is revealed. That new layer becomes the new surface. It is what we know as the “reality.” When the next layer is revealed, it surprises us, but soon becomes the next new surface.

PLOT LAYERS = Story beneath the story.
– Major scheme revealed
– Mystery revealed
– Thought the story was one thing, but it is another
– Major shift in Meaning
– Hidden history
– Hidden plan

CHARACTER LAYERS = identity beneath the identity.
– Secret identity
– Intrigue layers
– Hidden relationships and conspiracies
– Hidden Character history
– Hidden Agenda
– Wound

Format/Genre =
Concept =
Lead Characters =

ChatGPT

Format/Genre: Post-apocalyptic thriller

Concept: Post-apocalyptic reimagining of “Romeo and Juliet” in a future low-tech world where women are enslaved to reproduce for the military dictatorship, who are out to destroy the few remaining free people living in the wilds of Northwest/Cascadia.

Lead Characters:

• Romeo
• Juliet
• Romeo’s Brother
• Romeo’s Fiancée
• Juliet’s (secret) Mother “Ophelia”
• Juliet’s (secret) Father “The General”
• The General’s Boss – “The Chief of Staff”
• A friend of Ophelia “Nurse”

PLOT LAYERS:

• Major scheme revealed:

• Surface Layer: The military attacks Romeo’s tribe for violating their rules.
• New Layer: The attack was orchestrated by The Chief of Staff to eliminate potential threats within the tribe and solidify military control.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Big Picture Open Loops

What I learned doing this assignment is… Put the open loops at the beginning – forget world-building until sometime after the audience is obsessed with what’s going to happen to the characters.

ASSIGNMENT 1

1. Think about your Example Show. Make a list of the Big Picture open loops that were established early in the season.

Why are June, Luke and Hannah fleeing? The police are chasing them – but why?

When The car is wrecked, Luke tells June to take Hannah and run.

Gunshots are heard – did Luke get shot?

June hides – she sees soldiers – will she get caught? Is little Hannah going to expose them if she can’t stay quiet?

Oh no, they’re caught and separated! What’s happened to Hannah, and will June get her back?

Then, June becomes Offred, a handmaiden, and her story unfolds. What is this strange environment?

Mrs. Waterford seems strict, and possessive of her husband, the Commander – how will these relationships unfold for June/Offred?

June/Offred wonders what the driver Nick’s situation is – will he be her friend or enemy?

(This is all in the first 10-12 minutes of the pilot.)

2. Go back and watch the pilot again. As you do, notice how many open loops are being used to create the need to see future episodes.

So many open loops… the warnings by Ofglen, with hope of an underground to aid escapes; but who’s an “Eye” in the Waterfords’ house where June lives; the bizarre environment and the cruel Aunt Lydia, Janine’s punishment of plucking out her actual eye, meeting up with Moira from June’s past – her best friend, who also knew Luke and Hannah.

Deadline: 24 hours

ASSIGNMENT 2:

1. Use this list to brainstorm big picture open loops for your first season that you will use to keep the audience captivated.

GOALS:

• New goals? Juliet wants to escape the collective to be with Romeo, but they are both captured by the militia and separated.

• Goals related to the big picture? Romeo’s tribal family has to flee the area, under attack by the militia. Romeo’s brother stays behind in the hopes of freeing Romeo.

• Crushed goals? Romeo and his brother needed to improve their relationship/forgive each other, but Romeo was captured before they had the chance.

• Competition / conflict around goals? Romeo’s brother was in love with Romeo’s tribal fiancée and meant to marry her when Romeo betrayed her by running away with Juliet. But the surprise attack has scattered the tribe, and the fiancée might be dead.

CONSEQUENCES:

• Are they going to be caught? There needs to be hope that they can get away and fear that they will be caught, so using open loops will contribute to this.

• Problems created from past actions? When Romeo and Juliet attempt escape, the consequences are that the Militia increases its efforts to kill the free tribal people. Romeo will be guilty of bringing death upon his family. Similarly, the Militia cracks down on the Reproduction Collective’s women, making the collective even more prison-like, lest they get ideas from Juliet’s misbehaviour.

• Good plans gone wrong? Romeo’s brother hopes to save the people he loves, but he himself also gets caught.

SOLVING PROBLEMS:

• What is the major problem for this character?

• Romeo: to stay alive, escape, then find Juliet; find and make amends to his family/tribe. Hopefully to change the way things are in their world.

• Juliet: To hide that she is illegally pregnant, because she’ll be put to death. Ultimately, to change how the Reproduction Collective fits into the society of Cascadia.

• Ophelia: to save her daughter’s life, without everyone finding out she had an affair with The General.

• The Chief of Staff: To maintain his power and the status quo.

• The General: To gain control of the Militia government from the Chief of Staff and introduce new, more humane laws; also to protect his secret family.

• Romeo’s brother: Reconcile with Romeo. Stay alive.

• What are they trying to solve?

Romeo – Right some wrongs and be with the one he loves.

Juliet – Protect her unborn child and live free.

Ophelia – Protect her children.

Romeo’s Brother – Be true to his tribe, including Romeo.

The General – Their system is all wrong – fix it.

The Chief of Staff – He alone can save society… by killing it, if necessary.

• Major change imposed on character?

Romeo – Stepping up. Life is harder than he thought it was going to be. He needs skills to survive and doesn’t always have what it takes.

Juliet – Stand up against authority.

Ophelia – It becomes too hard to keep all her secrets.

Romeo’s Brother – Talented and happy-go-lucky when free, he sees the other side of life when he becomes enslaved.

The General – Cease the cover-ups and tell the truth.

The Chief of Staff – He is not all-powerful.

• Previous solutions cause new problems?

Romeo – Running away with Juliet causes their imprisonment and separation – where they each think/are told the other is dead. He thought he was saving Juliet, but he has put her in extreme danger.

Juliet – To protect her unborn child, she claims it was conceived when the Chief off Staff raped her. There will be a genetics test when the child is born, so she fears the test will prove she lied, and she’ll be executed anyway.

Ophelia – She’s always been able to secretly protect her children, fathered by The General, due to his high position. What happens if he is found to be a traitor?

The General – He chooses a course of action that will be regarded as treason – how will he survive?

Romeo’s Brother – Following his brother always seems to get him into bigger trouble.

The Chief of Staff – ?

RELATIONSHIPS:

• Relationships in peril? Romeo and Juliet’s relationship is always in peril.

• New relationships forming? A deeper relationship between Romeo and his brother is in the making, but with lots of problems at the beginning.

• Conflict inside relationships? So much is illegal in Cascadia’s society – things happen that have to be kept secret.

• Relationships changing? Secrets eventually come out, changing some relationships.

DANGER / SURVIVAL / RISKS:

• Can they survive X?

Can Romeo’s “free” tribe survive the renewed attacks upon them ? Will Romeo survive prison? Will his brother survive capture and enslavement? Will Juliet outwit her opponents and survive?

• Putting themselves in danger / making dangerous decisions?

Juliet claiming her baby’s father is the evil Chief of Staff, not Romeo?

• Who else is pulled into their danger?

Juliet’s (secret) mother, Ophelia, wants to protect her daughter and may have to expose her illegal secrets.

• Internal dangers (drug addiction, need for medicine, inner demons)?

The whole society needs controlled human reproduction in order to survive – or they will die out from a disease they call The Plague. This sounds more external than internal, but every woman with the right disease-resistant genes knows it is her duty to reproduce for the continuance of civilization.

2. Use this prompt with AI to generate even more Open Loops.

I’m writing a TV Series that is [Format/Genre] about [Concept] and [Conflict] with [Lead Characters]. Can you generate [Open Loops] and setups that could play out over the course of Season 1. Definition of “Open Loops”:Questions that can only be answered in future episodes. An open loop is a rhetorical device to instill curiosity by creating anticipation for what will come next. Open Loops opportunities: GOALS: New goals? Goals related to the big picture? Crushed goals? Competition / conflict around goals? CONSEQUENCES: Are they going to be caught? Problems created from past actions? Good plans gone wrong? SOLVING PROBLEMS: What is the major problem for this character? What are they trying to solve? Major change imposed on character? Previous solutions cause new problems? RELATIONSHIPS: Relationships in peril? New relationships forming? Conflict inside relationships? Relationships changing? DANGER / SURVIVAL / RISKS: Can they survive X? Putting themselves in danger / making dangerous decisions? Who else is pulled into their danger? Internal dangers (drug addiction, need for medicine, inner demons)? Format/Genre = Post-apocalyptic thriller Concept = Post-apocalyptic reimagining of “Romeo and Juliet” in a future low-tech world where women are enslaved to reproduce for the military dictatorship, who are out to destroy the few remaining free people living in the wilds of Northwest/Cascadia. Lead Characters = Character 1 = RomeoCharacter 2 = Juliet Character 3 = Romeo’s Brother Character 4 = Romeo’s Fiancée Character 5 = Juliet’s (secret) Mother “Ophelia” Character 6 = Juliet’s (secret) Father “The General” Character 7 = The General’s Boss – “The Chief of Staff” Character 8 = A friend of Ophelia “Nurse” Conflict = Three factions: Romeo’s tribe who want to live free and off the land; Women in the Reproduction Collective (including Juliet) who are controlled by All Male Totalitarian Government with military power and hatred of free people. Romeo and Juliet want to be together, but are caught by the military while trying to escape and are separated and imprisoned under the authority of The Chief of Staff.

