[Janis Pryor]

Movies Similar in Genre/Budget

• Ghost (Demi Moore & Patrick Swayze)
• The Lake House (Sandra Bullock & Keanu Reeves)
• If Only It Were True (Mark Ruffalo & Reese Witherspoon)
• What Dreams May Come: A Man Searches for His Wife In the Afterlife
• Tuck Everlasting – a romance about a mortal and an immortal
• Hereafter – Matt Damon

Five actors for the two lead roles:
• Kerry Washington & Tony Goldwyn*
• Zoe Saldana & Jesse Williams
• Thandie Newton & Keanu Reeves
• Zoe Kravitz & Wentworth Miller
• Jessica Sula. & Bradley Cooper
(British)

Possible Producers

1. Shondra Rhimes
2. Allan Heinberg
3. Mark Wilding
4. Rob Corm
5. Krista Vernoff
6. Mark Gordom
7. Betsy Beers
8. Aaron & Brenda Gilbert
9. La Roda Films
10. Shadow Cast Studios
11. Kathleen Kennedy
12. Green Light My Movie
13. Jim Wilson
14. Laurie MacDonald
15. Denise DiNovi
16. Danny Cohen
17. Megan Ellison
18. Kathleen Kennedy
19. Frank Marshall
20. Pilar Savone (Simpson Street)

*There’s a nationwide on line network of primarily women who are in contact with their partners/husbands who have crossed over.

*The fan base for Tony Goldwyn and Kerry Washington is still very alive and well, dying to see them in a movie.

[Janis Pryor]

Lesson Nine Janis A. Pryor
What I learned: Phone pitches can be less terrifying than I imagined, but it’s still my least favorite way of pitching!

Write out your phone pitch along with answers to the questions.
Tell us which of the four strategies you are going to use to open
your pitch: High Concept

Script for phone call pitches.
Is there life after death? The female lead in this interracial love story says, “Yes.” Based on a true story, these two highly intelligent adults, who’ve been circling each other for years are brought together by synchronicities thqt defy logical explanation. The female lead, a Black Indian with European blood, was born with a veil (or caul) over her face. She succumbs to her powers, when the male lead dies in a boating accident. Her psychic powers are verified by his sister…and most dramatically when he materializes in the female lead’s bedroom. Through her powers they stay connected.

• What’s the budget range? …$30 to $50 million
• Who do you see in the main roles? Tony Goldwyn & Kerry Washington
• How many pages is the script? 96 pages
• Who else has seen this? My manager-agent, Judith Moose, Denise David Williams optioned the story by Make Magic Productions. We did not renew the option.
• Why do you think this fits our company? It aligns with the iconic movie you produced in the early 90s, Bodyguard* only deeper.
• How does the movie end? After yearning and praying for him to materialize from the other side to the point where she touch/feel him for one last conversation, he does. She finds him sitting on the edge of her bed.

(*In addition to Bodyguard, Ghost – both produced in the early nineties roughly two years apart, and way before that, A Man & A Woman. BTW, Channing Tatum’s production company is rebooting Ghost, “But we’re going to do something different.”)

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor – Pitch Fest Pitch
What I learned and now understand are the specific components of a verbal pitch versus a query letter and how they differ.

1. I’m a published author of four books with a background in television producing.
2. The story I’m pitching to you had been optioned for two years. When it ran out, I did not renew it.
3. I’ll Never Leave You, is a true story, a memoir, titled White Roses, a love story before and after death*, that I wrote several years ago.
4. The female lead is based on one chapter of my life.

The genre: I’ll Never Leave You, is a paranormal love story.

The female lead, comes from an upper middle-class family of three races, was born with a veil over her face and neck. As an adult, she comes to terms with her psychic gifts to stay in contact with the love of her life, who died in a bizarre boating accident.

The budget is mid-range from fifteen million and thirty million.
This is a perfect story for two actors with great chemistry, like Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn.

Act One: She asks a friend a simple question about the male lead and it triggers a series of synchronicities that finally brings them together. The first thing he says to her is, “I’ve been watching you for over twenty years. You don’t change. The dogs don’t change.”

