Mark Ritter
Forum Replies Created
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Mark Charles Ritter’s Key Business Decisions
Assignment:
What I learned doing this assignment? – I learned I’ve got some good stuff, but much needs to be discovered in this epic story, then refined into the crystals of information that add up to undeniability.1)Business decisions currently in my High Budget Script
• Genre – Sci-Fi Adventure – television show
• Title – The Seventh Generation
• Concept – In the mid-nineteenth century, during the Plateau Indian Wars of the American Northwest, a small group of natives from a few tribes are drawn together by an estranged Spokane medicine woman, to fulfill an ancient mission to save Humanity, Earth, and the Galaxy from a future Geothermal Armageddon induced by Inner Earth Reptilians, But their plans are thwarted by one such Reptilian, a Dracos Shape-Shifters, embedded as a white soldier/advisor in the troops of Col. Wright, during his genocidal campaign against the tribes. To fulfill their mission the native group must reincarnate seven generations later into the time of now, and again at the end of the 22nd Century, when Stargate Earth has become the galactic ascension platform for races and life force of the Milky Way Galaxy.
• Audience – Male over 25, Male under 25, Female over 25
• Budget – High budget TV
• Lead Characters –
a. Harold “Sky River” Thompson- the only character that is the same soul, as the same person for the three seasons of the show – representing 350+ years of life (with super natural help). Harold becomes the Yoda/Mentor character for the others in season 2&3.
b. Two Mountains (season-1: 10 to 21yrs.) Steven Dunning (season-2&3: 57-232yrs.) A former investigative war correspondent for a cable news network, fired when the network wouldn’t run a big unconfirmed story during the Iraq War, that later was shown to be true. Now a risk addicted niellist looking to make a comeback.
• Journey/Character Arc –
a. Harold “Sky River” – Season-1: From precocious infant, to courageous, able bodied, pre-teen warrior. Season-2: Mentor/Trainer to the reincarnated team members, to apparent betrayer of the mission. Season-3: From seeker of redemption to leader of humanity’s ascended future.
b. Two Mountains/Steven – Season-1: From a stubborn young warrior to more enlightened, purposeful dead man. Season-2: Risk-addicted niellist, to reluctant heroic leader. Season-3: Legendary Leader/Ambassador, to Pioneer of Ascended Earth in 2nd Density.
• Opening / Ending:
a. Opening: The 1800 eruption of Mount Saint Hellen’s volcano, foretelling the arrival of White Euro-American Colonialist to change thousands of years of a way of life in the Northwest.
b. Ending: A return to “The Garden” on Gaia (Earth in 2nd Density), as humanity’s ascended survivors embrace a brave new world.2) Decisions where I could make improvements.
• Genre – While the big story definitely falls under the industry genre of Science Fiction, the 20th century’s science fiction has become the science realities of the 21st Century. We all carry small techno-slabs that are superior Star Trek’s flip communicators and 2001 A Space Odyssey’s videos tablets. Spiritual concepts now have the frontiers of Quantum Physics starting to back them up. Fiction increasingly becomes reality. Thought manifests matter. Strong intension manifest miracles. There’s a sub-genre in there somewhere. Science-Fusion Adventure?
• I’m open to other considerations for a title. I’m going to see what AI has to contribute in ideas.
• The Concept definitely needs refinement – a distillation down to an exciting essence.
• Audience, Budget, Lead Characters, Journey/Character Arc, all could be improved and refined. -
Mark Charles Ritter’s Linked-In Profile is Amazing!
What I learned doing this assignment?
• I learned that three years ago, when I last looked hard at my Linked-In profile, it was in pretty good shape.
• I only made a couple minor changes for clarity.
• The best thing I think I can do to improve my profile over the next 30 days is to increase my endorsements & recommendations. -
I agree to the terms of this Confidentiality Agreement.
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Mark Charles Ritter’s Credibility is Going Up!
What I learned doing this assignment: Three and a half years ago I was working at getting my Binge Worthy TV show finished, ready to look for representation, and build my credibility as a screenwriter, when my wife had a traumatic brain injury that left her completely disabled. Everything that had been moving forward with my screenwriting career came to a halt, as I had to take care of her, work two jobs and manage all aspects of our lives. Several times I tried to get back on track, but setbacks kept me from making any real progress. Well now, has become “Now or Never!” This is now my time to fulfill my destiny. Doing this assignment, I learned that I didn’t move backwards, I was just delayed. Also, I’ve gained some spiritual wisdom, that will help me fulfill my screenwriting goals.
