[Mark Veau]

1) The importance of empowerment vs. disempowerment was pretty powerful.

2) Positive emotional states was eye-opening.

3) Titles: The “Friday the 13th” title story was very inspiring – I was empowered by that very much.

4) Hal’s look at the problems with feedback was extremely interesting.

5) Giving more feedback using mastery sheets than getting it is more valuable. Not the other way around.

5) Perfection is a creativity killer.

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Mark Veau.

[Mark Veau]

Hello Everyone!

I’m Mark Veau from Massachusetts. I, along with my business partner and collaborator, Michael Savino, formed Media House Films in 1984 when we produced a short film in college that still gets a lot of attention to this very day, “Attack of the KIller Refrigerator.” We’ve written and produced three other short films (all horror & suspense) throughout the years – most shot on 16mm. One of those projects shot on 16mm won the 25th Annual Houston International Film Festival. Last year we were the subject of the multiple award-winning documentary, “Snapper: The Man-Eating Turtle Movie That Never Got Made.” That project, and all of our previous titles, will be released later this year worldwide in an agreement reached with distributors Terror Vision. Previously, in 1990, “Attack of the Killer Refrigerator” was distributed by Donna Michelle nationwide on VHS. Rarest.org ranks it at #10 of the the rarest VHS tapes All-time and IMDB ranks it at #15 of the most outrageous film and television titles all-time. Copies of that VHS sell for over $1200 on-line as the title and tape have reached “holy grail” status for VHS collectors.

We have written five screenplays but are currently concentrating solely on “Attack of the Killer Refrigerator 2.”

I hope to improve our screenwriting and story telling – the most important aspect of all filmmaking processes – with this six month course. After taking the horror class offered earlier this year – I have no doubt about ScreenwritingU’s ability to lead me to that goal.

Something unique abut me… well, I made my living as a radio personality and program director for 30 years here in Massachusetts (and across the country in syndication) working for some of the biggest broadcasting corporations in the nation. I retired from radio in 2018 to solely concentrate on my family first – and my screenwriting movie career – I love them both!

Even after almost 40 years of doing this, I am excited to learn new ways of improving our writing process and I have no doubt this class will be exactly what we need.

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Mark Veau.

[Mark Veau]

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I, Mark Veau, 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.

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Mark Veau.

[Mark Veau]

Mark Veau – Attack of the Killer Refrigerator 2″ – Lesson 7: Monster Reveal Track

What I Learned Doing This Assignment is: Creating Demand for each clue and reveal was tougher than I had expected.

The Steps:

1) Who is your monster and what is their terror?

Powers:

A 1948 GE Spacemaker Refrigerator… state of the art and built to last for generations to come. One of General Electrics best-selling units of all time.

The Refrigerator’s terror is imposed on its victims from many different macabre and bloody angles.

Rows of bloody, razor-sharp, shark-like teeth chomp you in half like you’ve been caught in a giant metal bear trap. Its metal shelving can cut you to pieces in a fraction of a second, either being caught in front of its snapping jaws – or – trying to outrun them when they are launched rotating with velocity through the air.

The hulking metal beast can crush your bones by forcing its weight. Its can run you over like you’ve been hit by a bus. It can fire rounds of frozen peas and other small arms frozen food products like a Gatling-gun. Higher caliber weapons, such as frozen freeze pops and icicle-spears can be deployed at any time. Cans of soda and beer can be launched either as mortar and grenade rounds – or – fired at high-velocity like a Pedro Martinez fastball.

It’s massive jaws can crush your bones before swallowing you into its hellish alligator-like bloody pulsating gullet where you are processed and regurgitated to serve the Refrigerator as one its Zombie Guards forever.

It can appear on any level of the mansion at any time without warning – and – when it grows a horrific, rotten, grotesque head giving it a new face and voice really raises this evil appliance’s ultimate terrifying weapon – its unpredictability.

Limitations:

This terrifying ice box seemingly has zero limitations. It moves, hunts and kills at will –

Weaknesses:

The Killer Refrigerator does have one glaring weakness – it needs power to keep killing. Like a vehicle that needs to gas up, the Killer Refrigerator can pull up to any of the mansion’s electrical outlets to recharge.

Plan/Purpose/Appetite:

To continuously grow its army of Zombies through killing as many victims as possible and claiming their souls to do so. The more Zombies, the more powerful the Refrigerator becomes.

Plan/Purpose/Appetite:

To continuously grow its army of Zombies through killing as many victims as possible and claiming their souls to do so. The more Zombies, the more powerful the Refrigerator becomes.