Act Two: They have an intense, sensual romance sprinkled with serious conversations about being an interracial couple. The night before he dies, he gives her a ring box and asks her to wait until he gets back to open it. His unexpected death unlocked a flood of psychic events that the female lead cannot ignore.

Act Three: By now, she was becoming an expert on the research and documentation on the afterlife. The more she read, the more she yearned to really see him in three dimensions.

How does it end?
Her dogs and she walked to her bedroom late. The room was full of silver light. Seated on her bed, as she walks in, he says, “We don’t have much time. I’m sorry I left too soon.”

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor Great Pitch 2: Compelling Query Letter V2
What I learned was the difference between a query letter for a book agent and one for a movie producer.

Haven’t you wondered if there’s life after death? I’ll Never Leave You is Ghost for adults. This is the true story of how one unusual woman, born with a veil over her face, was forced to fully embrace her psychic gifts to stay connected to the love of her life. His first words to her were, “I’ve been watching you for over twenty years. You don’t change. The dogs don’t change.” This is my story as written in the memoir, White Roses, a love story before and after death.

A year or so after he died, he asked her to, “Tell our story. Tell what was and what was meant to be and finish it by the end of the month.” She already had several visions regarding him that were verified by his sister.

When she started to write, a flood of paranormal experiences began that couldn’t be dismissed: burglar alarms going off that had never been connected, house phone ringing but only on her nightstand, his appearance three times, unnerving similarities with the actor he wanted to portray him. All of this changed her life.

This is an authentic love story for a wide audience to be portrayed by two actors with undeniable chemistry.

If you have any interest in this, my contact information follows:
Janis A. Pryor
JPCamb@aol.com
617 901-6537
734 Galaxy Hill Road
North Pomfret, VT 05053

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor High Concept/Elevator Pitch
I learned how to make this an easier task with the components of marketability.

Tell us your High Concept and Elevator Pitch.
1. To find your main hook, give us what is most unique about your lead character’s journey from a big picture perspective.

The female lead has to come to terms with her psychic abilities to stay in touch with the love of her life who drowned in a boating accident.

2. How can you tell it in the most interesting way possible?
• Dilemma…Will these two people ever get together?!
• Main Conflict…female lead must face the reality of her psychic abilities.
• What’s at stake…the authenticity of her life.
• Goal/Unique Opposition…The opposition is twofold: the ignorance of the public, and the male lead’s sister who’s threatened by the female lead.

3. Using the 10 Components of Marketability, what is your Elevator Pitch?
Haven’t you ever wondered if there’s any kind of life after death? This is the true love story of how one unusual woman, born with a veil over her face, has to accept her psychic abilities to stay in touch with the love of her life who drowned in boating accident. This is Ghost for adults! (This could be the elevator pitch. Add this to the next sentences and it could be the high concept.)
A highly intelligent, confident man watched her for twenty years before speaking to her. She asks a friend about him, and flipped a switch. The next day he speaks to her, and a flood of synchronicities brings them together. He asks her months after his death to “Tell our story. Tell what was and what was meant to be.” Writing the story changed her life.

4. After you answer questions 1 – 3, use AI to brainstorm other possible ways to generate a High Concept for your project. How does AI work with a true story?

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor – Lesson 5: Using Hooks to Create A Pitch
What I learned: a different way to position a hook.

What causes a confidant, compassionate, highly educated man to spend twenty years watching a highly self-contained woman, carrying a special secret, who would become the love of his life? Based on a true story, White Roses, a love story before and after death, I’ll Never Leave You, is an authentic reflection of how one woman manages her psychic abilities before and after the death of the love of her life. I’ll Never Leave You, is Ghost for grown-ups.

The female lead who identifies as a Black Indian has the blood of three races in her blood. Born to an upper middle-class family, she was born with a veil over her face, or a caul. It is said these people, approximately 1 in every 80,000, are predisposed to having the gift of “second sight,” the ability to see beyond the veil into the afterlife, among other characteristics.

