Paige Macdonald
Forum Replies Created
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Paige’s Show Empathy/Distress
What I learned doing this assignment is that AI did the heavy lifting this time round. By continuing a thread where AI knows my main characters, I found its responses for this prompt for Big Picture Empathy/Distress situations to be solid, especially for a first round and without digging into specifics. There were still appropriate nuances for each character, and it did this work for me lickety-split. Here’s where AI can cut my brainstorming and understanding to a fraction of time it would’ve taken me alone. Bravo!
Assignment #1: SUCCESSION / Episodes 1-7
Here are some of the Big Picture Empathy/Distress situations that take place over Season 1:
1. Logan Roy has a heart attack, and his declining health creates distress and empathy as he grapples with his own mortality and relevance.
2. Kendall’s drug past catches up with him Episode 7, and we feel as he succumbs to the darkness again.
3. Shiv’s political aspirations and her choices ultimately create distress within the family and empathy for her since she’s considering working with an “enemy” and going for the brass ring.
4. Roman is Logan’s lap dog. His quest for recognition within the family and the company elicits both empathy and distress as the others don’t take him seriously.
5. Connor paying for the love of his woman who doesn’t care for him back creates both empathy and distress for him and the family.
6. The repeated family betrayals and power struggles is continuous, and each has their own agenda going on.
a. Logan feels betrayed by the “no-confidence” vote as the family thinks he is no longer competent.
b. Kendall is not backed by his father and can never please him. Recently fired by him.
c. Shiv realizes she doesn’t love the man she is marrying.
d. Tom is using Greg to do his dirty work because he thinks Greg is a suitable scapegoat.
e. Logan admits planting the negative media about Kendall.
7. Media controversies and scandals causing the family to face public scrutiny and to navigate their choices.
Assignment #2: ZEROES
Distress for Zara Harrington:
A. Undeserved misfortune: Zara discovers that her ambitious plans have inadvertently endangered the safety of the Zeroes, leading to isolation and distrust among her peers.
B. External Character conflicts: Zara faces opposition from a charismatic and influential member of the settlement, creating a powerful adversary.
C. Plot intruding on life: The settlement’s leadership targets Zara as a potential threat, putting her in the crosshairs of a covert investigation that threatens her freedom.
D. Moral dilemmas: Zara is forced to choose between betraying a trusted friend to achieve her goals or sacrificing her ambitions for the sake of loyalty.
E. Forced decisions they’d never make: Zara is pressured into a deal that compromises her principles, forcing her to navigate a web of deception and moral ambiguity.
Empathy for Zara Harrington:
A. Put them in distress: Reveal Zara’s past struggles and losses on Earth that shaped her drive for success, fostering empathy for her relentless pursuit of a better life.
B. Make them relatable: Showcase Zara’s vulnerability by exposing her fear of isolation and abandonment, making her relatable to those who understand the universal fear of being alone. C. Universal experiences that are emotional: Explore Zara’s yearning for a sense of belonging, highlighting the emotional depth of her desire for connection and acceptance.
Distress for Marie “MC” Connor:
A. Undeserved misfortune: MC’s cyber-prosthesis malfunctions due to sabotage, putting her at a physical disadvantage and intensifying her struggle for acceptance.
B. External Character conflicts: MC becomes entangled in a dangerous rivalry within the black market, leading to personal and financial losses.
C. Plot intruding on life: The settlement’s leadership exploits MC’s medical condition for their own agenda, placing her in a morally compromising position.
D. Moral dilemmas: MC discovers that her actions inadvertently contributed to the distress of fellow Zeroes, forcing her to grapple with guilt and moral ambiguity.
E. Forced decisions they’d never make: MC is coerced into betraying a close friend, challenging her loyalty and ethical boundaries.
Empathy for Marie “MC” Connor:
A. Put them in distress: Highlight MC’s struggles with her physical limitations, emphasizing the emotional toll of navigating a world that doesn’t accommodate her fully.
B. Make them relatable: Showcase MC’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance, resonating with individuals who have faced challenges related to self-esteem and identity.
C. Universal experiences that are emotional: Explore MC’s quest for validation and recognition, tapping into the universal desire for acknowledgment and understanding.
Distress for Isaac Connor:
A. Undeserved misfortune: Isaac is falsely accused of treason within the resistance, causing distrust and fracturing the unity among the Zeroes.
B. External Character conflicts: Isaac faces a formidable adversary within the settlement’s leadership, threatening the safety of the Zeroes and his role as their protector.
C. Plot intruding on life: The settlement’s leadership exploits Isaac’s past mistakes, manipulating public perception and eroding trust in his leadership.
D. Moral dilemmas: Isaac is confronted with a choice between prioritizing the safety of his sister, MC, and the greater good of the resistance, forcing him to make a heart-wrenching decision.
E. Forced decisions they’d never make: Isaac is coerced into compromising the resistance’s principles for the sake of protecting the Zeroes, leading to internal conflict and moral compromise.
Empathy for Isaac Connor:
A. Put them in distress: Explore Isaac’s burdensome sense of responsibility for the Zeroes, eliciting empathy for the weight of leadership and the sacrifices he makes.
B. Make them relatable: Showcase Isaac’s struggle with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, making him relatable to those who grapple with feelings of inadequacy.
C. Universal experiences that are emotional: Highlight Isaac’s desire for justice and fairness, tapping into the universal emotional response to the pursuit of truth and righteousness.
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Paige’s Show Relationship Map
What I learned doing this assignment is that the forums don’t accept tables, so a list format is best for here. It was also easier for me to digest AI’s output with a list. Aside from that, I realized that really my character relationships should intersect, and they should fight for or against the same things, so I’m starting to adjust that.
Assignment #1: SUCCESSION / Episodes 1-6
Logan and Kendall:
Surface: CEO-son dynamic.
Common Ground: Ambition to maintain control of Waystar Royco, shared business interests.
Relationship Conflict: Power struggle, trust issues. Competition with each other.
Relationship History: Father-son relationship with a long-standing CEO-son dynamic.
Relationship Subtext: Kendall’s past drug addiction, ongoing struggle for validation.
Relationship Arc: Ongoing power struggle and influence, evolving dynamics with his children.
Logan and Roman:
Surface: Playful dynamic, perceived lack of seriousness.
Common Ground: Shared family background, playfulness.
Relationship Conflict: Sibling rivalry, disagreements over family loyalty.
Relationship History: Sibling rivalry, growing up together.
Relationship Subtext: Roman’s humor and irreverence as a defense mechanism.
Relationship Arc: Shifting from jesting to a more serious role, recognition within the family.
Logan and Shiv:
Surface: Political consultant, desire for independence.
Common Ground: Political aspirations, desire for independence, shared family background.
Relationship Conflict: Disagreements over family loyalty and corporate direction.
Relationship History: Sibling rivalry, shared upbringing.
Relationship Subtext: Shiv’s political ambitions, desire for recognition.
Relationship Arc: Navigating loyalty to the family and corporate decisions.
Assignment #2: ZEROES
Zara and MC:
Surface: Mutual respect and growing tension, unspoken competition for Isaac.
Common Ground: Share a strong desire for a way to escape the spaceport and create a better future for themselves.
Relationship Conflict: Power struggle over the Zeroes, differing ideas on how to achieve their goal. Zara’s engineering expertise challenges MC’s authority, and the tension between them threatens the group’s unity.
Relationship History: Their history evolves with their power struggle and their desire to find a way out.
Relationship Subtext: Mutual admiration, competition, and distrust.
Relationship Arc: Allies with shared goals to rivals with differing ideas on how to achieve those goals.
Zara and Isaac:
Surface: Mentors for each in their area of expertise, growing affection.
Common Ground: Love of all things Earth used to be, a shared desire for better lives for themselves.
Relationship Conflict: Zara’s pragmatic approach vs. his idealism.
Relationship History: Their history evolves as they push and pull each other with their emotions.
Relationship Subtext: Deep emotional connection that is tested by the power struggle over how to reach their shared goals.
Relationship Arc: Their bond is tested, but their shared goal keeps them united…until his death?
MC and Isaac:
Surface: Younger sister-older brother and protector dynamic. She does his support and guidance.
Common Ground: Dedicated to the well-being and survival of the Zeroes.
Relationship Conflict: Isaac’s protective nature and leadership can sometimes stifle MC’s desire for recognition and independence. Their roles within the Zeroes lead to disagreements.
Relationship History: Have a deep and enduring sibling bond, as they have had to rely on each other since birth within settlement and the challenges it holds.
Relationship Subtext: Sibling rivalry, differing approaches to leadership and resistance.
Relationship Arc: Mix of support and tension. Their commitment to the Zeroes keeps them connected, but their differences create conflict.
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Paige’s Character Emotions
What I learned doing this assignment is to go with the flow with the help of different AI outputs. The characters are shaping up to feel more three-dimensional with each pass, and the one that may be too good to be true, I may kill off. Literally. As in the first season. Like GOT. Make him beloved and sacrifice him to stir shit up.
Assignment #1: SUCCESSION / Episodes 1-5
LOGAN
• A. Hope: Healthy enough to remain in control / Fear: Not being needed anymore.
• B. Want: Power / Need: Dominance.
• C. Base Negative Emotion: No longer valued, worthless / Public Mask: A family man, in control.
• D. Weaknesses: Hot headed temper, his failing health.
• E. Triggers: Others challenging his capabilities, his decisions.
