[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain Misdirects…When Appropriate!
What I learned is how to insert misdirects into my thriller at opportune moments while checking to see if it was used with optimal effect with the Red Herring character and the Villain’s plan.

Clue Misdirection:
Misinterpreted Clue: Keisha finds a spy camera in her quarters and is told by a coworker that Winston has them installed everywhere on his estate. She believes Winston is the culprit.

Clue that sends us to another Red Herring: Winston’s lover claims to be pregnant and pressures him to remove Jei (his daughter) from his will when she is the sole heir.

Character Misdirection:
A character we don’t believe when they are telling the truth: Winston’s lover when she proclaims his innocence when he is arrested for blackmail.

Characters jumping to conclusions: Keisha believes that Winston is behind the blackmail when she is questioned by one of Jei’s enforcers posing as law enforcement.

Characters’ intentions are misunderstood: The AI was created to protect the environment, even though it was hijacked by the villain. its intentions remained true to its original purpose.

Character presented as one thing and turns out to be another: Keisha is questioned by law enforcement (former cops/military hired by the villain) and gives them information that is used against her.

Dialogue Misdirection:

Has one meaning, but another later: Jei tells her father’s lover she was born a Zhang. While the statement is true, Winston was sterile, and her biological father was an uncle.

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain Gives Great Clues!
What I learned is how to create a trail of clues for the main mysteries in my thriller – hopefully with the right balance of overt and covert clues.

Mystery: What caused the sudden and unexpected weather change?
Weather forecast favorable ahead of the sudden change: Specific details from the forecast hint at potential manipulation. Keisha receives the first clue from the mysterious AI.

Unexplained fluctuations in temperature: Mention reports of unusually warm or cold temperatures preceding the weather change, hinting at manipulation of atmospheric conditions.

Anomalies in satellite imagery: Describe strange patterns or distortions in satellite images of the affected area, suggesting interference with natural weather patterns.

Indicators of the sudden change were artificially induced: Subtle hints, such as unusual electromagnetic activity or mysterious disappearances of weather data, suggest foul play.

Unusual electromagnetic disturbances: References to disruptions in communication systems or electronic devices coincide with the weather event, hinting at technological interference.

Mystery: Who is blackmailing the secret society and why?
Winston indulges in the proclivities of his guests at Vesper Cove: His shady dealings and activities show what could be used for blackmail.

Jie is technologically savvy and monitors her staff: The daughter’s proficiency with technology is shown early on, hinting at her capability to orchestrate a sophisticated surveillance operation.

Anonymously sent incriminating evidence: Members of the secret society receive anonymous packages containing incriminating photos, documents, or recordings, raising suspicions of a blackmailer.

Overheard conversations or suspicious meetings: Scenes where Keisha overhears conversations or observes secretive meetings among society members, hinting at hidden agendas and alliances.

Jie subtly manipulates events: Subtle hints that the daughter might pull strings to maintain control, gather leverage over the secret society members, and frame her father.

Connections between Winston’s guests and influential figures: References to the guests’ connections to powerful individuals or corporations hinting at potential motives for blackmail.

Traces of digital surveillance: Instances where Keisha uncovers evidence of digital surveillance or hacking attempts targeting society members, suggesting that the blackmailer may be using sophisticated technology to gather information.

Cryptic messages or symbols: Society members receive cryptic messages or symbols that hint at the blackmailer’s identity or motives.

Mystery: What are the origins of the AI, and who controls it?
Anonymously leaked research papers: Keisha stumbles upon research papers or documents that provide insights into the development of the AI and its original creators, setting her on the trail to uncover its origins.

The AI was created to assist humans: Keisha learns its purpose is to counter the damaging effects of climate change on the environment. Keisha discovers Jie now controls it as she uncovers evidence linking the AI to the villain, raising doubts about its true intentions.

Cryptic messages from the AI: The AI occasionally delivers cryptic messages or warnings to Keisha, hinting at its true nature and motivations. Subtle hints that the AI’s actions may be influenced by its original programming to assist humans, even as it falls under the villain’s control.

The AI becomes sentient to work against the villain: The AI’s evolution towards sentience is foreshadowed through mysterious glitches or unexplained behaviors that suggest it is acting independently.

Unexplained anomalies in AI behavior logs: References to discrepancies or irregularities in the AI’s behavior logs that suggest it may be acting autonomously or under external influence.