2) Sequence:

Opening/Prologue:

We first see the power of the Killer Refrigerator in a SERIES OF SHOTS from the original short film being viewed on a laptop screen.

1st Act: Foreshadowing

Fred, the protagonist, wins the original actual Refrigerator from the first movie in an online auction. It arrives at his family’s mansion on the day of his sister Molly’s party of the year.

1st Act: Turning Point

Fred is bullied and assaulted in his own bedroom by Derek, Nick and Joey.

At one point, they stuff into the Refrigerator and close the door to increase the torture before plugging in the appliance, a huge no no. The Fridge comes to life bringing the wrath of Hell with it.

2nd Act: 1st Half

By now, the monster hides and attacks from within the mansion with devastating guerrilla warfare-like strategy.

2nd Act: The Monster is Worse Than We Thought

When the appliance integrates human-like qualities – like growing a head – it becomes a lot more worse than we thought it could.

2nd Act: 2nd Half

The Refrigerator hunts, pursues and attacks any remaining high school students still left breathing within the walls of the mansion.

3rd Act:

Fred and the small group of survivors solve the mystery, find out what the Refrigerator’s Achilles heel is, then fight back – “killing” the monster.

RESOLUTION:

After finally defeating the Refrigerator – the script takes a plausible but total turn. This is one ending you should’ve seen coming – but – didn’t. And again… NO… it is not a dream/nightmare.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by  Mark Veau.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by  Mark Veau.

[Mark Veau]

Mark Veau – “Attack of the Killer Refrigerator 2” – Lesson 6: Character Death Track

What I learned doing this assignment is:

We took a closer and harder look at the reason each character meets their demise. Since the setting is a mansion-full of teenagers at the biggest bash of the year, there are instances of victims being slaughtered just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time – the speaking and main roles have more defined reasons why they die. This lesson was crucial in putting all of it in a clearer perspective. Since the story calls for dozens (perhaps even more) grisly and creative ways that the Killer Refrigerator takes its victim’s lives, we want to make sure that the “gratuitous violence” still moves the story forward. This lesson accomplishes that without a doubt.

Character Death Track:

1) JOEY

Why: He’s one of Derek’s Minions – His “left hand” Man. He’s a bully who also torments Fred.

How: Fred uses Joey’s decapitated head as a shield during the Killer Refrigerator’s initial attack.

2) MALE PARTY GUEST #1 & MALE PARTY GUEST #2

Why: Escape attempt takes them into it.

How: Sliced into pieces by the Refrigerator’s razor-sharp shark-like teeth.

3) MALE PARTY GUEST#3

Why: Escape attempt takes him into it.

How: Sliced like a block of cheese after the Killer Refrigerator fires a high-velocity, rotating metal shelf at him.

4) GOTH PARTY GUEST #1, GOTH PARTY GUEST #2, GOTH PARTY GUEST #3, GOTH PARTY GUEST #4 & GOTH PARTY GUEST #5

Why: Cornered, they try to talk their way out of death by reasoning with, and vowing to serve, the metal beast in desciple-like fashion .

How: The Killer Fridge attacks the group like a pack of rabid dogs. The Goths are literally shredded by the Refrigerator’s rapidly-snapping jaws and blood & flesh-drooling and glistening teeth. Their ripped apart bodies, sucked into the killer ice-box’s gullet to “Hell.”

5) MALE/FEMALE/NON-BINARY PARTY GUEST

Why: Escape attempt takes them into it.

How: Decapitated by the Killer Fridge during its initial rampage on the third floor. The Refrigerator gulps the head down like a snack.

6) COSPLAY GIRL PARTY GUEST#1

Why: Surprised/Blindsided.

How: Decapitated by the Killer Refrigerator firing a high-velocity pie in its tin plate, spinning like a circular saw blade at her head.

7) BEAUTIFUL BRUNETTE PARTY GUEST#1

Why: Thrown into the monster.

How: Pushed into the Refrigerator’s massive jaws by screaming, stampeding teenagers.

8) SOPHOMORE PARTY GUEST#1, SOPHOMORE PARTY GUEST#2, SOPHOMORE PARTY GUEST#3, SOPHOMORE PARTY GUEST#4

Why: Escape attempt takes them into it.

How: Snagged and Eaten in rapid succession as they attempt to flee the carnage.

9) THE PRICK GUY

Why: Sacrifices himself.

How: Pushes Molly, Fred’s sister and host of the party, out of the way of the Refrigerator’s snapping jaws to save her by sacrificing himself. The Refrigerator shoves its metal shelves right through his body – and splitting our victim at the head, torso and legs simultaneously. The remains sucked into the Refrigerator.