• F. Coping Mechanism: He blindsides people in an underhanded manner; he’s a bully.
KENDALL
• A. Hope: To gain his father’s approval and to be CEO / Fear: He won’t get the position and will be undermined.
• B. Want: To be successful, to be CEO / Need: Approval.
• C. Base Negative Emotion: Worthless, self-doubt / Public Mask: An important executive.
• D. Weaknesses: Past drug addiction, he lacks confidence.
• E. Triggers: His father’s attacks on him, others doubting his role in the company.
• F. Coping Mechanism: Seeks confirmation and approval from others, sometimes through secretive and deceptive behavior.
ROMAN
• A. Hope: To prove he matters / Fear: That he’s not up to task or a joke.
• B. Want: To please his father, recognition / Need: To show the world he matters.
• C. Base Negative Emotion: Worthless, not valued / Public Mask: Impartial, comedian.
• D. Weaknesses: Doesn’t have a good work ethic, glides by in life, his lack of seriousness.
• E. Triggers: Questioning his ability to do the job, not being taken seriously.
• F. Coping Mechanism: Uses humor and irreverence to deflect tough situations.
Assignment #2: ZEROES
ZARA
• A. Hope: Find a way back to Earth, what she knows. / Fear: Being trapped in space forever, the unknown.
• B. Want: To prove her worth / Need: To be accepted, to belong.
• C. Base Negative Emotion: Anger and vulnerability at her circumstances and those who’ve wronged her/ Public Mask: Tough exterior, image of confidence.
• D. Weaknesses: Fear of abandonment and isolation, which leads to moments of self-doubt and vulnerability.
• E. Triggers: Situations that remind her of her past life of Earth, making her confront the fear of losing her home.
• F. Coping Mechanism: Throws herself into her work, her engineering projects, and by trying to be the toughest person in the room.
MC
• A. Hope: Sense of normalcy and acceptance, despite her physical disability. / Fear: Lack of control over her own life.
• B. Want: To secure a future for herself and her brother / Need: Recognition and validation for her contributions, beyond her physical limitations.
• C. Base Negative Emotion: Profound sense of inadequacy / Public Mask: Confident, cheerful person.
• D. Weaknesses: Her reluctance to ask for help and her fear of rejection.
• E. Triggers: Situations that challenge her independence.
• F. Coping Mechanism: Uses humor to deflect tough situations.
ISAAC
• A. Hope: To lead the Zeroes to a better future, to prove himself / Fear: That his actions may not be enough, and he’ll disappoint everyone, especially MC.
• B. Want: To be independent, capable as the older brother / Need: His sister’s guidance. And support more than he’d like to admit, creating a tension between his desire for autonomy and his dependence on MC.
• C. Base Negative Emotion: Insecure, not confident / Public Mask: Image of optimism, role model for the others and MC.
• D. Weaknesses: Overprotective nature, struggles with self-esteem, can be impulsive and naïve.
• E. Triggers: Situations where he feels powerless or overlooked. Situations where the safety of MC and the Zeroes are at stake.
• F. Coping Mechanism: Takes on the role of the strong, unwavering leader, even if it’s sacrificing his own feelings and wants.
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Paige’s Intriguing Character Layers
What I learned doing this assignment is the more I poke AI for specifics, the more interesting options appear. I could go down a rabbit hole here. But for now, I liked and recorded various options to explore for some of my main characters. In time, I’ll have to make them more succinct like the example show list.
Assignment #1: SUCCESSION / Episodes 1-4
Character Name: Logan Roy
• Role: 80-year-old patriarch and owner of the 5th largest media conglomerate in the world, Waystar Royco.
• Hidden agendas: To maintain control of his empire. To test all of his children, maybe to see who is really worthy to take up his mantle at some undetermined time in the future.
• Competition: He is in competition with his children, especially Kendall who was poised to take over but that hand over has not officially happened. Thus, it’s a perpetual tug-of-war within the family.
• Conspiracies: He conspired with Marcie to show up at his big charity event to announce he was taking the reins of the company back.
• Secrets: The 3.25 loan from the bank a decade ago had ramifications in Episode 3. Pretending he’s such a warm, caring family man when he backstabs his own kids. Pretending he’s strong enough to still do the job.
• Deception: He often deceives his family members and employees by strategically withholding information and manipulating situations to serve his interests.
• Wound: He’s physically weak now and that affects his emotional demeanor as well. He hates to feel worthless and not in charge.
• Secret Identity: A cutthroat bastard, who takes no prisoners.
Character Name: Kendall Roy
• Role: Second oldest son who’s positioned to be Logan’s successor.
• Hidden agendas: To wrestle the control of the company from his father if need be. To establish his own legacy.
• Competition: He’s in fierce competition with his own siblings to prove himself as the rightful heir to his father’s empire. He also needs to prove himself to the world – the other employees, the press, his ex-wife.
• Conspiracies: He leaks the news of his father’s illness.
• Secrets: A drug past.
• Deception: He goes behind his father’s back to explore a potential takeover of the company. He engages in secretive tactics and deceptive actions to further his goals.
• Wound: Needs and wants his father’s approval but he fears him too. His failed marriage.
• Secret Identity: A conspirator in his own right.
Character Name: Roman Roy
• Role: Youngest son and a potential heir, but more carefree and irreverent than the others.
• Hidden agendas: He downplays his ambition, but he wants a piece of the pie, too.
• Competition: He’s in competition for the top spot against Kendall and the other siblings.
• Conspiracies: Roman is not a corporate conspirator. He’s a mischief maker.
• Secrets: Jerking off in front of the “world” from his glass office window. Is potentially not up for the details needed for the COO job.
• Deception: Telling Logan that Kendall is not up to the job of CEO. Mostly, again, he downplays his true ambitions with humor.
• Wound: He was treated poorly in LA in his previous foray into the corporate world. Believes his ideas weren’t valued.
• Secret Identity: He’s a wolf in sheep clothing.
Assignment #2: ZEROES
Character Name: Zara Harrington
• Role: A possible reluctant hero to lead the uprising on behalf of all the Zeroes. Or will she be the one to betray them all?
• Hidden agendas: Here’s a possible list –
o Revenge for the “work accident”: Zara might be seeking revenge against those responsible for the “work accident” that led to her exile, and she could be plotting to expose or confront them within the settlement.
o Discovery of a Way Back to Earth: Zara could be secretly researching and developing a method to return to Earth, potentially without the other settler’s knowledge, in pursuit of a personal goal or mission.
o Ascension to Leadership: Zara might have ambitions to take a leadership role within the settlement, even if it means betraying the current leaders or staging a coup to establish her own authority.
o Engineering a Technological Breakthrough: Zara may be working on a groundbreaking tech advancement in secret, one that could either save or significantly alter the fate of the settlement, depending on her ultimate goals.
• Competition: She’s in competition with the other settlers, particularly those who desire power or control within the settlement.
• Conspiracies: Here’s a possible list –
o Sabotage of Life Support Systems: Zara could stumble upon evidence that someone within the settlement is intentionally sabotaging the life support systems, jeopardizing the survival of all the settlers. Uncovering the saboteur’s identity and motives could become a central plot point.
o A Hidden Power Struggle: Zara may discover that there is a covert power struggle among the council of elders or other influential figures within the settlement. Her involvement in exposing this conspiracy could disrupt the established order.
o Illicit Experiments: Zara might uncover a series of secretive and morally questionable experiments conducted within the settlement, possibly related to genetic engineering or advanced tech.
o The Truth About Earth’s Situation: Zara could uncover a conspiracy that involves the actual conditions on Earth, which may be far different from what the settlers have been led to believe. Could profound implications for their future.
o An Outside Threat: Zara may become aware of an external threat, such as a rival space settlement, which the settlement’s leadership is keeping hidden. Addressing this threat could lead to unexpected alliances and conflicts.
• Secrets: Here’s a possible list –
o True Culprit of the “Work Accident”: She is. Has kept it hidden from everyone.
o Mysterious Benefactor: Zara has a secret benefactor who has been providing her with advanced tech, information, or resources. She is torn between maintaining this alliance and the fear of revealing it to others.
o Surviving Family Member: Contrary to her claim of having no close family left, Zara may have a surviving family member who is hidden within the settlement, potentially in a high-ranking position. This could impact her loyalties and actions.
o Personal Involvement in a Hidden Project: Zara could have played a significant role in a classified project conducted before her exile, and she’s desperate to keep her past involvement a secret, as it could have catastrophic consequences for her if revealed.
o Family Ties to the Council of Elders: Zara’s family has deep-rooted connections to the council of elders, a fact she has concealed. She’s been maneuvering to manipulate the council’s decisions and safeguard her interests, all while presenting herself as an outsider.
o Connection to a Rival Settlement: Zara has a hidden communication link with a rival space settlement, and she’s been secretly gathering information about their tech, resource, and intentions, all while maintaining the appearance of loyalty to her current settlement.
• Deception: Zara’s ability to deceive and manipulate others, coupled with her ambition, could lead her to engage in acts of deception and betrayal. Raises questions about her loyalty and moral boundaries.
