[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver. RomCom Project

What I learned doing this assignment is how much it helps to see the RomCom puzzle
being formed. By knowing who they are, how they are attracted to each other helps to
fulfill the need inside each one and this piece of the puzzle is a key component to
complete the project.

1. Who is she?
Bree Scott an Investment Banker who works for Goldman Sachs. She works very hard
and has no time for any man, just work and church (not your traditional church).
Opening scene we see all her awards on the wall behind her sitting at her home office on
the phone in pajamas.

2. Who is He?
Addison Swan a Fashion Stylist who was a high fashion model and now works freelance
for Ralph Lauren, Armani, Louis Vuitton etc. We open with Addison at the biggest
Designer Fashion Show of the year.

3. What makes them lovable?
Bree: She’s kind, very giving, spiritual and will give her all to everything she does.
Addison: Generous, super intelligent and shares his information to anyone who ask.
Knows how to make you feel special.

4. What attracts them to each other?
What causes Bree to be attracted to Addison:
Very sharp dresser, very funny, very protective he makes sure you’re safe, and his
honesty.
What causes Addison to be attracted to Bree:
She’s independent, she thinks of his needs and fulfills them before he knows he needs
them. She’s very funny, intelligent, and her honesty.

5. What needs do they fulfill for each other?
What needs does Addison fulfill for Bree:
A true open and honest partnership something she has dreamed for most of her life. A
strong connection who she can grow with, she has a lot in common with him. Someone
to have adventures with and she can trust him completely.
What needs does Bree fulfill for Addison:
Someone who will take care of him, he knows she’s got his back. He trust her. A partner
he can accomplish completing his work with. A person who is strong and can hold her
own. A person who pumps him up by giving him positivity each day.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver. RomCom Project


What I learned doing this assignment is how much it helps to see the RomCom puzzle being formed. By knowing who they are, how they are attracted to each other helps to fulfill the need inside each one and this piece of the puzzle is a key component to complete the project.

Who is she?
Bree Scott an Investment Banker who works for Goldman Sachs. She works very hard and has no time for any man, just work and church (not your traditional church). Opening scene we see all her awards on the wall behind her sitting at her home office on the phone in pajamas.

2. Who is He?
Addison Swan a Fashion Stylist who was a high fashion model and now works freelance for Ralph Lauren, Armani, Louis Vuitton etc. We open with Addison at the biggest Designer Fashion Show of the year.

3. What makes them lovable?
Bree: She’s kind, very giving, spiritual and will give her all to everything she does.

Addison: Generous, super intelligent and shares his information to anyone who ask. Knows how to make you feel special.

4. What attracts them to each other?
What causes Bree to be attracted to Addison:
Very sharp dresser, very funny, very protective he makes sure you’re safe, and his honesty.

What causes Addison to be attracted to Bree:
She’s independent, she thinks of his needs and fulfills them before he knows he needs them. She’s very funny, intelligent, and her honesty.

5. What needs do they fulfill for each other?
What needs does Addison fulfill for Bree:
A true open and honest partnership something she has dreamed for most of her life. A strong connection who she can grow with, she has a lot in common with him. Someone to have adventures with and she can trust him completely.

What needs does Bree fulfill for Addison:
Someone who will take care of him, he knows she’s got his back. He trust her. A partner he can accomplish completing his work with. A person who is strong and can hold her own. A person who pumps him up by giving him positivity each day.

[Karen Tolliver]

Hi, my name is Karen Tolliver. I have written 7 scripts so far. I hope to have another script completed and my first RomCom done in this class. Something unique about me is I am 1 of 50 Black Script Supervisors World Wide in the Film and TV Industry.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver
I agree to the terms of this 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.

[Karen Tolliver]

What I learned doing this assignment is how to put the pieces together of a RomCom. Its a different structure than a film. I learned to think deeper in the area of love.

Karen Tolliver
RomCom Project.

Create your Concepts:
Two people who belong together:
Similarities- We both worked in the Car business, both involved in Real Estate, both were fashion models, both very intelligent.
Shared Values- both love or freedom above all else, the freedom to choose is very important. Making yourself happy above anything else is huge. Honesty is most important always even when it hurts.
Chemistry- Very hot and passionate.
Surprising shared background- Went to Jr. High and High school together. We have some of the same friends.

How Are They Separated: He is married, but his wife is sick. She is separated from her husband.

What Forces them together: They met at a High School Reunion. One of their closest friends from school gets very sick, they end up hanging out together. His wife dies from her illness, and her husband dies in a car accident. They both end up at a grieving group together.

Issues to be Resolved: Both have internal issues they must resolve in order to have this relationship.
He doesn’t want to settle down in another relationship.
She doesn’t know if it could work, he’s not spiritual like her.

On their Journey of Love: A literal or figurative journey that causes them to work through their issues and find a deep love for each other.
They start a business together get to know each other deeper, learn from each other and grow together.

CONVENTIONS
The Journey of Love:
“Meet Cute” to denial of Love- Meet at the High School Reunion both remember they liked each other, but never hooked up. Too late now both are married.

Overwhelming attraction to breaking up over differences- Both spouses are gone, attraction at grieving group therapy. He wants his freedom, she wants a spiritual man.

Finally reuniting and experiencing the love of their life:
After he dates so many girls and seeing her face on each one, he seeks answers from God. He realizes there’s only one girl for him.
She consumes herself in work, goes to church and there he is.

Relationship Set-Up: From the moment of the “Meet Cute” we see the romantic future for the couple.
She arrives late and takes the last seat next to him at the High School Reunion. The best dressed in the entire room, he immediately starts a conversation with her, They discover all the things they have in common. Have a lot of the same interest and knows the same business people despite not running into each other for 45 years until now.

Issues each must Resolve:
His grief over his wife dying, wants to “Sow his wild oats”. A huge Ego, can be rude to others.
She sometimes wants to be alone to much, feels as if she doesn’t need a man. Will give up too soon. Puts others before herself.

Separation: He tells her he wants his freedom to “Sow his wild oats”.

How will Comedy be Expressed:
At the Reunion they are the best dressed and make jokes about the others.
Some of his dates turn out to be funny.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Engaging Main Characters Assignment #1

Example Show: “Wednesday”

What I learned doing this assignment is trying to collaborate the main characters unique purpose and moral issues, etc is harder than it looks. To give them conflicting issues at the same time giving them likability is an enjoyable challenge.

1. Role in the show:

Wednesday Addams: A teenage student who finds out about the curse on her school “Nevermore” and vows to save the Outcast students.

B. Unique Purpose/ Expertise:

Wednesday: To carry out the legacy of her ancestor to save the Outcast people.

Expertise: Her ability to see Visions of the past and future. Her vast knowledge on every subject. Her ability to physically defend herself or others.

C. Intrigue:

Wednesday’s investigation into the death of Rowan which everyone believes he’s still alive and finding the Monster.

D. Moral Issue:

Wednesday never cares what other people think of her, she remains true to herself only. Not afraid of anything or anybody.

E. Unpredictable:

Wednesday will beat up, fight or kill anyone who gets in her way.

F. Empathetic:

Wednesday cares deeply for the ones she loves and she’s very misunderstood from her outward appearance.

Assignment #2

The journey of my show is about Victoria Sterling, the CEO of a major Fashion Corporation who is a powerful figure, influences the industry’s perception of beauty and challenges outdated standards. Ending with Victoria’s growth and empowerment.

The Main Characters of my show are:

Victoria Sterling: CEO of the Fashion Corporation.

Alicia Edwards: Executive Assistant to the CEO.

1. Role in Show:

Victoria Sterling: the CEO of a major Fashion brand who experiences the death of her husband and struggles with body image herself while she wrestles with aging in a youth industry.

Alicia Edwards: Executive Assistant to Victoria and her right hand. Young and determined to be the CEO one day . Always the mediator of office politics. Struggles to find balance in her personal life and work.

2. Unique Purpose/ Expertise:

Victoria Sterling: Determined to leave her mark on the fashion industry and change the image for the next generation. Expertise: Ability to see fashion trends way ahead of time with her future vision ability

Alicia Edwards: To show the world young women can be CEO’s too. Expertise: Exceptional organizer, great at managing relationships. Excellent problem solving abilities.

C. Intrigue:

Victoria: Try to navigate the fashion industry with a Deaf daughter who is a model looking up to her.

Alicia: Is the secret love child to Victoria’s late husband and Victoria doesn’t know it.

D. Moral Issue:

Victoria: Keeps her Deaf daughter relationship hidden from the public eye to protect her own reputation.

Alicia: navigating the fine line between loyalty and integrity.

E. Unpredictable: Victoria could announce a bold and unanticipated collaboration with a controversial, emerging designer known for pushing the boundaries of fashion.

Alicia: tells Victoria who her real father is (her late husband).

F. Empathetic: Victoria struggle with body image issues and personal loss resonates with viewers facing similar challenges. Her decisions within the fashion industry carry weight and impact multiple lives.

Alicia: The assistant’s journey, often in the shadow of the CEO, presents an underdog narrative. As they navigate personal and professional challenges, the audience becomes invested in their growth, root for their success, and follow their development within the high-stakes fashion world.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Three Circles of Characters

Assignment # 2

What I learned doing this assignment is How much the connected characters feed of the main characters and give them depth. Also AI is an amazing helper.