10) THE PARTY DJ

Why: Backed into it.

How: Trapped on his DJ stage in the ballroom by the approaching metal beast, the DJ throws his sound and lighting equipment to fend of the fiend. To no avail of course – The Refrigerator engulfs him whole.

11) FRIGHTENED MALE SENIOR

Why: Surprised/Blindsided.

How: Quietly trying to escape by tip-toeing by in the dark – The Refrigerator, hiding in the shadows, yanks this poor guy off of his feet by wrapping its electrical cord around his neck with whip-like speed and accuracy before being cut in two and sucked into the Fridge’s gullet.

12) PARTY GUEST (O.S.)#1, PARTY GUEST (O.S.)#2 & PARTY GUEST (O.S.)#3

Why: Escape attempt takes them into it .

How: As the terrified survivors huddle safe behind a barricaded door – for now – they can only HEAR their friends’ SCREAMS as they are being hunted and ripped apart on the floors below.

13) SAMANTHA’S POSSE MEMBER #1, SAMANTHA’S POSSE MEMBER #2 & SAMANTHA’S POSSE MEMBER #3

Why: Charge blindly into action .

How: As Samantha and the other Survivor’s huddle safe behind a barricaded door – for now – Her Posse searches in vain to save her and because they have her coat – they are blindsided and eaten by the Refrigerator hiding in the dark corner of the kitchen amongst the other appliances.

14) MOLLY’S CAT – PEPPER

Why: Because there was a cat “eaten” in the first “Attack of the Killer Refrigerator.”

How: Sucked into the evil appliance’s jaws – then “uploaded” to serve in the Refrigerator’s Zombie Army forever.

15) NICK

Why: Attempt something that fails.

How: Joey may have been Derek’s “Left Hand Man” but Nick is his “Right.” He loves to bully Fred, maybe even more than his two cohorts did. Nick’s flesh and muscle is completely stripped from his body; leaving only bloody bone showing from the down. Nick is taken trying to climb the ladder leading to the attic’s trap door in the ceiling.

16) ERIC

Why: Surprised/Blindsided.

How: Wanting a cold(er) beer, he is consumed after re-plugging in the Refrigerator after the first major battle. Eric is regurgitated and reborn as the grotesque face and voice of the Killer Refrigerator.

17) ANNE

Why: Surprised/Blindsided.

How: She is consumed after Eric “Becomes the Fridge” after he re-plugged the Refrigerator into an outlet after the first major battle. Her decapitated head lives and interacts through the rest of the story, from within the Refrigerator’s main compartment.

18) MOLLY

Why: Escape attempt leads them into it/Give up..

How: Badly-injured, she is eaten alive in front of her brother Fred and the last of the survivors in a shocking sequence.

19) DEREK

Why: Escape attempt leads them into it & He is Fred’s nemesis/antagonist.

How: Trying to escape with “Fred’s Girl” now – Derek’s ex – The Refrigerator rips Derek’s back off right to the bone so that you can see right through Derek’s body. Derek now becomes one of the Refrigerator’s Zombie Guards.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by  Mark Veau.

[Mark Veau]

Mark Veau

What I learned from this lesson is – we have a lot of action in this story and this lesson helps keep everything organized.

“Attack of the Killer Refrigerator 2” Lesson 5: Horror Situation Track

Step 1: Potential Horror Situations

A. ISOLATED SITUATIONS

• Lost

• Trapped

• Shackled

• Being lured into danger

• Forces of Nature

B. PURSUED SITUATIONS

• Attack & Chased

• Forced into a Dangerous Environment

• Impending Doom

• No Escape

• Monster Approaching

• Monster Trying to Get You

• Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire

C. TORTURE SITUATIONS

• Injured/Wounded/Debilitated

• See Another Killed

• Transformed Into Something Else (Zombie, Rotting Monster)

• Physically Tortured

• Mentally Tortured

D. TORMENTED SITUATIONS

• Tricked

• Friends In Danger

E. PARANOIA SITUATIONS

• Internal Conflict in the Group

F. SPOOKY SITUATIONS

• Slimed (Fridge Drool)

• Fall Through the Floor (Dumbwaiter Shaft in our case)

• Injured/Wounded/Debilitated

• Threatened

• Face to Face with the Monster

• Can’t See (Darkness, Smoke, Pandemonium)

• Environment Changing Around You

G. DECEPTIVE SITUATIONS

• Walking into a Trap

• Lured into the Horror

Step 2: Determine Which Work For Your Plot

Out of the seven listed Situation Categories, all of the compiled lists are vital to the plot and are used on-purpose with plausibility within the story. Every bit of the above are essential to the narrative.