Open Loops Opportunities for Season 1:

GOALS:

1. New goals?

   • Juliet discovers coded messages hinting at a hidden resistance within the Reproduction Collective, sparking a goal to unite the enslaved women for a rebellion.

2. Goals related to the big picture?

   • Romeo learns of a secret weapon that could tip the power balance in favor of the free people. His goal becomes finding and harnessing this weapon to turn the tide against the military dictatorship.

3. Crushed goals?

   • Romeo’s attempt to broker a fragile alliance with another free tribe collapses, leading to internal conflicts and mistrust among his people.

4. Competition / conflict around goals?

   • Juliet and her father, The General, unknowingly share conflicting goals for the future. Juliet seeks freedom, while The General is determined to maintain control over the Collective, setting up a heartbreaking father-daughter conflict.

CONSEQUENCES:

1. Are they going to be caught?

   • Juliet’s covert communications with Nurse to organize a rebellion within the Collective raise suspicions, setting the stage for a tense investigation.

2. Problems created from past actions?

   • Romeo’s brother, thought dead in the attack, reappears with a hidden agenda, creating a web of lies that could endanger the entire tribe.

3. Good plans gone wrong?

   • A well-executed plan to expose The Chief of Staff’s corruption backfires, intensifying the military’s oppression and putting Romeo and Juliet at greater risk.

SOLVING PROBLEMS:

1. What is the major problem for this character?

   • Juliet discovers a potential cure for the plague hidden within the Collective. Her major problem becomes navigating the moral dilemma of whether to expose the cure and risk retaliation.

2. What are they trying to solve?

   • Romeo seeks a way to infiltrate the heavily guarded military compound to rescue Juliet, leading to a high-stakes operation with unforeseen complications.

3. Major change imposed on character?

   • Ophelia, facing the consequences of her affair with The General, is thrust into a leadership role within the resistance, challenging her peaceful nature.

4. Previous solutions cause new problems?

   • Juliet’s attempt to expose The Chief of Staff’s corruption inadvertently reveals the existence of the hidden resistance, putting Nurse and the enslaved women in greater danger.

RELATIONSHIPS:

1. Relationships in peril?

   • Romeo and Juliet’s relationship faces strains as the harsh realities of their world test their love and commitment.

2. New relationships forming?

   • Ophelia forms an unexpected alliance with a charismatic rebel leader, introducing a romantic subplot that complicates her relationships with The General and Nurse.

3. Conflict inside relationships?

   • The revelation of Romeo’s brother’s deceit creates tension within the tribe, threatening the unity needed to confront the military.

4. Relationships changing?

   • Juliet’s growing connection with a fellow captive in the military prison sparks jealousy and mistrust among her fellow prisoners, leading to internal conflicts.

DANGER / SURVIVAL / RISKS:

1. Can they survive X?

   • Juliet’s escape attempt from the military prison introduces a life-threatening situation as she navigates treacherous terrain to reunite with Romeo.

2. Putting themselves in danger / making dangerous decisions?

   • Romeo makes a risky pact with a rival tribe to acquire crucial resources, endangering the delicate balance of power in the region.

3. Who else is pulled into their danger?

   • The revelation of Juliet’s connection to the hidden resistance endangers Nurse, putting her at odds with the military.

4. Internal dangers (drug addiction, need for medicine, inner demons)?

   • The General struggles with the inner demons of guilt over his role in the plague’s outbreak, leading to erratic decision-making that jeopardizes the safety of the Collective.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Character Emotions

What I learned doing this assignment … I like using the polar opposite emotions when possible, to create conflict within each character. The area I need to work on is “Triggers.”

ASSIGNMENT 1: Example Show

Watch the next episode of your Example Show and create an Emotional Profile for two or three main characters in this show.

Deadline: 24 hours

THE HANDMAID’S TALE

JUNE/OFFRED PROFILE

• A. Hope: To escape. Fear: Arrest and death or torture.
• B. Want: Control over her own life. / Need: To survive
• C. Base Negative Emotion: Despair / Public Mask: A good little handmaid.
• D. Weaknesses: Fear of “getting caught” doing the “wrong” thing…
• E. Triggers: When she thinks about Hannah, or her old life with her husband and best friend.
• F. Coping Mechanism: Biding her time – but how much time does she have???.

SERENA PROFILE

• A. Hope: To have a child/family. Fear: If she has no family, will her husband leave her?
• B. Want: Offred to have a baby. / Need: Maintain her position with her husband.
• C. Base Negative Emotion: Fear that results in cruelty toward Offred / Public Mask: Pious Commander’s Wife
• D. Weaknesses: Fear/feeling inferior/jealousy.
• E. Triggers: If she feels Commander is favouring Offred.
• F. Coping Mechanism: She’s the Commander’s Wife, her status means all must respect and obey her.

ASSIGNMENT 2: Your Show

1. For each of your main characters, brainstorm an Emotional Profile, filling in the following:

JULIET

• A. Situational: Hope – that she can be with Romeo / Fear – what cruel punishment will she face for being disobedient?
• B. Motivation: Want – to be free to be with the young man she loves / Need – to find a way out, without getting killed
• C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion – Selfish? Her relative privilege makes her spoiled/greedy. / Public Mask: Pretty and clever girl in the upper echelon of the collective.
• D. Weaknesses – rebellious; wants her own way, plus she’s energized by danger and it makes her impulsive.
• E. Triggers _____ ?
• F. Coping Mechanism – confiding in her best friend Kate

ROMEO

• A. Situational: Hope – to be with Julliet / Fear – death
• B. Motivation: Want – to be with Juliet/ Need – forget Juliet and marry his betrothed cousin in the tribe.
• C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion – betrayal / Public Mask – always try to do the right thing
• D. Weaknesses – soft hands – he was not meant for this level of self-reliance and survival
• E. Triggers – (death of parents?)
• F. Coping Mechanism – diligence

2. Once you have a version that you created, go to AI and have it create a version of the Emotional Profile for your characters. Use this prompt:

For each of the [main characters] for this [genre] about this [concept], please brainstorm the [Internal Struggles] of that character that have the fit this TV series well.

Internal Struggles =

A. Situational: Hope / Fear

B. Motivation: Want / Need

C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask

D. Weaknesses

E. Triggers

F. Coping Mechanism

Genre =

Concept =

Main characters =

For each of the [main characters] for this [genre] about this [concept], please brainstorm the [Internal Struggles] of that character that have the fit this TV series well.

Internal Struggles =

A. Situational: Hope / Fear

B. Motivation: Want / Need

C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask

D. Weaknesses

E. Triggers

F. Coping Mechanism

Genre = Post-apocalyptic Thriller

Concept = Post-apocalyptic reimagining of “Romeo and Juliet” in a future low-tech world where women are enslaved to reproduce for the military dictatorship, who are out to destroy the few remaining free people living in the wilds of Northwest/Cascadia.

Main characters = Romeo, Juliet,

ChatGPT

1 / 1

Certainly, let’s brainstorm the internal struggles for Romeo and Juliet in this post-apocalyptic thriller:

Romeo:

A. Situational:

• Hope: Romeo harbors hope for a brighter future where love and freedom can flourish amidst the chaos and brutality of the post-apocalyptic world.
• Fear: He is haunted by the fear of failing to protect Juliet, his tribe, and the vision of a free Cascadia.

B. Motivation:

• Want: He wants to prove his worth within the tribe and gain recognition as a capable leader.
• Need: He needs to find a way to channel his impulsiveness and desire for vengeance into a well-thought-out plan for resistance.

C. Mask:

• Base Negative Emotion: Romeo struggles with anger and impulsivity, which can lead to confrontations within the tribe.
• Public Mask: He presents a facade of confidence and assertiveness to his tribe, hiding his inner doubts.

D. Weaknesses:

• Romeo’s impulsivity and tendency to rush into situations without considering the consequences can put both himself and his tribe in danger.