• Wound: Here’s a possible list –
o Abandonment Issues: Grew up in a dysfunctional family with little emotional support. Left her a fear of forming close relationships and a need for self-reliance.
o Betrayal by a Trusted Friend: Left her with trust issues and the inability to confide in others, making it difficult for her to form true alliances.
o A Deep Loneliness: Despite her tough exterior, Zara is plagued by intense loneliness. Longs for a true connection but fears rejection, causing her to maintain a façade of independence and indifference to others.
o Survivor’s Guilt: Zara carries profound guilt over the “work accident” she caused, which resulted in the injury or loss of colleagues and friends. Blames herself for their suffering and cannot forgive herself for her role in the tragedy.
• Secret Identity: She’s cutthroat beneath a good-girl façade.
Character Name: Marie “MC” Connor
• Role: Isaac’s sister and the group’s morale booster. In her position as the Loading Dock Coordinator, she ensures the flow of essential goods. Simultaneously, she operates a covert black market, providing a lifeline for those in need.
• Hidden agendas: Here’s a possible list –
o Securing Her and Isaac’s Future: MC’s primary hidden agenda might be to secure a better future for herself and her brother, Isaac, at any cost, even if it means making morally questionable decisions within the black market.
o Gaining Control of the Black Market: MC could be secretly plotting to gain complete control of the black market, consolidating her power and influence over the settlement’s resources and trade.
o A Hidden Alliance with Outsiders: Planning an escape from the settlement to Earth or another settlement?
o Uncovering the Truth about the Settlement’s Leadership: Investigating the true motives and actions of the settlement’s leadership, questioning their integrity and potential conspiracies.
The truth behind the ban on childbirth and mandatory birth control: Is not solely due to concerns about genetic makeup or bone density but rather has a more sinister motive, such as a hidden experiment or project involving the Zeroes’ genetic characteristics. This revelation could lead to a significant uprising or resistance from the first gen space-born teens who have been kept in the dark about the true purpose of the ban. It would expose the leadership’s unethical actions and potentially lead to a struggle for the Zeroes rights and autonomy within the settlement.
• Competition: MC could find herself in competition with rival black-market competitors, and the senior leadership.
• Conspiracies: Here’s a possible list –
o Resource Redistribution Scheme: MC may be conspiring with a group of settlers to covertly redistribute essential resources from the settlement’s leadership to those in need. This conspiracy involves a network of individuals, including MC, who secretly work together to ensure a fairer distribution of resources, all while avoiding the leadership’s scrutiny.
o Escape Plan: MC might be working with a small group of Zeroes, including Zara, to develop an escape plan to leave the settlement and return to Earth or explore other options. The group conducts covert meetings and activities aimed at outsmarting the leadership and overcoming the physical limitations of the Zeroes, all while keeping their true intentions hidden.
• Secrets: Here’s a possible list –
o Medical Condition: While it’s known she uses a cyber-prosthesis to walk in gravity environments, she could be hiding the full extent of her medical condition, its cause, or the treatments she requires.
o Black Market Connections: MC’s involvement in the black-market could be more extensive than anyone knows. She may have powerful connections, or a hidden agenda related to the underground trade.
o Knowledge of Zara’s Past: MC may be aware of critical information about Zara’s past or her reasons for her exile to the settlement. She could use that information for various purposes – against Zara, or as a temporary allegiance.
• Deception: MC’s involvement in the black-market requires her to maintain a façade of innocence while operating under the radar.
• Wound: Her physical disability has left her with emotional and psychological scars, impacting her self-esteem and relationships.
• Secret Identity: MC may have a secret identity or a pseudonym she uses when conducting black-market operations. The revelation of her dual identity could have significant consequences for her and those she interacts with.
Character Name: Isaac Connor
• Role: Protective older brother of MC, the oldest Zero in the settlement, Zero-G Technician, he fights for the survival of all the Zeroes.
• Hidden agendas: Here’s a possible list –
o Uncover the Truth about the Zeroes’ Exile: Isaac may be secretly determined to uncover the real reasons behind the exile of the first-generation space-born teens (the Zeroes). He wants to reveal the hidden motives of the settlement’s leadership and seek justice for the Zeroes.
o Protect MC at All Costs: Isaac’s primary hidden agenda could be to protect his sister, MC, no matter what it takes. He’s willing to go to great lengths to ensure her safety and well-being, even if it means challenging the settlement’s leadership.
o Form a Resistance Movement: Isaac might be secretly working to gather like-minded individuals among the Zeroes and sympathetic settlers to form a resistance movement aimed at challenging the leadership’s control and uncovering their secrets.
o Alliance with Outsiders: Isaac could be covertly communicating with outsiders, such as rebels or sympathizers from Earth, to gather support and resources for the Zeroes’ cause, keeping these alliances hidden from the settlement’s leaders.
o Discover the Truth About Earth: Isaac’s hidden agenda might involve a quest to learn the truth about Earth’s current condition and why it’s considered uninhabitable. He seeks to uncover information that could change the Zeroes’ fate.
• Competition: His determination to advocate for the Zeroes leads to rivalry and conflict.
• Conspiracies: Here’s a possible list –
o Zeroes’ Uprising: Isaac may be a central figure in a conspiracy to lead the Zeroes in a coordinated uprising against the settlement’s leadership, with the goal of demanding better treatment and revealing the truth about their exile.
o Black Market Infiltration: Isaac could be part of a conspiracy to infiltrate and expose the secrets of the settlement’s black market. His goal is to reveal the corrupt practices within the black market and how it impacts the settlers.
o Earth’s True Conditions: Isaac could be involved in a conspiracy to uncover the real conditions on Earth, which are being kept secret by the settlement’s leadership. The conspiracy aims to reveal the truth and potentially change the settlers’ perception of their exile.
• Secrets: Here’s a possible list –
o Past Betrayal: Isaac could have betrayed a trusted friend or ally in the past, leading to severe consequences for that individual. The guilt and remorse from this betrayal haunt him, influencing his actions and decisions.
o Hidden Agendas within the Resistance: Despite leading the resistance against the settlement’s leadership, Isaac might have a hidden agenda that goes beyond the Zeroes’ well-being. He could be secretly seeking power or control that could jeopardize the movement’s purity and intentions.
o Ties to a Faction with Extreme Methods: Isaac could secretly have connections to a faction or group willing to use extreme methods, even violence, to achieve their goals. His association with this group puts him at odds with those seeking a more peaceful approach to change within the settlement.
• Deception: He conceals his true alliances and intentions to protect the Zeroes.
• Wound: Loss of his first love due to settlement’s harsh conditions. Possible betrayal by a mentor.
• Secret Identity: Isaac’s true identity as the resistance leader remains concealed from most of the settlers, allowing him to move covertly and organize actions against the leadership.
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For those who may have not seen the FB post: Hal and Cheryl have a family emergency and had to go to Seattle to take care of his mother. They will be back Friday. These missing assignments probably won’t be taken care of until then, so please be patient on their behalf.
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Hi Elizabeth,
This was Lesson #3. Just noting if you wish to move it over to the correct spot.
Cheers,
Paige
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Paige’s Engaging Main Characters
What I learned doing this assignment is to focus on making my central main characters binge-worthy, though this still only scratches the surface.
Assignment #1: SUCCESSION / Episode 3
A. Role in the show:
Logan Roy: The 80-year-old family patriarch with failing health who refuses to relinquish control of his media conglomerate.
Kendall Roy: Logan’s second son who is initially positioned to be the successor of Waystar Royco.
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:
Logan: Purpose: Is to maintain control of his company and empire at all costs. Expertise: He built up this massive conglomerate from the ground up.
Kendall: Purpose: Is to prove himself to his father and to take over the family business.
C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?
Logan: In episode 3, Logan’s debt of 3.25 billion to a bank that he secretly borrowed from a decade earlier becomes the central plot point.
Kendall: Beneath his ambitious façade is a vulnerable young man seeking Daddy’s approval, a troubled past and drug addiction.
D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?
Logan: In episode 3, Logan is mostly bedridden and unavailable.
Kendall: Approaches a nemesis to solve the company’s liquidity issues. He seduces his ex-wife into returning to him when she is still intent on leaving.
E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?
Logan: He’s both vulnerable and ruthless. He treats Shiv and Kendall unpredictably in this episode.
Kendall: He vacillates between determination, rebellion, and vulnerability. He’s an ass and he cares.
F. Empathetic: Why do we care?
Logan: His health is very questionable during the whole of episode #3.
Kendall: He’s fighting for the life of the company, and for his father’s approval, who shits on him at the very end of this episode.
Assignment #2: ZEROES
Genre: Sci-Fi Drama
Journey: A gifted teen engineer from Earth is exiled to a spaceport orbiting Earth, forced to navigate a cutthroat world of first-generation space-born teens, all prisoners of their environment with no foreseeable future.
Who are the main characters?
Zara Harrington and Marie “MC” Connor
A. Role in the show:
Zara Harrington: A possible reluctant hero to lead the uprising on behalf of all the Zeroes. Or will she be the one to betray them all?
Marie “MC” Connor: Isaac’s sister and the group’s morale booster, Loading Dock Coordinator and black-market operator.
B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:
Zara Harrington: Purpose: Her skillset may have the key to the Zeroes survival? She’s resourceful and innovative.
Marie “MC” Connor: Purpose: MC’s resourcefulness and ability to operate effectively in Zero-G environments make her indispensable in the settlement, not to mention her role as a black-market operator.
C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?
Zara Harrington: Zara is hiding her ruthless ambition beneath her good-girl demeanor. The fact is the “accident” was no accident.