Step 3: Add a Reaction

A. ISOLATED SITUATIONS

LOST – Victims lost in the mansion attempting to ESCAPE. Fred, Samantha and Derek lost in the mansion’s basement (Refrigerator’s lair) HIDE, ESCAPE and FIGHT.

TRAPPED – All victims and subsequent survivors are trapped in the mansion via the Refrigerator’s hold on the electrical grid and its hold on all possible exits as a means of escape by freezing all windows and doors completely shut. Fred tries to SOLVE IT while working with the final surviving group to HIDE, ESCAPE and FIGHT.

SHACKLED – In our case, by being restrained by the army of Zombie Guards (regurgitated souls of the Refrigerator’s victims) for Fred and Samantha. ESCAPE and FIGHT.

BEING LURED INTO DANGER – When Eric’s Head emerges and becomes the Refrigerator’s head and voice, he tricks the survivors by imitating Eric (before his death) into thinking he needs help after the first major battle. The group: DENIAL. TRIES TO SOLVE IT. ESCAPING.

FORCES OF NATURE – Without forces of nature, the Refrigerator wouldn’t be able to trap the mansion full of teenagers inside by freezing all of the windows and doors shut. All of the cast (and ensemble cast) try to ESCAPE it.

B. PURSUED SITUATIONS

ATTACKED & CHASED – This applies to ALL characters, as the whole massive lot of them, partying in the mansion, are attacked and chased throughout. ESCAPE and FIGHT.

FORCED INTO A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT – The mere emergence of the Refrigerator and its rampage makes the entire mansion a dangerous environment. Every square foot. Top to bottom. Characters’ reactions: DENIAL. TRY TO SOLVE IT. HIDE. ESCAPE. FIGHT

IMPENDING DOOM – Felt by all inside the mansion, especially for the small band of survivors who exhibit all five of the trait reactions: DENIAL. TRY TO SOLVE IT. HIDE. ESCAPE. FIGHT

NO ESCAPE – The same as impending doom: Felt by all inside the mansion, especially for the small band of survivors who exhibit all five of the trait reactions: DENIAL. TRY TO SOLVE IT. HIDE. ESCAPE. FIGHT

MONSTER APPROACHING – There are numerous instances of this happening throughout. The characters of course immediately try to ESCAPE. There is a reaction that we use that wasn’t listed under any of the situation categories, REASON with the metal beast. A group of toga-clad GOTHS try this reaction in a deciple-like manner, bowing and pledging their allegiance to this dark force – to no avail of course. It’s a bit of humor in the horrific world engulfing the screen.

MONSTER TRYING TO GET YOU – Again, many instances of this as well throughout. It’s a constant TRY TO SOLVE IT, HIDE, ESCAPE, FIGHT for all.

OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FIRE – We take this great old proverb literally – this perfectly describes Fred, Samantha and Derek being forced into the dark, cavernous, spooky basement – the Refrigerator’s lair – from the upper floors, more specifically the kitchen, where under the direction of the Refrigerator, they are attacked by every appliance and “flying in formation” pots and pans that inflict tremendous pain and torture on the survivors. ESCAPE. FIGHT.

C. TORTURE SITUATIONS

INJURED/WOUNDED/DEBILITATED – Many, many of all three on many bodies that lay writhing in pain before being swallowed up by the Refrigerator’s massive jaws. The step before being turned into one of the Refrigerator’s Zombies by being processed through the evil appliance’s gullet and electrical field. It’s another try to ESCAPE and FIGHT response, but at his point it’s too late.

SEE ANOTHER KILLED – This happens all the time as dozens of characters are mowed down in front of each other by the Refrigerator’s arsenal of shark-like teeth and weapons. Some try to FIGHT (futile). All try to ESCAPE.

TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING ELSE (ZOMBIE, ROTTING MONSTER) – All of the Refrigerator’s victims are indeed transformed into Zombies, doomed to guard the mansion’s electrical room and power flowing from the street to the breaker box. The gruesome transformation is torture until the full-fledge zombie effect takes hold of their mangled bodies. At this point it is over for them. There is NO ESCAPE. There is NO FIGHT left. They only exist now to serve the Refrigerator – nothing else.

PHYSICALLY TORTURED – The Refrigerator does like to play sometimes before he kills. He will bite off a limb or slice you bad, before killing you. He commands and controls EVERYTHING to inflict the maximum amount of physical pain possible. ESCAPE and FIGHT are the characters’ only options.

