[KARL VON SENDEN]

Karl S. Von Senden Engaging Main Character

What I learned doing this assignment is the need for forging a “big picture” plan to allow the inclusion of multiple character layers to emerge as the season progresses.

Assignment#1

American Horror Story

Character – Ben Harmon

Role in the show: A. Protagonist; motivating reason for move family to “murder house” where all begins to unravel; B. Unique Purpose/ Expertise: Driving force to seek a way to mend his marriage; C. Intrigue; Secret beneath the surface; Psychologist, but a seeming sexual sociopath; D. Moral Issue: Cannot unravel himself from his own problems with women; E. Unpredictable: What will they (he) do next?: Goes non-compos menace, apparently loses control of situations – wakes up with no knowledge of what he has done; F. Empathetic: Why do we care?: Man with a troubled past making earnest attempt to rectify cannot seem to get it together while running into more than his share of misfortune and setbacks.

[KARL VON SENDEN]

Karl S. Von Senden

1. I agree to the terms of this release form.
2. Please leave the entire text below to confirm what you agree to.

GROUP RELEASE FORM FOR “BINGE WORTHY TV” CLASS

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 Binge Worthy TV class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, teaching a class, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the Binge Worthy TV 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 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. The easiest solution if you have similar ideas is to either not look at each other’s work or to agree to take your shows in different directions.

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 Binge Worthy TV class.

[KARL VON SENDEN]

Three Circles of Characters: Assignment 2
Show: “The Worlds of Itscalar”

What I learned doing this assignment is the organizational benefit of characterizing the players in the show, which greatly assisted in the focus upon each to facilitate the pace and impact of the individuals on the plotline.

1. MAIN CHARACTERS:

Professor Robert Kershaw PhD: Shadowy figure from the Dark Web; Don’s father;

Don Kershaw Phd: Astro-Physicist; partner to Zach;

Zachery Oste JD: Attorney; single; partner to Don; Legal counsel for “Buds for the World”;

Harper Standislav: CEO “Buds for the World LLC” marijuana distributing company; Investor “Angel”, “Alien Evidence” Reality Program;

Bethany Bechtel: Investigator – Covert Secret Service Agent investigating Standislav’s corporate (counterfeiting) activities;

Marcia Kershaw: Wife of Don, mother of Ken Kershaw-knows Sunny’s dark secret;

Ransom Jettel: Investigator – Covert NSA Agent investigating Robert Kershaw’s alleged alien relationships.

2. CONNECTED CIRCLE:

Sunny Oste-Placer: Ex-wife of Zachery;

Basil Oste-Placer: Presumed daughter of Zach and Sunny;

Maggie Collins: Office Manager for Don and Zach;

Helle Zintner: N/I Titular Showrunner Reality Program;

Rand Fader: N/I Titular Assistant Director Reality Program – Covert DEA Agent;

Itsky: “Bigfoot” alien.

3. ENVIORONMENTAL CIRCLE:

Loden Stelvic: Advisor and “heavy” to Harper;

Becky Kershaw: N/I Titular associate director (gofer) Reality Program; Younger sister to Don;

Kenny Kershaw: Son of Marcia and Don;

Zeb-Art: Alien contact presence;

Simzan Latoo: Alien contact presence – life partner to Zeb-Art;

Fennel Za: Young Male offspring of Zeb-Art and Simzan.

[KARL VON SENDEN]

Assignment #1

Show: American Horror Stories: “Home Invasion”

Three Circles of Characters

A. Main Characters Circle: The main characters are: Ben Harmon – husband; Vivien Harmon- wife; Violet Harmon – daughter; Constance, neighbor.

B. Connected Circle: Tate Langdon – patient of Ben, love interest Violet; Maid – strange attachment to Constance and house; Downs Syndrome daughter of Constance.

Environment Circle: Ben’s pregnant girlfriend; Three (2 female- 1 male) Manson-like wackos; 2 cops.

[KARL VON SENDEN]

“American Horror Story”: 5 Star Model

What I learned doing this assignment is to more readily recognize not just the Big Picture Hook of the show but an emerging appreciation of the lesser hooks or “attention grabbers”. And this not just because these lesser hooks are seemingly used primarily as insight into a rather slowly developing plot-line, but rather as a means to set and keep the “pace and rhythm of the drama.”

1. Big Picture Hooks: After a marital upset, a couple wants a “do-over” that results in their moving to a new house – a house that has a very troubled past.

2. Intriguing Character(s): Neighbor (Jessica Lange) has a troubled young girl who informs the new residents that, “You are going to die!”; Neighbor has bizarre quirks (covets wife’s jewelry) of her own; Another women shows up from nowhere, who claims her past responsibilities were to care for the house – pressures and is hired by wife;

3. Empathy/Distress: Physical/emotional avoidance, as wife cannot seem to get over having interrupted husband’s sexual coupling with another female in their own bed; Husband losing ability to cope with wife’s issue.

4. Open Loops: What insight does troubled little girl have? What is the reason for the neighbor’s continued uninvited presence in the house? What is the revealed past relationship between the neighbor and the new caretaker?

5. Inviting Obsession(s): What is the reason for the little girl’s fixation on the couple and their house? What is behind the neighbor’s ubiquitous behavior? Is the caretaker good or bad, and how does she and the neighbor come to have a relationship?