Steps in Next 30 Days to Boost Credibility:
• Get back on Linked-In and other social media to re-establish connections and build new ones with Producers and other connected industry folks.
• Write, write, write, and write some more.Credibility Checklist:
1) My Writing Sample: I’m going to start with the first ten pages of my TV show The Ascendance – a Science-Fiction Adventure.
• I think this will deliver on my genre choice and business decisions.
2) Screenwriting Accomplishments: I am an optioned screenwriter.
3) Google Factor: factor = zero
4) My Network: I need to pick up from where I was at three years ago. There will be some catch-up and make-up, but easily doable.
5) Screenwriting Education: UCLA Extension, Robert McKee, Christopher Vogler, ScreenwritingU (Hal Croasmun)
6) Borrowed Credibility: None to date.
7) Imdb Credits: Not yet.
8) Other Credibility:
• Helped build and launch the UPN Television Network
• Worked in Motion Picture Development at Paramount Pictures
• Was V.P. of Creative Affair for a small British/American Prod. Co.Future Actions to Take:
• Get back on Linked-In – build Producer and Agent connections
• Get back in touch with all my old connects.
• Get back to writing every day.
• Retrieve my Mojo! -
Hello Folks,
My name is Mark Charles Ritter. I’ve written seven scripts, in a few different genres, but have also spent time at a major studio MP Development Dept., and as a creative exec. with a small British/American production company. Three years ago my new wife had a traumatic brain injury, which caused me put my writing aside to take care of her and a take on a couple part time jobs to pay our bills. My intention is to use this class to get back to my creative dreams and become an expert writer for hire, who makes a prosperous living, helping projects get made – from home in Spokane, WA, for now. Along the way through this life, I’ve had three definitive UAP encounters – all in the company of others.
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My Name is Mark Charles Ritter, and 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. -
Mark Charles Ritter’s – Query Letter draft #2
Title: THE ASCENDANCE
Written by: Mark Charles Ritter
Genre: 1 hour TV Serial – Science-Fiction / Adventure
When the Galaxy is going to Hell, the only way out is UP!
Risk-addicted, blacklisted investigative reporter, Steven Redmann, has cleaned up his act to resurrect his career. Arriving in Spokane, WA, for his first assignment, to interview the Tribal Casino G.M., Steven blows it gloriously. He was helped by the telekinetic provocations of Harold “Sky River,” who then leads Steven to a historic marker where he induces Steven to have a vision of his previous life – as a Native American dying on the battlefield of the genocidal 1858 Plateau Indian Wars.
Welcome to the epic mission you never knew you signed up for.
Now that you’ve reincarnated to finish the mission, how do you thwart an alien plan to create a Geothermal Armageddon, just as Earth is ready to Ascend? Especially, with that damned shape-shifting Reptilian back to kill you… again! Well, it’s starting NOW…and Harold must train Steven and a team of other Native reincarnates to traverse time, space, and dimension – as Quantum Physics becomes the new Shamanism – from Inner Earth to pre-ancient Lemuria, 52,000 yrs. ago, to trans-dimensional meetings with Ascended Masters. Along the way they must each face and heal their personal traumas, to embody their true highest selves, and fulfill the magnificent mission they have reincarnated for – the preservation of The Ascendance of Earth & Humanity.
If he survives the odyssey of the mission, will Steven have vanquished his demons to accept the hero’s mantle and live with epic love?
…as Earth opens her Universal Stargate and becomes the Galactic Ascension Platform.
If you like the concept, I’d be happy to send you the pilot script and series pitch bible.
Bio: Multi-Optioned Screenwriter and former Development & Creative Executive. Extensive studies in Esoteric Sciences, Shamanism, Ufology, Forbidden History, and Quantum Physics.
Contact Info: Mark Charles Ritter
Phone: (509) 701-7372
Email: markcharlesritter@gmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/-screenwriter-producer
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This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by Mark Ritter.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by
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Mark Charles Ritter’s – Query Letter draft #1
Title: THE ASCENDANCE
Written by: Mark Charles Ritter
Genre: 1 hour TV Serial – Science-Fiction / Adventure
When the Galaxy is going to Hell, the only way out is UP!