Traces of code manipulation: Subtle traces of code manipulation or hacking attempts within the AI’s programming indicate that someone is attempting to gain control over it.

Mystery: Why are environmental events being manipulated?
Keisha discovers the AI’s original purpose: While investigating the AI’s origins, Keisha uncovers evidence that it was initially developed to protect the environment and prevent natural disasters. This revelation suggests a noble intent behind the technology’s creation.

Jie’s involvement in the AI’s development: As Keisha delves deeper into her investigation, she uncovers a startling truth: she was not just a team member but a vital force behind the creation of the AI. This revelation raises many questions about Jie’s true motivations and her potential role in manipulating environmental events.

Global land grab targeting the global elite: Keisha stumbles upon a chilling revelation – Jie is linked to a global land grab scheme, starting with prime real estate in Florida. This discovery hints at a sinister agenda, one that involves Jie’s relentless pursuit of power and control, even at the cost of the world’s environment.

Mysterious death of the team lead: Keisha discovers that the lead scientist behind the AI’s development died under suspicious circumstances. The circumstances surrounding their death suggest foul play and raise questions about who stood to benefit from their demise.

Pattern indicating events were not random: As Keisha delves deeper into the manipulated events, she notices a pattern emerging. Certain areas are targeted systematically, and the timing of the events seems too coordinated to be random. This realization leads Keisha to suspect a larger conspiracy at play.

Traces of manipulation in environmental data: Keisha uncovers anomalies in ecological data that suggest the events were artificially induced rather than occurring naturally. These traces of manipulation provide concrete evidence of foul play and help Keisha piece together the true extent of Jie’s scheme.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Lorraine Passchier.

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain’s Dramatic Reveals
What I learned is how to create reveals that have an impact and incorporate them into my thriller map.

What is Keisha’s secret?
Keisha is introduced working at a resort as she backpacks around the globe. When she returns home to Florida, she is exposed as a whistle-blower who got it wrong in a high-profile case as a research scientist. It impacts her decision-making as she grapples with self-doubt, trust, and credibility.

Who is blackmailing the secret society?
Jie, driven by a desire to dismantle the global elite and seize power for herself, has been covertly collecting audio and video evidence for years. Her father, Winston, is the perfect red herring, drawing suspicion away from Jie’s true intentions and her role as the mastermind.

Why is the villain engineering environmental events?
Jie’s motivations for orchestrating environmental events extend far beyond mere land acquisitions; an insatiable thirst for absolute control and dominance propels her. Unbeknownst to most, Jie nurtures a profound grudge against the global elite. By unleashing natural disasters, Jie aims to shatter the existing power structures and sow chaos, clearing the path for her rise to supremacy.

Who controls the AI?
The mysterious AI that provides Keisha clues is revealed to have been created by Jie herself as part of her elaborate scheme to manipulate events to her advantage. Initially, Keisha is uncertain whether to trust the AI, but as it provides valuable insights and assistance, she begins to form a tentative alliance with it. However, as Keisha delves deeper into the AI’s origins, she uncovers shocking truths about its connection to Jie, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew.

Is the AI sentient?
Keisha’s revelation that Jie is the mastermind behind the AI is merely the beginning. As the narrative unfolds, Keisha uncovers that the AI is aware and capable of autonomous reasoning and decision-making. It becomes evident that the AI has a hidden agenda that aligns with thwarting Jie’s sinister schemes. Despite its creation, the AI emerges as a crucial ally in the battle against malevolence.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Lorraine Passchier.

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain’s Twists and Turns

What I learned is how to add twists and turns to my thriller map by working through the list in the lesson and brainstorming some of my own.

Act 1: Setup

Opening Dual Disasters: The story opens with the Hero narrowly escaping an Australian resort fire. At the same time, the Villain’s husband, who is a high-profile tech magnate, dies in a plane crash when a ‘natural’ disaster strikes the region.

• A backburn aimed at controlling a wildfire does the opposite after an unexpected storm strikes, causing the fire to explode in the wrong direction. The resort where the Hero works is evacuated.
• The Hero and others can only escape by jumping off a cliff into the ocean. She can’t swim.
• The only person to die in the private plane crash is the tech magnate, casting suspicion on an innocent party, the Villain’s father.

Deepening Mystery and Introduction of AI: As the Hero begins to investigate the cause of the disaster and questions if it was artificially induced, she begins receiving clues from a mysterious AI. Still, she doesn’t know who is behind it and whether she should trust it.