E. Triggers:

• The suffering of those he cares about, especially Juliet, serves as a trigger for his impulsive actions and determination to protect them.

F. Coping Mechanism:

• Romeo often channels his emotions into action, taking risks and leading his tribe into dangerous situations. He struggles to find healthier ways to cope.

Juliet:

A. Situational:

• Hope: Juliet holds on to hope that she can escape the collective and live a life free from servitude.
• Fear: She lives in constant fear of the collective’s leaders, their reprisals, and the potential consequences of her clandestine actions.

B. Motivation:

• Want: She wants to break free from the collective’s control and find her family, who were separated from her during her capture.
• Need: Juliet needs to find a way to trust others within the collective and build a network of support to execute her escape plan.

C. Mask:

• Base Negative Emotion: Juliet often grapples with feelings of vulnerability and inadequacy, especially when facing the collective’s leaders.
• Public Mask: She presents a facade of compliance and submission to the collective while secretly plotting rebellion.

D. Weaknesses:

• Juliet’s deep-seated fear and inexperience make her vulnerable to manipulation by both the collective’s leaders and fellow captives.

E. Triggers:

• The realization of the collective’s cruelty, especially toward her fellow captives, serves as a trigger for Juliet’s determination to rebel.

F. Coping Mechanism:

• Juliet channels her emotions into her secret experiments and alliances with other prisoners, seeking to regain a sense of control in a world where she has little power.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Intriguing Character Layers

What I learned doing this assignment is… identifying character intrigue components is an important part of the process, but I don’t have to freak out about not having everything quite in place on the first try.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

Think about your Example Show. Make a list of the places you’ve already seen Character Intrigue in the previous episodes.

Example Show: The Handmaid’s Tale

Character Intrigue: June’s curiosity over Ofglen – whether she’s friend or foe, what secrets might she know – sets up intrigue. Also, same with Nick – why is he warning June about Ofglen? And Ofglen had warned June about an Eye in her house – could it be Nick?

Commander Waterford asks June to come and see him – alone. That’s forbidden! Curiosity is built up around this request – what if it’s for illicit sex? Is he putting June/Offred in danger, to exert his power over her? Turns out, he wants to play Scrabble. And yet, June/Offred feels compelled to let him win – is she really scared of him, or is she manipulating him?

June’s wound is her loss of Hannah – she blames herself. What could she have done differently? Probably nothing – June’s alive and what more can she expect in the circumstances? But it’s this wound that will drive June’s actions throughout the story – also it was the inciting incident.

2. Watch the next episode and see how Character Intrigue is being used to create the need to see more episodes.

Character intrigue is used to create the need to see more episodes by maintaining empathy for June/Offred. She has her big goal of escaping to find Hannah – somehow – and then there’s the goal of just surviving, day to day. She seems to be developing a relationship with Nick, but we don’t know yet if that’s safe or dangerous. June/Offred wants to find out more from Ofglen about the possible underground – but one day Ofglen disappears and is replaced by a new Ofglen. Lots of opportunities for secrets, conspiracies, and hidden agendas, plus competition exists between June/Offred and the Commander’s wife, Serena.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

1. For your Inner Circle characters, fill in any of the Intrigue items that apply.

Character Name: “Romeo” <div>

Role: Falls in love with Juliet

Hidden agendas: Kill the Chief of Staff

Competition: Jealous young men in his tribe/soldiers & prison guards

Conspiracies: He will work with his younger brother to overthrow the military government

Secrets: He has knowledge of history which he can use to his advantage

Deception: ?

Wound: Death of Parents

Secret Identity: ?

Character Name: “Juliet”

Role: Falls in love with Romeo

Hidden agendas: Escape from the reproduction collective

Competition: Cruel woman who is the guardian of the collective

Conspiracies: Juliet confides in her best friend Kate – but is Kate loyal to Juliet, or to the system?

Secrets: Juliet meets Romeo in secret; Juliet’s birth mother secretly watches over her but they are not supposed to have a mother-daughter relationship at all in the “system.”

Deception: The System isn’t as strong as it purports to be

Wound: ?

Secret Identity: Her father is the General

3. Go to AI and use this prompt to generate the Intrigue items for your main characters:

For each of the [main characters] for this [genre] about this [concept], please brainstorm the [Intriguing Layers] of that character that have the fit this TV series well.

Intriguing Layers =

Character Name:

Role:

Hidden agendas:

Competition:

Conspiracies:

Secrets:

Deception:

Wound:

Secret Identity:

Genre = Post-apocalyptic thriller

Concept = Post-apocalyptic reimagining of “Romeo and Juliet” in a future low-tech world where women are enslaved to reproduce for the military dictatorship, who are out to destroy the few remaining free people living in the wilds of Northwest/Cascadia.

Main characters = Romeo, Juliet

ChatGPT

1 / 1

Certainly, let’s brainstorm the intriguing layers for Romeo and Juliet in this post-apocalyptic thriller:

Romeo:

Character Name: Romeo </div><div>

Role: A young and resourceful member of the free-roaming tribal society in Northwest/Cascadia.

Intriguing Layers:

Hidden Agendas: Romeo secretly yearns to unite the scattered free communities into a powerful resistance, aiming to overthrow the military dictatorship.

Competition: He competes with Tybalt, a rival tribal member, for leadership within the tribe, creating internal conflict.

Conspiracies: Romeo is involved in underground alliances with other tribes, plotting to weaken the military dictatorship through coordinated acts of sabotage.

Secrets: He harbors knowledge of an old-world artifact buried in the wilderness, a potential weapon against the dictatorship.

Deception: He hides his true intentions from the tribal council, who favor isolationism over resistance.

Wound: Romeo carries the guilt of a failed rescue mission that led to the capture and suffering of his younger sister, adding layers of motivation to his character.

Secret Identity: Romeo uses a code name, “Lark,” within the resistance, allowing him to operate covertly.

Juliet:

Character Name: Juliet </div><div>

Role: A young woman held captive within the reproductive collective under the military dictatorship’s rule.

Intriguing Layers:

Hidden Agendas: Juliet secretly conducts experiments to sabotage the collective’s efforts to reproduce for the dictatorship while seeking her own escape.

Competition: She vies for favor and trust within the collective, competing with Paris, who is loyal to the dictatorship.

Conspiracies: Juliet communicates covertly with other imprisoned women, forming a network of resistance from within.

Secrets: She possesses a hidden diary, containing records of the collective’s darkest deeds, which could expose their leaders.

Deception: Juliet feigns compliance with the collective’s rules while secretly undermining their control.

Wound: She carries the emotional trauma of losing her family and her freedom to the collective.
Secret Identity: Juliet adopts an alias, “Aria,” when communicating with her fellow captives, allowing her to maintain her secret identity as a resistance leader.

These intriguing layers add complexity and depth to Romeo and Juliet’s characters, driving the story forward and engaging the audience in the post-apocalyptic world and its conflicts.

1 / 1

For Juliet, please generate another set of intriguing layers where her youth is her downfall and others in the collective have significant power over her.

ChatGPT

1 / 1

Certainly, let’s explore intriguing layers for Juliet where her youth is her downfall, and others in the collective hold significant power over her:

Juliet:

Character Name: Juliet
Role: A young woman held captive within the reproductive collective under the military dictatorship’s rule.

Intriguing Layers:
Youth as Her Downfall: Juliet’s youth and naivety make her more susceptible to manipulation by the collective’s leaders, who exploit her inexperience for their gain.
Elder Manipulation: The older women in the collective, some of whom hold positions of power, manipulate Juliet by playing on her desire for acceptance and protection, convincing her that compliance is the only path to safety.
Ingrained Fear: Juliet’s deep-seated fear of the collective’s retribution keeps her from fully rebelling. She knows that any attempts at defiance may lead to severe consequences.
Power Imbalance: Juliet must navigate the hierarchy within the collective, where her lack of power and the fear of those in authority stifle her independence and impede her efforts to rebel.
Secrets as a Lifeline: Juliet learns that certain older women within the collective have secrets and vulnerabilities. She covertly gathers information about these women, hoping to exploit it when the time is right for her rebellion.
Struggle for Influence: Juliet’s youth makes it challenging for her to gain the trust and loyalty of other women within the collective, who often see her as a pawn rather than a leader.
Emotion vs. Strategy: Her youth leaves her torn between emotional decisions and strategic ones, as she grapples with the need to balance her personal desires with the collective’s goals.

These additional layers emphasize Juliet’s vulnerability and the power dynamics within the collective, making her character more complex and her journey more challenging.

1 / 1

Those are good! Who might be Juliet’s allies within the reproduction collective?