MENTALLY TORTURED – Ditto physically tortured. This especially happens when the Refrigerator sprouts Eric’s Head and now has a voice. TRY TO SOLVE IT, HIDE, ESCAPE and FIGHT are again the characters’ only options.

D. TORMENTED SITUATIONS

TRICKED – The Refrigerator tries to trick the survivors by using Eric’s Head and Voice to lure them. The survivors’ initial reaction is to TRY TO SOLVE IT.

FRIENDS IN DANGER – Even though many groups of friends are in constant danger as they are slaughtered and hunted throughout the mansion, this especially applies to Fred and his relationship with Samantha, his love interest. HIDE, FIGHT and ESCAPE together with her is Fred’s goal.

E. PARANOIA SITUATIONS

INTERNAL CONFLICT IN THE GROUP – This is the overriding theme for the survivors as they consist of Fred, his sister Molly, his love interest Samantha, Samantha’s “boyfriend” Derek, Fred’s arch rival, Derek’s right hand man, Nick and Fred’s best friend Patel “Slasher” Slasherelli. They are always in conflict… especially under these dire circumstances. TRY TO SOLVE their differences and come together as a team to FIGHT and ESCAPE is the only way to survive.

F. SPOOKY SITUATIONS

SLIMED – The Refrigerator’s Drool “slimes” a lot of its victims in the process of being eaten. Attempt to FIGHT and ESCAPE.

FALL THROUGH THE FLOOR – In our case… it’s a fall through the mansion’s dumbwaiter shaft for Derek that deposits him in the Refrigerator’s lair – the scary, dark, ominous and massive mansion basement. TRY TO SOLVE IT, HIDE, FIGHT and ESCAPE for him and the survivors who follow him there.

INJURED/WOUNDED/DEBILITATED – Applies to many characters but especially to Fred’s sister, Molly. She is tormented, terrorized and wounded relentlessly. HIDE, ESCAPE and FIGHT are her only options despite her wounds.

THREATENED – All characters are threatened but none more than Fred and Samantha, especially when they’re trapped in the basement. TRY TO SOLVE IT, HIDE, FIGHT and ESCAPE are the only options to survive.

FACE TO FACE WITH THE MONSTER – What could be more terrifying than seeing one of your classmates became the rotten and grotesque face and voice of this evil appliance? Many victims come face to face with the monster, but it really impacts Fred and Samantha the most during the final battle scene in the basement. FIGHT and ESCAPE are the only final options.

CAN’T SEE – There are several instances of the Refrigerator manipulating characters’ sight lines with smoke and fire, dry ice-like fog, the pandemonium it creates, light and darkness. ESCAPE to survive and fight again is the only option.

ENVIRONMENT CHANGING AROUND YOU – With the Refrigerator’s lock down grip on the mansion and its electrical grid, it turns the massive house into a different environment depending on what floor you’re on. The top floor is ice cold (freezer). The lower floors mimic the Refrigerator’s main compartment. The scary, dark, ominous and massive mansion’s basement (crisper). HIDE, ESCAPE and FIGHT.

G. DECEPTIVE SITUATIONS

WALKING INTO A TRAP – When the final four survivors enter the mansion’s basement, they are literally walking into the Refrigerator’s lair – the entire basement becomes the Refrigerator’s trap, especially the electrical room – guarded by the Fridge’s Zombie Army. The whole basement is a deceptive situation. TRY TO SOLVE IT, HIDE, FIGHT and ESCAPE are the only survivor goals.

LURED INTO THE HORROR – The Refrigerator uses this technique when Eric’s Head tries to entice the survivors to emerge from hiding. TRY TO SOLVE IT, HIDE, FIGHT and ESCAPE are the only survivor goals as they were with the walking into a trap deceptive situation.

DAY 5 OUTLINE: ACT 1

Atmosphere of Evil Established: Scenes of kills from the original “Attack of the Killer Refrigerator” are presented on a laptop screen.

Horror Situation: Screams and Scenes of Death in the jaws of the metal beast!

Reaction – Rewind. Stop. Fast forward. Stop. Rewind. Stop. Fast forward. Zoom in. ESCAPE.

Connect with the Characters : Immediately from the laptop screen revealing all main characters in a high school classroom and subsequent school hallway at the characters’ lockers.

Derek (antagonist) warns, then assaults Fred (protagonist) not to interfere with him. Molly, Fred’s older sister warns him not to interfere with her big party at their house this weekend when their parents are away.