One morning she demonstrates her psychic abilities with a friend and then asks about this man she’s seen for years in the immediate neighborhood. She insists her friend knows this man. This request sets off a series of unnerving synchronicities beginning with him finally speaking to her the next morning, saying, “I’ve been watching you for over twenty years. You don’t change. The dogs don’t change.”

Clearing the hurdles of race, class, and culture they fall deeply in love. The night before he takes some friends sailing the next morning, he leaves a small box with her, making her promise not to open it until he comes back. But he never comes back. He drowns.
The only way she can remain connected to him is through embracing and using her psychic skills. Months after his death in early May, he stands behind her, and says, “Tell our story. Tell what was and what was meant to be and finish it by the end of May.” He leaves a blueprint for their story.

This is the story with wide audience appeal that helps answer a question all of us have. What happens after we die? Is there anything? More and more scientific evidence has been compiled on the reality of the afterlife. Facebook pages pop up devoted to this subject including Love After Life, composed of men and women who are still in contact with spouses and partners who have died.

For two bankable and highly popular, well-loved actors, with recommendations from the other side this is a great movie that could become an iconic screen story.

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor -Ten Most Interesting Things…
What I learned: How to change your perspective on your work.

Most interesting thing(s) about the two lead actors:
She was born with a veil over her face and neck. She’s a “caul bearer.”
She’s an upper-class Black Indian with the blood off three races running in her veins.
She has a wide range of seemingly unrelated personal and professional interests.
He is the only white sibling in his family that originates from Jamaica.
He has a deep understanding of racism as a result.
He’s brilliant, compassionate, kind and curious.

Major hook of opening scene: She displays one of her psychic abilities with a friend, who is always freaked out when she does that and it comes true!

Some turning points:
She asks a friend about him. The next morning he speaks to her.
A series of synchronicities brings them together: fancy flirting, first kiss, first night.
Last night together. He leaves her with a ring box to be opened when he comes back.
He dies.
Housekeeper sees him!
Series of visions leads her to contacting his sister who is stunned!
Visitation from the “dignified lady” who tells her to “do what you do best. Read, read, write, think…communicate.”
Contact(s) from the afterlife from him to her.
The only way she can stay in touch with him is by acknowledging and improving her psychic abilities. Her life is forever changed in a variety of ways.

Emotional Dilemma:
–She is conflicted about the psychic abilities and the public response.
–This otherwise confident man is terrified she’ll ignore him.

What else?
The characters around her are forced to examine their beliefs.
Her extended Native and Black family members have been waiting for this second sign of her abilities all of her life.

[Janis Pryor]

Janis Pryor: producer/manager
What I learned: how to refine compartmentalized thinking.

For the producer:
I have a script, based on a true story, with the working title of I’ll Never Leave You, that’s ideal for two bankable stars who have a strong fanbase that’s dying to see them reunited in a love story. The story spins around a growing mainstream interest/curiosity about the afterlife. I’ll Never Leave You is Ghost for grown-ups. It’s sophisticated, authentic, with two very unusual but credible lead characters who have a wide audience appeal. The roles would be a welcomed challenge for each lead actor, one of whom has been looking for a substantive story around an inter-racial romance.

For the manager:
My first story/script, I’ll Never You, is a true story based on the memoir, White Roses, A Love Story Before and After Death. What I’m offering is one of several stories/scripts based on what I’ve seen, what I’ve experienced, and what I’ve learned. My second book/script-mini-series is based on Dinner With Trixie, the South Settles an old score with the North. A very wealthy, old New England family is called out on blackmailing an equally old, wealthy Southern family, when the newly appointed CEO decides the blackmail will stop. One chapter has been produced for the stage in Cambridge, MA. A subplot, Alistair and Kate, Can You Love Someone Who Owns You, will be staged next year, also in Cambridge, MA. The third book/script is Victoria’s Family, Human, Alien, Hybrid. The fourth book will be out this fall, Mother’s Madness, a daughter’s report on race, class and lunacy. In progress is, We All Came Home, the story of a multiracial family that returned to a home in a state that doesn’t “love” them, after their professional lives were over. I’m talking about the Gulf Coast of MS regarding a family with three blood lines: Black, Native (MS Band of the Choctaw Nation), and white European with several interracial marriages starting in the mid 1800s right up to the present day. What I’m seeking is a manager to invest his or her time in the wide range of stories that make up and continue to evolve, the multiple narratives and stories that make up my life, including a documentary based on “all my bosses” – some of the iconic politicians and activists ranging from the late Senator Edward Kennedy to being a member of former Governor Mitt Romney’s “kitchen cabinet” regarding people of color.