ChatGPT

1 / 1

Juliet’s allies within the reproduction collective could include women who, like her, are dissatisfied with the regime and secretly yearn for change. These allies might be hesitant to openly rebel but provide crucial support to Juliet’s cause. Here are a few potential allies:

Nurse: Juliet’s confidante and caretaker, the Nurse has grown fond of Juliet and secretly sympathizes with her desire for freedom. She may assist Juliet in subtle ways, such as conveying messages and offering protection.
Fellow Prisoners: Juliet forms alliances with other imprisoned women who share her goals. These women, despite their fear, may help Juliet gather information, strategize, and maintain a sense of hope within the collective.
Older Dissidents: Some older women who have been in the collective for years understand the regime’s brutality. They might provide guidance and advice to Juliet, having witnessed multiple failed attempts at resistance.
Medical Staff: Juliet’s knowledge of medicine and reproductive health makes her valuable to the collective. A few members of the medical team, who recognize her potential to disrupt the system, could become secret allies.
Former Leaders: Women who held positions of influence within the collective before its transformation into a reproductive institution may secretly support Juliet’s cause, drawing on their past experience to navigate the regime’s inner workings.

Juliet’s allies within the collective serve to highlight the presence of dissent even in the most oppressive environments. These relationships can add layers of complexity to the story, as Juliet builds a network of supporters who share her yearning for change.

</div>

[Joan Macbeth]

ASSIGNMENT 1:

Subject line: Joan Macbeth’s Engaging Main Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is “generic in, generic out” – it really helps to be more specific with the AI prompts.

Watch the next episode of your Example Show to see any places the lead characters might fit this model.

Tell us the name and Engaging Profile answers for at least one character from your example show.

Answer these questions for each of those characters.

EXAMPLE SHOW : THE HANDMAID’S TALE

A. Role in the show: June, the lead. This show is about her quest to find her daughter who was stolen.<div>

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: June is especially determined; she is guarded in everything she says out loud but has an edgy inner dialogue/monologue. And smart.

<div>

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? There might be a secret underground network of Handmaids trying to escape or change things.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? The “morality” of their world is upside down – June would like things to be normal, but it’s impossible. Trying to be normal goes against all the rules and can be punished by death. Life in Gilead is supposed to be biblical, but everything is so twisted.

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Even though June hates Janine, she comforts her when her newborn is handed off to the Gilead “mother” instead of to Janine.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Their world is hideous – a form of sexual slavery where they are forced to give birth and then give up their child. Also, June is shown as empathetic toward Janine, so we know she’s a good person – but her soft side is not a weakness here; it is another view of June’s strength.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

Now, do the process with your show.

1. Tell us the journey of your show. “Romeo and Juliet” who want to be together in a post-apocalyptic setting where they live in two very different environments – and are supposed to be enemies.

2. Who are the main characters that will sell your show? We’ll call them “Romeo” and “Juliet” for now.

3. Answer these questions for each of those characters.

Romeo:

A. Role in the show: A young man who was supposed to be special – educated by the “Keepers” who guard the previous civilization’s history. However, he’s had to return to his clan to help with hunting for food, after illness and starvation have nearly wiped them out. </div>

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Knowledge of history, science, government, literature, culture, etc.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? ???

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Romeo is expected to stay within his tribe and marry a certain cousin, but he discovers a beautiful girl, Juliet, who is an enemy of his clan and they fall in love.

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? ???

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? It’s a love story where we want them to find a way to be together in their dangerous world.

<div>

Juliet:

A. Role in the show: A girl about to come of age in a reproduction collective. </div><div>

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: In a world where the population has nearly been wiped out due to a plague, certain women are found to have a genetic ability to bear children who are disease-resistant; Juliet is among them.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Rather than an “institutional” child, Juliet was born to an illicit union where her father is a powerful officer in the governing militia. Also, her mother lives in the same reproduction collective, but Juliet doesn’t know she’s her mother.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Sleeping with the enemy…

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? ??? She might think Romeo’s a spy…

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? The fascist system Juliet lives under is corrupt and abusive to women especially and to humans in general.

4. Go to AI and use this prompt to generate another version of your characters:

PROMPT: For each of the [main characters] for this [genre] about this [concept], please brainstorm the [Character Basics] of that character that fits this TV series well.

Character Basics =

A. Role in the show:

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:
C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?
D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?
E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

Genre =

Concept =

Main characters =

PROMPT: For each of the [main characters] for this [genre] about this [concept], please brainstorm the [Character Basics] of that character that fits this TV series well.

Character Basics =

A. Role in the show:

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:
C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?
D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?
E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

Genre = Post-apocalyptic thriller

Concept = Romeo and Juliet in a post apocalyptic wasteland where Romeo lives in a free-roaming tribal society and Juliet is imprisoned in an institutional human reproduction collective.

Main characters = Romeo; Juliet

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Certainly, let’s brainstorm the Character Basics for Romeo and Juliet in this post-apocalyptic thriller:

Romeo:

A. Role in the show:

Romeo is a charismatic and daring leader within the free-roaming tribal society. He’s known for his resourcefulness and willingness to take risks.</div><div>

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

His expertise lies in scavenging and survival skills in the harsh post-apocalyptic landscape. He’s an adept negotiator and mediator between different factions.</div><div>

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

Romeo secretly carries a hidden map with information about a rumored utopian settlement, known only to him. This hidden knowledge could change the balance of power.</div><div>

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

As Romeo gets closer to Juliet, he’s torn between loyalty to his tribe and a growing desire to liberate Juliet and others from the reproductive collective, despite potential repercussions.</div><div>

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

Romeo’s unpredictable nature stems from his deep love for Juliet, which might lead him to make impulsive decisions that could either save or endanger their lives.</div><div>

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

We care about Romeo because he represents the hope of finding a better life, and his genuine love for Juliet is a beacon of light in the dark and dangerous world of the post-apocalypse.</div><div>

Juliet:

A. Role in the show:

Juliet is a key figure within the institutional human reproduction collective. Her actions impact the survival and future of the collective, making her a central character.</div><div>

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

Her expertise lies in medical knowledge, particularly in reproductive health. She’s skilled in negotiating with the leaders of the collective to improve conditions.</div><div>

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

Juliet secretly communicates with Romeo, sharing crucial information about the collective’s vulnerabilities and the need for a rebellion, even as she appears loyal to the institution.</div><div>

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

Juliet grapples with the ethics of forcibly birthing children for a society she knows is corrupt. Her involvement in Romeo’s plans challenges her loyalty.</div><div>

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

Juliet’s unpredictability arises from her inner conflict. She may choose to either remain a pivotal figure within the collective or join Romeo in rebellion.</div><div>

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

We care about Juliet because she symbolizes the struggle for autonomy in a dystopian society. Her moral dilemmas and love for Romeo make her a character we root for in the series.</div><div>

Please do the same type of brainstorm but make Romeo and Juliet young characters, coming of age style, and Romeo more of an underdog character

ChatGPT

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Certainly, let’s reimagine Romeo and Juliet as young, coming-of-age characters in a post-apocalyptic thriller, with Romeo as more of an underdog:

Young Romeo:

A. Role in the show:

Romeo is a young and naive member of the free-roaming tribal society, struggling to find his place and prove his worth to his fellow tribe members.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

His expertise lies in scouting and exploring the wasteland. He’s often underestimated but has a unique ability to navigate the dangerous terrain.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

Romeo secretly dreams of a different life, beyond the harsh tribal existence. He’s teaching himself to read and is nurturing an unconventional longing for knowledge and culture from the past.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

Romeo’s moral struggle arises when he befriends Juliet, whose imprisonment is partly a result of his own tribe’s aggression. He must confront his loyalty to his people.

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

Romeo’s unpredictability is driven by his determination to protect Juliet and create a more equitable world for her, even if it means defying his tribe and risking his life.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

We care about Romeo because he represents the underdog, fighting against adversity in a post-apocalyptic world. His love for Juliet is a symbol of hope in a harsh reality.

Young Juliet:

A. Role in the show:

Juliet is a young, sheltered member of the institutional human reproduction collective, where she’s isolated from the outside world.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

Her expertise lies in scientific research and medicine, but her knowledge is constrained by the collective’s leaders, who manipulate her skills for their benefit.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

Juliet secretly conducts forbidden experiments to find a way to free herself and others from the reproductive collective, as she believes there’s more to life.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

Juliet’s moral dilemma arises from her participation in the collective’s actions. She must reconcile her loyalty to the collective with her growing affection for Romeo.