Risk-addicted, blacklisted investigative reporter, Steven Redmann, has cleaned up his act to resurrect his career. Arriving in Spokane, WA, for his first assignment, to interview the Tribal Casino G.M., Steven blows it gloriously, helped by the telekinetic provocations of Harold “Sky River”, who then leads him to a historic marker where Harold induces Steven to have a vision of his previous life – as a Native American dying on the battlefield of the genocidal 1858 Plateau Indian Wars.
Welcome to the Epic Mission, you never knew you signed up for.
Quantum Physics is the new Shamanism, as Harold (lone survivor of the mission’s first attempt) trains Steven and a diverse team of other reincarnates to remember the knowledge of their Native past and the secrets of the Blue Orb, on the way to becoming Gridkeepers, guardians of Earth’s energetic grid system that holds the world together – Or tears it apart! But they’d better learn fast, because a Dracos (shapeshifting Human/Reptilian hybrid), known as “The Eraser,” is out to stop them again – after destroying the mission in 1858 – no matter the evil necessary to fulfill the ancient agenda of the fallen Inner Earth Reptilian Races. A little real estate redevelopment project, that starts with blowing the Yellowstone Caldera, and crescendos with a Pacific Ring of Fire, Geothermal Armageddon. Just as humanity is set to enter Earth’s long-foretold Golden Age of Enlightenment & Ascension.
Are the Gridkeepers up to taking on a dark mess of this magnitude?
The trials ahead will force them to traverse time, space, and dimensions – from Inner Earth to pre-ancient Lemuria, 52,000 yrs. ago, to Blue Orb trans-dimensional meetings with Ascended Masters. But always returning to the contemporary Inland Northwest, where their mission must be completed. Along the way the Gridkeepers must each face and heal their personal traumas, to embody their true highest selves, and fulfill the mission they have reincarnated for – the preservation of The Ascendance of Earth & Humanity.
If he survives the odyssey of the mission, will Steven have vanquished his demons to accept the hero’s mantle and live with love in the revelation of our true human evolutionary destiny?
…as Earth opens her Universal Stargate and becomes the Galactic Ascension Platform.
If you like the concept, I’d be happy to send you the pilot script and series pitch bible.
Bio: Multi-Optioned Screenwriter and former Development & Creative Executive. Extensive studies in Esoteric Sciences, Shamanism, Ufology, Forbidden History, and Quantum Physics.
Contact Info: Mark Charles Ritter
Phone: (509) 701-7372
Email: markcharlesritter@gmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/-screenwriter-producer
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Mark Charles Ritter’s – Query Letter
What learned doing this assignment is: I needed to condense my Synopsis. Which was do-able, but probably needs to go a bit further.
Title: THE ASCENDANCE
Genre: Science-Fiction / Adventure
When the Galaxy is going to Hell, the only way out is UP!
Risk-addicted, blacklisted investigative reporter, Steven Redmann, has cleaned up his act to resurrect his career. Arriving in Spokane, WA, for his first assignment, to interview the Tribal Casino G.M., Steven blows it gloriously, helped by the telekinetic provocations of Harold “Sky River”, who then leads him to a historic marker where Harold induces Steven to have a vision of his previous life – as a Native American dying on the battlefield of the genocidal 1858 Plateau Indian Wars.
Welcome to the Epic Mission, you never knew you signed up for.
Quantum Physics is the new Shamanism, as Harold (lone survivor of the mission’s first attempt) trains Steven and a diverse team of other reincarnates to remember the knowledge of their Native past and the secrets of the Blue Orb, on the way to becoming Gridkeepers, guardians of Earth’s energetic grid system that holds the world together – Or tears it apart! But they’d better learn fast, because a Dracos (shapeshifting Human/Reptilian hybrid), known as “The Eraser,” is out to stop them again – after destroying the mission in 1858 – no matter the evil necessary to fulfill the ancient agenda of the fallen Inner Earth Reptilian Races. A little real estate redevelopment project, that starts with blowing the Yellowstone Caldera, and crescendos with a Pacific Ring of Fire, Geothermal Armageddon. Just as humanity is set to enter Earth’s long-foretold Golden Age of Enlightenment & Ascension.