Safety Taken Away: When the Refrigerator gets plugged in at Molly’s party all hell breaks loose.

Horror Situation: The emergence of the terrifying metal monster with big shark-like teeth.

Reaction: HIDE, ESCAPE and FIGHT for all of the terrified high schoolers partying in the mansion.

All victims and subsequent survivors are trapped in the mansion via the Refrigerator’s hold on the electrical grid and its hold on all possible exits as a means of escape by freezing all windows and doors completely shut.

Fred tries to SOLVE IT while working with the final surviving group to HIDE, ESCAPE and FIGHT.

INTERNAL CONFLICT IN THE GROUP – This is the overriding theme for the survivors as they consist of Fred, his sister Molly, his love interest Samantha, Samantha’s “boyfriend” Derek, Fred’s arch rival, Derek’s right hand man, Nick and Fred’s best friend Patel “Slasher” Slasherelli. They are always in conflict… especially under these dire circumstances. TRY TO SOLVE their differences and come together as a team to FIGHT and ESCAPE is the only way to survive.

CAN’T SEE – There are several instances of the Refrigerator manipulating characters’ sight lines with smoke and fire, dry ice-like fog, the pandemonium it creates, light and darkness. ESCAPE to survive and fight again is the only option.

TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING ELSE (ZOMBIE, ROTTING MONSTER) – All of the Refrigerator’s victims are indeed transformed into Zombies, doomed to guard the mansion’s electrical room and power flowing from the street to the breaker box. The gruesome transformation is torture until the full-fledge zombie effect takes hold of their mangled bodies. At this point it is over for them. There is NO ESCAPE. There is NO FIGHT left. They only exist now to serve the Refrigerator – nothing else.

DAY 5 OUTLINE: ACT 2

ENVIRONMENT CHANGING AROUND YOU – With the Refrigerator’s lock down grip on the mansion and its electrical grid, it turns the massive house into a different environment depending on what floor you’re on. The top floor is ice cold (freezer). The lower floors mimic the Refrigerator’s main compartment. The scary, dark, ominous and massive mansion’s basement (crisper). HIDE, ESCAPE and FIGHT.

FACE TO FACE WITH THE MONSTER – What could be more terrifying than seeing one of your classmates became the rotten and grotesque face and voice of this evil appliance? Many victims come face to face with the monster, but it really impacts Fred and Samantha the most during the final battle scene in the basement. FIGHT and ESCAPE are the only final options.

SLIMED – The Refrigerator’s Drool “slimes” a lot of its victims in the process of being eaten. Attempt to FIGHT and ESCAPE.

PHYSICALLY TORTURED – The Refrigerator does like to play sometimes before he kills. He will bite off a limb or slice you bad, before killing you. He commands and controls EVERYTHING to inflict the maximum amount of physical pain possible. ESCAPE and FIGHT are the characters’ only options.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by  Mark Veau.

[Mark Veau]

Mark Veau

What I learned from this lesson: Was to really concentrate on the characters were warned not to do it & safety taken away – It made me really look into these two sections and confirm that we had included them in the story – I am confident that this lesson confirms that we did.

“Attack of the Killer Refrigerator 2” – The Horror Plot Track

Act 1: Set Up For Horror

Atmosphere of Evil Established:

Footage from the original film’s kills being looked at on a laptop… rewind… fast forward… stop… looked at in closer detail.

Connect with the Characters:

All of the main characters are introduced immediately after the atmosphere is established in their high school classroom and the adjacent hallway at their lockers.

The Characters Are Warned Not To Do It:

Our protagonist, Fred, is assaulted, warned and threatened by his older classmate, adversary/antagonist, Derek, not to interfere with his life. Fred is also warned by his older sister, Molly, not to interfere in any way with the big bash she is throwing while their parents are away for the weekend.

Denial of Horror:

Like Paul Revere’s ride, Fred rushes through the mansion full of teenagers and warns that the Refrigerator is coming – even jumping on the DJ’s stage and ripping the microphone from him in a last ditch effort to deliver his message . Nobody pays attention to him – Until it’s too late.

Safety Taken Away:

The first indication that something bad is going to happen is when the Refrigerator is plugged in and comes to life.

There is a second “first” indication to the unaware, bigger group partying downstairs in the mansion’s ballroom… is when the Refrigerator, after already killing many teenagers upstairs – glides onto the dance floor wearing a toga, the “dress code” theme for the party. After a few signature Fridge dance moves it unleashes its shark-like teeth and other weapons on the crowded dance floor, slaughtering anything that gets in its path before chasing the ones who get away… for now.