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

Juliet’s unpredictability stems from her determination to break free from her captivity. She might be swayed by Romeo’s passion to join his quest for freedom.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

We care about Juliet because she represents the struggle for self-discovery and independence in a repressive society. Her choices will impact the future of the post-apocalyptic world.
</div></div>

[Joan Macbeth]

BWTV-AI Module 1 – Lesson 2: Three Circles of Characters

Subject line: Joan Macbeth’s Three Circles of Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is ChatGPT can come up with some viable ideas if you ask the right questions.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

Watch the next episode of your Example Show to see how the characters fit into these three circles:

EXAMPLE SHOW: THE HANDMAID’S TALE

A. Main Characters Circle: June/Offred

B. Connected Circle: Hannah & Luke, Commander Fred Waterford, Serena Joy Waterford, Aunt Lydia, Moira, Janine, Ofglen, Nick, Rita

C. Environment Circle: Other Handmaids, Other Wives and Commanders, Eyes & Guardians, Other Aunts & Marthas, People from the Past (flashbacks)

ASSIGNMENT 2:

1. Create the three circles of characters for your show.

A. Main Characters Circle: “Romeo” & “Juliet” B. Connected Circle: Romeo’s brother, Romeo’s Grandmother, Juliet’s Best Friend, The Chief of Staff (Villain), Lady Macbeth (Villain & Ally to Chief of Staff), The General (Secretly Juliet’s Father), Juliet’s Mother, Romeo’s fiancee. C. Environment Circle: Romeo’s tribal relatives (hunter/gatherers), Soldiers & Prison Guards, Women & Children in Juliet’s Reproduction Collective, Enslaved People and Prisoners, People from the Past – flashbacks: Romeo’s parents, the “Keepers” who are teachers and the guardians of old history who raised Romeo after he was orphaned

2. Give us a one sentence description of each of the Main Characters. (See previous)

3. After you create your version, use this prompt with AI to have it create a version:

Please create three groups of characters for my TV Series that is a post apocalyptic thriller about a Romeo and Juliet type relationship that is set in a dismal setting in the former western US with military dictatorship as the government and are unique to this story.

A. Main Characters: 3 – 5 key characters that the journey is about. Tell us the following:

Unique Role:

Secret or Intrigue:

B. Connected Characters: These are characters that the main characters interact with during the season. They play a part in the journey in some way and sometimes affect the main character’s actions.

C. Environment Characters: These are background characters that are necessary to fulfill the “standard roles” for your kind of story, but usually don’t do anything significant. List them by their jobs only.

ChatGPT

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A. Main Characters:

Eli Ashcroft (Unique Role: Rebel Leader): Eli is the charismatic leader of a rebel group fighting against the oppressive military dictatorship. He is driven by the memory of his family’s tragic demise at the hands of the government, which fuels his determination to overthrow them. His secret is a well-guarded plan to expose a traitor within his group, putting him in constant danger. Maya Rivera (Unique Role: Daughter of a High-Ranking Military Official): Maya is the daughter of a high-ranking government official, Colonel Rivera. Her secret is her covert involvement with the rebellion, despite her father’s loyalty to the regime. Her forbidden love with Eli intensifies the conflict, and she struggles to balance her loyalties. Rico “Shadow” Martinez (Unique Role: Stealth Expert): Rico is the master of espionage and stealth. He plays a pivotal role in the rebel group, infiltrating government facilities and gathering crucial information. His intrigue lies in his past as an ex-military operative with classified knowledge that could change the course of the rebellion.

B. Connected Characters:

Colonel Diego Rivera (Connected Role: High-Ranking Military Official): As the ruthless leader of the military regime, Colonel Rivera is a formidable antagonist. His interactions with Maya and suspicion about her involvement with the rebels drive a wedge between them, adding to the tension. Lena Ashcroft (Connected Role: Eli’s Sister and Tech Whiz): Lena is Eli’s sister and a brilliant hacker. She plays a significant role in the rebellion by manipulating the government’s communication systems and uncovering state secrets. Her actions have far-reaching consequences for the rebel cause. Aiden “Sparks” Harper (Connected Role: Tech-Scavenger): Sparks is a tech-savvy scavenger who trades in forbidden technology. He becomes entangled with Maya, helping her navigate the complex world of underground tech and uncovering government secrets. Sergeant Jacob Barlow (Connected Role: Loyal Military Officer): As Colonel Rivera’s loyal enforcer, Sergeant Barlow is tasked with hunting down the rebels. However, his moral code and growing doubts about the government’s actions lead to internal conflicts that influence the story’s direction.

C. Environment Characters (Various roles necessary for the setting):

Scavenger Leader Black-Market Trader Resistance Informant Soldiers (Government Enforcers) Prison Warden Street Vendors Doctors in Underground Clinics Citizens living in Fear Underground Radio Hosts Refugee Camp Organizers

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Those are good – thank you! Please try again with the environment being low-tech – the civilization has been all but destroyed and people are desperate.

ChatGPT

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Certainly, here are the character groups for your post-apocalyptic low-tech setting:

A. Main Characters:

Eli Ashcroft (Unique Role: Resilient Survivor): Eli is a resourceful survivor who has managed to navigate the harsh post-apocalyptic landscape. He is known for his unmatched knowledge of the treacherous wilderness and his unwavering determination to protect his community. His secret is a hidden cache of pre-apocalypse technology that could change the balance of power in the region. Maya Rivera (Unique Role: Medic with a Hidden Agenda): Maya is the community’s skilled medic. She harbors a secret mission to find a rumored group of tech-savvy rebels who might hold the key to rebuilding society. Her relationship with Eli adds complexity to her quest. Rico “Shadow” Martinez (Unique Role: Rogue Engineer): Rico is a rogue engineer with a knack for scavenging and repurposing old technology. He possesses the knowledge to restore ancient machinery and weapons. His intrigue lies in his quest to unlock a hidden archive of lost knowledge, which could transform the world.

B. Connected Characters:

Colonel Diego Rivera (Connected Role: Local Warlord): Colonel Rivera is a ruthless warlord who controls a resource-rich region. He and his band of loyal followers exploit survivors and extort them for resources. His interactions with the main characters shape the conflict, as they attempt to undermine his power. Lena Ashcroft (Connected Role: Eli’s Sister and Tinkerer): Lena is Eli’s sister and a skilled tinkerer. She plays a vital role in keeping the community’s low-tech infrastructure running, repairing ancient vehicles, and repurposing old-world technology. Aiden “Sparks” Harper (Connected Role: Nomadic Trader): Sparks is a nomadic trader known for dealing in scarce resources and trading information between scattered communities. He becomes an ally, providing the main characters with crucial leads and connections. Sergeant Jacob Barlow (Connected Role: Rivera’s Right-Hand Enforcer): As Colonel Rivera’s loyal enforcer, Sergeant Barlow enforces the warlord’s will with an iron fist. However, inner doubts about the morality of their actions start to eat at him, leading to significant character development.

C. Environment Characters (Various roles necessary for the low-tech post-apocalyptic world):

Scavenger Leader Barter Town Merchant Rumormonger and Information Broker Guardians of the Oasis (Guardian Faction) Wasteland Nomads Primitive Healer and Medicine Woman Makeshift Community Leader Marauders and Bandits Scout and Pathfinder Radio Broadcasters (with Hand-Crank Radios)

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Cool. If they couldn’t make a radio, what other way might they communicate?

ChatGPT

1 / 1

In a low-tech post-apocalyptic setting where the characters can’t make radios, they might rely on alternative means of communication:

Messenger Runners: Small teams of runners could be dispatched to deliver important messages. This method would require a network of trusted individuals who can cover long distances on foot, horseback, or with other forms of transportation. Smoke Signals: Using controlled fires and specific smoke patterns, communities or groups could communicate across long distances. Different smoke patterns or colors could convey various messages or signals, and this could be a simple yet effective way to communicate in a low-tech world. Carrier Pigeons: Homing pigeons trained to return to a specific location can be used to carry handwritten messages. They could be released at the sender’s location and return to the recipient with the message attached to their leg. Signal Flags or Lanterns: Communities could establish a system of flags or lantern signals on elevated positions like hilltops, watchtowers, or rooftops. A code of flashes, patterns, or colors could represent different messages. Drum Beats: In areas with proximity to one another, a network of drummers could use drum patterns to send coded messages. Different rhythms and sequences could convey various meanings. Whistle or Horn Codes: Characters might develop a system of whistles or horn sounds to communicate across shorter distances. Each tone or sequence could represent a different message or call for help. Scented Messages: Using herbs or spices with distinct scents, people could send messages by leaving or sprinkling specific scents in locations for others to find. Each scent could have a particular meaning. Symbolic Graffiti: Characters might use symbols, markings, or drawings on walls, buildings, or trees to communicate with one another. These could represent directions, warnings, or the presence of resources. Animal Signaling: People might develop a symbiotic relationship with certain animals, using trained creatures like dogs, ravens, or even insects to deliver small messages or signals. Message Drop Zones: Specific locations could be designated as “message drop zones” where individuals leave notes or items for others to find. This method would require a carefully guarded and hidden network of drop sites.