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor’s Marketable Components
What I learned: this is an art form all unto itself!
Current Logline
1. This is the true story of a woman born as a “caul bearer” to an upper middle-class family carrying the blood of three races, she’s forced to embrace her psychic abilities to stay in touch with the love of her life (who spent twenty years watching her before speaking to her), after he dies in a freak boating accident.

2. Two components of marketability that have the most potential for selling this script:
…it’s true
…Great roles for two bankable actors

3. Ways to elevate the two components:
…The two actors already have a ground breaking, built in fan base from television.
…The fact that it’s a true story can add authenticity to a question everyone wants answered with back up from a range of scientists, evidentiary mediums, research and social media platforms.

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor
GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

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

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea. I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

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

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

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

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

[Janis Pryor]

1. Give us your Genre, Title, and Concept.
Genre: drama, paranormal, love story

Title: I’ll Never Leave You, based on the memoir, White Roses.

Concept: This is an extraordinary love story. It gives the viewer a realistic look at how psychic abilities and synchronicities manifest to bring two people together and keep them together after one dies.

2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most attractive about your story.
The viewer’s curiosity. Based on a true story, the viewer gets an up close look at how extraordinary psychic abilities allowed one woman to stay in touch with the man she would’ve married had he not died in a boating accident. You could say this is Ghost for grown-ups.

3. Tell us which you will target FIRST — managers, producers, or actor’s production company — and why you picked that target.
My first target will be the female lead actor’s production company. She is uniquely qualified to play this role, and shares several important life experiences with the female character of the memoir from which this story comes. In addition, this role is an emotional challenge from any others she’s played.

4. Answer the question “What I learned today is…?”
I’m taking this course to get a better understanding of the business of creativity. In other words, how to sell your creative work.

[Janis Pryor]

As a member of this group, I, Janis A. Pryor, agree to the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor, Four Act Transformational Structure

What I Learned: this can be fun!

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Concept: A love story that goes on before and after death

Main Conflict: Most people don’t believe this can happen, and if they do, they keep their mouths shut, fearing they’ll be called crazy.

Old Ways: TC – never gets serious about any woman, afraid the right woman will never love him, highly intelligent, very close to his family especially his sister, mysterious job, uses his charm like a weapon!

Old Ways: JP – self contained to the point of being somewhat mysterious, secretive and private, independent, doesn’t date – has no time for it nor does she want to.

New Ways: JP-more relaxed and open, willing to share more of herself, smiles and laughs more.

New Ways: TC-gets serious about JP, willing to put some distance between him and his sister, focuses his charm and affection on JP and doesn’t care who knows it!

Act One – 25 to 30 Pages (Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan)

Opening: JP encounters her old friend, Christine, and asks her to find out who this man is she’s been seeing on Christine’s block for years. Also tells Christine her mother will call, establishing the psychic aspect of her personality. <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Next morning, the inciting incident: TC tells JP, he’s been watching her for over twenty years, she doesn’t change, the dogs don’t change. This leads to a series of synchronistic coincidences over the next few weeks that draw them together. TC shows up at JP’s condo unannounced to show/tell her how committed he is to her/them. <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>This is turning point one.

Act Two – 20 to 30 pages

Reaction: They give in to an intense, passionate love that’s been on hold for twenty years. They spend the rest of the night talking until daybreak. He asks about the photographs. She wants to know who he really is. They become a couple.The secret’s out!