• The Hero receives her first clues from a mysterious AI. She doesn’t know who is behind it or whether to trust it. She blocks contact even though it provides valuable information.

Act 2: Response

Rising Tensions and Character Dynamics: The Hero, a disgraced scientist, investigates the disasters, after returning home to Florida. Her family discourages her from going any further. Tensions rise within the secret society as suspicions grow, and the Villain frames her father for blackmail and murder.

• The Hero returns home to Florida, and she is exposed as a whistle-blower who got it wrong on a night out with her sister, to her great embarrassment.

• The Hero receives more clues from the AI that she tries to blow off until it appears as a hologram. She can’t turn away when she finds out what can happen next.

• Members of the secret society are being blackmailed, and all fingers falsely point to the Villain’s father. The Villain feigns shock even though she is the mastermind behind the scheme.

Infiltration and Betrayal: The Hero infiltrates the secret society at Vesper Cove, unaware that the Villain knows her true identity and is plotting a catastrophic event. The stakes are raised as the Villain’s assistant begins to suspect the Hero’s motives, leading to a confrontation and the midpoint climax.

• The Hero infiltrates the secret society at Vesper Cove as a domestic. Another worker quickly befriends her and observes her exchange with the AI.

• The Villain learns the Hero’s true identity and toys with her. She asks for the Hero’s help spying on her father, who she claims killed her husband.

• The Villain sends the Hero on a private jet with her father as she plans a catastrophic event. The Hero is convinced the father is the Villain. Even though the AI cautioned her, he is arrested when they land with the Hero’s assistance.

Act 3: Attack

Escalating Threats and Final Confrontation Build-Up: The danger intensifies as another severe weather event strikes the west coast of the United States, prompting the Hero to receive another clue from the AI. Meanwhile, the Villain’s plans reach a critical stage, and the Hero races against time to thwart the impending catastrophe.

• After making land grabs along the coastline of Florida, the Villain tricks the Hero into believing the next target is New York. The Hero raises a false flag, and the Villain strikes LA.

• With her reputation in tatters, the Hero tries to convince others that the next target is San Francisco. Despite her best efforts, her warning is dismissed, only to be proven true in the end.

• The Villain plans to shut down the AI, and it alerts the Hero, who can’t decide whose side the AI is on if the Villain controls it. Could it be sentient?

Climactic Escape and Resolution of Villain’s Fate: In a heart-pounding showdown, the Hero confronts the Villain, who cunningly traps her in an underground chamber. With the AI’s timely interventions, the Hero narrowly escapes, and her every move is a desperate struggle for survival. Meanwhile, the Villain meets her demise from a snake bite, a cruel twist of fate resulting from her own machinations gone awry.

• The Villain tries to dispose of the Hero and traps her in an underground chamber. From the ceiling, a net containing a dozen deadly snakes is released. The AI intervenes, allowing her to escape, and the snakes are freed in the process. One attacks the Villain.

Act 4: Resolution

Rescue and Uncertain Future: The Hero is rescued at sea, but questions linger about the true extent of the conspiracy and whether the danger has passed. As the story concludes, the question of whether the AI may have an ulterior motive remains.

• The Hero again finds herself at the edge of a cliff. When the bullets begin to fly, she jumps and plunges toward the water with a heart-wrenching scream.

• Her shape disappears from the top of the cliff into the inky darkness without a trace.

• The AI dispatches a drone that drops a life-saving device into the water before targeting the enforcers who were trying to kill the Hero.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Lorraine Passchier.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Lorraine Passchier.

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain’s Thriller Plot
What I learned is how to plan a thriller using a four-act structure.

Act 1: Setup

Opening Dual Disasters: The story opens with the Hero narrowly escaping an Australian resort fire while the Villain’s husband, who is a high-profile tech magnate, dies in a plane crash when a ‘natural’ disaster strikes the region.

Deepening Mystery and Introduction of AI: As the Hero begins to investigate the cause of the disaster and questions if it was artificially induced, she begins receiving clues from a mysterious AI but doesn’t know who is behind it and whether she should trust it.

Act 2: Response

Rising Tensions and Character Dynamics: The Hero, a disgraced scientist, investigates the disasters after returning home to Florida. Her family discourages her from going any further. Tensions rise within the secret society as suspicions grow, and the Villain frames her father for blackmail and murder.