Main Characters:

Victoria Sterling: Ambitious and driven CEO of a prestigious fashion Brand, but wrestles with her aging in a youth industry.

Gabriel Lauren: A charismatic, hip and trendy influential fashion designer who struggles with body image.

Nina Chen: A very meticulous, detail-oriented head of marketing for the fashion corporation who struggles against stereotypes and bias within the industry.

B. Connected Circle:

Evan Miller, Human Resources Manager

Alicia Banks, The Fashion Editor

Dr. Mark Richardson, The on-site therapist

Maddy Clarke, A talented Junior Designer

C. Environment Circle:

Oliver Bennett, Fashion Photographer

Claire Thompson, Personal Stylist

HR Department

Personal Stylist

Design Department

Production Department

Marketing and Sales Department

Retail and Merchandising Department

Finance and Accounting Department

Public Relations Department

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver

Module One Lesson 2 / Three Circles Of Characters

Assignment #1

Example Show: “Wednesday”

Main Characters Circle:

Wednesday Addams

Enid Sinclair

Tyler Galpin

Xavier Thorpe

Bianca Barclay

B. Connected Circle:

Rowan Laslow

Ajax Petropolus

Principle Larissa Weens

Sheriff Donovan Galpin

Thing

Eugene Ottinger

Ms. Marilyn Thornhill

Dr. Valerie Kinbott

Morticia Addams

Gomez Addams

Pugsley Addams

Hyde Monster

C. Environment Circle:

Yoko Tanaka

Divina

Kent

Deputy Ritchie

Lurch

School Staff

Town People

Coffee Shop Staff and Customers

[Karen Tolliver]

“WEDNESDAY” 5 STAR MODEL

Karen Tolliver

What I learned doing this assignment is all the components needed to make an intriguing show come together. It’s not just a 3 Act structure that will make a show great it’s so much more than that.

Big Picture Hook:

Wednesday plans to escape Nevermore the school her parents went to and vows to never be like them.

Intriguing Characters:

Wednesday Addams: Her ability to have visions.

Morticia Addams: Her mother and hiding a big secret.

Gomez Addams: Her father who has a police record.

Pugsley Addams: her brother who she protects because he’s week.

Enid: Her roommate who is a Werewolf who can’t wolf out.

Thing: It’s only a Hand and Her helper.

Principal Larisa : watches Wednesday like a hawk.

Xavier: Saves Wednesday life from falling statue.

Rowan: trying to kill Wednesday because of her family past.

Tyler: tries to help Wednesday escape.

Empathy/ Distress:

Wednesday was almost killed twice by Rowan, Xavier saves her the first time and the second time the Monster saves her. We feel empathy for her when she talks about the last time she cried at the age of 6 over her pet Nero a scorpion killed by some kids.

Layers/Open Loops:

Why does Rowan want to kill her and who is the girl in the picture who looks like Wednesday. Why does her father have a police report? What is her mothers secret? Who is the Monster killing everyone in the woods.

Inviting Obsession:

We need to find out who is the Monster in the woods. Who is the girl in the picture who looks like Wednesday. Will Wednesday survive any more death threats? Will Wednesday escape Nevermore school?

[Karen Tolliver]

Hi everyone, my name is Karen Tolliver and I have written about 7 scripts now that includes, films, TV show, and commercials. I hope to get out of this class is a much faster process of writing and a way to Unstick myself every time I get stuck. Which has been causing me to pause my writing for long periods of time. One thing unusual about me is I am one of fifty Black Script Supervisors World Wide. I have taken the Binge Worthy TV class twice. I look forward to meeting all of you soon.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver

I agree to the terms of this 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.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver: Intriguing Layers

Module 1 Lesson 4 Assignments 1 & 2

What I learned doing this assignment is how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. A character hidden agenda, their wound, secrets, etc. all intertwine to reveal the master make-up of the character.

Assignment #1: Character Intrigue for “Lost”

1. Jack secretly puts alcohol bottle in pocket before plane crash.

2. Jack’s wound on his back Kate sews it up.

3. Shannon and Boone (Brother and Sister) competition always fighting.

4. Jack, Kate, and Charlie keeps secret of the plane being off course.

5. Charlie secret of using drugs.

6. Shannon’s wound of trauma makes her cope by tanning.

7. Walt finds hand cuffs in the jungle.

8. Sayid and Sawyer in competition while fighting.

9. Jim-Sookwon makes seafood and gives to Claire making her baby move.

10. Mr. Locke secret that he couldn’t walk before the plane crash.

11. Sawyer secret he carries a gun on the transmitter mission and kills Bear.

12. Hurley secret that he faints at the site of blood.

13. Everyone on transmitter mission keeps secret about French voice on receiver playing for 16 years.

14. Wounded Marshall secret about Kate being a prisoner on plane.

15. Kate’s secret about Farmer Ray.

Character Intrigue being used to create the need to see more episodes:

1. Rose tells Jack her husband is not dead even though he was in back of plane.

2. Jack sees a man in suit, and he vanishes.

3. Sayid needs to make another transmitter for signal off Island.

4. Mr. Locke appears out of jungle with a dead wild boar.

5. Michael asks Mr. Locke did he see the big animal in the jungle, Kate said it was headed towards him. He says No.

Assignment #2: Character Intrigue for my show.

1. Character Name: Aailyah Williams

2. Role: Paralegal who fighting to save her imprisoned husband.

3. Hidden Agenda: To pretend wanting to free her husband from wrong imprisonment.

4. Competition: With James her boss for who knows more about the law.

5. Conspiracies: With her husband to gain evidence of him being framed.

6. Secrets: Her secret love affair with James in the past.

7. Deception: lies about evidence she finds from her husband’s job.

8. Wound: Being adopted at the age of 2 years old.

9. Secret Identity: Able to have Visions from Spirits.

1. Character Name: James Donovan.

2. Role: Partner in the Law Firm helps to save Aailyah’s husband.

3. Hidden Agenda: To get Aailyah back in love with him.

4. Competition: With Aailyah’s husband for her affection.

5. Conspiracies: With his mother to help win Aailyah’s heart.

6. Secret: Having sex with the Judge appointed to Cameron’s case.

7. Deception: Lies about his affair with Aailyah’s best friend Susan.

8. Wound: abusive father before he passed away.

9. Secret Identity: The son of a famous Lawyer.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver: Engaging Main Characters

Module 1 Lesson 3 Assignments 1 and 2.

What I learned doing this assignment is the building of your characters purpose, moral issues, unpredictability, and intrigue is what gives your character the depth and course to follow in building the story line.

Assignment 1

TV Show “Lost”

A. Roll in Show:

Jack: The only Doctor on the airplane when crashed on deserted island.

Kate: Survivor who was bought on the plane as a prisoner.

B. Unique Purpose/Expertise:

Jack: Expertise- A surgeon with great skills.

Purpose- To keep everyone alive until rescued.

Kate: Expertise- She is tough, volunteers for assignments.

Purpose- To assist Jack with all duties.

C. Intrigue:

Jack: He’s afraid he can’t save everyone.

Kate: Hiding the fact she is a prisoner.

D. Moral Issue:

Jack: The code of ethics as a doctor to always do your best to save lives.

Kate: To help save lives despite having murdered someone.

E. Unpredictable:

Jack: Saves a man’s life in the ocean but didn’t go back for the girl in time and she dies.

Kate: The Marshall wants to die and ask Kate to shoot him instead she walks away.

F. Empathetic:

Jack: Getting beat up as a kid in school.

Kate: Even though Ray the farmer turned her in to Marshall, she still wants him to receive his reward money.

Assignment 2

1. The journey of my show: Aailyah must find out who set up her husband for murder that sent him to prison.

2. The main Characters that will sell my show: Aailyah Williams and James Donovan.

3. Engaging Character Questions

A. Role in Show:

Aailyah: 36-year-old Paralegal in a Law Firm.

James: 37-year-old Partner in the Law Firm.

B. Unique Purpose/Expertise:

Aailyah: Purpose- To free her set-up husband from murder charges.

Expertise- Knows the law well.

James: Purpose- To guide Aailyah through her husband’s case.

Expertise- Knows the law well and able to practice it.

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

Aailyah: She can have Visions.

James: He secretly sabotages Aailyah’s husband’s case.

D. Moral Issue:

Aailyah: She will sleep with James to help free her husband.

James: Will lie to the judge and jeopardize the case for Aailyah.

E. Unpredictable:

Aailyah: She enjoys sleeping with James and does it again.

James: Sleeps with the Judge for favors.

F. Empathetic:

Aailyah: Her husband is murdered in prison. Bullied as a child for being different with gift of Visions.

James: His father was a lawyer head of Law Firm and expects nothing less of James.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver: Three Circles of Characters

Module 1 Lesson 2 Assignment 2

What I learned doing this assignment is flushing out my main characters brings depth to my show and pushes me to create more of the world naturally.

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

A. Main Characters Circle:

B. Connected Circle:

C. Environment Circle:

2. Give us a one sentence description of each of the Main Characters.

Main Character Circle: Aailyah Williams, a thirty-six-year-old Paralegal who has dreams of owning her own law firm.

Cameron Williams, a thirty-nine-year-old Executive of a giant Tech Company (like Google) who is set up for murder because of valuable information he knows.