Seeing a Refrigerator unload like that on “innocent” teenagers immediately will take away any sense of safety for anyone. Refrigerators are just not supposed to do that.

Monster: The Nature of the Beast:

It’s in the title… “Attack of the Killer Refrigerator 2.” At this point in time we have seen how this metal beast operates – for now. However, things are about to get a lot worse.

Act 2: The Point of No Return

Isolated/Trapped/Abducted:

The Refrigerator has trapped all of the teenagers in the mansion by freezing all possible exits shut. There is no way out. No way in. Because of its hold on the houses “grid,” you cannot even get a signal on your iPhone. No internet. No landline. Nothing. From the outside everything appears normal, so nobody is even going to stop by for a welfare check, no chance.

One of Us Killed:

The “purging” of the main group of survivors begins when Nick, Derek’s right hand man and fellow bully, is taken out – all of his flesh from the waist down literally ripped from the bone.

MIDPOINT – THE MONSTER IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT

Full Pursuit by the Killer:

Here’s where our Killer Refrigerator becomes even more dangerous… the last male victim, Eric, is reborn, as his now grotesque head emerges through the top of the Refrigerator. Now the evil appliance has a face and a voice as Eric’s Head, making it even more terrifying. And… Even more terrifying: Eric’s Head has a counterpart, Anne’s Head, his girlfriend’s decapitated head who lives inside the Refrigerator.

Terrorized:

The Killer Fridge stops at nothing to chase down and rip apart the small, core group, of survivors. The remaining teens have no hope at this point, they are just delaying the inevitable.

Stress sets in. Their emotional state breaks down. Fear overtakes rational thought to this point.

Act 3: Full Out Horror

Fight to the Death:

There are two major fights to the death:

The 1st: Takes place on the mansion’s third level: The core group comes together, despite differences, to fight and “kill” the Refrigerator.

The 2nd: Takes place in the dark expansive depths of the mansion’s basement that contains many rooms, including the Refrigerator’s lair, the electrical room guarded by the regurgitated, Zombie-like souls of its victims.

This is where the final successful battle takes place against all odds.

Hysteria:

Returns to the final two survivors that we are aware of, Fred and Samantha, as they battle Zombies and the Refrigerator together.

The Thrilling Escape From Death:

Fred, Samantha and (at this time) Derek all escape close calls with the Refrigerator in the basement before the epic final battle.

Death Returns To Take One More:

This happens after the first major battle upstairs. The Refrigerator inadvertently gets plugged in again by an unaware Eric who was having sex with his girlfriend, Anne, in the mansion’s tower all night and missed the carnage.

Resolution:

We literally and completely flip the script with a surprise ending that you should’ve seen coming throughout – and NO, it is not a dream like in the “Wizard of Oz” – The script bucks the trend with a very happy ending.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by  Mark Veau.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by  Mark Veau. Reason: typos

[Mark Veau]

Mark Veau

What I learned doing this assignment is… it’s a great way to make sure your characters are integrated into the story the correct and most thrilling way possible.

The Concept:

“Attack of the Killer Refrigerator 2”

The high school party of the year is about to get sliced, diced and iced by a maniacal metal appliance – Can a group of survivors overcome its deadly wrath or will they be frozen in ts wall of souls forever?

The Group:

B) Social Event – It’s the high school party of the year. Teens pack a Victorian mansion.

C) Social Group – All of our characters are a big part of this group of partying teens.

The Dying Pattern:

A) Put 6 or 8 characters together and kill them off one by one.

The Characters:

Fred LaVigne – Fifteen – younger brother to one of the most popular girls in school, Molly, the party’s host. Fred is president of the “Attack of the Killer Refrigerator” fan club and a major horror movie buff. He is THE CARRIER because he wins the original Refrigerator movie prop in an online auction and it’s delivered to the house “just in time” for his sister’s party. Fred also exhibits his role as a LEADER/RESCUER/LOVE INTEREST as the mayhem around the survivors becomes more terrifying.

Molly LaVigne – Eighteen – Fred’s older sister – she exhibits both the INNOCENT and THE COMPLAINER traits as her party is ruined with all this death.

Samatha Ryan – Eighteen – Molly’s best friend and THE most popular girl in school. She is in a relationship with Derek, a bully and Fred’s adversary. She plays both the INNOCENT and LOVE INTEREST roles and dabbles in the MONSTER BAIT role as well. She is in an on and off relationship with Derek, but surprisingly, she has feelings for Fred.

Derek Sanders – Eighteen – The class “thug” who is “dating” Samantha is definitely the very definition of the REBEL/RULE BREAKER role. He hates Fred more than anything and the only reason he hasn’t killed him yet, is because he is friends with Molly.