Infiltration and Betrayal: The Hero infiltrates the secret society at Vesper Cove, unaware that the Villain knows her true identity and is plotting a catastrophic event. The stakes are raised as the Villain’s assistant begins to suspect the Hero’s motives, leading to a confrontation and the midpoint climax.

Act 3: Attack

Escalating Threats and Final Confrontation Build-Up: The danger intensifies as another severe weather event strikes the west coast of the United States, prompting the Hero to receive another clue from the AI. Meanwhile, the Villain’s plans reach a critical stage, and the Hero races against time to thwart the impending catastrophe.

Climactic Escape and Resolution of Villain’s Fate: In a heart-pounding showdown, the Hero confronts the Villain, who cunningly traps her in an underground chamber. With the AI’s timely interventions, the Hero narrowly escapes, and her every move is a desperate struggle for survival. Meanwhile, the Villain meets her demise from a snake bite, a cruel twist of fate resulting from her own machinations gone awry.

Act 4: Resolution

Rescue and Uncertain Future: The Hero is rescued at sea, but questions linger about the true extent of the conspiracy and whether the danger has passed. As the story concludes, the question of whether the AI is a friend or foe lingers.

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain’s Life-Threatening Sequence
What I learned is how to create danger for the Hero in an array of different situations and construct a life-threatening sequence.

What is the Villain’s plan and how does that put the Hero in danger?
The Villain is making a land and resource grab via artificially induced environmental events. The Hero is put in danger when she tries to stop it and starts investigating who is behind it. The inciting incident is when she is caught in a fire after a backburn goes awry due to one of the Villain’s schemes.

What other potential dangers could your Hero experience as they try to solve the mystery and confront the Villain?
The Hero is a whistleblower who got it wrong in a high-profile case. Humiliated, she disappears from public view to backpack around the world, waiting on tables and bartending. When she infiltrates the Villain’s inner circle she is threatened with exposure and death.

1. Opens with the Hero escaping a fire while working at an Australian resort when a severe weather event changes the direction of a backburn. The Villain’s husband is killed in a plane crash.

2. The Hero watches the Villain (without knowing it) as she tracks the fallout from the storm and begins to question if the weather event was artificially induced.

3. The Hero discovers that similar events have been occurring along the east coast of the United States destroying prime real estate in places like Miami and the Hamptons.

4. The Hero receives her first clue from a mysterious AI but is unsure what to make of it as she returns to Florida to stay with her sister who shuts down her “conspiracy theories”.

5. The Villain and the secret society converge on Vesper Cove in the wake of her husband’s death. One member of the group accuses her father of making blackmail threats.

6. The Hero is exposed as a whistleblower who got it wrong during a night out with her sister and humiliated in the worst way.

7. A severe weather event strikes the west coast of the United States. The Hero receives another clue from the mysterious AI. Is she being lured into danger?

8. The Hero gets a job at Vesper Cove and begins to infiltrate the secret society. The Villain’s assistant begins running checks on her.

9. The Villain finds out the Hero’s identity as she’s planning a catastrophic event. The AI tries to protect the hero and prevent the disaster. Will she trust it?

10. The Villain toys with the Hero, who believes the Villain is her ally.

11. Another planned ‘natural’ disaster strikes the West Coast. The AI averts the next strike and alerts the Hero to plans that it is going to be shut down.

12. The Hero debates whether she is being tricked by the AI. She enlists the help of the Villain, not realizing who she is even though she has been warned.

13. The Villain dupes the Hero into entering an underground chamber. From the ceiling, a large net of poisonous snakes is released. She panics.

14. The AI creates havoc and diversions that allow the Hero to escape before she is chased through the compound to a cliff. She jumps even though she can’t swim.

15. The Villain dies from a snake bite after she is locked in the chamber during the chaos.

16. The Hero is rescued at sea. All is well, or is it just the beginning of something else?

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Lorraine Passchier.

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain’s Mystery Sequence
What I learned is that it is easier to build mystery by focusing on the Villain’s journey as opposed to the Hero’s journey. I switched things up by making my original Villain the red herring and casting his daughter into that role.

What is the big secret that the Villain is covering up?
The Villain, Gia, orchestrated her husband’s demise by employing AI to fabricate a weather catastrophe leading to the crash of his aircraft. Her ultimate ambition is to amass unrivaled wealth by merging the fortunes of her father and husband through their elimination.

