[Karen Burns]

Karen’s Character Profiles: Part 1

What I learned doing this assignment is how to think about characters in a structured, in-depth way. This story and these characters have been rolling around in my mind for a few months. This exercise offered me a way to breathe life into them. However, there may be too many and my story may be too complicated for a two-hour movie. We shall see!

PROTAGONIST

Explorer/Fighter/Runner/Dreamer:
KATE, 49, rarely seen with her hair down; never seen not wearing a suit
jacket. With her 50^th birthday looming and a sense that there
must be something more, she experiences a series of life-changing events that put her on a new path. Motivation includes wanting something more out of life
and a desire to live more authentically. Wounds include trying to please
an absent father and a narcissistic mother as well as overcoming an abusive relationship with her (now ex) husband. Her secrets are
that despite her successful career she feels like fraud, and she’s always
wanted to live a bohemian lifestyle as a writer. What makes her special is
her soft gooey center and a sense of humor in the
face of pretty much anything.

ANTAGONISTS

Antagonist 1: Kate, in many ways, is her own worst enemy. She’s comfortable in her discomfort. Change is hard. Lots of ingrained beliefs.

Antagonists 2: Her sons. They like the status quo.

· ETHAN, 18-27, authoritative and superior, on the eight-year undergrad plan. Temporarily living with Kate.

· DAVID, 16-25, fun-loving, irresponsible rogue. Lives “on his own”

· AARON, 14-23, ridiculously handsome, unemployed, living in a ganja haze in Kate’s basement

Antagonist 3: Life and all of its existing constructs

Antagonist 4: Her friends who are also her work colleagues (minor characters). They like Kate as she is. They need her to stay that way.

· JANE, 40, never saw an outfit or hairstyle she wouldn’t comment on

· SUE, 45, desperately seeking someone. Wants Kate to want to barhop with her

· BARB, 35, always remembers to bring up the latest bad news

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

· NORA, 50, Kate’s grandmother who resides in the spirit realm. She is also Kate’s therapist in this realm. In the spirit realm, she is a slim, impeccably dressed Latina wearing a form-fitting dress with an up-do. As Kate’s therapist she is barely recognizable with her hair worn down, hippie-style clothing and an effusive assortment of crystal jewelry. A change agent, she serves as a sounding board and teacher. Her secret is that she has been with Kate every moment of every day since her death when Kate was three. She lives vicariously through Kate. On this journey she realizes she wants to give life another go.

· BOB, 30-ish, Kate’s father who resides in the spirit realm. He is also Kate’s new neighbor in this realm. In the spirit realm he is an overweight jokester with a crew cut wearing a Joe Namath NY Jet’s jersey. In this realm, Kate sees him as someone else but the audience sees him as Bob with a current hairstyle. A change agent, he serves as a catalyst for Kate’s healing of old wounds. In so doing he heals his regrets about who he was as a parent.

· TED, 30-ish, Kate’s ex-husband who resides in the spirit realm. He is also Kate’s new neighbor in this realm, married to BOB. In the spirit realm he is full 80’s style with big hair. In this realm Kate sees him as someone else but the audience sees him as Ted dressed and coiffed appropriate to the year. He serves as a catalyst for Kate’s healing of old wounds and a sounding board to help evolve her relationship with her children. In so doing, he heals his relationship with both Kate and his children.

· JEAN, 17, Kate’s mother who resides on the spirit realm. She is also Kate’s manicurist in this realm. In the spirit realm Jean is oh so perky and wears a 1950’s majorette uniform complete with an adorned feathered hat and chin strap. In this realm Kate sees her as someone else but we see her as Jean, a modern, upbeat teenager. She serves as an unexpected source of surprising wisdom for Kate.

· SAM, indiscernible age, gender, race and ethnicity. In the spirit realm Sam is Kate’s soul, her higher self. In this realm Sam is Kate’s assistant. Appears the same in both realms, serving as a navigator and source of support for Kate.

·

MINOR ROLES

· SEBASTIAN, early 40’s, German. An SVP at Kate’s company. Rude, arrogant, condescending, a quintessential a-hole. He serves as a catalyst for Kate’s desire to change.

· ANTONIO, late 20’s, fit, gorgeous and smart. Works for Kate. He serves as a catalyst for Kate’s desire to change.

· Background characters: various office workers

· Gabriel, female, ancient but youthful. Ethereally beautiful, pale, blonde. She is Archangel Gabriel

· David, 50’s, athletic, South African. He is Kate’s life guide

· Subho, 60’s. He is one of Kate’s guiding angels

· Yejin, 60’s, blind. He is one of Kate’s guiding angels

· Sven, 20’s. Stoic, muscular. He is one of Kate’s guardian angels

· Glerg, 20’s. Stoic, muscular. He is one of Kate’s guardian angels

GENRE

Drama/Comedy/Coming
of New-Age

[Karen Burns]

Karen’s Transformational Journey

As someone who is new to screenwriting, I learned the tremendous value in approaching a story with this kind of structure. It helped me consider major aspects of my characters and their stories. Thank you!

KATE is a tightly wound forty-something corporate exec and solo parent who finds her self-worth in her accomplishments, always striving to exceed expectations and check all the boxes. An introvert masquerading as an extrovert.

INTERNAL JOURNEY:

· From a striving-to-prove-herself cynic living life the way she thinks she should to a self-aware, joyful person living life on her terms.

· From walking on eggshells to speaking her truth

· From outer turmoil to inner peace

EXTERNAL JOURNEY:

· From corporate exec to published author

· From co-dependent to independent relationships with her children

OLD WAYS

· Gossiping, complaining, bitter, negative

· Enables her adult children’s dysfunction

NEW WAYS

· Encouraging, uplifting, fun, lighthearted, hopeful

· Facilitates her adult children’s autonomy

Quick note: I am playing catch-up after an absence that was necessitated by the flu. Ugh. All good now and eager to get to work!

[Karen Burns]

Hi, everyone!

My name is Karen Burns. I have written zero scripts, although I have several in the works and pages of ideas. This class spoke to my need to finish one; please, may that open the floodgates! My inner procrastinator is bristling at my hope for accountability, process and discipline.

I started writing creatively around the time I learned how to put sentences together on paper. I became convinced that writing was not a practical way to make a living, so I embarked on what became a successful corporate career. After 30 years in that world (with no regrets, only gratitude), I am happily re-acquainting myself with my true passion.

I’m looking forward to this journey!

[Karen Burns]

Karen Burns

I agree to the terms of this release form.