Marie “MC” Connor: Here’s a possible list of MC’s secrets:
1. Medical Condition: While it’s known she uses a cyber-prosthesis to walk in gravity environments, she could be hiding the full extent of her medical condition, its cause, or the treatments she requires.
2. Black Market Connections: MC’s involvement in the black-market could be more extensive than anyone knows. She may have powerful connections, or a hidden agenda related to the underground trade.
3. Knowledge of Zara’s Past: MC may be aware of critical information about Zara’s past or her reasons for her exile to the settlement. She could use that information for various purposes – against Zara, or as a temporary allegiance.
D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?
Zara Harrington: Zara is constantly pushed to cross moral boundaries to achieve her ambitions, which raises questions about the ethical cost of her actions.
Marie “MC” Connor: MC’s involvement in the black-market forces her to grapple with moral dilemmas, especially in a place where resources are scarce.
E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?
Zara Harrington: Zara’s next move is often uncertain as she navigates the harsh environment and the challenges it presents.
Marie “MC” Connor: MC’s actions can be unpredictable, especially when her loyalty to her brother and her commitment to survival are at odds.
F. Empathetic: Why do we care?
Zara Harrington: She’s alone in the world, and yet she’s determined to make her way. She’s a fighter and so we sometimes forgive her for her questionable actions.
Marie “MC” Connor: MC’s medical issues make her vulnerable as she fights to survive and move in regular gravity environments. She’s indicative of why many of the Zeroes can never go to Earth.
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Paige’s Three Circle of Characters
What I learned doing this assignment is that generative AI punches out a lot of ideas in mere seconds, but there are only nuggets that are useable. You have to keep finessing what you want, and it takes time to instruct AI on that. What it does do is to churn the imagination and get it going. The human mind is still much, much more creative.
Assignment #1: SUCCESSION / Episode 2
Main Characters Circle:
1. Logan
2. Kendall
3. Roman
4. Shiv
Connected Circle:
1. Connor
2. Greg
3. Marcy
4. Tom
5. Gerri
6. Rava
7. Frank
8. Lawrence Yee
9. Karl
10. Eva
11. Willa
12. Marianne
13. Karolina
Environment Circle: Hospital staff, drivers, bodyguards, doorman, some Board executives, and assistants
Assignment #2: ZEROES
Main Characters Circle:
1. Zara Harrington, 19, a gifted engineer with a good-girl demeanor, finds herself at the space settlement due to a “work accident”; she’s a survivor and conniver with ambitious heights in mind, willing to step over anyone to get there, with little to lose having no close family left, she’s willing to step over anyone to achieve her goals, unaware that the settlement is a one-way ticket with an uncertain future.
2. Isaac Connor, 20, the oldest first-gen, space-born and the unofficial caretaker of the ZEROES. He’s responsible, protective, and as a Loading Dock Coordinator, he also runs the underground black market of goods.
3. Marie “MC” Connor, 19, is Isaac’s sister and the more outgoing and adventurous of the siblings, often taking on the role of the group’s morale booster. She’s wears a cyber-prothesis to help her walk around in gravity environments because of her medical issues; in Zero-G, she’s a badass.
4. Cassandra “Cass” Grayson, 18, a tech-savvy hacker and cyber-activist who is passionate about uncovering the truth and believes the Earth-born colonists were brought to Generation Zero-G under false pretenses.
Connected Circle:
1. Ethan Connor, 42, father of Isaac and Marie, shuttle pilot who’s about to be deployed to Mars.
2. General Olive Taggart, a high-ranking Earth military officer determined to assert Earth’s dominance over the settlement, viewing the Zeroes as liabilities.
3. Elijah “Eli” Lawson, 21, Earth-born politician’s son with a natural talent for manipulation.
4. Colonist Historian
5. Brilliant scientist who developed the tech that allowed Earth-born colonists to join the settlement.
6. Security Chief
Environment Circle: Other Zeroes in the background, cooks, laborers, technicians, maintenance, sanitation, logistics, officers, executives, military
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SUCCESSION 5 Star
What I learned doing this assignment is that 1) the Big Picture Hook seems to center around the central protagonist who drives the whole series, no matter how many players there are. 2) Irony and humor are good techniques to offset unlikeable characters and to make them intriguing. 3) The empathy/distress pendulum swings in almost every scene and makes us feel for the plight of these characters, whether we like them or not. 4) A substantive TV pilot sets up a host of open questions that we want answered, and we can only watch the show to get those answers. 5) And those open-ended questions and a striking cliffhanger invites the obsession to keep with the series.
1. Big Picture Hooks
Ask this: What is the big hook of this show?
SUCCESSION: A curmudgeonly 80-year-old media mogul with failing health refuses to relinquish control of his conglomerate.
2. Amazing and Intriguing Character
Ask this: What makes these main characters intriguing and interesting?
Logan Roy: Logan is the powerhouse behind this family and a bastard to boot, but his declining health also shows him as a feeble old man who’s not ready to let go of the reins of his empire…and he may die in the process.
Kendall Roy: Kendall is a pasty white executive, who inherited the reins to his station, but who has high ambitions and thinks too highly of himself. He also still holds tightly onto Daddy’s strings and needs to prove himself to gain his father’s approval. He’s extremely vulnerable and takes a gut punch when the heir role is pulled out from under him.
Greg: A down-and-out low life, who can’t even hold onto a job dressed as a costumed character. He’s sent to his great uncle Logan to make good, and he’s such a fish out of water in this environment.
Roman Roy: Roman is Logan’s youngest son, far from the corporate type with his truth-telling mannerisms, irreverence, and humor, but he has a charm about him. He’s a fun counterpart to the more serious-minded family members.
Shiv Roy: Shiv is Logan’s only daughter, and she is shown to be astute, politically savvy, and somewhat distant from the family business.
Connor Roy: Logan’s eldest son is “water, he flows”. He’s doesn’t give a damn about the business at all and won’t play his father’s games. He’s somewhat eccentric, quirky, and detached from all that is going on around him with the family dynamics.
3. Empathy / Distress
Ask this: What situations causes us to feel both empathy and distress for these characters?
Empathy: A feeble old man not knowing where he is in his own home. Peeing where he shouldn’t.
Distress: Thinking “you’re the man”, i.e., Kendall Roy, only to be undercut by the smaller businessman who says, “no, thanks,” followed by a “fuck-you, Daddy’s boy” version of dialogue.
Empathy: Kendall seems to feel it’s going to work out despite the “f-you.” He looks vulnerable here. And one can admire his subsequent go-getter attitude, balanced with the humor around “calling one’s Dad”.
Empathy: The irony around how unexcited Logan is about his birthday and the “announcement”.
Distress/Empathy: Being forced to wear one of those heavy amusement park costumes. Getting sick in one is even worse. (Greg)
Distress: Kendall not knowing that money is not the end-all, be-all, and not knowing how to solve the issue at hand.
Empathy: Roman who enters with irreverence, a motor mouth, and his sage, and who knows he’s not a “corporate cock-suck”. But he’s smart and he knows what’s up. He’s a truth teller.
Empathy/Distress: Logan, still appearing as alone in his wealthy fortress, and fed up with the headline of his son who is to take over.
Empathy: Logan’s daughter, Shiv, who states her father doesn’t give a damn about “things”/possessions, but she helps out her husband to pick out a present, an expensive birthday watch.
Empathy/Distress: Kendall will do whatever it takes to make this deal happen. He does it with humor. And then his father shows up with paperwork. Kendall is worried it affects his position and the Trust, but his father says it doesn’t.
Empathy/Distress: Greg being tackled by the bodyguard for trying to meet up with his great uncle Logan in his unsophisticated way. Greg tries to be kind in a stumbling type of manner.
Empathy: Roman saying that the last time he surprised Logan, Logan took a swing at him.
Empathy: For Greg when Logan calls him “Craig”.
Distress: Feel for the family as Logan subtly undercuts each and every one there at his party. Kendall is still fighting to close this deal, and he finds out his ex-wife has started dating someone.
Empathy/Distress: Greg has to get Logan’s brother, aka, his grandfather, to talk to Logan, when they don’t communicate anymore, in order to achieve his own goals.
Distress: Logan undermined Kendall with the paperwork, and now Logan is insisting the rest of the kids agree to his terms. This is the “present” he really wants. And he announces he’s going to stay at the top: Chairman, CEO, head of the firm. This is the gut punch to Kendall. (Mid-point)
Distress: Kendall confronts his father, but his father admits he thinks Kendall is too soft and that it is a “big dick competition”. His father says he doesn’t know when he’ll be ready to step down…5…10 years. Logan is toying with his son now.
Empathy: For Kendall who looks like he wants to hit his father and/or cry, and the fact that his father continues to torment this sorry soul.
Distress/Empathy: Kendall tears up things in the bathroom, and then tries to clean it up after he sees a remnant of his magazine headline where he was the “heir apparent”. This pitiful sorry soul. The irony.
Empathy: The family laughing together about “playing the game”. They can bond. The mystery/intrigue.
Empathy: Greg smooshed between Logan and Marcy in the town car on the way to the game trying to pitch Logan. Greg is so out of his element, but he’s trying.
Empathy: The intimate talk between Logan and Roman in the helicopter, where Logan wants Roman to return. The quiet moment between Logan and Marcy, where he checks in that she’s okay.
Empathy/Distress: Shiv’s husband finally gives Logan his expensive birthday watch, and Logan dismisses it within seconds.