The Plan: To spend time together everywhere and discover the depths and boundaries of their likes, differences, fears, dreams, and boundaries.

Turning Point 2:

Reluctantly, he keeps a promise to some of his coworkers to take them for a sail up the Hudson. Before he goes he gives a small box to JP and tells her to hold onto it until he gets back. The next morning JP finds out there was a boating accident and TC drowned. This is turning point two. She goes a little crazy with disbelief and then many things start to change/happen including a visitation from TC to comfort her. The housekeeper witnesses his presence holding/comforting JP while asleep.

Act Three – 20 to 30 pages

More evidence of TC’s ongoing presence pops up everywhere, at his funeral, in JP’s car, etc. After an incident at his grave, JP feels compelled to tell his sister, Carole. She is shocked but also relieved by what JP tells her and takes a different interest in JP. Meanwhile, JP reads everything she can on the afterlife.

Act Four – 25 pages

JP can’t stand it anymore, drives to a friend’s house (with the spaniels) in NH where things intensify. She finds a local psychic whose reading blows her away. At first, JP’s friend thinks she is either imaging things or has had a breakdown until the friend experiences a few anomalies. Several (psychic) incidents take place, including TC’s manifestation, whole body and soul, to console JP. She asks if anyone will believe her. He answers, kisses her, and they fall asleep in each other’s arms. She wakes up the next morning and knows her life will never be the same.

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor – Lesson 4 – Character Interviews

What I learned: this is tricky to do when the protagonists and antagonist are real people that have already been written about.

To the protagonist(s): (TC & JP)

Why are you doing this, going public with your story?

Because it needs to be told, now!

Is there anything I need to know? <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Is there anything anyone else needs to know? If so, what?

That everything that happened is real, it happened and continues to happen. There are hundreds of stories recorded and verified by “learned men and women” in science and academia.

What’s the one thing we need to know about you, TC?

I screwed up. I waited too long and I am so sorry.

JP, what’s the one thing we need to know about you?

I’m persistent and there’s more Native in my worldview and behavior than anyone would ever know that allows me to keep at it.

How do you view Carole’s role in all this, TC?

She was conflicted. In a perfect world I would’ve introduced her to JP. I was planning on it. But it had to happen the way it did to serve a larger purpose.

Which was what?

To prove to her and the larger audience that JP has this gift. I’m sorry Carole couldn’t handle it. She was threatened by it.

Threatened how?

I think my sister thought JP would take me away from her, would be somebody she couldn’t measure up to. She didn’t know anybody like her.

JP, what are your thoughts?

She broke my heart. She’s the last living connection to TC that I had, but that’s another story.

How did she break your heart?

She couldn’t stand the connection I had with her brother, so she said she couldn’t see me or talk to me anymore.

How will you defeat the antagonist?

(TC)We alone won’t. This is one more blow to their resistance. More is coming, more stories, more research. And anyway, we were told… I (JP) was told people needed to know this story, and TC said to me that morning, “Tell our story. Tell what was and what was meant to be.” I just figured out how to tell what was meant to be, or at least some of it.

What’s the worst part of this story?

(JP) That it didn’t have to happen this way but there was no other way it could’ve happened given its purpose.

To the antagonist represented by the general public and specifically, Christine

What do you think about this story?

That it’s impossible. People go to church or they hear about heaven, but there’s no

way JP & TC had this encounter after death – or ongoing encounters.

What proof would you need?

I don’t know, the second coming! It’s just too out there!

Do you think this story is fiction?

I think something happened, but it’s not that, connecting with the afterlife.

For a minute, if you could set aside your beliefs, doubts, etc., just for a minute and if it were proven to you beyond a reasonable doubt, what would that do to you? How would that impact you?

Whoa! I guess it would change everything, especially how we look at what we do here, on earth, how and why we do it. I don’t think we’re ready for that.

Do you know there are groups, some on facebook, of people who’ve had and continue to have this kind of experience?

Well…no.

Will you ever be ready for this aspect of the truth?