These alternative communication methods would add depth to your post-apocalyptic world and create opportunities for intrigue, as characters must decipher and interpret the messages they receive.

[Joan Macbeth]

LESSON 1 ASSIGNMENT:

What I learned doing this assignment is… a new way of writing subtext. Offred has an inner monologue, in voice-over, telling the audience her story and what she’s thinking – but when she speaks aloud to her captors, her words are usually opposite to what she’s been thinking.

1. Pick a Binge Worthy EXAMPLE SHOW from our list below and watch the first episode, making a light outline of the episode. Just the beats and anything that seems important to you. EXAMPLE SHOW: THE HANDMAID’S TALE

Outlining the first episode:

June and her husband Luke attempt escape with their young daughter, Hannah. They tragically fail, as Luke urges June to run away with Hannah; they are eventually caught in the woods, mother and child separated, and gunshots in the distance indicate the probability that Luke has met his demise. The uniformed militia know as “Guardians” pistol-whip feisty June into unconsciousness.

June’s voice-over tells of her new world. It’s a dystopian country called Gilead, located in what was once the northern U.S., taken over by religious fanatics, ruled by “Commanders.” Commander Fred Waterford is her new master. June’s new name is “Offred.” She is a Handmaid, meant to be impregnated as a surrogate, since the general population has become mostly infertile. Commander Waterford has an understandably bitter wife, Serena.

June/Offred has received training among dozens of other Handmaids, wearing red uniforms shaped like nuns’ habits. They participate in various rituals and activities, under the tutelage of “Aunt” Lydia, pious and cruel, with her cattle prod. June/Offred’s goal is to survive so that she can be reunited with her daughter Hannah, although she doesn’t know where she is or what has become of her. Among the Handmaids is Moira, who was June’s best friend in their previous life.

The ultimate ritual is The Ceremony, when Offred has to have sex with Commander Waterford, as wife Serena sits behind Offred – pretty kinky for the devout, but it’s what they do, trying to make it biblical with a verse about Jacob and Rachel. If Offred falls pregnant, the baby will belong to the Waterfords. Offred is repulsed by it all, but has no choice.

Some secondary characters introduced are Janine, a “crazy” from the Handmaids’ training; Rita who is a domestic worker at the Waterford’s; Nick, their driver who’s maybe a Guardian; Ofglen who is Offred’s escort on market day. Offred is always uncertain who is friend or foe.

2. From that, make a list of the 5 Star Points for that show.

Big Picture Hooks
Ask this: What is the big hook of this show? [Can June survive this new way of life and find her daughter? Can anyone survive in this bizarre, twisted society… will the society itself survive – it is all just so cruel, wrong, totalitarian – yet so plausible at the same time.] <div>

Amazing and Intriguing Character

Ask this: What makes these main characters intriguing and interesting? [A duality of hope vs fear; “good” and devout when they are actually evil; compliance vs recklessness; each character has at least one “opposite” trait]

Empathy / Distress

Ask this: What situations causes us to feel both empathy and distress for these characters? [June’s child is taken and June is forced into sexual slavery – what’s going to happen to the child? Will she ever be reunited with her mother? Will she forget her mother? Is June’s husband dead or alive? June was just an ordinary person whose whole life has changed into a nightmare, beyond her control – but she’s willing to fight to find her child.]</div><div>

Layers / Open Loops

Ask this: What questions are created by this first episode that can only be answered by watching the entire season? [Where’s Hannah? Will June escape? Will she ever take back control over her own life, her own body? Who are June’s allies, if any? What happened to Moira? What happened to Luke?]</div><div>

Inviting Obsession

Ask this: How does this pilot create the need to see every single episode? [Empathy for June and curiosity as to whether she will survive to escape, and find Hannah. Also, the powerful society that controls June and the other Handmaids is so bizarre, it’s rather fascinating. Will it survive? Or will the Handmaids’ and others’ resistance cause its demise?]<div>

3. Watch the same first episode A SECOND TIME while looking at your 5 Star Point analysis. This time, your purpose is to see beyond the obvious answers. Assume there is more to learn and discover it!

By the end of my second viewing, I discovered that the episode portrayed June/Offred as such a strong character, determined to do anything to escape and find her daughter, no matter what. Big Picture Hook, combined with Amazing Character who delivers Empathy and Distress, shown via Layers and Open Loops to Invite Obsession to watch this show. All Five Points are delivered in the first episode.

4. Answer the question, “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work. DONE

</div></div>

[Joan Macbeth]

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I, Joan Macbeth, agree to the following terms of this release form:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Joan Macbeth]

1. Joan Macbeth is my name, and I’m not generally spoken of in theatres so I’m in pursuit of TV writing now.

2. I have written a dozen or so feature scripts, some optioned, some produced, plus 2 TV pilots, some short films and a web series.

3. I’m hoping this class will help me to speed up the process of writing excellent TV pilots.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about me? I’ve traveled around the world in 83 days without the use of airplanes.

5. ProSeries 37; Binge Worthy TV during 2019-2020 but I don’t recall what number it was; plus many other ScreenwritingU classes including MSC 15/16.

Looking forward to the class!

[Joan Macbeth]

Hi Sunil,

We were in MSC together. Wondering if you’d like to trade feedback? I like heists!

I’m hoping to be ready soon. Meanwhile, since I can’t get my Assignments to post properly on the Forum, I’m posting it as a reply here.

Cheers,

Joan Macbeth

ASSIGNMENT 11 – MODULE 3

Joan Macbeth’s Scene Requirements

What I learned doing this assignment is… Just to work on what comes easily for now and power through it. I discovered a few new scenes to add when it felt like a couple of my Acts were too short, and came up with some big improvements! Also got started with transferring the outline to Final Draft.

Too messy yet to post the whole thing here, but I’m feeling close to being ready to write the script. Yay!

[Joan Macbeth]

As usual, I am unable to post my assignment, so am posting it as a reply.

———————

Joan Macbeth’s Open Loops and Mysteries

What I learned doing this assignment is… I’m pretty sure my open loops and mysteries are in there, but I’m one of those “If you are behind six lessons” kind of students that strives for perfection, so I’m just posting what I’ve got for the big picture. Open loops are about the future and mysteries are about the past.

1. Look through your current outline and find opportunities for at least 5 Open Loops and 5 Mysteries either in the plot or about the characters.

List them like this:

• Main Mystery: Who is May really?

• Sub-Mysteries: Why is Pinkerton detective after her?

• Main Open Loop: Will she get away?

• Sub-Open Loops: Who is Miss Frank?

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth Stacks Intrigue

What I learned doing this assignment is… I have a lot of intrigues happening beneath the surface. A LOT. But I’m not quite certain how to reveal these things, the timing, etc. and if the reader/audience will get it. I’m not sure about the reveals part. I’m thinking of little flashes of memory that May might have, just some visuals that might intrigue the audience. Also, sometimes I’m feeling my acts are too short – I can visualize a key scene, but not sure if it can be a whole act.

Act 1

• Intriguing World: Chicago 1887, glitz and glamour
• Intrigue: May is the belle of the ball – but why does she keep looking at those two older men? One of them in particular keeps staring at her.
• Mystery: Does May know them?
• Secret: May has a secret past she never wants her fiancé to know about – and these men are from her past.
• Deception: May tells her fiancé Dale the men have insulted her.
• Conspiracy: One of the men is a Pinkerton detective, but we won’t know that until later – and who hired him, and why?
• Secret Identity: Pinkerton guy – Reed Dougherty – is playing someone… May thinks it’s her, but is it? And May herself has taken on a new identity since coming to Chicago.
• Wound: May has a wound from her past that she keeps secret. She left the small town in Michigan where she grew up because she’d been raped.
• Hidden Agenda: May doesn’t really love Dale, but wants to marry him for his money. Of course; but it is so May can feel safe.
• Hidden Layer: May worked as a prostitute, and she knows those two men from the fancy whorehouse where she used to work. The other hidden layer stays a secret – why she ended up in Chicago in the first place.
• Strange Behavior: May doesn’t usually complain about people – why is she so worried about these two men?
• Accusation: She insists Dale must get them thrown out of the ball, but it turns out the other man is Dale’s uncle Andy.

Act 1 Turning Point- A secret from May’s past is revealed and she’s not the debutante she pretends to be. Dale gives May a big diamond ring and she’s nervous about accepting. Reed watches her dance with Uncle Andy.