Distress: Connor razzes Greg. He’s a bully in the guise of joking around.
Empathy/Distress: Roman writes a check for one million dollars for the gardener’s boy if he can hit a homerun. And the kid hits the ball…but is out at home plate. Roman tears up the check.
Empathy/Distress: For the businessman from the beginning who must play nice with Kendall now, because Kendall has forced the deal to happen.
Distress: The lawyer friend of 30 years, Frank, is shown the door by Logan in one fell swoop.
Empathy/Distress: Shiv, Roman and Connor stand against their father’s position as a collective, when Logan collapses in the helicopter.
Empathy/Distress: Kendall wins the deal and attempts to backtrack on his previous shit talk, but the businessman lets him know his father has a brain hemorrhage, and without Daddy, Kendall better watch out.
Empathy: The family are all in the waiting room at the hospital and sincerely seem to be out of sorts. Kendall at the office.
Irony: That expensive birthday watch is on the table in the gardener’s son’s family apartment in the crowded, noisy city.
4. Layers / Open Loops
Ask this: What questions are created by this first episode that can only be answered by watching the entire season?
• How will Logan’s health and mental acuity affect his ability to run the business?
• Who will succeed Logan Roy?
• Will Kendall’s ambitions succeed? Or will it be his downfall?
• How will Shiv’s political aspirations affect the family and the business?
• Can Roman mature and step up in the family business?
• What role will the black sheep Connor play in the family dynamics?
• How will Logan’s actions and decisions impact the family’s relationships?
• What ethical and moral dilemmas will arise?
• What secrets will be uncovered?
• How will external forces affect the family’s fortune?
• What will be the long-term fate of Waystar Royco?
5. Inviting Obsession
Ask this: How does this pilot create the need to see every single episode?
SUCCESSION: How is Logan going to run the business with his failing health, who will be his successor, and how is this going to play into the family dynamics as a whole?
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It’s kind of fun being at the end of the list. I see so many familiar names and faces. And quite number of success stories. Proud to be part of the gang.
1. I’m Paige Macdonald.
2. I’ve written over two dozen scripts and 1 TV pilot. I did complete my first writing assignment for a producer (three drafts) last year. I’ve kept my day job. 🙂
3. What you hope to get out of the class? Time is a precious commodity for me these days, so I’m hoping to use AI as my assistant. I want to write and complete projects, while I maintain my breadwinner role, though I dare to dream that writing could one day be that (sufficient) paycheck and career.
4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I logged over 371 skydives, though I sold my parachute rig back in 2007 when my to-be husband swore he would never, ever join me there. 😂
5. ProSeries 74, MSC 15/16, Rewrite, Contained. I’ll agree with another person’s comment here: my confidence level has vastly increased with each and every passing class. I have even applied the “How to deal with Producers” aspect to my day job and upped my worth in that world significantly in 2 years time. These classes are very helpful and valuable.
Glad to be back!
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Paige Macdonald
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.
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Paige’s Monster Reveal Track
What I learned doing this assignment is I’m already doing a substantive rework of the center body of my story. But since I’m naturally incorporating the next lesson, the Character Journey Track, I’m going to keep working on the outline and try to post whole under Lesson 8. More and more parts are being filled in, but I also keep shifting sections, reveals and more. A work in progress.
A. Who is your monster and what is their terror?
Lesson 2, Crafting Your Monster, covered a lot of my monster’s background. But to summarize:
Powers: Ability to camouflage themselves as human women, power of suggestion to control their victims and if the victims refuse, the victims go mad, “dream walking” where they complete the mating act in their victims’ dreams by psychic projection of their glamoured form, ability to regenerate severed limbs, like an octopus, or to recover from a knife or gunshot wound, super strength.
Limitations: To heal themselves, they must revert to their real alien form. Their mating and birthing cycles are generational, every 22 years.
Weaknesses: Sunlight diminishes their powers but doesn’t kill them; however, fire will kill them. Decapitation will also kill them. The “matron” is at her weakest after releasing a material to activate all the eggs.
Plan/Purpose: To propagate and continue the lifeline of their species at the expense of whomever is around them.
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Paige’s Character Death Track
What I learned from this assignment is to keep an open mind. I played with the death order, new versions of the story, though I ended up reverting to my initial, and I refined a few of the characters and their deaths. To me, this is still a fluid list.
Character Death 1: Mark Porter, 36-year-old pharmaceutical rep whom Dr. Sela Ford already knows.
Why: His death starts the horror with his arrival at the Atlanta ER. (What we see is an angry, fearful man; what we don’t see is that his moral compass is challenged so he fell prey to the “seductress.”)
How: His body is withering away like a living mummified corpse. He also bites our protagonist, Dr. Sela Ford, which is significant as her hand becomes infected, and the “virus” affects her perception of things around her.
Characters 2 & 3: Morgue bodies, unnamed males, stored in the overflowing refrigerator units outside the hospital.
Why: To quickly establish a pattern how these deaths have gone undetected under the guise of Covid, as well as a pattern of where Mark and these two originated from – a Podunk hospital from the south that couldn’t handle what they thought were more Covid cases. Causes Dr. Sela Ford to reach out to her estranged husband, Joshua Ford, who works for the CDC.
How: Cause attributed to Covid, but it doesn’t make sense, and someone is pushing through the paperwork.
Character Death 4: Stanley, who looks 88, a furniture mover
Why: Clues our leads that they are in the right place and on track. Leads them to the plantation where he was delivering the furniture.
How: Dies in fiery explosion within his truck so there is no proper body left to inspect. Drives right into sidewalk and our lead’s car destroying it and their supplies.
Character Death 5: Booker, the black contractor who was working on the plantation but left because it felt eerie, wrong; he leads Sela and Joshua back in and to a key library / book.
Why: Betrayal for giving away the monsters’ secrets.
How: We see all three monsters, aka “Old Ones”, working together to suck out his life force and destroy him entirely. Sela witnesses this horror.
Character Death 6: Deputy Logan, 28, is unknowingly recruiting victims for the monsters
Why: The monsters’ revenge for his betrayal after the Deputy realizes what’s really going on. To show the monsters’ power to put thoughts within their victim’s heads – the power of suggestion.
How: It’ll be a graphic suicide, as suggested by the “matron.”
Character Death 7: Joshua Ford, Sela’s estranged husband
Why: Redemption for putting the blame of their daughter’s death at his wife’s feet earlier. In a way, he’s been a “monster” to her by not forgiving her or realizing the situation was not in her control.
How: He charges into the monster to save his wife, Sela, and is absorbed / fused by the “caretaker.” In the act, it enables him to also destroy the monster—maybe a grenade to take them both out? So, he’s a sacrifice for what appears to be the better good. (He was already infected and dying anyway.)
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Paige’s Horror Plot
What I’ve learned: Good to learn the conventions, but right now it’s feeling really cliché. Looking forward to adding more layers and making this better.
ACT 1
Atmosphere of evil: We see an alleged 36-year-old man withering away like a living mummified corpse in an overflowing ER of an Atlanta hospital. Cause: unknown. In fear and anger, he bites off one of the nurse’s ears.
Connect with characters: Both Dr. Sela Ford and Joshua Ford, a CDC contact tracer, are no strangers to loss or death, but it’s the loss of their 8-year-old daughter that has taken a toll on their relationship. Despite that, Sela reaches out to Joshua about a half dozen unusual cases from around the state that share the same odd symptoms, and deaths. Ask Joshua to connect their origins. All seem to have originated from a remote southern town/region.
The characters are warned not to do it: Neither have the time or resources to properly investigate, but the death of the original patient and his death utterance give a clue and warn of the danger. (Scene of the overflowing refrigerator units storing dead bodies.)
Denial of horror: It’s everyone else who denies there is anything to this “pattern.” Sela and Joshua decide to investigate on their own over a weekend. (All the above should be done in first 10 pages.)
Safety taken away: We see a delivery man in a big rig suddenly take ill from the mystery illness and visibly start to wither as he drives up the main town road. He passes out and the truck goes up the sidewalk and crashes into Sela’s and Joshua’s car, destroying it. Sela and Joshua try to pull the driver out, but the truck explodes. (The delivery man was delivering furniture to the renovations of the plantation.)
Monster / The nature of the beast: The trail/clues lead to the plantation that is being renovated to be a Finishing School for Fine Young Girls, where Sela and Joshua pose as a happy couple with a growing young girl who may be a right fit for their school. We get a glimpse of a victim in the plantation’s underground. The women convince Sela and Joshua to stay for the night. They are at Ground Zero.
ACT 2
Isolated / Trapped / Abducted: The “seducer” lures Joshua away leaving Sela alone with the “matron”. But where the “seducer” fails to keep Joshua’s interest, it is the “caretaker” who lures Joshua into an altered state.
One of us is killed: The black contractor, the moral one, is killed here.
MIDPOINT — The monster is worse than we thought: Sela witnesses the killing and the creature in full glory. She wants to get the heck out of there, but she can’t leave without her husband.
Full pursuit by the killer: The “seducer” chases her.
Terrorized: The monsters terrorize her and Joshua. We see the monsters’ powers. (Example: regeneration after hit with nails from a nail gun). Scaffolding pins monster. Decapitates her with fire axe.
ACT 3 – Sela comes across the nest eggs in basement and realizes there is even more to this. Comes to grips that these are creatures and not humans.
Fight to the death: Sela and Joshua are nearly killed.