I don’t know. It’s kinda scary…but if it’s real, sooner or later we’ll have to confront it. I think part of the truth about all this is people have to have their own experience. Something has to happen to them otherwise this is just too out there but I’ll listen.

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor : Character Profiles – Lead Character(s)

What I learned: I enjoy dissecting characters!

Lead Characters:

What draws us to them (JP & TC)

JP: You can’t quite figure her out. She’s a peculiar mystery from every aspect, but is respected for her accomplishments. She always leaves you questioning who she really is.

TC: He is a sophisticated, charismatic man, very good looking who’s confident with being masculine. Genuinely concerned and compassionate. He is “the whole package.”

Traits

JP – intimidating, intelligent, sarcastic/dry humor, self-contained, secretive, direct, makes people flinch with her candor, nurturing, an odd package of charm

TC – kind, intelligent, a flirt, responsible, a little reckless, charming, can take over and lead in a NY minute when necessary, protective, physically strong

Subtext

JP – keeps her distance to avoid disappointment

TC – uses his flirting and charm to avoid commitment

Flaw(s)

JP – she’s quietly insecure, driven/focused, closet Type A personality, intense, independent to a fault

TC – in his personal life he hesitates, master of avoidance, hides his needs behind his charm

Values

JP – truth, candor, persistent, generous, values friendship, tries to “walk her talk,”

deeply values her Native heritage.

TC – decency, strength, appreciates his religious upbringing, real love, proud of his professional accomplishments

Irony

They both have to overcome their insecurities and doubts to connect with each other defying their appearances that communicate confidence and fearlessness.

What makes them the right characters for this role?

They both come from complex families where money was no problem. They’ve had every material benefit money could buy. Both have been emotionally betrayed. They are each other’s last chance for love.

[Janis Pryor]

Pryor – Lesson 2: Who Are We Traveling With

What I learned: details are important! They can be the foundation of your story.

Vision: To tell one story of how two people learn to hold “the impossible” before and after death.

Genre: Drama (love story)

Character Profiles

Role in the story;

JP – the lead

The Type of protagonist: the explorer and the change agent

She pushes the boundaries of traditional, mainstream knowledge as it pertains to the physical, concrete reality.

(The antagonist is mainstream thinking/society, skeptical at best.)

She has secrets. The most controversial being her psychic abilities. She’s private because tis allows her to protect herself. There’s a lot she doesn’t talk about and she’s verbally adept at deflection. She has a surgical sense of dry humor and sarcasm.

Age Range & Description

Hard to tell how old she is-early forties to sixty! Her small size is an essential part of her identity. Middle age spread is represented by going from a size 2 to a size 4 to a size 6, but nobody believes she’s that large! She has a perfect third world face often mistaken for Latino, Native, Black, Southeast Asian!

Internal Journey:

from feeling unconfident and unworthy to secure and self assured

External Journey:

from introverted and sarcastic to relaxed, funny; she smiles more!

Motivation:

to be loved and accepted by the right person who’s not afraid of her

Wound:

rejection in early childhood, she’s not worth anything

Mission/Agenda:

to find a way to be accepted for all of who she is

Secret:

she’s a “caul bearer: to the core, she can see and hear dead people, she’s clairvoyant, a watcher, and she knows the true intent of people.

Role in story:

TC – love interest/lead, catalyst/trigger for JP

He’s handsome, appears confident, does classified work for the government, has two sisters and a younger brother and is always the diplomat. He has his limits and can turn on you in a flash if he believes you’re a threat to someone or something he cares about.

Age Range & Description:

He could be forty or sixty! Tall, six feet, solid, athletic build, a very handsome man. He has the type of looks that make women stop and look and make men feel inferior.

Internal Journey:

from believing he’s less than and insecure to knowing he has a right to go after who or what he wants.

External Journal:

from hesitating to go after what he wants to making the necessary moves to secure what he wants.

Motivation:

to be loved by an extraordinary, intelligent woman who has something unique about her that he can be proud of; someone who doesn’t see him as a meal ticket to a better life! He’s searching for someone who wants him for who he is.

