Reginald Joseph
Forum Replies Created
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Reginald’s Actor attractors!
My Vision: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is I was able to take information about the lead character and use it to mold the story around him, giving me a clearer sense of who he is and what he is about.
LEAD CHARACTER NAME: Leon Hatchet
ROLE: Antagonist
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it? Leon goes from being a terrorizing force that the audience hates, to being alone and fearing for his life, causing the audience to feel empathetic.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story? Because of the level of intrigue that surrounds him, especially when it comes to caring about the school children not using drugs but ultimately recruiting them to sell those same drugs for him.
3. What are the most interesting actions the lead could take in the script? He could have a change of heart and respond favorably to Anson’s attempts to deter him from a life of crime.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor? By intensifying the amount of terror Leon experiences as he pleads for his life.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range? Looks the other way when he learns that members of his gang assaulted a young woman. Asks for the heads of anyone who opposes his way. Becomes speechless when his dead father is the topic of discussion.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Has a tough exterior and takes pride in being known as a thug, masking his real fear which is dying and not being able to raise his son.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have? He tends to be occasionally cordial with the protagonist, SSgt. Anson Haley, who was a friend of his late father. He loves his son but fails to set a good example of what a responsible man is. He is highly respected by gang members.
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented? When he is begging for his life, he begins to understand how many people he has hurt and how much damage he has caused with his terrorizing ways.
9. What could make this character special and unique? His transformational journey causes the audience to feel empathetic towards him during his moments of experiencing terror.
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Reginald’s 4 Actor attractors for Burying The Hatchet
My Vision: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is This was a fun exercise to help me get to better know one of my lead characters which happens to be the antagonist.
Movie Title: Burying The Hatchet
Lead Character Name: Leon Hatchet
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? Bad guy who is pushed to the limits and changes his ways.
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie? Although he is the bad guy, he experiences fear and vulnerability to the extreme.
3. What are the most interesting actions the lead takes in the movie? Orders members of his gang to terrorize the neighborhood. Refuses to leave the neighborhood. Threatens the lives of anyone who opposes their way.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He takes pride in terrorizing the neighborhood but comes down hard on a couple of renegades who attempt to sell drugs to school kids.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Fearless when it comes to the police threatening to take him down. Becomes emotional when talking about his late father.
6. What subtext can the actor play? Although he comes off as being heartless, he hints towards giving a better life to his son.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? Has a very turbulent relationship with his dad’s old friend, SSgt Anson Haley, the protagonist.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? He is feared by everyone in the neighborhood but soon realizes that he may never get to see his son grow up and begs for an opportunity to make things right.
9. What makes this character special and unique? Although he sports a tough exterior, conversations about his father reveal a more sensitive side to him.
Scene:
SSgt. Anson Haley exits the dry cleaners and slowly walks over to where Leon (The Hatchet) is standing, smoking a cigarette.
Anson
Young man, why must you stand there with your pants hanging off of you like that?
Tossing the cigarette into the street, Leon turns abruptly and stares at the old timer dressed in worn out Army fatigues.
Leon
(grinning)
Who are you talking to old man?
Anson
I’m talking to you, young buck.
Anson adjusts his grip on the stack of flyers in his hand.
Anson (cont.)
You know, I wonder what your daddy would say if he could see you now.
Leon shakes his head and sighs.
Leon
Come on old man…why are you always bringing my father up.
He ain’t here, so why don’t you just shut up about him!
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Reginald’s Genre Conventions
MY VISION: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is helped me put more of the necessary pieces together. With this assignment, I have discovered even bigger challenges and abilities for the lead characters in my story.
CONCEPT: After multiple attempts to rid their neighborhood of a gang leader who continues to terrorize citizens, a member of a group that calls themselves the Vipers decides to strike back by bringing his own version of terror.
GENRE: Thriller
THRILLER CONVENTIONS:
PURPOSE: To thrill your audience with high stakes, plot twists, and suspense that never lets up until the adrenalin packed climax.
LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS. They face danger at every step — either physically, emotionally, or mentally. The hero needs to either be in danger or there is the implication of future danger.
MYSTERY/INTRIGUE/SUSPENSE: There’s a mystery that must be solved in order to survive. Intrigue is the underhanded and covert Villain’s plan.
Suspense comes from the danger the Hero faces. HERO: Unknowing, unwitting, but resourceful hero
VILLAIN: Dangerous, devious, and unrelenting. Committed to destroy anyone who gets in their way.
MAIN EMOTIONS: Suspense, intrigue, mystery, tension, anticipation, uncertainty, and surprise.
Main Conflict: Anson Haley’s fear of becoming a target for a delinquent family, prevents him from speaking out against the growing violence in his community.
Old Ways: Afraid that his handicap will cause his thug neighbors to see him as weak, making him and his home a target. Hides inside as much as possible, peeking out from behind the curtains as they terrorize citizens.
New Ways: Confronts one of the family members about his loud music. Stops one his neighbors from being sexually assaulted and doesn’t cower when they threaten his life.
Act 1:
Opening: An elderly woman is knocked to the ground by a thug during a police chase.
Inciting Incident: A local convenient store owner refuses to pay a tax ordered by Leon and is beaten within inches of his life.
Turning Point: A disabled Vet saves his neighbor from being gang raped by firing his gun at the assailants.
Act 2:
New Plan: Anson realizes that things are getting worse in the neighborhood and fears that if he doesn’t do something, he or one of his neighbors will fall victim to the violence.
Plan in Action: Cleans out a room in his basement and finds pictures of him and Leon’s father during the war. He gets close to Leon by showing him the pictures and telling him about their friendship and how Leon’s father once saved his life.