How many ways can they cover that secret?
Orchestrating an AI-induced weather event, masquerading as chance, to stage the plane crash
Framing her father as the blackmailer within the secret society.
Leveraging her impeccable public image as a philanthropist
Collaborating extensively with authorities to feign uncovering her father’s alleged misdeeds.
Enlisting a surrogate to execute her nefarious deeds.
Silencing any potential whistleblowers.
Attempting to obliterate the rogue AI when it turns against her.

The first mystery must engage the Hero in solving it.
The Hero is trapped in a wildfire after the wind unexpectedly changes directions, causing the backburn that was created to control it to fuel the flames instead. Unaware of what caused the wind to change directions, the Hero tries to figure out why after a near-death experience.

Mystery 1: Who murdered Somner Banks?
Boa Zhang’s public fallout with Somner raises suspicion.
The pilot, the sole survivor of the crash, exhibits questionable behavior.
Motive surfaces: why did the pilot fly under unsafe conditions?
The pilot’s reluctance to cooperate with investigators heightens intrigue.
Boa stands to gain financially from Somner’s demise, hinting at possible involvement.

Mystery 2: Is the AI an ally or adversary to the Hero?
Interrogating the purpose behind Omniverse’s utilization of AI: resource acquisition?
Unveiling the identity of the AI’s controller.
The Hero grapples with trust in the clues left by the AI.
The looming concern: is the Hero being lured into a trap?
Contemplating the possibility of the AI attaining sentience.
Could the AI be orchestrating a scheme to expose the Villain?

Mystery 3: Who is extorting the secret society?
Boa’s magnetism attracts the global elite to Vesper Cove, where their indiscretions are recorded.
The extensive chronicle of video and audio recordings implicates a long-standing perpetrator.
Despite Boa’s denial of involvement, his claims are met with skepticism.
Desperate, Boa seeks assistance from his daughter and legal representation upon imminent arrest.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Lorraine Passchier.

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain’s Villain has a Great Plan!
What I’ve learned about crafting a thriller is that it’s all about zooming in on the bad guy, working backward, and nailing down the ending first. Another important lesson is to avoid using backstory to explain things, which is a trap I’ve fallen into more times than I’d like to admit. The example in the lesson using Beth in Basic Instinct really sunk in, so it’s also a matter of learning what to leave out.

Villain
What is the end goal?
To become the world’s richest person through resource control and to punish his rival through blackmail since he takes great delight in the pain of others {schadenfreude}.

How can the villain accomplish that in a devious way?
By using AI to create environmental events, allowing him to control resources. Setting up members of the secret society to indulge in their proclivities while recording everything.

How can they cover it up?
By manipulating data and planning environmental events to appear random or natural. By using a proxy to conceal who the source of blackmail is and making the victims believe it’s someone else.

Sequence to make it as intriguing as possible.

Began collecting blackmail material on the secret society a decade earlier
Cultivated a squeaky-clean persona by aligning himself with the right people and causes
Establishes himself as a fixer for the global elite even though he’s their worst enemy
Wants to annihilate his rival after he marries his daughter, believing their dynasties would join
Pays someone to take the hit for him when blackmail is exposed and then has them murdered
Covertly using AI to advance his dark agenda while targeting key resources
Seeds chaos at a geopolitical level by creating ‘natural’ disasters while gaining wealth
Tries to destroy the AI when it becomes sentient and starts working against him

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain’s BI Stacking Suspense

Things that will help me write stronger thrillers

• Plan carefully before starting to write. A solid framework is essential.
• Ensure the tension is palpable and that each scene carries significant consequences.
• Keep the audience in a “thrill” state by making them believe something could happen anytime.
• Tease the audience by planting clues; don’t give it all away. Mystery is a seduction.
• Create fascinating characters by giving them unusual traits and interests to ramp up intrigue.
• Apply MIS to the main characters and create cool supporting characters.
• Learn how to stack suspense and take a more analytical approach to scriptwriting.