James Donovan, a thirty-seven-year-old lawyer that works with Aailyah assisting in her husband case.

Connected Circle: Liam Oscar Head of Law Firm, Aailyah’s mother, Naomi Williams the daughter.

Environment Circle: Prison staff, Law Firm staff, Tech Company staff, old friends.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver: Three Circles of Characters

Module 1 Lesson 2

Assignment 1

TV Show: “Lost”

A. Main Character Circle: Jack, Kate, Charlie

B. Connected Circle: Sayid, Sawyer, Shannon, Hurley, Boone (Shannon’s brother), Claire (Pregnant woman), Sun-Hwa Kwon, Jim- Soo Kwon, John, Michael, Walt.

C. Environment Circle: Rose, Danielle, Nadia, Marshall Edward Mars.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver

TV Show: “Lost”. 5 Star Model

What I learned from doing this assignment is to look deeper for the meaning of what makes a show binge worthy. Go beyond the surface and see what makes you want to watch the next episodes.

1. Big Picture Hooks: What is the big hook of this show?

The survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.

2. Amazing and Intriguing Character: What makes these main characters intriguing and interesting? The main character is Jack, he is intriguing because he’s a doctor with lots of knowledge and a possible alcohol problem. Kate is another main character, she is intriguing because she seems naïve, but she is a prisoner being brought back on the plane. Charlie is another main character; he is intriguing because he is part of a band and has a drug problem.

3. Empathy/ Distress: What situation causes us to feel both empathy and distress for this character? I feel empathy for Jack because he is the only doctor on the island, and he must rescue and medically helps all the injured people. I feel distress for Jack because he himself has suffered a wound on his back but can’t heal himself needs help. I feel empathy for Kate because she is a prisoner but is a very nice woman who helped Jack sew up is back wound with a sewing kit. I feel distress for Kate when she goes with Jack and Charlie to find the trans receiver on the run back she losses them is all alone but uses the fear method Jack taught her. I feel empathy for Charlie because he is good in his famous Band, but you don’t know if he will ever play with them again.

4. Layers/ Open Loops: What questions are created by this first episode that can only be answered by watching the entire season? Will they ever get off this deserted Island or will they be killed by an unknown monster.

5. Inviting Obsession: How does this pilot create the need to see every single episode? The first way is to figure out will they get the trans receiver to work in order to call for help. Or will they ever be rescued because the Pilot said they were off the map before they crashed.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver

I agree to the 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.

[Karen Tolliver]

Hi everyone, my name is Karen Tolliver and I am very glad to be apart of this class.

I have written 7 scripts so far that include Films, TV show, and Shorts.

I hope to finish a TV show that is profound and ready to be Green Lighted. It will be an inspiring piece that will elevate the world into a better tomorrow. (At least I think so)

Something unique about me is I am one of fifty Black Script Supervisors World Wide doing film, TV and Commercials.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver

I agree to the terms of this 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.

[Karen Tolliver]

Hi everyone, my name is Karen Tolliver and I have written eight scripts: features, TV series, and Adaptation from a book to TV series.

I live in Los Angeles, CA and I’ve been in the entertainment industry over 25 years now first as an Actor and now as a Script Supervisor. I’m one of fifty Black Script Supervisor’s World Wide.

I’m hoping to write a Contained movie that is not a Horror too, I’m scared of those, even though I have watched them be created in production and none of it is real. Yea, still don’t like the horror genre Comedy is more my thing.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Profound Map Version 1

What I learned doing this assignment is it’s much easier to have all of your ideas contained in one place. Easier to read and see in order to make improvements to your script.

GENRE: Action Comedy

TITLE: THIS ISN’T ADDING UP

WRITTEN BY: Karen Tolliver

What is Your Profound Truth?

Another human being is not the source of your happiness. It’s what’s inside of you that makes you happy.

2. What is the Transformational Journey?

Old Ways: Naive, trusting the wrong men, not being loved by her father, allowing verbal and physical abuse in her life.

Journey: Sharon gets arrested for Embezzlement and is forced to look at her lying, cheating husband’s ways. She hunts him down in Aruba and a physical fight occurs leaving her to question her loyalty to him.

New Ways: Found herself and has inner peace, learned how to trust her inner being, finds a new relationship.

Transformational Logline: A naive, but intelligent Sharon gets caught for embezzlement, takes a journey to Aruba to find the real thief and discovers inner peace.

3. Who are Your Lead Characters?

Change agent: Carol Ridgeway <div>

Transformable Character: Sharon Anderson

Betraying Character: Andrea Taylor

Oppression: The forced pressure from the FBI

4. How Do You Connect With Your audience in the Beginning of the Movie?

Relatability: Sharon is a typical millennial woman who is very business driven loves her husband more than herself, and takes time out to bond with her girlfriends.
Intrigue: Sharon believes her husband is true to her, but is actually having an affair with his secretary and planning on running away with the company funds.
Empathy: Sharon is in jail arrested for embezzlement. She was set up. By her lying husband.
Likability: Sharon is always helping others giving advice to Andrea and keeping the peace inside the girls group.

5. What is the Gradient of the Change?

Emotional Gradient: Forced Change. Sharon must believe Steven set her up for embezzlement and fight to clear her name.

We watch her go through these stages:

Denial: Sharon refuses to believe Steven had anything to do with the embezzlement of their Accounting Firm.

Anger: Her mother tells her Steven is just like her father.

Bargaining: Sharon travels to Aruba to catch Steven.

Depression: After an altercation with Steven, Sharon takes a walk on the beach alone.

Acceptance: Sharon confronts Steven and tells him she forgives him.

ACTION GRADIENT

SETUP

Sharon and Steven own their Accounting Firm and Steven is able to create a second set of books and steal from the company.
Sharon thinks she has the perfect marriage, but Steven is having an Affair with his secretary.
Sharon plans an Anniversary dinner and Steven is a “No Show”, but the FBI raid her house.

JOURNEY

Sharon spends a night in jail, and later finds out Steven had two sets of Company Books.
Sharon fly’s over to Aruba to catch Steven and his secretary.
Sharon and The Girls have a showdown with Steven in Aruba.
Sharon meets James, a younger man who teaches her to search within herself.
Sharon and The Girls are followed by the crooked FBI agent in the airport and disguise themselves.

PAYOFF

Sharon bugs the FBI agent office and she spies on him, finds out they want her dead.
Steven and the FBI agent come to Sharon’s house and get caught in booby traps.
James shows up at the house and is tied up.
Sharon tells Steven she forgives him, but Steven shoots Sharon.
Sharon was wearing her bullet proof vest and the police arrest Steven and the FBI agent.

CHALLENGE/WEAKNESS GRADIENT:

Challenge: Released from jail and confronted with evidence of Steven’s second set of books.

Weakness: Naive, denialist, refuses to believe it.

Next Challenge: Everyone tells her Steven is no good.

Next Weakness: Sharon gets quiet.

Next Challenge: Sharon beats up Steven.

Next Weakness: Out of control, can’t change what happened.

Next Challenge: Sharon has a talk with God.

Next Weakness: Doesn’t know what to do now.

Next Challenge: Sharon confronts Steven, tells him he stole her life.

Next Weakness: Needs to learn to love herself.

6. What is the Transformational Structure of Your Story?

Mini-Movie 1 – Status Quo and Call to Adventure

The film starts with Sharon and Steven going on a Date Night where they agree no discussing business. Next Sharon, Steven, Carol, Diane, and Andrea go to an Award Dinner where Sharon wins Accountant of the Year.

Sharon prepares for a special Anniversary dinner with Chef at their home.

Sharon and her secretary Janea discover some files are missing.

Steven withdraws money from the bank and wires it to his account in Aruba.

Sharon and the girls go to Victoria Secret to buy sexy lingerie for the big night.

Steven sends “Fake” tax returns to the IRS and practice a “quitting scene” with his secretary Kate. They wait for Sharon to come out of her office, and they perform.

Steven is a “No Show” at the Anniversary dinner.

The FBI swarms the house and arrest Sharon for embezzlement.

Mini-Movie 2 – Locked Into Conflict

Carol bails Sharon out of jail

Diane tells Sharon and Carol, Steven has second set of Books, Sharon denies it.

Andrea makes soup for Sharon, and Sharon’s mom tells her “He’s just like your father” Sharon is infuriated.

Mini-Movie 3 – Hero Tries to Solve Problem – But Fails.

Sharon decides to get Steven in Aruba.

Carol’s husband David says Steven is buying property in Aruba.

Andrea has a fear of flying.

Steven and Kate are having fun in Aruba, but Steven drops the second set of books under the bed.

Sharon, Carol, Diane, and Andrea arrive in Aruba and go to The Soprano’s Bar. Andrea kicks a girl off stage and sings Karaoke, Sharon tries to stop her, but Andrea ends with holding up a picture of Steven and asking if anyone has seen him.

Mini-Movie 4 – Hero Forms a New Plan

A man at the Bar meets them outside and tells them he just sold his house to Steven.

Sharon and the girls go to the house, peeks inside and sees Steven and Kate kissing.

Andrea and Carol find ATV’s in the backyard and ride them through the front door, Sharon and Diane follow behind them.

Sharon attacks Steven, Kate hits Sharon, and Carol pulls Kate’s hair.