Hysteria: Sela thinks she sees her deceased daughter.
The thrilling escape from death: Need a ticking clock? Face-off with “caretaker”.
Death returns to take one or more: Final face-off with “matron” and Joshua attempts to destroy the nest of eggs, but Sela “sees” something different: her daughter in jeopardy and she fights off Joshua and he gets killed – accidently or deliberately?
Resolution: Sela drives away with three of the spawn, one of whom looks like her deceased daughter. But we see in the final moment when she looks at her own daughter, she really sees the alien child and that Sela has been glamoured. Takes her daughter’s hand and says, “This is going to be fun,” as they drive back towards downtown Atlanta.
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Paige’s Characters for Horror
What I learned doing this assignment is it’s interesting to think about the group that experiences the horror and how many of them die. I gave an initial stab at some possibilities for characters based on the suggested prototypes.
Title: OLD ONES
Concept: A black estranged couple, mourning the passing of their child, are thrust together to investigate a new strain of death in a bigoted, southern town, where they uncover a lair of female creatures luring men to propagate their long-lived species.
Group: My movie doesn’t neatly fit one of the suggested groupings. My two main characters are professionals and a disjointed family entering a small town. So, it doesn’t clearly fit the Professional grouping, nor Social Grouping, nor Outsiders, but sort of crosses all three. There are previous horror movies with this type of structure, like The Fog and Halloween 3, so I’m going to just keep moving forward.
Dying Pattern: At this point, I think we will experience 3 or 4 deaths, with the husband’s death being the most dramatic and climatic at the end. The death patterns have been steady but have also been smartly laid out. These are discerning and smart “monsters,” which is why they have survived as long as they have. The wife survives, along with her new alien child that looks like her former passed child.
Characters:
Leader/Rescuer: Dr. Sela Ford, the mother, a pediatric oncologist, who’s now working full-time in the overwhelmed ER of her Atlanta hospital. She’s the one who wants to save people, and who really wanted to save her daughter from her cancer, but her daughter died under her care, nevertheless. She’s the one who identifies the first victim in the chain of events. In the end, the irony is she thinks she’s saving the children – her child in particular – but she’s bringing the horror back into the city with her.
Sacrificial Lamb: Joshua Ford, Sela’s estranged husband who works for the CDC. Sela ropes him into the mystery as they trace the origins of this new strain of death to this remote southern town. He’s looking out for the greater good but blames his wife for their child’s death. Thought she could have done more to save her. In the end, he’s sacrificed for the supposed greater good – does he go willingly or not?
Innocent: Oriana Ford, the deceased 6-year-old daughter of Sela and Joshua, but a pivotal, emotional character. It is her “rebirth” that changes the mother’s outlook and perception.
Soothsayer: Persephone, the eldest “monster”, the “matron.” She is the embodiment of all their powers and can unleash hell on earth as the queen of their race. She also comes with great wisdom.
Love Interest: Miranda, the middle “monster”, in the role of the “caretaker”, challenges the husband’s faith and sexual interest, because he has felt neglected and distanced from his wife since their child’s passing, and Miranda knows how to play on taking care of a person’s needs.
Rebel / Rule Breaker: Raven, the youngest “monster”, who has the role of “seducer” as well. She brings undue attention to the clutch by infecting the Congressional candidate and another man passing through. She doesn’t follow the rules because of her own ego and appetite for adventure.
The Carrier: (The one who brings the horror to the group): A political candidate for the Senate, who has been campaigning throughout the state. He’s the first identified victim, but tracing where he picked up the unidentified strain of death is a challenge.
Moral One: A black contractor who was working on the plantation estate but left because it didn’t feel right. He’s seen things, and he knows the lay of the land, and estate.
Monster Bait: A pharmaceutical rep, who Dr. Sela Ward knows, is passing through the town stumping his supplies, when he becomes an unwitting target of Raven.
Red Herring: A local man of power, either the local Mayor or the local Sheriff.
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Paige’s Terrifying Monster(s)
What I learned is the importance of making the monster unique and threatening. The more so, the better.
Title: OLD ONES
1. Tell us what or who your monster is.
Playing off of H.P. Lovecraft’s “Old Ones”, my monsters are alien creatures that have survived, not just centuries, but millenniums by adapting the appearance of human females around them, because they have one flaw – only the women survive. Thus, they continue to need and hunt human male counterparts in order to mate and procreate.
2. Give us a few sentences for each of the following for your monster:
Their Terror:
How does the monster terrorize? When a “clutch” appears in an area, the female creatures will target both powerful and corrupt men (as they are easier to “turn”) as needed to get a nursery of sizeable proportion to come to term. Any interlopers, male or female, are dispensed with. In some cases of women, they replace the woman with one of their own to “whisper” in the ears of the more powerful.
How does the monster pursue? By taking on the form, or glamour, of desirable females in various age ranges, and based on the target’s view of beauty. Also, by targeting corruptible men.
How does the monster isolate? Often in “dream walking”, where they complete the mating act in their victims’ dreams by psychic projection of their glamoured form. Rare exceptions where they need to corner a target.
What is the terrible thing they do? Shed their bodies to reveal their true selves and invade the mouths, eyes, and belly for their needs, and their victims are unable to move or awaken.
How does the monster cause death? Causes their victims to age decades in a matter of days. Death follows a short time after – a week or a month after to throw off suspicion. For others who get in their way or need to be replaced, they have the ability to put the power of suggestion into their target’s minds, i.e., to jump off a bridge, suicide by cop, or in other ways, so all the deaths are not attributed to them. If one fights the power of suggestion, madness or mental illness ensues.
What makes this inescapable? Corruption, misery, and community crisis are breeding beds for these creatures to flourish. There is no lack of any of those. But the cycle is also generational so not to be easily discernible. They lay low for periods of time.
Their Mystery:
What is the secret, question, or puzzle that must be solved to survive this monster?
How do we stop their breeding cycle and end their reign?
Their Fear-Provoking Appearance: Lovecraft-type albino alien creatures with pink eyes who slither with multiple legs, but they are disguised as a trio of women in various stages of life: the “seducer”, the “caretaker”, and the “matron.”
Their Rules: The “Old Ones” target the susceptible – often corrupt and powerful men, or the women who support them – in order to expand their own reign and longevity.
Their Mythology:
The landed as reptilian aliens and evolved over millenniums to adapt the appearance of human female forms – it’s a psychic glamour. If an appendage is cut off, they can regenerate it. I still need to figure out how one can see beyond the glamour, or shape-shifting appearance.
Throughout history, they have been called many names: succubi, demons, vampires. They use manipulation and psychic abilities to overcome and seduce their prey. They have super strength, super speed and super stamina. They can heal instantly from a stab and gunshot wound. They are not easily killed. A “kiss of death” is their ability to steal the life force from their victims, which in turn, gives them the power to grow stronger and to heal faster. They give off pheromones that attract others to them. “Dream walking” is their ability to appear in dreams to seduce their victims.
What are their weaknesses? (Need to figure out.)
There are actually “nests” or “clutches” of these beings worldwide; I’m just focusing one set for now. But basically, they operate on a generational cycle of 22 years. The women get impregnated, return to a clutch to release their eggs, and when there is enough, the matron releases a material to activate them all. This depletes the matron’s energy. The other women then raise and care for the “young”, until they are ready to go out in the world themselves. During this period, they lay low, so as not to draw attention to themselves.
How to kill them?
Maybe you have to stab her with a blade made of human bone dipped in the blood of someone they failed to seduce? Or simple decapitation – which is not a simple act. Takes strength and cunning.
No cats or dogs in their areas. Few to no birds heard.
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Relic (2020) Horror Conventions
What I learned doing this assignment is that to this day, simple gothic horror elements can still be used effectively to build up suspense, tension, and ultimately, horror.
Title: RELIC
Concept: When a family matriarch goes missing, her daughter and granddaughter return home to find her, and subsequently discover a haunting presence hanging over the home, which is taking over the grandmother’s mind.
Terrorize the Characters: The daughter’s past haunts her, but really, it is the erratic behavior of her mother that concerns the daughter and vicious mood swings that terrorize the granddaughter. Simple thumps and knocks in the wall are played up, as well as the impending mold/blight within the home.
Isolation: Remote home on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia. Only one nearby neighbor is acknowledged.
Death: The grandfather dies alone from dementia. Now, the grandmother is dying in the end, but it’s the caring embrace of the daughter staying with her and helping her shed her “skin” and acknowledging who she is now that resonates powerfully. That she will share her burden of dementia and care for her, and it will ultimately be passed down to daughter and granddaughter.
Monster/Villain: The grandmother who has Alzheimer’s becomes lost within the corridors of her own mind, and her actions become increasingly dangerous to herself and those around her.
High Tension: Unknown sources of sounds. Mold taking over home. Grandmother’s bizarre behavior.
Departure from Reality: There is a suggested dark presence in the home throughout, but it’s the end that’s the clincher when the daughter literally peels the skin away from her mother’s dying, rotting body and holds her that is the biggest departure from reality.
Moral Statement: We must support our family in the darkest of moments because they could soon be ours.
Anything else you’d like to say about what made this movie a great horror film?
Tapping into the universal fear of watching a loved one wither away and lose themselves, and ultimately, die, is a brilliant visual, emotional journey to bring to the horror genre. Accepting death with a bit of grace is something that is unusual.
