[Kristen Hoyle]

Kristen Hoyle:

I agree to the terms of this group release form for the Creative Mastery class as shown below.

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.

[Kristen Hoyle]

Kristen Finds the Essence

What I’ve learned is the essence in the scene gives the energy and drive to the subsequent scenes

Speed, 1994

Scene 1 Location: End of Act One

Logline: Jack and Harry are pursuing Payne who is strapped with explosives

Essence: Jack and Harry are daring and masterful at working together to outwit an adversary even if averting a hostage situation means shooting your partner in the leg

Scene 2 Location: Start of Act Two

Logline: In shock from witnessing a bus explosion, Jack finds himself answering a pay phone and receiving unexpected news

Essence: Jack learns that his adversary wasn’t killed in the explosion and Payne is willing to put other people’s lives in danger to get his revenge.

Scene 3 Location: Act Two

Logline: Annie runs to catch a bus successfully using her charm to get the bus driver to stop well past the bus stop. Annie also adeptly avoids having to sit next to an overly talkative tourist on the bus.

Essence: Annie is a good natured young, attractive woman who can navigate everyday situations and endear herself to others.

Scene 4 Location: Act Two

Logline: Jack commandeers a Jaguar to chase the bus and notify the bus driver of the catastrophic situation before the bomb activates at 50 mph.

Essence: Jack is willing to do whatever it takes to save lives and he is good at thinking on his feet in high stress situations.

Scene 5 Location: Act Three

Logline: Jack and Annie are on a speeding train. Jack can’t stop the speeding train and only one of them is able to jump off.

Essence: Jack has fallen for Annie and even though he could die, he doesn’t leave her. His ability to think under pressure pays off when he uses the train’s velocity to jump the track and save them both.

The most profound essence is Jacks’ conversation with Payne on the pay phone which sets up the challenge (“Pop quiz, hotshot. There’s a bomb on a bus. Once the bus hits fifty miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If the bus drops below fifty, it blows up. What do you do?”) and the rules (“No one gets off the bus. If you take any of the passengers off, I will detonate it. If I don’t get my money by 11:00am, there is also a timer.”). It also sets up the mental aspect of the back and forth between Jack and Payne. Jack is disoriented from the bus explosion, and he is now learning of a new threat. Jack thought Payne had been killed and he now must play catch up to try to get ahead of Payne’s methodical plan. This scene also gives the audience insight into the mind of Payne which sets up future sequences in which they try to outsmart one another.