Act 2

• Intriguing World: 1887 Chicago.
• Intrigue: May runs into a young lady she knows slightly, Miss Frank. [She is a character to be featured later in the show, and I just wanted to introduce her.] Miss Frank is masculine-looking and appears to have a crush on May.
• Mystery: How does Miss Frank know May? May seems very nervous, and wants to end their conversation.
• Secret: They previously met on the train to Chicago, when May was in trouble, and Miss Frank helped her. The trouble turned out to be a miscarriage. (Revealed in Episode 2)
• Deception: May has coffee at the Palmer Hotel with her friend, Claude Montcrief. He tells May about a plan to swindle some investors with fake mining company shares.
• Conspiracy: Claude wants May to help with the swindle.
• Secret Identity: Claude thinks May’s father was a successful mining engineer, which is a lie May told Claude.
• Wound: May loved her father, who died years ago in a bar fight. (A bartender, not an engineer.)
• Hidden Agenda: Get rich from a con!
• Hidden Layer: The people Claude wants to swindle are Uncle Andy and Reed Dougherty, who he befriended at Carrie’s brothel – Claude plays the piano there.
• Strange Behavior: At some point, May has her diamond ring appraised. She gets a “paste” copy made.
• Accusation: ?

Act 2 Turning Point – Miss Frank seems to have a crush on May. May has to rush away to a meeting with Claude and the mysterious men.

Act 3

• Intriguing World: Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel Backroom
• Intrigue: Claude and May meet with Andy and Reed and present their phony investment deal. But it was really Reed the Pinkerton guy who entrapped Claude into doing this in the first place.
• Mystery: What’s Reed really doing there?
• Secret: Reed works for Dale’s father, the banker, who suspects his brother Andy of shady dealings that will harm the bank.
• Deception: Multi-layered deception – nobody is who they say they are, except maybe Uncle Andy.
• Conspiracy: Claude and May work together to defraud the “investors” – Reed is Pinkerton detective working for Mr. Andrews to entrap his brother who’s up to no good.
• Secret Identity: Reed and May both pretend to be someone they’re not.
• Wound: ?
• Hidden Agenda: Reed knows about May’s secret life as a former prostitute and wants to expose her to Mr. Andrews and Dale to break up the engagement.
• Hidden Layer: Reed’s secretly attracted to May.
• Strange Behavior: Reed’s attraction for May makes him act strangely – he’s trying to do his job but, a bit befuddled?
• Accusation: Reed has invited two working girls, who know May, to attend the meeting and expose her unsavoury past, while Mr. Andrews and Dale are in the next room.

Act 3 Turning Point – Reveal Reed Dougherty is a Pinkerton agent. Arrest is imminent! But May slips away, while Claude is arrested, and the Andrews family is in pandemonium.

Act 4

• Intriguing World: 1887 Chicago – working-class slums/jail
• Intrigue: How does May know a Black midwife in the Chicago slums?
• Intrigue: Why is Dougherty so interested in May, compared to Claude?
• Mystery: Will Reed Dougherty track May to the slums?
• Mystery: Will Claude double-cross May?
• Secret: Miz Helene is related to Claude, and she helped May when she arrived in Chicago, having miscarried on the train. May has ever since shared her own income, to help other women in need.
• Secret: Someone else hired Pinkerton’s to find May.
• Deception: Reed Dougherty threatens Claude with prison, but Claude was coerced to commit the swindle so Reed knows Claude will have a defense. May is the one Reed wants.

• Conspiracy: Helene keeping May hidden from the law.
• Secret Identity: Who is looking for May?
• Secret Identity: Who is May really?
• Wound: May is reminded of her past troubles – the rape and having to leave town to avoid scandal. Also, Claude is her friend and she feels she has betrayed him – guilt for that as she takes refuge with his sister/cousin.
• Hidden Agenda: Escape the law. (Not too hidden….) But maybe she’s not too forthcoming with Helene on information about Claude.
• Hidden Agenda: Dougherty has been spying on May all along.
• Hidden Layer: Who hired Reed Dougherty to find May?
• Hidden Layer: All of May’s past.
• Strange Behavior: ?
• Accusation: ?

Act 4 Turning Point – Turning Point: Claude in jail – will he expose May? Cops show up at Miz Helene’s.

Act 5

• Intriguing World: 1887 Chicago
• Intrigue: Will May get away? What’s happening with her jewelry?
• Mystery: Why is she going to the Andrews’ bank?
• Secret: She returns Dale’s engagement ring to his father, only it’s the fake copy she had made.
• Deception: May runs into Miss Frank again – May’s in a hurry, so makes a date she never intends to keep.
• Conspiracy: Mr. Andrew’s pays her to leave town.
• Secret Identity: May has been using an assumed name.
• Wound: ?
• Hidden Agenda: May is quite happy to get out of town, but she’s going to get a payoff from Mr. Andrews anyway.
• Hidden Layer: ?
• Strange Behavior: ?
• Accusation: After May evades Reed and boards the train, a knock on her compartment door reveals her fiancé from from her home town.

Act 5 (Lock In): Cat and Mouse at the Train Station. Pinkerton guy is still out to get her. (May gets away, but faces another problem.)

[Joan Macbeth]

(Just replying here because the reply page isn’t loading for me…)

Joan Macbeth’s Layers and Reveals – Lesson 5

What I learned doing this assignment is… coming up with layers and deceptions is fun!

Layers, Cover Ups, and Reveals added to the outline:

• Surface: May Dugas is a wealthy, orphaned debutante, newly engaged to a Chicago banker’s son, Dale.
• Layer beneath: May is not wealthy, orphaned or a debutante. In fact, up until recently she was working as a prostitute in a high-class Chicago brothel. (Revealed at midpoint)
• Layer beneath: May left her home in a small lumber town in upper Michigan to avoid a scandal that was not of her making. (Revealed at end of pilot)

• Surface: May is worried about two men who attended her engagement ball – she tried to get Dale to throw them out, but one was Dale’s ne’er-do-well uncle Andy and the other Andy’s friend Reed Dougherty.
• Layer beneath: May has seen the two men at Carrie’s brothel.
• Surface: May’s friend Claude Montcrief assures her that the two men are no problem.
• Layer beneath: Claude has plans for an investment scheme, and the two men are involved. He wants May to help, because he thinks her father was a successful mining engineer (Act 1)
• Layer beneath: Her father being a mining engineer was a lie May told Claude when they met. (Reveal when? – maybe open loop for another episode)
• Layer beneath and new Surface: The investment scheme is a swindle, where Claude intends to get money from Andy and Reed, and he’ll split it with May.
• Layer beneath: The swindle is actually a set-up by Reed Dougherty, who is a Pinkerton Detective. (Reveal – Act 3)
• Layer beneath: Dale’s father, the banker, hired Dougherty to investigate his own brother, Andy. (Reveal – Act 5 )
• Surface: Dougherty isn’t actually Andy’s friend but a detective hired by Mr. Andrews.
• Layer beneath: Dougherty knows May’s secret past, and wants to save his boss’s son from marrying her.
• Surface: May needs to get out of town fast.
• Layer beneath: May has one more errand – get some money from Dale’s father. She threatens blackmail and succeeds. (Act 5)

[Joan Macbeth]

Subject line: Joan Macbeth’s Show Mysteries

What I learned doing this assignment is … When stuck, just move on… also, I loved it that, besides with coming up with some great mysteries, ChatGPT identified a redemption arc for the villain…

ASSIGNMENT 1:

Watch the next episode of your Example Show and focus on the mysteries that have been created in that show. Also, notice the difference between the big picture mysteries that are a big part of the plot across the entire season versus the smaller mysteries.

Tell us about the mysteries from this show.

The Big Picture mysteries that started in the first episode of “The Handmaid’s Tale” are – what happened to Hannah and Luke? And, how will June ever get away from Gilead alive? June believes that her husband Luke is dead – but what became of her little daughter, Hannah? These mysteries remain throughout the season so far, until a spy in the Mexican trade delegation tells June that Luke is still alive and he will try to get a message to him. A smaller mystery: Early in the season, June finds her friend Moira at the Red Center, but then Moira disappears. Janine claims Moira was sent to the Colonies, where she too will die soon, if she hasn’t already. But in Episode 8, Commander Waterford’s wife goes away overnight to visit her mother, and the Commander treats June/Offred to a “date” where they visit a secret brothel called “Jezebels.” Yeah, turns out everyone in Gilead is not so devout as we’re led to believe. Among the sex-workers at Jezebels is June’s old friend Moira.

By this time, June and the Driver/Eye, Nick, with the mysterious past, have become more than friends, after Mrs. Waterford’s plot to get June/Offred pregnant “a different way.” Some of Nick’s past is revealed, and his actual role in the government service is to keep an “eye” on his Commander. A smaller mystery that will become bigger eventually – what will happen if June/Offred becomes pregnant and Nick is the father instead of Commander Waterford?