Are the Gridkeepers up to taking on a dark mess of this magnitude?
The trials ahead will force them to traverse time, space, and dimensions – from Inner Earth to pre-ancient Lemuria, 52,000 yrs. ago, to Blue Orb trans-dimensional meetings with Ascended Masters. But always returning to the contemporary Inland Northwest, where their mission must be completed. Along the way the Gridkeepers must each face and heal their personal traumas, to embody their true highest selves, and fulfill the mission they have reincarnated for – the preservation of The Ascendance of Earth & Humanity.
If he survives the odyssey of the mission, will Steven have vanquished his demons to accept the hero’s mantle and live with love in the revelation of our true human evolutionary destiny?
…as Earth opens her Universal Stargate and becomes the Galactic Ascension Platform.
– If you like the concept, I’d be happy to send you the script!
Bio: Multi-Optioned Screenwriter and former Development & Creative Executive. Extensive studies in Esoteric Sciences, Shamanism, Ufology, Forbidden History, and Quantum Physics.
Contact Info:
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Mark Charles Ritter’s – Synopsis Hooks
What I learned doing this assignment is: Mapping out a Synopsis using hooks allowed me to incorporate a lot of the five-season design of the series, beginning with the setup of the pilot, and including: the stair-stepped challenge/dilemma & antagonist, the agent of change/mentor, the impossible goal, the transformational journey, and a surprising yet inevitable ending. Now the question is have I included too much into a synopsis? Or does it show that there is plenty of rich possible story to fill 50+ hours of TV?
2. Hooks:
· Antagonist created problem – Long term degradation of our time matrix.
· Protagonist’s challenges are the assets that make him the right person.
· Magic Mentor – Harold “Sky River” knows the real reasons & higher knowledge
· Visions of the failed first attempt.
· Quantum Physics is the New Shamanism. Science Fusion/Adventure
· Gridkeepers – guardians of Earth’s energetic grid system
· The Eraser – Shape-Shifting Reptilian/Human Hybrid. Killed them once before.
· Geothermal Armageddon
· Traverse time, space, and dimensions. The Blue Orb & Portal Transport
· Inner Earth, Lemuria, Trijon (9th dimensional mtg. w/ Ascended Masters)
· Earth becomes Galactic Ascension Platform
3. Synopsis (first draft):
Title: THE ASCENDANCE
Genre: Science-Fiction / Adventure
When our Time Matrix is slipping into Hell, the only way out is UP!
Risk-addicted, blacklisted investigative reporter, Steven Redmann, has cleaned up his act to resurrect his career. Arriving in Spokane, WA, for his first assignment, to interview the Tribal Casino G.M., Steven blows it gloriously, helped by the telekinetic provocations of Harold “Sky River”, who then leads him to a historic marker where Harold induces Steven to have a vision of his previous life – as a Native American dying on the battlefield of the genocidal 1858 Plateau Indian Wars.
Welcome to the epic mission you never knew you signed up for.
Quantum Physics is the new Shamanism, as Harold (lone survivor of the mission’s first attempt) trains Steven and a diverse team of other reincarnates to remember the knowledge of their Native past and the secrets of the Blue Orb, on the way to becoming Gridkeepers, guardians of Earth’s energetic grid system that holds the world together. Or tears it apart.
But they’d better learn fast because the Devil is already way ahead of them.
Actually, it’s a Dracos (shapeshifting Human/Reptilian hybrid), known as “The Eraser,” who is out to stop them again – after destroying the mission in 1858 – no matter the evil necessary. His heinous works are to fulfill the ancient agenda of the fallen, Inner Earth Reptilian Races. A little real estate redevelopment project, starting with blowing the Yellowstone Caldera, and a crescendo with a Pacific Ring of Fire, Geothermal Armageddon. This would inconveniently shift Earth’s axis, throwing our 3rd Dimensional Universal Stargate out of alignment just as humanity is set to enter Earth’s long-foretold Golden Age of Enlightenment & Ascension. The surviving humans to be enslaved and used as vessels to vampire lifeforce off for eons before the fallen world collapses into space dust.