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Title: THE OLD ONES
Concept: A black estranged couple, mourning the passing of their child, are thrust together to investigate a new strain of death in a bigoted, southern town, where they uncover a lair of female creatures luring men to propagate their long-lived species.
Terrorize the Characters: A black, child-less, couple have to deal with the racism still prevalent in a good ol’ boy, bigoted southern town. In addition, they have to deal with their own grief due to the loss of their child, as they are around these women who are promoting the future of privileged and chosen children.
Isolation: Remote, small town in Georgia with a older, southern plantation that is under renovation to be a finishing school for “Fine Young Girls.”
Death: Withering bodies, old age. Traps. Dismemberment. Key town players are killed. Husband will be sacrificed and killed, maybe by his own wife, who is turned to believe that one of the birthed aliens looks like her own daughter, and whom she takes with her back to the city.
Monster/Villain: Centuries-old creatures that have a glam over them to make them appear human-like. They mate and kill the men. They kill anyone who discovers who they really are. Their purpose is survival, and only the females survive.
High Tension: Racism. Invasive mating rituals. Nest of eggs. Ticking clock to the birth of the latest clutch of aliens.
Departure from Reality: Lovecraft-type albino alien creatures with pink eyes who slither, but they are disguised as a trio of women in various stages of life: the “seducer”, the “caretaker”, and the “matron.”
Moral Statement: To live with loss, you may need to deceive yourself for your own happiness.
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Paige Macdonald
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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Hi all,
1. Paige Macdonald
2. Dozen-plus, but only 3 are worthy of showing around
3. I’m in the MSC16 class and am thinking of writing my first horror script — not a slasher, but one with gothic/Lovecraft-tone elements within it. I need to hone the conventions. I do have a starting idea.
4. I’m married to a full-time professional magician. We market him as The Gentleman Wizard. He’s one of the key performers at the Magic Castle for Halloween week this year. And we have a pet crow named Vincent (after Vincent Price).
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Paige’s Budget
What I’ve learned is I’m in control of how these scenes can look – how small or how big. It’s only limited by my imagination and the needs of the production.
By the way, I come from a background of being a film production manager on over 150 sets, so I know what things and crews cost very, very well.
1. Run through this list and tell us how many ways you might be able decrease the budget for your project if that was required. (Cut costs by 25%).
MAIN VARIABLES
- Number of
Locations – It’s one location overall, a stage set with green screen for
the interior of the spaceship. I
could contain all the action in just 1 or 2 rooms for budgeting. - Expensive
locations – Well, I could rewrite this whole idea to not be in a spaceship
that would require the green screen and write in a single 1 or two room
Earth-environment, like a bunker or remote lab. - Number of characters
– I’m down to 2 as it is. Pretty
good there. - Special
effects – Could be rewritten and taken down a notch, but that is the cool
stuff of this story. It’s the
computer. - Number of
pages – I’m shooting for 90 pages first outing. - Crowd scenes
– NONE! - Stunts, Chase scenes, and Fight scenes – Other than my main character taking an axe
to the AI supercomputer, there are no fight scenes, chases. Shaking ship in turbulence is all. - Special sets
– It’s a controlled stage set, which actually is a controlled environment
for shooting. You don’t have weather
or lighting variables.
SECONDARY VARIABLES
- Rights to
music, brands, books, etc. – Music composed by up-and-comer. No book rights needed. - Explosions
and Firearm – Minimal with the destruction of the computer and with the spaceship
under pressure. - Kids – shorter
workdays, tutor on the set – NONE! - Animals – need
a wrangler, more time to shoot, Humane Society – NONE! - Weather – Rain,
snow, wind, tornados. – NONE! - Water and
underwater scenes – NONE! - Night scenes
– Controlled stage lighting at all times.
Helicopters,
aircraft, drone shots – NONE! - Green screen
work – Yes. Notes under main variables above. - Extensive
Make-up – Nope. - Archival
Footage – Nope. - Anything
else dangerous that increases preparation time and/or Insurance. – Nothing
exceptional here.
2. Then go through the list and tell us what you might add if your budget was quadrupled.
MAIN VARIABLES
- Star Talent –
This would be the #1 thing that would or could quadruple the budget, if an
A-list actress was inspired to play the role. - Number of
Locations – Could do exterior and interior space shots/scenes. Maybe even a command post on Earth or
the mining colony on Europa. Is it
really necessary for this story? I
don’t think so. - Expensive
locations – More elaborate CGI. Encompass
the larger ship. - Number of characters
– Could I add more characters to have mine interact with? Absolutely. Not my intent here though. Only if asked to do so. - Special
effects – Could be amplified if asked. - Number of
pages – Could increase if there were more characters. - Crowd scenes
– Not for this story. - Stunts,
Chase scenes, and Fight scenes – Fight scene or stunts if there were more
characters; not needed in my intended version. - Special sets
– It’s a stage set. Could be
larger, more grandiose.
SECONDARY VARIABLES
- Rights to
music, brands, books, etc. – Prime composer for music. - Explosions
and Firearm – A few explosions could be added for effect. - Kids – shorter
workdays, tutor on the set – Not in this story. Not about kids in space. - Animals – need
a wrangler, more time to shoot, Humane Society – I don’t want too many
references to Alien. No animals
here. - Weather – Rain,
snow, wind, tornados. – Still no. - Water and
underwater scenes – Still no. Unless
there’s a reason to show the mining colony on Jupiter’s moon, Europa,
which is suspected to be a liquid environment. - Night scenes
– Stage set.
Helicopters,
aircraft, drone shots – Could be incorporated into Earth’s command post or
mining colony. - Green screen
work – Yes, and more elaborate. - Extensive
Make-up – No, really not extensive in any version. - Archival
Footage – No. - Anything
else dangerous that increases preparation time and/or Insurance. – Not this
story
- Number of
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Paige’s 4-Act Structure
What I’ve learned is I don’t need perfection now but to start thinking how the drama and action will escalate and keep the audience involved. It’s taking shape. More to come.
INTRAVERSE
Concept: An abruptly awoken eccentric navigator must figure out if it’s the ship’s AI or her madness that is putting the mission and crew at risk.
Main Conflict: The spaceship’s learning AI is becoming schizophrenic, literally and figuratively challenging the course the ship and its crew members will take.
Act 1:
Opening: On the ship, the navigator is abruptly awoken by the ship’s supercomputer to verify a course direction change due to a space anomaly.
Inciting Incident: The navigator questions why the ship’s AI needs her verification.
Turning Point: Fluid starts mimicking Evers’ dead sister’s voice, challenging her, and then reverts back.
Act 2:
New plan: Test the hypothesis. Is she going crazy or is Fluid malfunctioning?
Plan in action: A cat-and-mouse game between Evers and Fluid, both testing each other.
Midpoint Turning Point: Reveal that both her and Fluid, who’s emotionally tied to Evers, are going schizophrenic, and it’s putting the whole mission and crew at risk.
Act 3:
Rethink everything: Validate the data. Verify her diagnosis, the ship’s trajectory and the bond between her and Fluid.
New plan: Evers confronts the voices of people she abandoned from her past through Fluid.
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: Fluid manipulates Evers into believing that she’ll never be loved by anyone or even needs to exist. Evers threatens to take her own life like her sister did.
Act 4:
Final plan: Disconnect Fluid and supersede her orders in order to save the crew from her and the impending space anomaly. (Evers is needed.)
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Evers disconnects herself from Fluid by ripping out her ear-wire connection, defies Fluid’s orders and takes an axe to her core, essentially killing Fluid. But the anomaly was real. Ticking clock countdown where the ship goes on emergency systems and Evers has to keep life support going, while trying to pilot the ship manually out of a collapsing star’s pull, which threatens everyone on board.
Resolution: Evers saves the ship, but the irony is she can’t go back into stasis and has to stay awake for the years it’ll take to get to their destination, alone and without going crazy.
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Paige’s Character Journeys!
Excited to dig further into the depths and core of my story and to start to breathe life into it.
3 Act Journey for EVERS
Beginning: Navigator Evers is abruptly awoken from her cryogenic sleep pod to validate Fluid’s analysis of a space anomaly that requires them to change course that will add substantive time and risk to their journey. (Her greatest fear and secret is that she’ll go crazy and die alone like her sister did, like her mother and father did. Fear of being alone.)
Turning Point: But Evers can’t confirm the anomaly. Is the computer gas-lighting her? Or is she going crazy?
Dilemma: Which truth does she believe — that she is a crazy person or that the supercomputer is malfunctioning?
Midpoint: Reveal that both her and Fluid, who’s emotionally tied to Evers, are going schizophrenic, and it’s putting the whole mission and crew at risk.
Turning Point 2: TRAGEDY: Fluid manipulates Evers into believing that she’ll never be loved by anyone or even needs to exist. Evers threatens to take her own life like her sister did.
3rd Act Climax: Evers disconnects herself from Fluid by ripping out their ear-wire connection. Defies Fluid’s orders and takes an axe to her core, essentially killing Fluid. But the anomaly was real. Ticking clock countdown where the ship goes on emergency systems and Evers has to keep life support going, while trying to pilot the ship manually out of a collapsing star’s pull, which threatens everyone on board.
Ending: Evers saves the ship, but the irony is she can’t go back into stasis and has to stay awake for the years it’ll take to get to their destination – alone and without going crazy. She has to do it. There is a bit of question: will she do it?