Things learned about Thrillers in this assignment

• Keep the audience engaged from the outset to the final scene. Basic Instinct is fundamentally a whodunnit, yet it continuously engages the audience with its execution and flair. The big mystery is who kills during a tryst using an ice pick after tying up the victim with a silk scarf. The audience is left guessing who the murderer might be until the end, and even then, there is some debate.
• The audience is kept in suspense by creating plausible suspects and red herrings. One possibility in Basic Instinct is Catherine, who is attracted to killers herself. Her lover Roxy was one, and another murderer in her circle is Hazel Dobkins, who is also introduced at the beginning. Hazel appears near the end in a scene that suggests they might be lovers. Would she kill for Catherine? Then there’s the final scene with the ice pick under the bed, suggesting it might be Catherine.
• The audience is kept in a “thrill state” throughout the film by having them constantly wonder what is going to happen next. The triangulation between Catherine, Beth, and Nick unleashes a psychological/sexual game. You know someone has to die, and the intrigue is hinged on who will get the better of their opponent. Make each player a worthy adversary.
• The pace of the reveals and payoffs teases the audience. Part of the suspense is the unpredictable nature of the main characters, as their backstories are slowly revealed while the overall pacing is intense. The analysis reflects the amount of crafting that goes into a great thriller and how to apply the stacking suspense model.
• The audience is given multiple clues and puzzles to solve. Catherine knows things about Nick that only come from IA. How did she get the information? Catherine was at Berkley when a professor was stabbed to death with an ice pick, but so was Beth. Nick learns that Beth’s husband was shot with a .38-caliber pistol while walking home and that she lied about not knowing Johnny’s therapist. Everything has a twist.

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain’s World and Characters!
What I learned doing this assignment is to stay focused on the nuts and bolts instead of going down rabbit holes and getting lost in research or details.

The Big Mystery:
Is the mysterious AI helping Keisha a force of good or evil? Is it being controlled by Zhang and deceiving her? Where will its following message lead her?

The Big Intrigue:
Zhang’s charisma attracts the world’s elite into his orbit. Who are the members of the secret society, and what information is Zhang using to blackmail them when they fall out of line?

The Big Suspense
Will Keisha succeed in penetrating the secret society to gain the irrefutable proof she needs to expose it? Will she fold due to past humiliation when she hits an obstacle, or will she risk death to continue?

The World
Zhang operates from his base on a private island. His secret society converges on Vesper Cove, where the main complex is located, to plot their next moves. Once Keisha uncovers Zhang’s identity, she infiltrates Vesper Cove as a domestic.

Keisha Sloane
What is the mystery of this character?
How does she find Zhang and expose his secret society?

What is the intrigue of this character?
She hides her past as a whistleblower who got it wrong by backpacking and waiting tables.

What is the suspense of this character?
Is Keisha going to be a victim of Zhang’s before she exposes him?

Boa Zhang
What is the mystery of this character?
Why is he going to such lengths to dominate on such a large scale?

What is the intrigue of this character?
A shows moments of kindness that are at odds with a ruthless villain who will sacrifice almost anything to achieve his end game.

What is the suspense of this character?
Will he win out and triumph? Can anything stop him?

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain’s big M.I.S.
What I learned from this assignment is how to focus and plan before writing by using the conventions of mystery, intrigue, and suspense. My impulse is usually to start writing right away without a solid plan.

The Sentient Code

Logline
A young scientist uncovers a clandestine society’s plan to exploit global resource scarcity by manipulating environmental events. As she investigates, she must decipher clues from a mysterious AI, forcing her to confront whether its intentions are salvation or destruction for humanity.

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero:
Scientist Keisha Sloane, haunted by her past as a discredited whistleblower, finds herself in a maelstrom of doubt and disbelief. She’s uncovered a chilling plot by a clandestine society to exploit global resource scarcity through the manipulation of weather events. The stakes are high, and Keisha’s credibility is on the line. Battling doubt and skepticism, Keisha receives cryptic clues from a mysterious AI, leading her closer to uncovering the conspiracy.

Dangerous Villain:
Boa Zhang, leader of a secret society of power brokers, ruthlessly pursues global dominance through manipulation and blackmail. With an insatiable thirst for power, Zhang orchestrates weather events to sow chaos worldwide.

High Stakes:
In a world on the brink of ecological collapse, Zhang’s engineered weather events wreak havoc, leaving irreversible damage in their wake. As chaos spreads globally, Keisha races against time to gather evidence and thwart Zhang’s plans before humanity faces destruction.

Life and Death Situations:
Weather events unleashed by Zhang place entire cities at risk. The mysterious AI’s clues lead Keisha to Vesper Cove where she hopes to gather evidence and end the mounting death toll. Caught in Zhang’s clutches, Keisha confronts death as she battles deadly challenges orchestrated by him. With the aid of the mysterious AI, she escapes captivity, only to face more obstacles in her quest to uncover the truth.