Are the Gridkeepers up to taking on a dark mess of this magnitude? The trials ahead will force them to traverse time, space, and dimensions – from the many realms of Inner Earth, back to the advanced Pacific continent of pre-ancient Lemuria, 52,000 yrs. ago, to Blue Orb transport to the 9th Dimensional planet Trijon, to commune with higher dimensional guides. But always returning to the contemporary Inland Northwest, where their mission must be completed. Along the way the Gridkeepers must each face and heal their personal traumas, to embody their true highest selves, and fulfill the mission they have reincarnated for – the redemption of Humanity and the Ascension of the Divine Consciousness of the Time Matrix.
If he survives the odyssey of the mission, will Steven have vanquished his demons to accept the hero’s mantle and live with love?
…as Earth opens her Universal Stargate and becomes the Galactic Ascension Platform.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by Mark Ritter.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by
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Mark Charles Ritter’s – High Concept/Elevator Pitch
What I learned doing this assignment is: The Goal/Unique Opposition consideration works very well for my Binge Worthy series. I was able to hang five hooks off of two sentences.
1. Thwart the fallen Reptilian Races’ plan to create a cataclysmic, geothermal Armageddon on Earth, causing planetary pole shift and throwing Earth’s 3rd Dimensional Universal Star Gate out of alinement, blocking the Ascension path for Earth and humanity.
2. Goal/Unique Opposition
3. Elevator Pitch: Now that you’ve reincarnated to finish the mission, how do you thwart an alien plan to create a Geothermal Armageddon, just as Earth is ready to Ascend? Especially, with that damned shape-shifting Reptilian back to kill you… again!
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This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by Mark Ritter.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by
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Mark Charles Ritter’s Marketable Components
Unique:
· Non-Dystopian future – about saving the magnificence of humanity and Earth.
· You don’t have to go to Outer Space to find advanced intelligence alien life, looking to dominate our planet and squash humanity. Look within!
· Science-Fiction becomes Science-Fusion. Quantum Physics and other esoteric sciences reveal greater understandings and possibilities of our shared reality.
· Human-Heroes, with Super-Powers not based on costumes or freak lab accidents – rather, special abilities developed through training and knowledge based in ancient scriptural understandings and the razors edge of developing science.
· No one has told a great story built upon Ascension.
Timely:
· End times consciousness has been growing over the course of our lives. From the post WWII threat of nuclear annihilation to Y2K fears, to the end of the Mayan calendar, to the increase of religious fundamentalism and savior scenarios.
· Despite unquestionable evidence of our destructive human ways, we continue on a daily basis to destroy earth’s ability for human and animal life to thrive or even survive. We are in the middle of our planet’s sixth mass extinction.
· In reaction to the planetary human extremism, fascism, and nihilism, people from all walks of life began to consider the idea of Ascension as a means of escaping the madness, starting near the end of the recent millennium. Since that time, ascension concepts have spread around the world, greatly aided by the growth of social media.
· Earth is now completing its astrological transition from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. This is a transition from consumerism, material values and hierarchies, to intellect, information and collaboration – from Earth to Air. The long-foretold age of Planetary Enlightenment.
· Media has responded and led with programs like Ancient Aliens, streamers like Gaia, must-have UFO/Disclosure content of most streamers, and movies turning esoteric/metaphysic considerations into SciFi/Adventure motion picture empires.
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Mark Charles Ritter / Binge Worthy TV Show / SciFi-Fantasy-Adventure Fans
1. Title: THE ASCENDANCE
Genre: Science Fiction / Adventure
Concept: A washed up reporter thinks he’s resurrecting his journalism career – but it’s future of humanity that he must help resurrect – a mission he and others could not complete as Native Americans in the mid-1800’s. He must lead a team of other reincarnates to heal their wounded souls, traverse time and dimensions, to prevent a Geothermal Armageddon planned by a hidden alien force and preserve the Ascendance path for humanity and our planet.
2. Most Attractive Things: Quantum Physics is the new Shamanism, as this team of Gridkeepers (guardians of Earth’s energetic grid system) must embrace their higher-selves and explore the underpinnings of reality to fulfill their mission. (This is really a Science-Fusion/Adventure.) This is not a story of a dystopian future – it is a story of the unseen, unrecognized magnificence of us, our planet, and our shared ascended destiny – with incredible challenges to preserve it. Redeeming our past, to resurrect our divinity.