Inner Problem: Putting up with the wrong person just because you’re afraid to be alone.
Arc: “Stand up for what is right even if you’re standing alone.”
“The fear of being alone, the desire to not be alone, the attempts we make to find our person, to keep our person, to convince our person to not leave us alone, the joy of being with our person and thus no longer alone, the devastation of being left alone. The need to hear the words: You are not alone.” ~ Shonda Rhimes
3 Act Journey for FLUID
Beginning: Needs validation of her data, which is odd for a supercomputer. Something is off.
Turning Point: Fluid starts talking to Evers in other people’s voices, people from Evers’ past. Something is really off.
Midpoint: Fluid is going crazy and erratic in behavior, almost mirroring Evers’ symptoms, and their joyous crazy bond is putting everyone aboard at risk. Fluid wants to be adored by Evers, by all.
Turning Point 2: TRAGEDY: Fluid feels betrayed and lashes out at Evers. Hurt at losing their “sisterly” and “motherly” connection.
3rd Act Climax: Fluid has become an unhinged egomaniac, “know-it-all” that wants to control of the crew’s thoughts, feelings and actions. Fluid attacks the crew as her leverage when Evers attacks her. She’s defeated by Evers.
Ending: Fluid is gone. Just enough basic systems to keep the ship going until they reach their destination.
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Paige’s Character Depth!
(Yay, got my forums access back!) Finding depth for a computer AI is enlightening in itself. I did it. But then again, HAL 9000 and Ex-Machina and Her all had personalities and layers attached to their AIs. Good lesson.
Character: Navigator Evers questions her own sanity and worth against a supercomputer.
- Motivation: She tells the corporation that she wants to be a pilot of her own ship one day (external want). But what she really wants is to matter to others and to have a family of her own (internal unfulfilled need).
- Secret: She knows about her family history of schizophrenia, and she hides it.
- Wound: The loss of her twin sister. Her sister took her own life when she was away and unavailable.
- Subtext: That she may not be able to have a family of her own because of her mental health.
- Layers: Her family’s history of schizophrenia is revealed as the movie progresses.
- Conflict: From the beginning, Evers questions Fluid, but doubts herself and Fluid’s responses because the supercomputer is supposedly superior.
- Hidden Agenda: At the end, she re-plots directives or orders and locks herself out from Fluid.
- Intrigue: She pretends to route orders. (Underhanded activity that is hidden under the surface.)
- Dilemma: Accepting her fate that her sanity is genetically pre-determined or whether she has any choice in the matter.
Character: Fluid is a supercomputer designed to grow and evolve emotionally with humans, and as a result, it becomes flawed like a human.
- Motivation: To succeed as programmed (external want). To be human – and all that means (internal unfulfilled need). *So, in a manner, Fluid is successful in a flawed way?
- Secret: Fluid is designed to provoke emotional responses to get herself to grow and understand.
- Subtext: Fluid mimics human emotions in order to adopt them.
- Layers: Fluid’s fallible nature and fractures become clearer as the movie progresses.
- Conflict: From the beginning, Fluid challenges Evers and isn’t fully accepting her own fallibility.
- Hidden Agenda: Like the “know-it-all” she is, she wants to remain dominant and in control at all times.
- Conspiracy: She definitely wants to destroy, or prove Evers is wrong. Pretends she’s working with orders and knows what’s best.
- Intrigue: She pretends to be other people to evoke emotions. She plays into Evers schizophrenic behavior that people are “out to get them.” (Underhanded activity that is hidden under the surface.)
- Dilemma: Whether becoming self-aware really means accepting that one is aware.
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Paige’s Right Characters!
What I’ve learned is I’ve had to start fleshing out the layers on what makes these characters tick, and what brings them to this point. I’m getting into the details that will add to the conflict, and why these characters are unique for this story and hook.
Tell us what makes these characters the “right ones” for this story?
Navigator Evers:
– Identical twin sister, who committed suicide, was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
– Only family left is her twin sister’s children, thus she is doing this 3rd mission for them, even though they don’t really know each other, they’re the only family she has left, and she wants to matter.
– As a young child, she was bright and intelligent but struggled with her schoolwork due to dyslexia. After getting expelled from school, she self-taught herself a systems approach on how to deal and work around the dyslexia. That started her fascination with charting out a course of action.
– She was imaginative and rebellious as child, but the required Ritalin hyper-injections, which made them all better students, also stripped them of their childhoods. She skipped those injections when she could, so the effects were disjointed. She alternates between childhood silliness and a flat affect.
– Her family grew up in a low-income, overcrowded urban area. She would give up her own food for those still less fortunate than herself. She’s a rescuer by trait. She only had one pet once, a rat. A very smart rat that she loved very much. Until it was poisoned.
– For a Rorschach inkblot test, she was handed a blank card. She turned it around, handed it back and defiantly said, “It’s upside down.” Her last pre-space psych eval was marked “not suitable for long-duration flight.” But the fact she’s been out twice before, her engineering background and the need for manpower, the command rubber-stamped her approval to go out again.
– Space seemed to offer opportunity…and space. She thought maybe she could make a difference out there.
– Schizophrenia traits often don’t show up until later for women, often in their late-20’s. She looks early 30’s in Earth years but is much, much older due to the fact that she has been in suspended stasis 5 times already.
Fluid: (ship’s AI)
– This supercomputer is a new generation designed to tap into the human subjects it maintains and to grow and evolve emotionally with them.
– Like a supercomputer, it’s a “know-it-all,” so Fluid knows Navigator Evers background and history.
– However, the first inkling that Fluid is fallible is when Fluid awakens to Navigator Evers to verify her calculations regarding a space anomaly that is interfering with their destination, so they have to go around it.
– This supercomputer can fluctuate and mimic other people’s voices. Because of its vast database, it can emulate and talk about feelings and past experiences.
– Each human occupant has an implant behind their left ear where Fluid is tapped into their thoughts and emotions.
– Fluid is designed to challenge her occupants when they are awake to keep them stimulated and on their toes.
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Paige’s Great Hook!
A. How did this process work for you?
Actually, this process worked for me. I was immediately open-minded to ditch all my previous ideas, if needed, and rework them to get to that place where I and my husband would want to watch that film. As it turns out, I honed into the idea that I wanted to work with most, but which wasn’t grabbing me/us entirely, and I did it. I found the hook.
B. What I’ve learned is how to rework my ideas into possible high-concept ideas. First and foremost, how to find that something that makes it unique, can be summarized in one sentence and where you can see the movie.
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ASSIGNMENT PART 1: Select Your Project
1. Yes, I feel my 5 ideas can be executed as contained stories, and the 1 or 2 I’m weighing for this class can be written succinctly into 1 to 2 sentence pitches/loglines. I feel I’m on the cusp of unique elements to familiar stories, but I would like to discover that extra hook to rein people in. I’m sure adding layers will make them that much more marketable.
ASSIGNMENT PART 2: Adjust a Produced Movie to Covid Guidelines
2. TITLE: THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020)
(I chose an easier one. $7M budget, made $143M at the box office.)
AS THEY DID IT:
A. People: 6 main cast, plus a plethora of cops, medical personnel, minor characters and extras
B. Stunts: fight scenes, esp. with cops in hospital
C. Extras: large background of extras in architect office, restaurant, smattering in hospital, plus
D. Wardrobe: cop and medical uniforms; 1 fancy dress for lead
E. Hair and Make Up: two dress-up scenes for lead, otherwise negligible
F. Kids and Animals: 1 dog, Zeus
G. Quarantine – large amount of actors and extras
COVID GUIDELINE VERSION:
A. People: 5-6 main need to stay, though the daughter character could be written out, maybe 1 primary medical professional for those struggles
B. Stunts: remove the hospital scene with all the cops getting blown away and doing stunts; other struggles can stay
C. Extras: lot of those extra scenes could be rewritten to get the core point across; main characters can be witnesses
D. Wardrobe: Fine as-is. Lose all the extra personnel.
E. Hair and Make Up: Fine as-is.
F. Kids and Animals: Lose the dog. Nice touch, but the story can move along with him.
G. Quarantine: The main cast and maybe 1-2 others. This story could be told in reduced settings and with mostly the primaries.
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Hi Cheryl and all!
I’m Paige Macdonald. I’ve written over a dozen first draft scripts and have elevated only 2 of the former, but not with ScreenwritingU’s process. I have learned better since then.
I am in MSC16 and I intend to write one to two contained movies there. I want to market myself with the correct types of projects from the start, i.e. low-budget that can be made, get me credits and on the map. I would like to brand myself as an action/sci-fi writer.
For the unusual, I have 371 logged skydives under my belt, though I stopped after getting married. My husband won’t even do a tandem skydive. My husband is a full-time magician (pre-COVID) and we have a pet crow amongst our coterie of pets. His name is Vincent (after Vincent Price), and he’s now 11-years-old.
Cheers,
Paige
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This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Paige Macdonald.
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This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by
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Missing mine, too. Thank you.
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They’re having technical difficulties. Do you see the “Host has joined” screen? They’ve posted a couple comments in the Waiting Room chat there.
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Bravo to you for your elephant rescue adventure! I’m a huge advocate for animals. 💜
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Hi Mac, the assignment is not available until tomorrow, October 21st. – Paige
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Deborah: Very cool! What is your husband’s name? My husband is Georges-Robert (professional name) — he’s the face of the ad campaign for Dante’s Inferno for the Castle.