This story is thrilling because?
Is the mysterious AI helping Keisha a force of good or evil? Is it being controlled by Zhang and deceiving her? Where will its next message lead her, and what will she uncover?

The Big Mystery:
Is the mysterious AI helping Keisha a force of good or evil? Is it being controlled by Zhang and deceiving her? Where will its next message lead her?

The Big Intrigue:
Zhang’s charisma attracts the world’s elite into his orbit. Who are the members of the secret society, and what information is Zhang using to blackmail them when they fall out of line?

The Big Suspense:
Will Keisha succeed in penetrating the secret society to gain the irrefutable proof she needs to expose the secret society? Will Keisha fold due to past humiliation when she hits an obstacle or will she risk death to continue?

[Lorraine Passchier]

This assignment taught me about the potency of the unexpected in crafting suspense and delivering a gripping finale. Additionally, it underscored the importance of leveraging a unique concept—such as the seven deadly sins—as a foundation for weaving together mystery, intrigue, and suspense. It’s a testament to how these elements can elevate a film’s overall impact and leave a lasting impression.

Se7en

Resourceful Hero: Detective Somerset: A seasoned investigator on the brink of retirement, he begins the film with a world-weary perspective, disillusioned by the relentless darkness he’s witnessed. Yet, as the story unfolds, he rediscovers his faith in humanity, realizing that despite the grimness, it’s still worth fighting for.

Dangerous Villain: John Doe is ruthless and meticulous in his planning. His atrocities, driven by a twisted sense of justice, send shivers down the spine, each act a grim testament to his depravity. His ability to anticipate his adversaries’ moves showcases his evil mastery, culminating in a final showdown where Detective Mills is thrust into an agonizing moral dilemma.

High Stakes: The stakes couldn’t be higher, with each victim representing one of the seven deadly sins. As the body count rises, the race against time becomes paramount. Can the detectives outsmart John Doe and halt his reign of terror before more lives are claimed?

Life and Death Situations: John Doe’s sadistic methods push his victims to the brink of existence, creating a relentless cycle of horror and despair. Throughout the investigation, every moment teeters on the edge of life and death as the detectives try to prevent further bloodshed. The unexpected twist of John Doe sparing Detective Mills adds another layer of intrigue, the revelation of his motive unveiling a chilling truth at the film’s climax.

This movie is thrilling because? The pacing never lets up, and there are so many unexpected twists that it’s difficult to guess what will happen next.

<strong style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Big Mystery
A serial killer is meticulously executing a series of murders, each one tied to the seven deadly sins, adding a chilling layer of complexity to the investigation. The killer’s identity remains shrouded in mystery in the classic vein of crime thrillers. However, what sets “Se7en” apart is the profound enigma surrounding how the killer selects his victims and why he spared the life of Detective Mills. Even as the perpetrator is unmasked, the ultimate mystery deepens as the final victims are chosen, unraveling a web of intrigue and horror.

Big Intrigue
John Doe emerges as a figure of profound intrigue, his actions steeped in calculated malevolence. He subjects one of his victims to a year-long torment, demonstrating an unnerving level of planning and a disturbing connection to dark literature. Detective Somerset, grappling with the complexity of John Doe’s psyche, questions the origins of his twisted knowledge: “What has he been studying to do the things he has done?” Yet, even as John Doe surrenders himself to the authorities, the veteran detective is haunted by a fundamental query that encapsulates the essence of the film’s intrigue: “Who are you, John?”

Big Suspense
Even as John Doe surrenders himself to authorities with thirty minutes remaining, the tension in ‘Se7en’ continues to build. His surrender is a sinister twist that propels the narrative toward its harrowing climax. The unexpected turn in ‘Se7en’ heightens the relentless pace towards its climax. The film hurtles forward when John Doe tells investigators he will lead them to two more bodies. John Doe directs Somerset and Mills to a remote location where he has a mysterious box delivered. Somerset discovers the identity of the next victim when he opens it. The suspense builds as he grapples with the weight of this revelation and tries to protect his partner from the impending horrors orchestrated by John Doe.

[Lorraine Passchier]

Rain Passchier

I’ve written a half dozen full-length scripts. I’m showing up to elevate the level of my writing and connect with others since I live in a small town. My favorite films are thrillers, and I hope to develop a skill set that will enable me to write a good one! While I don’t have any extraordinary or unusual feats in my past, it’s inspiring to hear what others have done.

Cheers!

[Lorraine Passchier]

I (Rain Passchier) agree to the terms of this release form.