Andrea runs out from the kitchen and clobbers Steven over the head with a skillet leaving him unconscious.

Diane is upstairs and finds the second set of books under the bed. They all run out.

Mini-Movie 5 – Hero Retreats & The Antagonism Prevails

Sharon, Diane, Carol, and Andrea check in at the hotel. Diane and Sharon look over the second set of books.

Sharon can’t take it and takes a walk on the beach, has a talk with God.

Sharon finds a bar along the way, meets James the bartender who is studying to be a CPA.

James is quite younger than her and very handsome, but they have somethings in common, Accounting.

Sharon and James go out on a date to a restaurant. Carol, Diane, and Andrea follow them spying to make sure Sharon is ok. James gives Sharon some Godly wisdom and she confides in him her recent events in life. Sharon helps James study for the exam and invites him back to the hotel.

Mini-Movie 6 – Hero’s Bigger, Better Plan!

The girls pack their bags and go to the airport, but they notice their being followed.

They make a turn and the follower turns too. They run into the bathroom and come up with a plan.

They come out with a disguise on and the follower never notice them. They make it on the airplane, but something about him is familiar to Sharon.

Sharon remembers who the follower is. The FBI Agent who came to the house and arrested her.

Diane and Sharon make a plan.

Mini-Movie 7 – Crisis & Climax

James has passed his CPA Exam and is now on the airplane to LA for a job interview and to visit Sharon.

Sharon goes to see Agent Riggs and plants cameras in his office.

Agent Riggs calls Steven to tell him she is here. When he comes back to his office Sharon is gone.

Sharon and Diane watch them on camera.

Steven tells Riggs Sharon has to be killed, meet him at the house.

Sharon and the Girls booby trap the house.

Riggs and Steven come to the house and gets a shock from grabbing the handle. They walk around back and get hit with a rakes, trip wire and paint spilled on them.

James rings the doorbell. Steven answers and lets him inside. Riggs grabs him and ties him up.

Mini-Movie 8 – New Status Quo

Steven calls out Sharon and they talk.

Diane and Carol sneak into the living room while Andrea sneaks into the kitchen.

Diane Karate chops Agent Riggs knocking the gun on the floor, Carol and Steven struggle for the gun. Steven grabs the gun and shoots Sharon. Andrea runs from the kitchen with a skillet and hits Steven over the head. Sharon falls down the stairs and reveals a bullet proof vest. The police come and arrest the men.

Sharon has her day in court and the judge dismisses all charges against her, the girls walk out together.

7. How are the “Old Ways” Challenged?

Old Ways: Teenage girls should start developing big breast.

Challenge: Andrea, “Don’t worry you’ll get these someday”

Old Ways: Woman need to entice men by wearing sexy lingerie

Challenge: Sharon tells the girls “I don’t wear that”

Old Ways: The Police do what ever they want to do.

Challenge: The police steal her money, but accuse her of stealing.

Old Ways: Sharon believes her husband would never hurt her.

Challenge: Sharon finds out about “Second set of books” and now believes he can hurt her.

Old Ways: Her mother says, “He’s just like your father”

Challenge: Sharon gets angry quietly.

Old Ways: Andrea is afraid of flying

Challenge: Statistics show you’re likely to die in a car crash.

Old Ways: White people can’t sing

Challenge: Andrea grabs the Microphone from the White woman and sings.

Old Ways: People only talk to God when their in trouble

Challenge: God always listens and Sharon gets her answer.

Old Ways: When is the correct time to date after leaving someone?

Challenge: When your husband did you wrong you have no obligations to him, it’s time to live for you.

Old Ways: Your new man could be a killer.

Challenge: The girls say, “Let’s follow them, to make sure he doesn’t hurt her”

Old Ways: Only people with kids are responsible people.

Challenge: Consider the consequences of your own actions.

Old Ways: Blonde’s have more fun.

Challenge: Andrea says, “I’m enjoying the attention”.

B. Challenge by Counterexample:

Counterexample #1. Challenge: Teen age girls in front of Victoria Secret window looks at the new Push-up Bra.

Counterexample: Sharon says, “ It’s not your outside appearance that matters it’s what’s on the inside that counts”.

Counterexample #2. Challenge: Sharon believes Steven would never hurt her, he loves her.

Counterexample: Carol says, “When a person truly loves you they treat you like they want to be treated, with honer and respect. This (points to the file) is none of that.”

Counterexample #3. Challenge: Sharon’s mother tells her Steven is “Just like your father”.

Counterexample: Sharon in a Voice Over, “She’s right, how could I have trusted him after he pretends to love me so much and lies about everything that he’s doing behind my back.

Sharon cries and gets on her knees. “Dear God, how could I have been so blind, but I know I came into this world not having an example from my father how a man should love me, treat me right, or respect me. I know that its not your plan for me, so now I’m going to trust You and look inside of me for the answers”.

Counterexample #4. Challenge: Andrea snatches the microphone from a Caucasian lady singing Karaoke.

Counterexample: Diane says, “ Oh my God. I’m so embarrassed. Would you look at this heifer. Does she think just because she’s Black she can sing better? I got two words for her “Tina Marie”.

Counterexample #5. Challenge: Is it too soon to Date after Steven?

Counterexample: Sharon says, “ I asked God to help me and BAM I meet James. I think it’s a sign. Laugh if you want, but he’s tall, dark, and handsome. But, more than that I asked for someone who could put some joy into my heart right now. Someone that can take my mind off Steven and I can help and be of service too.

C. Challenge by “Should Work, But Doesn’t”:

1. Old Way: Sharon buys a sexy lingerie to entice her husband Steven on their 25 Wedding Anniversary.

Challenge: But it doesn’t work because Steven never comes home that night.

2. Old Way: Steven and Sharon are on their date night and the #1 rule is no business during the date.

Challenge: Steven’s secretary, Kate (whom he’s having an affair with) enters the restaurant with papers for him to sign. He excuses himself and the two kiss in the backroom but, it doesn’t work because they were noticed by an employee. Also, Sharon noticed lipstick on his collar, but ignores it.

3. Old Way: Things keep disappearing in Sharon’s office like the Horowitz file.

Challenge: Sharon leaves her office and Kate tries to sneak past Sharon’s secretary Janea with the file in hand, but it doesn’t work because Janea catches her.

4. Old Way: Sharon believes her husband would never hurt her.

Challenge: But it doesn’t work because Sharon flashbacks thinking about all the good times her and Steven had together.

5. Old Way: Andrea has a fear of flying and she’s on the airplane.

Challenge: Andrea starts to read information about airplane crash statistics and finds out a car crash is more likely, but it doesn’t work when the airplane goes bump in the air.

D. Challenge through Living Metaphor:

1. Old Way: Teen age girls stand in front of Victoria Secret window looking at the New Push Up Bra.

Living metaphor: Halle Berry is on a TV screen next door giving an interview saying, “It’s a lot of pressure to get plastic surgery, but I stand my ground. I believe aging is natural…”

2. Old Way: Sharon thinks the Police Department stole her money after leaving the jail and returning her belongings.

Living metaphor: After getting to the car, Sharon reaches into her pants pocket and pulls out her money.

3. Old Way: Sharon’s mother tells her Steven is “Just like your father, who abandon you”.

Living metaphor: Carol’s husband who is a wonderful man and father enters the room and tells Sharon what he knows about Steven.

4. Old Way: Andrea snatches the Karaoke microphone from a Caucasian lady and sings.

Living metaphor: Christina Aguilera walks on stage and snatches the microphone from Andrea and blows the audience away.

5. Old Way: Sharon is depressed and takes a walk on the beach talking to God.

Living metaphor: Sharon drops to her knees crying and an Angel appears before her giving her encouragement.

8. PRESENT INSIGHTS OF THE NEW WAYS THROUGH PROFOUND MOMENTS

Action delivers insight:

1. New Ways/Insights: Live life for yourself, not for the pleasing of others.

Action: Sharon realizes she’s been living her life for others and takes a chance on a younger man and goes on a date with him.

2. New Ways/Insights: Look inside yourself, find your inner-being and allow it to guide you through all things.

Action: Sharon learns the art of Meditating, and begins to meditate ritually.

3. New Ways/Insights: Know how valuable you are and know your worth.

Action: Sharon gets up every morning, looks in the mirror and tells her self “I am beautiful, no matter what” then she listens to Mary J Blige song “Good Morning Gorgeous”.

4. New Ways/Insights: We are vibrational beings first, then we feel. Always strive to feel happy.

Action: Sharon, Carol, Andrea, and Diane go on a horseback riding trip.

5. New Ways/Insights: Trust Yourself.

Action: Sharon makes a list of all the things she likes about herself. Carol, Andrea, and Diane tell her positive things about herself. Sharon visualizes her future in a dream. Sharon makes a list of all her successes. Sharon visualizes things going well when she booby traps the house for the FBI agent and Steven.

B. Conflict delivers insight:

1. Insight: Don’t make a man the only source of your happiness. Learn to get it within yourself first.

Conflict: A fight.

Ways to Deliver: Sharon made Steven the center of her world then she catches him with his mistress in Aruba.

2. Insight: A secret is revealed.

Conflict: An argument.

Ways to Deliver: Carol tells Sharon and the girls, her husband David has cheated in the past.