“The Handmaids Tale” has many mysteries – big and small. How did the society come to be the way it is in Gilead? Is there really some secret underground movement called Mayday to help the Handmaids get away? Will June ever be reunited with Luke? Will she find Hannah?

ASSIGNMENT 2:

Create two mysteries for your show — one that shows up strong in the Pilot and the other that is revealed over time.

1. Create your Shocking Event Mystery and tell us the WWWWW and H, along with the part withheld.

• A. Shocking Event: Juliet discovers a “Terrista” Boy, who she has no experience of – a boy her own age living free, outside the Reproduction Collective fence.
• B. Secret: No one must find out about the boy, or he’ll be killed.
• C. Investigation: They have a conversation

• WWWWW and How:

• Who – Juliet meets Romeo
• What – They are from two different environments (Both dystopian)
• When – A few months before Juliet comes of age
• Where – Out of bounds at a Cascadia reproduction collective – but the fence has been cut
• Why – Romeo is starving
• How – Juliet is picking blackberries along the fence

• Part Withheld: Juliet doesn’t tell him the purpose of the Reproduction Collective; another mystery: who cut the fence?

2. Create the Over Time Mystery and tell us the WWWWW and H, along with the part withheld.

• A. Cover up: The purpose of the Reproduction Collective
• B. Secret: Juliet’s mother, unknown to her because that’s the system, had a similar illicit affair that resulted in Juliet’s birth. Juliet’s mother, Ophelia, secretly knows Juliet is her daughter, but no one can find out that she knows or Ophelia would be put to death.
• C. Reveals: Later we find out Ophelia’s lover is now a high-ranking officer in the totalitarian militia government. So, he’d be considered a traitor for his crimes with Ophelia.

• WWWWW and How:

• Who – Romeo, Juliet, Juliet’ mother, Juliet’s mystery dad
• What – Ophelia and her lover broke the law
• When – about 15 years ago and NOW at risk of discovery
• Where – Cascadia Reproduction Collective & military fort
• Why – Corruption in the government concerning Reproduction Collectives and their purpose
• How – R&J are caught and Romeo is arrested – he discovers government secrets while imprisoned while waiting to be put to death

• Part Withheld: Other secrets, such as Ophelia and her lover had an ongoing relationship and had many children together; the reasons for establishing Reproduction Collectives are not as they seem

3. Use these two prompts to generate a list possible mysteries and then to design the main components of the Shocking Event mystery and Over Time mystery.

PROMPT 1:

With this TV [Concept] in [Format/Genre], and these [Lead Characters], give me a list of possible mysteries that could be created for Season 1.

Mystery Definition: The intriguing secret, question, or puzzle that must be solved by the hero, often connected to high stakes and consequences for the main characters.

Format/Genre =

Concept =

Lead Characters =

ChatGPT

Certainly, here are some intriguing mysteries that could be woven into Season 1 of your post-apocalyptic thriller with the given lead characters:

• Disappearance of Juliet’s Father:

• Mystery: Juliet’s father goes missing under suspicious circumstances. The mystery deepens as clues suggest his involvement in a secret resistance movement against the oppressive institution.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Show Empathy/Distress

What I learned doing this assignment is… by combining two characters into one, the protagonist’s problems became emotionally deeper. Less characters, more empathy/distress. Also, potentially greater/deeper conflict.

ASSIGNMENT 1:

1. Watch the next episode of your Example Show and focus on the Empathy/Distress that shows up in this episode and throughout the season so far.

The big picture Empathy/Distress throughout the season for The Handmaid’s Tale is that June’s life has been ripped away from her – she is forced to flee her country, loses her daughter and husband, and is enslaved by the new “society” where women are controlled by men, under the law. Because she is able to bear children, June is required to join the Handmaids and succumb to systematic rape. If a Handmaid conceives and bears a child, that child is taken from her at birth. Any disobedience is severely punished – torture, mutilation, death.

2. Notice the difference between Big Picture Empathy/Distress and detail oriented Empathy/Distress. Big Picture will have an impact across multiple episodes.

June/Offred finds out that her husband Luke, presumed dead from Episode 1, may in fact be alive. The show flashes back to Luke’s escape that was not shown before. He was wounded, captured by armed paramedics, the ambulance crashed, he escaped, in severe pain and returned to where he left June and Hannah, on the run. But they’re gone. He knows they’ve been captured because he finds Hannah’s beloved stuffed bunny.

This detail-oriented example of Empathy/Distress I think has the potential to evolve into Big Picture/Empathy – because the new information that she might get a message through to Luke will give June hope, and fear, anxiety, conflicted emotions, since she might now have feelings for Nick after all this time thinking Luke was dead. Her belief that he was dead might even have been a coping mechanism for June in her new life of daily cruelty and enslavement. But now June has renewed hope to find Luke, and Hannah.

When a message gets thru from June to Luke that she’s still alive, the audience also has a renewed hope that they will survive to find each other.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

1. Make a list of BIG PICTURE difficult situations and decisions your characters could make because of the main conflict of this series.

Just ask yourself: “Knowing the concept, what are the big picture Empathy/Distress situations that could occur?”

Distress:

• A. Undeserved misfortune.

When Juliet and Romeo fall in love, their different positions in society prohibit them from being together, and in fact Romeo is likely to be killed, as his people are considered the enemy because they want to live free.

• B. External Character conflicts.

A war has been going on between the totalitarian military government and the “free” people who live off the land, just trying to survive. Intermittent military raids are conducted against the free people where they are slaughtered, due to lack of weapons.

The government runs institutions for woman where they are genetically sorted into three categories: those who can bear offspring with superior genes, those who can bear offspring with inferior genes who can be used as servants (if female) or rank and file soldiers (if male), and those who will die before adulthood and are enslaved for dangerous factory work.

• C. Plot intruding on life.

Juliet decides to flee from the institutional reproduction collective, a near-impossible task. When she and Romeo attempt to run away together, they are captured and separated.

• D. Moral dilemmas.

If she informs the military about Romeo’s tribe, they will be invaded and killed, but if she remains silent she will be subjected to torture.

• E. Forced decisions they’d never make.

When Juliet discovers she’s pregnant with Romeo’s child, she seduces a high-ranking official so she can claim his paternity to save her own life.

Empathy:

• A. Put the character in distress.

All their beautiful plans of being together forever because they love each other are destroyed when they are captured and led to believe the other is dead. The free man is imprisoned; the young woman who was admired by her peers is reviled and will be put to death, and all she wants is to save her baby.

• B. Make them relatable.

Remind the audience that Juliet is a teenage girl, and despite her situation, she has hopes and dreams; she’s romantic, and curious about a good-looking teenage boy. And Romeo, who’s about to be pledged to a young woman he doesn’t love, would rather choose his own mate and is attracted to Juliet.

• C. Universal experiences that are emotional.

Love, freedom of choice, family.

2. Once you’ve created your own version, use this prompt to see what AI generates for you. When you list your lead characters, just put in their role, main goal, and main intrigue in one or two sentences.

From ChatGPT:

Distress and Empathy for Lead Characters:

Romeo:

• Distress:

• A. Witness Romeo’s tribe facing continuous threats from rival factions, causing him to question his ability to protect his people.
• B. External Character conflicts arise when he discovers the militia government’s brutal tactics and realizes the danger they pose.
• C. The plot intrudes on Romeo’s life when he’s forced to make alliances with tribes he mistrusts to ensure his own tribe’s survival.
• D. Confront moral dilemmas as he grapples with sacrificing a member of his tribe for the greater good.
• E. Forced decisions include Romeo having to betray a long-standing ally to save Juliet.

[Joan Macbeth]

Joan Macbeth’s Show Relationship Map

What I learned doing this assignment is that I’m already working with too many characters in my project. I observed in my example show “The Handmaid’s Tale” how they set up their main characters – one each to represent each strata of their society: One Commander, One Commander’s Wife, One Martha (house servant) One Eye (man who is combo security guard/driver/helper but also probably a spy) One Aunt (keeper of handmaids). The exception is the handmaid characters, where there are a few connected characters that show up every so often but they’re not really driving the main story. Usually the other handmaid does something wrong, which is a warning to our heroine not to go out of bounds. Then there are a ton of extras: commander scenes, commanders’ wives scenes, aunts controlling the handmaids scenes, scenes of guards everywhere. (So definitely three circles of characters!)

With respect to my own show – it’s that inner circle of connected characters which seems very large. I will be thinking of characters that can be combined, or perhaps another way to structure the planned episodes. My Relationship Map is a work in progress!

ChatGPT was able to produce a table, but most of it seemed pretty generic.

[Joan Macbeth]

Hello Peter!