Wound:

Having been made to feel “less than” as a child and young man, he set out to defy expectations personally and professionally.

Mission:

to find the right woman to enjoy life with and who will need him and not his money or other material markers; to find someone he can comfortably share things with and learn with.

Secret:

This growing fear that he’s going to die soon.

What makes him special:

His kindness, joy of life, and passion, including his love for sailing.

Other Characters:

Supporting Characters –

Christine, long time friend from prep school, a medical doctor, specializes in neurology, going through the initial stages of divorce, two daughters. Christine is voice of the skeptical protagonist.

Carole – TG’s sister, who watches over him like a hawk! Thinks she knows everything about his life, especially the women he’s seeing. She’s very possessive.

Lucinda, long time housekeeper and protector of JP. She watches over JP and knows there’s something different about her. Lucinda has the best understanding of the scope of JP’s accomplishments.

Minor Roles

Cousin Kae – who knows JP’s secrets and how these abilities run in their family.

Betty – the voice of doubt and suspicion regarding JP. Betty “knows” there’s “something wrong with this girl!”

Wally – clerk at Zabar’s who always takes care of JP’s orders because she helped his sister-in-law attain citizenship

Todd and Jason – The doormen: Jason is JP’s doorman and Todd is TC’s doorman

Cab Driver – He’s got one or two lines!

Coast Guard(s) – one dream scene

Background Characters – street scenes, etc.

[Janis Pryor]

Lesson 1: Transformational Journey

What I learned? I have to dig deeper into these characters than I wanted to!

Who is your hero and what is their character arc that represents a transformation?

There are two heroes: JP and TC

JP goes from being a self-contained, introverted/private individual with a big secret to being more open and honest about who and what she is.

Her external journey? She smiles more! She goes from being resigned to being alone to becoming joyful (and grateful) having found the love of her life.

Her internal journey? Grappling with having been born as a “caul bearer” and having related abilities to embracing and owning it regardless of popular opinion.

TC after watching JP for over twenty years, takes a big risk and speaks to her. It opens the door to the everlasting love he’s always wanted.

His external journey? He begins to relax, calms down knowing this highly intelligent woman loves him. He throws away his care free, playboy image to finding security and peace with the love of his life.

His internal journey?

TC looses his insecurity and accepts that he’s worthy of JP, that she accepts him “as is”, that JP is no longer an out of reach dream or fantasy after spending two decades thinking she wouldn’t pay any attention to him, that he was “unworthy.”

LOG LINE: This is a love story between two unique people that’s been on hold for twenty years – before and after death.

CONCEPT: After watching the love of his life for for twenty years before peaking,TC finally speaks to her the day after she (JP) makes an inquiry about him to her friend, Christine. TC becomes a catalyst for a series of “coincidences” that forces her to own the psychic abilities she was born with including being a “caul bearer.” It allows them to continue their relationship after TC drowns in a suspicious boating accident.

[Janis Pryor]

Hi! My name is Janis A. Pryor from the east coast! These days I am primarily a writer, artist, and activist. My fourth book will be released sometime this fall, titled, Mother’s Madness, a daughter’s report on race, class and lunacy.

I’m taking this course to help advance my understanding of screenwriting language versus action. It’s an odd medium that depends on words and visuals. It’s my hope to write the first draft of a script based on my first book, White Roses.

Looking forward to the challenge of “thirty days”…

JP

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor, Character Profiles, Part 1

What I learned: It’s sometimes necessary to slow down to go fast later.

Protagonist/Lead Character: JP – tiny, middle-age, looks younger than her age of forty, self-contained, private, comes from a complicated family with the blood of three races. If you know nothing else, about her, you know she comes from money and is highly intelligent.

…her internal journey: keep finding ways to manage and disguise this “gift” of being a caul bearer and clairvoyant. She’s been this way since birth. As a result, she keeps mostly to herself although she has many friends. She tells no one outside of her family of the full extent of her powers.

…her external journey: to welcome and fully acknowledge her gift, to become more relaxed with her total identity, be grateful that it allows her to stay connected to Tony after he dies.