3. Insight: Team work makes the Dream work.

Conflict: Physical confrontation.

Ways to Deliver: Sharon and the Girls confront Steven and his mistress face to face.

4. Insight: Find out what makes you special and Do It.

Conflict: Argument.

Ways to Deliver: Andrea and Carol argue about responsibility, they all end up talking about their careers and guide Andrea to find hers.

5. Insight: Too much competition could mean you are self absorbed.

Conflict: Competition.

Ways to Deliver: Steven gets jealous of Sharon winning awards for her work, so he steals from the company and makes her the fall guy.

C. Irony delivers insight:

1. Insight: Don’t make a man the only source of your happiness.

Irony Opposites (A): Sharon makes Steven the center of her world gives him a lot of attention, then she catches him cheating on her.

(B) Sharon doesn’t make Steven the center of her world gives him no attention, then he cheats on her.

2. Insight: Team work makes the Dream work.

Irony Opposites (A): Sharon and The Girls confront Steven and his mistress in Aruba, working together and win the fight.

(B) Sharon and The Girls confront Steven and his mistress in Aruba, don’t work together and Steven wins the fight.

3. Insight: Find out what makes you special and Do It.

Irony Opposites (A): Andrea and Carol argue about responsibility.

(B) Andrea and Carol don’t argue about responsibility.

4. Insight: Too much competition can mean you’re self-absorb.

Irony Opposites (A): Steven gets jealous of Sharon winning Awards, steals from the company and makes her the fall guy.

(B) Steven doesn’t get jealous of Sharon winning Awards, doesn’t steal from the company.

5. Insight: Grow up and be independent.

Irony Opposites (A): Steven lives at his girlfriends moms house.

(B) Steven tells his friend grow up and stop living at his moms house, live on his own.

9. PROFOUND DIALOGUE

5 most emotional moments:

1. Sharon’s gratitude for Steven being in her life: the one person who has always believed in me since day one. You saw greatness in me I didn’t know was there. You stuck by me reminding me everyday how gorgeous I am, how intelligent I am, and telling me I can do anything.

2. Andrea tells a teen age girl to get plastic surgery one day: Sharon plays an Interview Halle Berry says, Plastic surgery is like crack that people are trying to push on you. Aging is natural, I want to always look like myself, even if it’s an older version of myself.

3. Sharon is angry about being arrested for Embezzlement: I just got an award for best Accountant of the Year, do you honestly think I would steal from my clients?

4. Sharon is afraid after hearing Steven wants to kill her: after all we’ve been through together. He knows my mom and everything about me. He thinks I’m supposed to let that happen?

5. Sharon being brave and confronted by Steven: you can’t kill me because the old me is already dead. I gave you everything and all you did was take, take, take from me. Now it’s my turn to take back what belongs to me. My Life!

Builds Meaning with Dialogue

3 Lines from my script:

Line 1 : You are my rock and the reason I can do what I do so well.

Arc: Sharon tells Steven at her acceptance speech for Accountant of the Year Award.

Sharon tells her girlfriends after the fight Steven and his mistress and win.

Sharon tells Steven at a confrontation when he’s about to shoot her. “You were my rock and the reason I can do what I do so well” (when she set booby traps for him in the house).

Line 2: Steven would never do something like this to me.

Arc: Sharon tells her girlfriends after they bail her out of jail and suspect out he’s the reason she was arrested.

After finding the evidence Steven set Sharon up Diane says it sarcastically to herself.

Sharon meets a great younger guy who wines and dines her and says, “Steven would never do something like this to me” to herself.

Line 3: I’m taking back what belongs to me.

Arc. Sharon decides to go after Steven and take back her life.

After finding Steven in Aruba and confronts him.

When Sharon is confronted by Steven who wants to kill her she tells him “I forgive you”.

10. How Do You Leave Us With A Profound Ending?

Profound Truth? “Know your value and self-worth”. After being taken advantage of in the worse possible way by her husband. Sharon realizes she must put herself first in order to survive. In her showdown with her husband, Sharon takes back her power he attempts to kill her by shooting her, but she wears her bullet proof vest and survives. </div>

The Change? Sharon has shown a vast improvement. From a naive, shy, not believing her husband” can do no wrong” person, to a “I can handle my own business” woman with authority and conviction.

Payoffs? Does Sharon start to believe her husband is capable of hurting her?

Does Sharon know Steven is sending money to Aruba?

Does Sharon know he embezzled all the Accounting firms funds?

Does Sharon know Steven’s secretary is apart of the Aruba plan and they’ve been cheating on her for a long time?

Does Sharon know that the FBI agent is crooked?

Does Sharon know there are better men out there like James?

Does Sharon know her name will be cleared?

Surprising? The final scene is surprising, Sharon, Diane, Carol, and Andrea are waiting for Steven and Agent Riggs to show up at the house. When they arrive lots of booby traps have been set for them which they fall into. James shows up and rings the doorbell, Steven invites him in and Agent Riggs ties him up. In an attempt to get Sharon out of hiding, she does for James sake. Diane, Carol and Andrea intercede and spoil their plans, but Steven manages to shoot Sharon in the chest. Thanks to her Bullet Proof Vest she was wearing she’s alive.

Parting Image/Line? The Girls, Sharon’s mother, and James are all in the court room. Sharon is on trial with Carol as her lawyer. Carol ask the Judge to dismiss the charges against Sharon based on the second set of books Steven made. The Judge grants the request and Sharon is set free. The Girls walk onto the courthouse steps and Sharon says, “There’s nothing she can’t do as long as she has her Girls”. She puts her fist in the air and the Girls raise their fist too. All at the same time they say, “Amen”.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Height of the Emotion

Assignment # 1

What I learned doing this assignment is how deep the dialogue can become when you think about the essence of the meaning and brainstorm a new idea.

5 most emotional moments:

1. Sharon’s gratitude for Steven being in her life: the one person who has always believed in me since day one. You saw greatness in me I didn’t know was there. You stuck by me reminding me everyday how gorgeous I am, how intelligent I am, and telling me I can do anything.

2. Andrea tells a teen age girl to get plastic surgery one day: Sharon plays an Interview Halle Berry says, “Plastic surgery is like crack that people are trying to push on you. Aging is natural, I want to always look like myself, even if it’s an older version of myself.”

3. Sharon is angry about being arrested for Embezzlement: I just got an award for best Accountant of the Year, do you honestly think I would steal from my clients?

4. Sharon is afraid after hearing Steven wants to kill her: after all we’ve been through together. He knows my mom and everything about me. He thinks I’m supposed to let that happen?

5. Sharon being brave and confronted by Steven: you can’t kill me because the old me is already dead. I gave you everything and all you did was take, take, take from me. Now it’s my turn to take back what belongs to me. My Life!

Assignment #2

Karen Tolliver Builds Meaning with Dialogue

What I learned doing this assignment is putting an arc to an insightful moment is genius. Its the best tool I have learned so far.

3 Lines from my script:

Line 1 : You are my rock and the reason I can do what I do so well.

Arc: Sharon tells Steven at her acceptance speech for Accountant of the Year Award.

Sharon tells her girlfriends after the fight Steven and his mistress and win.

Sharon tells Steven at a confrontation when he’s about to shoot her. “You were my rock and the reason I can do what I do so well” (when she set booby traps for him in the house).

Line 2: Steven would never do something like this to me.

Arc: Sharon tells her girlfriends after they bail her out of jail and suspect he’s the reason she was arrested.

After finding the evidence that Steven set Sharon up, Diane says it sarcastically to herself.

Sharon meets a great younger guy who wines and dines her and says, “Steven would never do something like this to me” to herself.

Line 3: I’m taking back what belongs to me.

Arc. Sharon decides to go after Steven and take back her life.

After finding Steven in Aruba and confronts him.

When Sharon is confronted by Steven who wants to kill her she tells him.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Delivers Irony!

What I learned doing this assignment is having an Insight and finding two opposites to deliver the Irony was easier than I thought. I love the Wow factor it gives your film and makes an audience scratch their heads.

1. Insight: Don’t make a man the only source of your happiness.

Irony Opposites (A): Sharon makes Steven the center of her world gives him a lot of attention, then she catches him cheating on her.

(B) Sharon doesn’t make Steven the center of her world gives him no attention, then he cheats on her.

2. Insight: Team work makes the Dream work.

Irony Opposites (A): Sharon and The Girls confront Steven and his mistress in Aruba, working together and win the fight.

(B) Sharon and The Girls confront Steven and his mistress in Aruba, don’t work together and Steven wins the fight.

3. Insight: Find out what makes you special and Do It.

Irony Opposites (A): Andrea and Carol argue about responsibility.

(B) Andrea and Carol don’t argue about responsibility.

4. Insight: Too much competition can mean you’re self-absorb.

Irony Opposites (A): Steven gets jealous of Sharon winning Awards, steals from the company and makes her the fall guy.

(B) Steven doesn’t get jealous of Sharon winning Awards, doesn’t steal from the company.

5. Insight: Grow up and be independent.

Irony Opposites (A): Steven lives at his girlfriends moms house.

(B) Steven tells his friend grow up and stop living at his moms house, live on his own.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Delivers Insights Through Conflict

What I learned doing this assignment is once again I’m floored at the way to get my insights across to an audience. I didn’t know it was done so intentionally in a project. Thank you.

