[Niraj Trivedi]

I, Niraj Trivedi, 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.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Niraj Trivedi]

The Diplomat 5 Star Model

What is the big hook of the show?

A reluctant, unpolished diplomat, is assigned to be the British Ambassador after their air craft carrier is bombed in the Gulf. She thinks she is there to use her expertise of the Middle East to keep things from boiling over, but in reality she is being vetted for the Vice Presidency, without her knowledge, with scheming by the President and her ambassador husband, Hal.

What makes the main characters intriguing and interesting?

Kate/Katie – Kate takes her career seriously and wants to work on meaty issues in places where she can do the most good and bring the most change for the betterment of people. She does not crave nor seek the spotlight, fame, or power. But British protocol is full of pomp and circumstance so we get the ‘fish out of water,’ thing happening. Also, she is nice. But she is also bold. She swallows her pride and plays ball with protocol, getting dressed up and having photoshoots, despising it all the while. So we see that she is willing to check her ego in order to serve. She has a sense of humor but is serious, bold but deferential, holding different paradoxes at the same time. It makes her relatable and we want to see her succeed as a worthy person.

Hal – Hal is also paradoxical in several ways which makes him interesting. While he loves his wife, he’s not above manipulating events around her to get what he wants, thinking it for the best interest of Kate. But it comes at a cost with negative repercussions so it’s ambiguous as to whether he is a help or a hindrance to Kate and what she perceives as her mission. He’s trying hard to take a backseat to let Kate have the spotlight, but acts selfishly when he doesn’t get his way. But that he recognizes greatness in her and wants her to be the vice president, speaks to both his manipulation and adoration of Kate. He loves Kate and Kate loves him, so while he has agreed to split up with Kate, perhaps he sees his scheming as a way to hold their marriage together? And why is he kidnapped at the end of the pilot episode?

Stuart – Stuart has been tasked by the President to vett Katie and perhaps even polish her up for the politics of the vice presidency. He is referred to as Kingmaker and we find out not only has he had a relationship with the Chief of Staff to the President, but he is sleeping with the Head CIA rep at the embassy. He essentially is serving two masters, Kate and Hal/President, and this puts him in interesting situations, trying to maneuver Kate into the political arena while also trying to serve her mission. He is hard to read, which makes him interesting to watch. Also, why was he referred to as Kingmaker? And why does he not like that designation?

What situations causes us to feel both empathy and distress for the characters?

Katie doesn’t get the meaningful assignment she wanted, has to deal with a scheming husband, has to play along with pomp and circumstance, has to be careful to be effective without stepping on egos, all the while going through a separation. Hal passionately loves Kate. Taking a backseat is new to him, but he is trying. He is trying to get Kate to the vice presidency but knows she would resist if the notion was in the open. Stuart has to deal with someone who doesn’t care for ceremony and protocol, which the Brits care very much about, he also has to deal with ex, and with a lover whom he works with, so on both the professional and personal level, he has to navigate with care.

What questions are created by this first episode that can only be answered by watching the entire series?

Who/what country bombed the carrier and what will be the response? Will Kate become VP material? Will Kate and Hal patch things up? The stakes are at both the personal and global level.

How does this pilot create the need to see every single episode?

A timeline of 6 months is established for Kate to be nominated for the VP slot. We believe we know the destination so want to get on board for the journey. There is a scene that describes how the series will unfold. Kate will be maneuvered into higher and higher stakes situations to shape her to become VP material.

[Niraj Trivedi]

Niraj Trivedi

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.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Niraj Trivedi]

There was a lot a value. But if there is one tool I can apply to both writing and life it’s the empowerment visualization meditation that was taught.

[Niraj Trivedi]

Hello,

My name is Niraj Trivedi. I’ve written 3 screenplays, well really two, but I wrote a web series that was basically a feature in disguise so I count that as my third. I’ve also written a few shorts, mainly in film school, but some post-graduation. But it’s been several years since I completed anything. Strangely enough, my creative pursuits of filmmaking and acting lead me into Madness, where I fell into homelessness and mental illness for three years with my mentally ill girlfriend, whom I met through acting. I call that period the Dark Time. After I finally escaped that Hell in 2019 I tried to piece my life back together, getting back on the creative path. I signed up for a Binge Worthy class but only completed one lesson. I didn’t know that I had picked up a number of additional mental health issues, including C-PTSD, and this became an obstacle. Too much trauma that hadn’t been faced and dealt with. I tried the following year to sign up for a MSC but I withdrew from that when the Pandemic hit and I was laid off. But if I search my heart, I know I used the pandemic and my layoff as an excuse to drop out, out of fear and self-doubt. Two strike outs with Screenwriting U lead me believe that my creativity was just permanently dead thanks to prolonged traumatic stress.

What I realized was that if I really wanted to move on with life it wasn’t enough to just deal with the trauma from the Dark Time. I had to transform my character entirely. To do so I underwent a 10 month yoga teacher training program. The program emphasized personal transformation and was emotionally and psychologically grueling but I came out the other side with an empty mind, open heart, and on the way to becoming whole.

I re-entered the film industry on a tv show in the Health and Safety department while also working in the AD Dept as a PA. I know, weird. The show itself had so many scenes dealing with trauma, mental illness, and other triggering situations it too became a grueling emotional and psychological ordeal. At least I had my yoga training to deal with such things. I used the show as an opportunity to face fear as much as I could and developed what I call Bravery Training or a Courage Habit. If I felt fear I faced it, if I felt discomfort I sat with it.

While on hiatus between season 1 and 2 I began fitness coaching for a friend of mine who fell ill. I wasn’t in that great shape but she just need someone to fill in for her. I felt fear so of course I forced myself to do it. And I’m in the best shape of the last several years thanks to that adventure. At some point I had the deep realization that I was on the Hero’s Journey and had been for quite some time but didn’t know it. And most people don’t realize they are on their own quest as well.

Months ago I decided if I couldn’t work in the creative arts and I could work in the healing arts so began taking classes on psychology and life coaching while still working those long days on set. I reached a turning point when I decided to take advanced yoga teacher training. Part of the training is the continual discussion of archtypes and mythology. As the program went on something sparked to life in me again. Something I thought was dead. And interestingly enough while we were on hiatus the show got canceled. And now THIS door has opened.

What I really want out of this program is to continue the process of self-transformation, using mastery of craft as a vehicle for self-mastery. My life has only changed as much as I’ve been willing to change. Yoga gave me an empty mind and open heart, my Atlanta adventure onto set and in fitness hear in Florida gave me a fighting spirit. Now I seek the Alchemist’s power. I know I’ll have to become more disciplined, vulnerable, courageous, compassionate, wise, humble, creative, studious, etc. and so much more to become successful as a writer and as a person and it’s a journey I look forward to traveling with my fellow adventurers.

[Niraj Trivedi]

Niraj Trivedi. 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.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.