3. First Targets: I’m ordering a full plate of Streamers, with a side of Manager/Producers. Because that is where THE ASCENDANCE belongs and that is who is waiting for this show.
4. What I learned: The SciFi genre explores subjects beyond most human experience, which can make it difficult to explain/express simply in a pitch. Do you build the pitch on the pilot or the entire five season story? I’m learning how to better express the meaningful hooks without creating confusion or indifference – how to intrigue without confusing, when conveying sometimes complicated concepts.
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Mark Charles Ritter
I agree to the terms of this release form.
GROUP 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.
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1. Mark Charles Ritter
2. I’ve written or co-written 7 screenplays, and I’ve written 2 TV series pilot scripts.
3. I intend to get my latest TV series set up with one of the major streamers, with help from top representation.
4. I’ve encountered an unusual number of Icons of the 20<sup>th</sup> century under some crazy circumstances: Skipped Astronomy class to hang out with Groucho Marx. Watched a Michigan/Ohio State game with Jack Nicholson. Danced with John Lennon in Bloomingdales. Shot Polaroid selfies with Andy Warhol. Had dinner with Sydney Poitier. Was asked by Steve McQueen to protect his girlfriend, Ali McGraw, while went to the porta-potty. I’ll spare you the UFO encounters.
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BLACK SUMMER Horror Conventions
1. Netflix Series – BLACK SUMMER
(I’m going to be applying the knowledge and experience of this horror genre class to a binge worthy series, so I’ve chosen a horror series that fits the conventions and model of the class.)
2. Concept: A Zombie virus suddenly turns normal life into a horror landscape – family and neighbors dying, only to quickly become the living dead, savagely attacking their own community. The military ruthlessly rounds up the population for evacuation, separating loved ones.
Terrorize the Characters: Lives turned upside down. People running for their lives. Communities rounded up and trucked away. Children separated from parents. Loved ones becoming zombies.
Isolation: Vanishing population and crumbling infrastructure.
Death: Point-blank, cold-blooded execution, to savagely bloody zombie attack.
Monster/Villain: Zombies on the rise!
High Tension: To try and save the masses, the government and military no longer care about the individual. Zombies are winning.
Departure From Reality: Zombies! A world flipped upside down.
Moral Statement: Love is worth fighting and surviving for.
3. The show presents the story in an unforgiving and unrelenting manner. The script sequenced emotional reactions that engaged me in the characters and the situations they faced.
4. Title: THE ASCENDANCE
Concept: Note – This is not the concept for the entire series, rather the concept behind the prime antagonist force of the story. Advanced fallen Reptilian races that have visited Earth for millions of years, keeping massive Inner Earth bases, and feeding energetically off of human fear and anger, must block humanity’s foretold Golden Age Ascension. The surface world agent, The Eraser, who handled matters 165 years ago, has the assignment again and is eager to annihilate the reincarnates once more.
Terrorize the Characters: Gets into characters minds, dreams, and lives. Creates situations where others do the dirty work and victims make terrible decisions.
Isolation: Created in different ways as situations dictate.
Death: Many manners of death, mostly caused by getting the victims to make bad choices and do stupid things. Always bringing out the worst in others.
Monster/Villain: The Eraser – He is a Dracos (fallen Seraphim-Human hybrid) a “Human-Lizard Shape-Shifter,” with Royal Reptilian blood. He has telekinetic and telepathic abilities, which he uses in diabolical and perverse ways.
High Tension: Dependent upon the situation, but always creatively employed, and always highly enjoyed.
Departure From Reality: Who’s reality?
Moral Statement: We’re all serving an agenda. Do you know whose agenda you’re serving?
5. What I learned doing this assignment is… I expect to be able to make The Eraser an epic villain that will be scary as hell but meaningful in how he exposes us. Just follow the steps.
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Mark Charles Ritter
I’ve written five feature scripts and one binge worthy TV show.
The prime antagonist of my SciFi~Adventure TV show is a literal monster, who uses horror and terror to achieve his goals. I want to learn to write him in a way that continually freaks me out… for five years.
I’ve never liked horror movies, ever since Frankenstein freaked my young shit out as a four year old. Well, actually Stanley Kubrick and Mel Brooks helped in my partial recovery. Maybe I’ll change 💩
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Mark Charles Ritter
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.