1. Insight: Don’t make a man the only source of your happiness. Learn to get it within yourself first.

Conflict: A fight.

Ways to Deliver: Sharon made Steven the center of her world then she catches him with his mistress in Aruba.

2. Insight: A secret is revealed.

Conflict: An argument.

Ways to Deliver: Carol tells Sharon and the girls, her husband David has cheated in the past.

3. Insight: Team work makes the Dream work.

Conflict: Physical confrontation.

Ways to Deliver: Sharon and the Girls confront Steven and his mistress face to face.

4. Insight: Find out what makes you special and Do It.

Conflict: Argument.

Ways to Deliver: Andrea and Carol argue about responsibility, they all end up talking about their careers and guide Andrea to find hers.

5. Insight: Too much competition could mean you’re self absorbed.

Conflict: Competition.

Ways to Deliver: Steven gets jealous of Sharon winning awards for her work, so he steals from the company and makes her the fall guy.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Seabiscuit Analysis

What I learned doing this assignment is finding the Profound moments in this film connected the dots about the insightful ending. I’ve watched this movie before and to be honest it was boring to me. This time I could see the impact and felt it, which gave the ending much more meaning.

Profound Moments:

1. Seeing Seabiscuit fighting three men and then Smith, the trainer looks over and sees Red, a jockey fighting four men. That was profound to me because it was a direct correlation the two are Destin for each other.

2. When Charles Howard ask Red “Son, what are you so mad at?” That was profound to me because it explains why Red always got into fights and lost everyone of them, yet something kept driving him to keep going. It was the same for Seabiscuit, all the abuse he took, yet he kept going and going.

3. The quotes, “Though he be little, he’s fierce” (Shakespeare), “Sometimes, someone needs a second chance”, “It’s not in his feet, it’s in his heart” are all testament to how strong Seabiscuit’s heart was. Although he was a little horse he could out run the biggest and the best because of how much heart he had.

4. Both Red and Seabiscuit have broken legs, yet they pushed each other to regain their strength and race again makes it a profound moment to me.

5. The last profound dialogue in the film “Everyone thinks we found this broken down horse and fixed him, but he fixed us, everyone of us.” This is a profound moment because it sums up the whole story just incase you missed it.

Assignment 2

Karen Tolliver Turns Insights Into Action

What I learned doing this assignment is how to turn a movie into a great film. I’ve always had a list of insights I wanted my films to have, but I didn’t know how to incorporate them into the film and now I do. Thanks again ScreenwritingU.

1. New Ways/Insights: Live life for yourself, not for the pleasing of others.

Action: Sharon realizes she’s been living her life for others and takes a chance on a younger man and goes on a date with him.

2. New Ways/Insights: Look inside yourself, find your inner-being and allow it to guide you through all things.

Action: Sharon learns the art of Meditating, and begins to meditate ritually.

3. New Ways/Insights: Know how valuable you are and know your worth.

Action: Sharon gets up every morning, looks in the mirror and tells her self “I am beautiful, no matter what” then she listens to Mary J Blige song “Good Morning Gorgeous”.

4. New Ways/Insights: We are vibrational beings first, then we feel. Always strive to feel happy.

Action: Sharon, Carol, Andrea, and Diane go on a horseback riding trip.

5. New Ways/Insights: Trust Yourself.

Action: Sharon makes a list of all the things she likes about herself. Carol, Andrea, and Diane tell her positive things about herself. Sharon visualizes her future in a dream. Sharon makes a list of all her successes. Sharon visualizes things going well when she booby traps the house for the FBI agent and Steven.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Living Metaphors

What I learned doing this assignment is I can take any old way and challenge it, by creating a new living metaphor. Thinking the opposite of the old way and creating a physical or mental new way of looking at it can bring about an understanding and change the situation with a stroke of a pen. Great!!

Should Work, But Doesn’t…

1. Old Way: Sharon buys a sexy lingerie to entice her husband Steven on their 25 Wedding Anniversary.

Challenge: But it doesn’t work because Steven never comes home that night.

2. Old Way: Steven and Sharon are on their date night and the #1 rule is no business during the date.

Challenge: Steven’s secretary, Kate (whom he’s having an affair with) enters the restaurant with papers for him to sign. He excuses himself and the two kiss in the backroom but, it doesn’t work because they were noticed by an employee. Also, Sharon noticed lipstick on his collar, but ignores it.

3. Old Way: Things keep disappearing in Sharon’s office like the Horowitz file.

Challenge: Sharon leaves her office and Kate tries to sneak past Sharon’s secretary Janea with the file in hand, but it doesn’t work because Janea catches her.

4. Old Way: Sharon believes her husband would never hurt her.

Challenge: But it doesn’t work because Sharon flashbacks thinking about all the good times her and Steven had together.

5. Old Way: Andrea has a fear of flying and she’s on the airplane.

Challenge: Andrea starts to read information about airplane crash statistics and finds out a car crash is more likely, but it doesn’t work when the airplane goes bump in the air.

Living Metaphors

1. Old Way: Teen age girls stand in front of Victoria Secret window looking at the New Push Up Bra.

Living metaphor: Halle Berry is on a TV screen next door giving an interview saying, “It’s a lot of pressure to get plastic surgery, but I stand my ground. I believe aging is natural…”

2. Old Way: Sharon thinks the Police Department stole her money after leaving the jail and returning her belongings.

Living metaphor: After getting to the car, Sharon reaches into her pants pocket and pulls out her money.

3. Old Way: Sharon’s mother tells her Steven is “Just like your father, who abandon you”.

Living metaphor: Carol’s husband who is a wonderful man and father enters the room and tells Sharon what he knows about Steven.

4. Old Way: Andrea snatches the Karaoke microphone from a Caucasian lady and sings.

Living metaphor: Christina Aguilera walks on stage and snatches the microphone from Andrea and blows the audience away.

5. Old Way: Sharon is depressed and takes a walk on the beach talking to God.

Living metaphor: Sharon drops to her knees crying and an Angel appears before her giving her encouragement.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Counterexamples

What I learned doing this assignment is there are several ways to challenge the old ways and make the film more interesting to the audience. Again, I am amazed at the road my film is taking by adding counterexamples to it.

Counterexample #1. Challenge: Teen age girls in front of Victoria Secret window look at the new Push-up Bra.

Counterexample: Sharon says, “ It’s not your outside appearance that matters it’s what’s on the inside that counts”.

Counterexample #2. Challenge: Sharon believes Steven would never hurt her, he loves her.

Counterexample: Carol says, “When a person truly loves you they treat you like they want to be treated, with honer and respect. This (points to the file) is none of that.”

Counterexample #3. Challenge: Sharon’s mother tells her Steven is “Just like your father”.

Counterexample: Sharon in a Voice Over, “She’s right, how could I have trusted him after he pretends to love me so much and lies about everything that he’s doing behind my back.

Sharon cries and gets on her knees. “Dear God, how could I have been so blind, but I know I came into this world not having an example from my father how a man should love me, treat me right, or respect me. I know that its not your plan for me, so now I’m going to trust You and look inside of me for the answers”.

Counterexample #4. Challenge: Andrea snatches the microphone from a Caucasian lady singing Karaoke.

Counterexample: Diane says, “ Oh my God. I’m so embarrassed. Would you look at this heifer. Does she think just because she’s Black she can sing better? I got two words for her “Tina Marie”.

Counterexample #5. Challenge: Is it too soon to Date after Steven?

Counterexample: Sharon says, “ I asked God to help me and BAM I meet James. I think it’s a sign. Laugh if you want, but he’s tall, dark, and handsome. But, more than that I asked for someone who could put some joy into my heart right now. Someone that can take my mind off Steven and I can help and be of service too.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver 12 Angry Men Analysis

What I learned doing this assignment is how the movie challenged every one of the Old Way ideas that they had. I have watched this movie before and loved it because of the challenges to old ways they delivered, however I didn’t know it was deliberate. It feels like a natural way of answering a question, I guess they did a beautiful job of writing this film.

Old Ways: Assumption of guilt: “It’s an open and shut case”

Challenge: “I guess their entitled”

Old Ways: Not caring: “I’d slap these young kids down”

Challenge: He changed the subject and said, “Let’s get started”

Old Ways: Just want it to be over: “We can get out quick, lets vote now”

Challenge: I got tickets to a baseball game.

Old Ways: Just want this over: “Just because I voted fast, I still think he’s guilty”

Challenge: “Let’s talk about it first, we can’t decide in 5 minutes. Let’s take an hour”.

Old Ways: Not caring and prejudice: “He got a fair trial, what do you think it cost?”

Challenge: Juror says, “Only an ignorant man can believe that.”

Old Ways: Prejudice: “I’ve lived among them all my life you can’t believe a word they say”

Challenge: Juror says, “Do you think you were born with a monopoly on the truth?”

Old Ways: Assuming the evidence is not questionable: There can only be 1 one-of-a-kind knife

Challenge: Juror pulls out a knife just like it.

Old Ways: Assuming the witnesses were accurate: The woman who eye witnessed it wore glasses.

Challenge: She did not wear her glasses during the crime.

Old Ways: assuming the Defense Attorney did his job: The old man said it took him 15 seconds to walk to the front door.