…her wound: a lifetime of hurt from family and friends. She doesn’t trust easily and keeps everyone at arms’ length.

What makes her special? She’s a multi-talented woman with a distinct sense of style; a class act who’s an expert at deflecting answers to questions she doesn’t want to answer and keeping people away from her. She’s a walking contradiction.

Antagonist: Tony – tall, highly intelligent, good looking man in his forties, overwhelmed by his feelings for this tiny woman he’s been watching for twenty years. He too comes from money.

…his internal journey: overcome his fear of speaking to her. She is unlike any woman he’s ever known, much less attracted to.

…his external journey: to let her know how he feels about her and act on his feelings/belief that she could be the love of his life.

…his wound: has never believed he would find anyone to really love him, that he’s unworthy of love.

What makes him special? His kindness. He’s a gentle, passionate, proud, brilliant ma whose does classified work. He’s accustomed to keeping secrets and protecting those he loves.

Type of protagonist: Hero – overcomes her resistance to her psychic abilities.

Type of antagonist: Change agent – because of him, she must embrace her psychic abilities to stay connected to him.

Their motivation: To find a way to love each other, in this life and the next. They’ve wasted too much time playing it safe.

Supporting Characters:

Her best friend: They went to the same prep school, live around the corner from each other as adults. She’s a died in the wool New Yorker, professor at NYU Med School.

His sister: feels that she owns her brother, jealous/suspicious of any other woman in his life. No one’s quite good enough for him.

Adoring couple who worry about JP. They think she needs to be in a relationship and make every effort to play match maker.

NH Friend, offers refuge after Tony’s death.

Two American Cocker Spaniels, they are JP’s real family!

Genre: Love story, drama

Their Mission/Agenda: to love each other in this life and the next.

[Janis Pryor]

I don’t know what class I attended last night, but I went ahead and wrote the first five pages and discovered my final draft software has gotten “sick”. So I am ordering a newer version this evening. What I did do was write the first five pages of the script.

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor Transformation Journey

What I learned: streamlining my thinking to express the essence of a story through screenwriting is going to very difficult for me.

CONCEPT: After watching the love of his life for twenty years before speaking, Tony comes into Sydney’s life and proves there is life and love after death, following his demise in a boating accident.

LOGLINE: This is a love story, that’s been on hold for twenty years, between two unique people before and after death.

Hero: Sydney

Character Arc: She goes from being a secretive about the range of abilities as a “caul bearer” (someone who sees the dead) to actively using all of her psychic abilities to stay connected to the love of her life (Tony) who dies in a boating accident.

Internal Journey:

She quietly manages her uniqueness in every way, extremely smart, multi-talented with a professional resume that’s jaw-dropping. Humor is one of her “weapons of deflection.” She’s alone, by choice, only having her cocker spaniels as constant, trusting companions, along with her housekeeper, Lucinda. Sydney is an original who defies all stereotypes one assigns to a mixed-race individual.

External Journey:

Sydney becomes more comfortable with who she is through a series of psychic encounters. She claims her power as she learns more about being a caul bearer. It allows her and Tony to stay connected after he dies and creates a new reality that she can’t share with anyone.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by  Janis Pryor.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by  Janis Pryor. Reason: I just listened to the tapes!

[Janis Pryor]

Janis A. Pryor

“I agree to the terms of this release form.”

[Janis Pryor]

My name is Janis A. Pryor. I’ve written four screenplays. I’m hoping to get two things from this class, one, how to think more like a screenwriter and how tell a story for film or tape without taking years to do it!

I’ve had three books published by a small press with the fourth one due out in fall of this year. I’m hoping to adapt my first book for the screen and use this course as a springboard. I adapted a portion of my second book for the stage. It was performed by Equity actors on the east coast in Cambridge, MA roughly four years ago.

[Janis Pryor]

Thank you! It’s been a journey and continues to be one! Have you had any trouble keeping up with the course/lessons. etc. I have some questions and I can’t get a response from the powers that be.