Nick – Seventeen – Another REBEL/RULE BREAKER and Derek’s right hand man.

Patel “Slasher” Slasherelli – Fifteen – Fred’s best friend. Slasher plays the role of RESCUER with a splash of RED HERRING – He also possesses some INTROVERT/LONER qualities… as does Fred.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by  Mark Veau.

[Mark Veau]

Mark Veau

What I learned doing this assignment is… there are more facets to pay attention to when creating a great monster – Analyzing the Mystery and Mythology more in depth I thought were especially helpful.

Tell us what or who your monster is:

A circa 1948 “state of the art” Refrigerator – Built to last!

Their Terror:

Hell bent on terrorizing its victims before the killing and maiming, the Refrigerator’s unpredictable behavior is backed up by its bloodied shark-like teeth and seemingly endless arsenal of deadly, food-related ammo and weapons. This maniacal metal appliance will not stop its deadly wrath until all of its victims are dead and he possesses all of their young souls.

Their Mystery:

Can we kill the Refrigerator by killing the electrical supply coming into the house before more victims are taken?

Their Fear-Provoking Appearance:

The Killer Refrigerator is essentially made from two perspectives: Ironic Visual to start… a Refrigerator that has sprouted menacing, blood-soaked, razor-sharp, shark-like teeth. Later combined with Grotesque & Disturbing… when the Refrigerator grows the head of its last male victim. Now the appliance can talk, upping the terror. His words uttered through a head made from spoiled cold cuts, rotten leftovers and oozing wounds.

Their Rules:

It’s a machine. Its only motivation is to kill and destroy. It is unstoppable. When it grows its head, the Refrigerator’s rules are motivated by its “romantic” pursuit of Samantha, the most popular girl in school.

Their Mythology:

The blurred lines of machine and man are crossed…

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by  Mark Veau.

[Mark Veau]

Mark Veau –

“Attack of the Killer Refrigerator 2”

Logline: The high school party of the year is about to be sliced, diced and iced by a maniacal metal appliance. Can a group of survivors overcome its deadly wrath? Or, will they be frozen in its wall of souls forever?

Monster: A circa 1948 state of the art Refrigerator

Interesting Terror: Refrigerator comes to life after being plugged in. It grows shark-like teeth, and along with an arsenal of food-related weapons of death at its disposal, it eliminates a mansion full of high school partiers in most shocking fashion.

Environment: A spooky Victorian mansion (circa 1875). The Refrigerator’s lair, the electrical room in the basement, is guarded by the Refrigerator’s Zombies, re-animated victims of its deadly wrath.

People Who Will Be Terrorized: The main cast of teenagers and the entire high school’s senior class along with dozens of underclassmen.

Primal Fears:

Fear of… the dark, the unknown, that something terrible will happen, death, unseen, zombies, pain & torture, predators and being alone.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by  Mark Veau.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by  Mark Veau.

[Mark Veau]

Hello! My name is Mark Veau and I am from Worcester, MA. In 1984, while still in college, I co-produced a short horror/comedy called “Attack of the Killer Refrigerator” to run on the campus tv station – as it turns out, it ended up by being one of the most iconic B-movie, cult horror titles in history. Rarest.org lists it at #10 of the rarest VHS titles ever. VHS copies sell for well over a $1000.00 on line to this very day. That prompted us to write and shoot another horror “The Hook of Woodland Heights” which ended up being a “side two” to the “Refrigerator” VHS national release in 1990. Also in 1990 we started shooting on 16mm with a project that we wrote titled “Snapper” – think JAWS but with a giant killer man-eating snapping turtle instead of a shark – which was a recent subject of an award-winning documentary in 2021, “Snapper: The Man-Eating Turtle Movie That Never Got Made.” In 1991 we wrote and produced a Christmas-themed horror/thriller “Days Before Christmas” on 16mm which won first place/ gold award at the 25th Annual Houston International Film Festival in 1992. My collaborator and business partner since “Killer Refrigerator,” Michael Savino, and I continue to write and pitch and I am happy to say that this year all of our previous projects are being re-released on BluRay/DVD and streaming through a distribution deal that we signed last year. I have also spent over three decades in corporate broadcast radio, both on the air and as a program director. I retired from radio a few years back to concentrate solely on making films and screenwriting. My company is Media House Films, LLC. mediahousefilms.com

[Mark Veau]

Mark Veau

I agree to the terms of the confidentiality agreement.

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.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by  Mark Veau.