Challenge: They got a diagram of the apartment and counted out the time it would actually take 41 seconds.

Assignment #2

Karen Tolliver Old Ways Challenge Chart

What I learned doing this assignment is I do have Old Ways in my film that I never noticed before. I didn’t think I was going to find any in my film, but when I exam it close you can see where they are. Thanks ScreenwritingU for helping to improve my film and make it profound.

Old Ways: Teenage girls should start developing big breast.

Challenge: Andrea, “Don’t worry you’ll get these someday”

Old Ways: Woman need to entice men by wearing sexy lingerie

Challenge: Sharon tells the girls “I don’t wear that”

Old Ways: The Police do what ever they want to do.

Challenge: The police steal her money, but accuse her of stealing.

Old Ways: Sharon believes her husband would never hurt her.

Challenge: Sharon finds out about “Second set of books” and now believes he can hurt her.

Old Ways: Her mother says, “He’s just like your father”

Challenge: Sharon gets angry quietly.

Old Ways: Andrea is afraid of flying

Challenge: Statistics show you’re likely to die in a car crash.

Old Ways: White people can’t sing

Challenge: Andrea grabs the Microphone from the White woman and sings.

Old Ways: People only talk to God when their in trouble

Challenge: God always listens and Sharon gets her answer.

Old Ways: When is the correct time to date after leaving someone?

Challenge: When your husband did you wrong you have no obligations to him, it’s time to live for you.

Old Ways: Your new man could be a killer.

Challenge: The girls say, “Let’s follow them, to make sure he doesn’t hurt her”

Old Ways: Only people with kids are responsible people.

Challenge: Consider the consequences of your own actions.

Old Ways: Blonde’s have more fun.

Challenge: Andrea says, “I’m enjoying the attention”.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Profound Ending

What I learned doing this assignment is the ending doesn’t start at the ending. I need to plant setups and profound moments along the way in order to make the ending payoff.

A. Profound Truth? “Know your value and self-worth”. After being taken advantage of in the worse possible way by her husband. Sharon realizes she must put herself first in order to survive. In her showdown with her husband, Sharon takes back her power he attempts to kill her by shooting her, but she wears her bullet proof vest and survives.

B. The Change? Sharon has shown a vast improvement. From a naive, shy, not believing her husband can do no wrong person, to a “I can handle my own business” woman with authority and conviction.

C. Payoffs? Does Sharon start to believe her husband is capable of hurting her? Does Sharon know Steven is sending money to Aruba? Does Sharon know he embezzled all the Accounting firms funds? Does Sharon know Steven’s secretary is apart of the Aruba plan and they’ve been cheating on her for a long time? Does Sharon know that the FBI agent is crooked? Does Sharon know there are better men out there like James? Does Sharon know her name will be cleared? D. Surprising? The final scene is surprising, Sharon, Diane, Carol, and Andrea are waiting for Steven and Agent Riggs to show up at the house. When they arrive lots of booby traps have been set for them which they fall into. James shows up and rings the doorbell, Steven invites him in and Agent Riggs ties him up. In an attempt to get Sharon out of hiding, she does for James sake. Diane, Carol and Andrea intercede and spoil their plans, but Steven manages to shoot Sharon in the chest. Thanks to her Bullet Proof Vest she was wearing she’s alive.

E. Parting Image/Line? The Girls, Sharon’s mother, and James are all in the court room. Sharon is on trial with Carol as her lawyer. Carol ask the Judge to dismiss the charges against Sharon based on the second set of books Steven made. The Judge grants the request and Sharon is set free. The Girls walk onto the courthouse steps and Sharon says, “There’s nothing she can’t do as long as she has her Girls”. She puts her fist in the air and the Girls raise their fist too. All at the same time they say, “Amen”.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Connection with Audience

What I learned doing this assignment is how much an actual film is structured. I thought the connection to a character came natural based on the actions of that Character. Now I realize all of the connections I feel for a Character was deliberately built into the film. What a way to manipulate a film and have an opportunity to make it turn out great.

Sharon Anderson:

A. Relatability: Through a flashback of Sharon’s childhood showing that her father left the home when she was two years old. She grew up without him around.

B. Intrigue: Sharon experiences several times watching the bank reconciliations rolling down and disappear while on her computer.

C. Empathy: Sharon getting arrested by the FBI for embezzlement.

D. Likability: Sharon helps Andrea with her business. Also she takes care of her pet Cocker Spaniel.

Andrea Taylor:

A. Relatability: A millennial social media Influencer Andrea raises awareness of Lupus the disease her sister died of ten years ago.

B. Intrigue: Andrea quits her Computer tech job with a major company to become a Social Media Influencer.

C. Empathy: Andrea has a fear of flying. When the girls must travel to Aruba Andrea almost doesn’t make the trip because of her fear.

D. Likability: Andrea always has Sharon’s back and speaks her mind a lot of times.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Transformational Structure Day 6

What I learned doing this assignment is how to structure my film into points that will wow an audience. I know the Hero’s Journey method, but I have not completed the Mini Movie Method before. It’s structured in a way that guarantees the major components will match up and create the changes necessary for a profound movie.

Transformational Logline: A naive Accountant, discovers her cheating husband has embezzled the firms funds. She gathers her Girls Crew and bust him and the crooked FBI agent in the act. Clears her name and gets her life back

Mini- Movie Structure

Mini-Movie 1 – Status Quo and Call to Adventure

The film starts with Sharon and Steven going on a Date Night where they agree no discussing business. Next Sharon, Steven, Carol, Diane, and Andrea go to an Award Dinner where Sharon wins Accountant of the Year.

Sharon prepares for a special Anniversary dinner with Chef at their home.

Sharon and her secretary Janea discover some files are missing.

Steven withdraws money from the bank and wires it to his account in Aruba.

Sharon and the girls go to Victoria Secret to buy sexy lingerie for the big night.

Steven sends “Fake” tax returns to the IRS and practice a “quitting scene” with his secretary Kate. They wait for Sharon to come out of her office, and they perform.

Steven is a “No Show” at the Anniversary dinner.

The FBI swarms the house and arrest Sharon for embezzlement.

Transformational Character: Sharon Anderson

Old Ways: Naïve, trusting the wrong man

Emotional Gradient: Forced Change- Denial

Challenge: She’s been arrested and sent to jail.

Weaknesses: Fear of unknown, and disbelief.

Mini-Movie 2 – Locked Into Conflict

Carol bails Sharon out of jail

Diane tells Sharon and Carol, Steven has second set of Books, Sharon denies it.

Andrea makes soup for Sharon, and Sharon’s mom tells her “He’s just like your father” Sharon is infuriated.

Change Agent: Carol Ridgeway, tells Sharon she suspected Steven.

Old Ways: poor choice of men pushed to the limit.

Emotional Gradient of Anger

Challenge: Everyone keeps telling her Steven is no good

Weakness: Sharon gets quiet.

Mini-Movie 3 – Hero Tries to Solve Problem – But Fails.

Sharon decides to get Steven in Aruba.

Carol’s husband David says Steven is buying property in Aruba.

Andrea has a fear of flying.

Steven and Kate are having fun in Aruba, but Steven drops the second set of books under the bed.

Sharon, Carol, Diane, and Andrea arrive in Aruba and go to The Soprano’s Bar. Andrea kicks a girl off stage and sings Karaoke, Sharon tries to stop her, but Andrea ends with holding up a picture of Steven and asking if anyone has seen him.

Vision: Closer to catching Steven and clearing her name.

Emotion Gradient: Sharon begins to bargain in finding Steven

The betraying character: Andrea Taylor looses it on the airplane.

Challenge: Can she find Steven?

Mini-Movie 4 – Hero Forms a New Plan

A man at the Bar meets them outside and tells them he just sold his house to Steven.

Sharon and the girls go to the house, peeks inside and sees Steven and Kate kissing.

Andrea and Carol find ATV’s in the backyard and ride them through the front door, Sharon and Diane follow behind them.

Sharon attacks Steven, Kate hits Sharon, and Carol pulls Kate’s hair.

Andrea runs out from the kitchen and clobbers Steven over the head with a skillet leaving him unconscious.

Diane is upstairs and finds the second set of books under the bed. They all run out.

New Ways: Sharon sees the light, and recognize the bad in Steven

Challenge: How to get help clearing her name.

Weakness: What now?

Mini-Movie 5 – Hero Retreats & The Antagonism Prevails

Sharon, Diane, Carol, and Andrea check in at the hotel. Diane and Sharon look over the second set of books.

Sharon can’t take it and takes a walk on the beach, has a talk with God.

Sharon finds a bar along the way, meets James the bartender who is studying to be a CPA.

James is quite younger than her and very handsome, but they have somethings in common, Accounting.

Sharon and James go out on a date to a restaurant. Carol, Diane, and Andrea follow them spying to make sure Sharon is ok. James gives Sharon some Godly wisdom and she confides in him her recent events in life. Sharon helps James study for the exam and invites him back to the hotel.

Emotional Gradient: Depression sets in until she finds James and confesses.

New Ways: Sharon is becoming clear about her feelings for Steven.

Challenge: Loving this new relationship, but can she be with a younger man

Weakness: Mad at Steven

Mini-Movie 6 – Hero’s Bigger, Better Plan!

The girls pack their bags and go to the airport, but they notice their being followed.

They make a turn and the follower turns too. They run into the bathroom and come up with a plan.

They come out with a disguise on and the follower never notice them. They make it on the airplane, but something about him is familiar to Sharon.

Sharon remembers who the follower is. The FBI Agent who came to the house and arrested her.

Diane and Sharon make a plan.

Challenge: How to get the proof into the right hands.

Weakness: Don’t want to trust the wrong person anymore.

Mini-Movie 7 – Crisis & Climax

James has passed his CPA Exam and is now on the airplane to LA for a job interview and to visit Sharon.

Sharon goes to see Agent Riggs and plants cameras in his office.

Agent Riggs calls Steven to tell him she is here. When he comes back to his office Sharon is gone.

Sharon and Diane watch them on camera.

Steven tells Riggs Sharon has to be killed, meet him at the house.

Sharon and the Girls booby trap the house.

Riggs and Steven come to the house and gets a shock from grabbing the handle. They walk around back and get hit with a rakes, trip wire and paint spilled on them.

James rings the doorbell. Steven answers and lets him inside. Riggs grabs him and ties him up.

New Ways: Sharon has discovered peace within herself.

Vision: Closer to reality of clearing her name.

Challenge: How to save James

Weakness: refuses to lose.

Mini-Movie 8 – New Status Quo

Steven calls out Sharon and they talk.

Diane and Carol sneak into the living room while Andrea sneaks into the kitchen.

Diane Karate chops Agent Riggs knocking the gun on the floor, Carol grabs the gun. Andrea runs from the kitchen with a skillet and hits Steven over the head. The police come and arrest the men.

Sharon has her day in court and the judge dismisses all charges against her, the girls walk out together.

New Way: Sharon has complete changed and has inner peace.

Profound truth: Live life for yourself and not the pleasing of others.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Three Gradients

What I learned doing this assignment is how to include pieces of the story that will make my movie pop.

Emotional Gradient: Forced Change

1. A. Emotion: Denial

B. Action: Sharon refuses to believe Steven had anything to do with the embezzlement of their Accounting Firm.

C. Challenge: Released from jail and confronted with evidence of Steven’s second set of books. Weakness: Naive, denialist, refuses to believe it.

2. A. Emotion: Anger

B. Action: Her mother tells her Steven is just like her father.

C. Challenge: Everyone tells her Steven is no good. Weakness: Gets quiet.

3. A. Emotion: Bargaining

B. Action: Sharon and “The Crew” travel to Aruba to catch Steven.

C. Challenge: Sharon beats up Steven. Weakness: Out of control, can’t change what happened.

4. A. Emotion: Depression

B. Action: Sharon takes a walk on the beach alone.

C. Challenge: Sharon has a talk with God. Weakness: Doesn’t know what to do now.

5. A. Emotion: Acceptance

B. Action: Sharon “Home Alone” Steven and the FBI agent.

C. Challenge: Sharon confronts Steven, tells him he stole her life. Weakness: needs to learn to love herself.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Lead Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is a deeper understanding of how I need to increase my characters journey. It helped me to see each role my characters play and how I will write better making my film profound.

1. Transformational logline:

Logline: A naive Accountant, discovers her cheating husband has embezzled the firms funds. She gathers her Girls Crew and bust him and the crooked FBI agent in the act. Clears her name and gets her life back.

2. Change Agent: Carol Ridgeway. She is married to a wonderful man who she dated a while before marrying him. She’s a Divorce Lawyer who absolutely loves what she does representing the wife. Her vision: To make sure Sharon is not taken advantage of. She grew up with Sharon and has watched her go threw bad relationships.

3. Transformable Character: Sharon Anderson. She has always had bad relationships because she never had a father figure around to show her how a man is supposed to treat a woman.

4. The Oppression: The forced pressure from the FBI who arrested her for Embezzlement. She needs to prove her innocence.

5. Betraying Character: Andrea Taylor. She’s always down with her girls, but her fears sometimes get in the way.

ASSIGNMENT 4B: Analysis of Dead Poet’s Society

1. The movie is about getting people to change from their old thinking and become “Free Thinkers”. The transformational journey is the process of becoming Free thinkers, from ripping out the first few pages in the Poetry book explaining what poetry is.

2. Lead Characters:

Change Agent: John Keating. He attended this school growing up and created “The Dead Poet’s Society” he was always a rebellious thinker.

Transformable Character: The Boys. They’re entering the school at a time in their lives of being easily influenced teenagers.

The Oppression: The School Administration.

3. We’re lured into this journey because everyone can identify with being conformed to doing things the Old Ways in the name of “Tradition”.

4. Who is changed the most? Neil. He believed strong in his heart he was an Actor that he lied to his Dad, forged a letter, and would rather kill himself than live on Earth and be conformed to another persons vision for his life.

5. The gradient change of The Boys is meeting Keating and expecting him to be the same as the other redundant teachers. But he taught them to think for themselves through exercises and metaphors. Their confidence grew, they met girls, kissed girls, and defied their parents.

6. The “Old Ways” are challenged by bringing back The Dead Poet’s Society club. The beliefs that are challenged causing The Boys to shift their perspectives are Tradition, Obedience, and Compliance.

7. The Profound moments of the movie are watching Niel stand at the window with his Acting Crown on and later killing himself. Also, Todd standing on the desk saying “O Captain, my Captain”.

8. The most profound lines of the movie are “Carpe diem, seize the day”

9. The ending payoff of the setups in the movie by the last scene of The Boys standing on the desk in honor of John Keating’s teaching.

10. The profound truth of this movie is everyone needs to think for themselves. It promotes “Free Thinkers”. To think for yourself is to listen to your own Inner Being.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver Transformational Journey

What I learned doing this assignment is a better writing structure. I did not know what my characters old ways were until I started this assignment. It taught me to sit down and discover what the issues of my character are.

Logline: A naive Accountant, discovers her cheating husband has embezzled the firms funds. She gathers her Girls Crew and bust him and the crooked FBI agent in the act. Clears her name and gets her life back.

1. What you see as the Old Ways.

Naive, trusting the wrong men, not being loved by her father, allowing verbal and physical abuse in her life.

2. What you see as the New Ways.

Found herself and has inner peace, learned how to trust her inner being, finds a new relationship.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver: First Three Decisions

What I learned doing this assignment is how to structure my profound cause and place it inside my film. I never knew there was a structure to a profound movie, I thought the writer was a really good writer and to some point they are, but there is a definite way of doing it. Thanks ScreenwritingU.

1. What is your Profound Truth?

Live life for yourself, not for the pleasing of others.

2. What is the change your movie will cause with an audience?

To look inside yourself, find your inner-being and allow It to guide you through all things.

3. What is your entertainment vehicle that you will tell this story through?

Through the world of a Road Trip.

[Karen Tolliver]

What I learned doing this assignment is to look deeper and you will find the truths. I never liked Groundhog Day until this assignment when asked to dig deep and find the true meaning. To me it was so repetitive I gave up on watching the whole movie before until now and finding the diamonds in the film was so rich. Love the movie now.

1. The transformational Journey : Going from being a self-absorbed jerk Weatherman to loving his life through saving others lives. Lets the audience know change is possible for anyone.

2. Change Agent: Rita, she’s humble, down to earth, attractive, and his boss.

Transformable Character: Phil, he’s the one with the biggest chip on his shoulder and arrogant warrant of need to change.

Oppression: Groundhog Day.

3. We’re lured into this journey by the clock. Every morning at 6:00AM the day wouldn’t change. The audience is intrigued to see how a self-absorbed person can continue his arrogance.

4. Phil’s Old Ways: Arrogant, Rude, Only thinks of himself, hates the Town, thinks he’s better than others.

Phil’s New Ways: Polite, putting others before himself, saving lives, praises the Town, Caring for others more than himself.

5. Gradient Change: Realizing he’s not better than anyone else. Step 1. Waking up thousands of time and the day never changed. 2. He kills himself in many ways and no death. 3. Tries to have a relationship with Rita. 4. Starts to learn the Piano and other ways to improve himself for Rita. 5. Begins to get involved with others lives held save them. Example: Saving the boy from falling out of the tree.

6. Phil cannot leave the Town because of a Blizzard so he is forced to face himself. the day will not end and tomorrow never comes. Relives the same day over and over again. Ask for help and goes to the Doctor.

Gets drunk and drives on railroad tracks chased by Police ends up in jail then wakes up and it never happened.

7. Profound Moments: The first time we know it’s the same day over again.

Phil drives off with the Groundhog.

Phil gets all the answers on Jeopardy.

Phil tries to save the Homeless man.

8. Profound Dialogue:

Rita: Sometimes I wish I had a thousand lifetimes. Maybe it’s not a curse, just depends on how you look at it.

Phil: Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.

9. How does the ending payoff the setups?

It helps Rita fall in love with Phil when all the people he saved thanks him at the Town Party.

10.Profound Truth:

No matter how bad you or things are, everything can change for the better.

[Karen Tolliver]

Hi everyone, my name is Karen

I have written 8 scripts so far.

I hope to rewrite my film script into a profound film.

Something unique about me I found out this year is I’m a Black female Script Supervisor in Los Angeles and apparently there are only 50 of us World Wide.

[Karen Tolliver]

Karen Tolliver

I agree to the 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.