Midpoint Turning Point: Anson invites Leon over to his house for a drink and promises to give him something that was his father’s. Leon wakes to find himself buried inside of a coffin.
Act 3:
Rethink Everything: Anson is visited by Leon’s brothers. They know that he came there to meet Anson and one of them begins physically assaulting Anson while the others tear up the place looking for Leon. Leon calls out for help but no one answers. They threaten to kill Anson if they find he has anything to do with their brother’s disappearance. Anson thinks he’s in over his head and contemplates letting Leon go.
New Plan: Almost certain Leon will have him murdered and things won’t get any better in the neighborhood, Anson focuses his efforts on bringing the family to their knees by cutting off the head.
Turning Point / Huge Failure / Major Shift: Gang members search every home in the neighborhood and question the residents concerning Leon’s disappearance. Anson fears this may result in someone getting killed. Leon discovers the cell phone has limited battery power and sends a text, telling his crew that he is buried somewhere and pleads for them to find him quickly. Several members of the gang discuss taking over as leader, painting Leon as weak.
Resolution: Leon promises to leave the neighborhood and change his ways if he’s set free. Anson tells Leon to record himself giving instructions for his brothers to leave the neighborhood.
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Reginald’s 4 Act Transformational Structure
My Vision: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is by putting some of the pieces together, I have discovered new challenges and abilities for the lead characters in my story.
Concept: After multiple attempts to rid their neighborhood of a gang leader who continues to terrorize citizens, a member of a group that calls themselves the Vipers decides to strike back by bringing his own version of terror.
Main Conflict: Anson Haley has a fear of becoming a target for the gang prevents him from speaking out against violence in his community.
Old Ways: Afraid that if he steps up, members of the gang will target him and his home next. Hides inside, peeking through the curtain as gang members terrorize citizens.
New Ways: Confronts one of the gang members about his loud music. Stops one his neighbor from being raped by several gang members and doesn’t cower when they threaten his life.
Act 1:
Opening: An elderly woman is knocked to the ground by a thug during a police chase.
Inciting Incident: After a gang leader is snubbed by a local convenient store owner and his son, he orders members of his crew to beat up the boy, putting him in critical condition.
Turning Point: A disabled Vet saves his neighbor from being gang raped by firing his gun and nearly killing one of the gang members.
Act 2:
New Plan: Anson realizes that things are getting worse in the neighborhood and fears that if he doesn’t do something, he or one of his neighbors will fall victim to the violence.
Plan in Action: Cleans out a secret room in his basement.
Midpoint Turning Point: Uses information about Leon’s real father to draw him into his home, where he drugs him and locks him in a wooden box in the basement.
Act 3:
Rethink Everything: Anson realizes he’s in over his head and decides to confide in his friend Shirley who is one of the other members of the group.
New Plan: Unsure if she will reject his suggested method of reclaiming their neighborhood, Anson focuses his efforts on bringing the gang its knees by cutting off the head.
Turning Point / Huge Failure / Major Shift: After realizing Leon is missing, gang members begin searching homes and threatening the lives of its residents. Anson fears this may result in someone getting killed and considers giving himself up by letting Leon go. Even after receiving multiple texts from Leon, pleading for them to leave the area, gang members are refuse.
Resolution: Leon promises to leave the neighborhood and change his ways if he’s set free.
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Reginald’s Subtext Plot
My Vision: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is this technique helps me to build the subtext into my plot, where the main character’s transformational journeys are revealed on a more intriguing level.
Concept: After multiple attempts to rid their neighborhood of a gang leader who continues to terrorize citizens, a member of a group that calls themselves the Vipers decides to strike back by bringing his own version of terror.
Someone Hides Who They Are
Using a fake phone call from a detective to lure Leon “The Hatchet” Evans to a secret meeting, Anson Haley does the unthinkable. After The Hatchet goes missing, Anson is questioned by not only members of his neighborhood group but he is visited by several members of the gang that continues to terrorize them. After denying any involvement in his disappearance, Anson begins to give the gang leader a taste of his own poison.
Superior Position
Leon barks threats from his make shift tomb causing Anson to endure moments of PTSD induced fear and anxiety. Hours later, after emerging from an episode where he was taken back to his time as a POW, Anson begins to threaten Leon, assuring him that he will never see his family or the life he knew if doesn’t agree to leave the neighborhood.
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Reginald’s Transformational Journey
My Vision: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is by early identification of the lead character’s transformational journey, I am able to bring audiences to a point of loving my story.
ANSON HALEY
Arc Beginning: Disabled Army Veteran.
Arc Ending: Takes matters into his own hands.
Internal Journey: From self-pity to determined and unyielding.
External Journey: From vulnerable grumbler to capable terrorist who takes back the neighborhood.
Old Ways:
· Angry
· Disappointed
· Afraid to make matters worse
· Attempts to look the other way
New Ways:
· Fed up.
· Determined to rid his community of scum.
· Fights fire with fire
· Relentless in his pursuit
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Reginald’s Intentional Lead Characters
My Vision: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is how important the initial introduction of my characters is to a powerful delivery of my concept.
Concept: After multiple attempts to rid their neighborhood of a gang leader who continues to terrorize citizens, a member of a group that calls themselves the Vipers decides to strike back by bringing his own version of terror.
Character: Anson Haley (Protagonist) is a disabled Vet and former
Army Ranger, who suffers with PTSD.Logline: SSGT Haley is determined, by any means necessary, to rid his neighborhood of gang activity and violence.
Unique: Leader of neighborhood group called VIPERS, uses his skills to disable and dismantle a local terrorist organization.
Character: Leon Evans aka “The Hatchet” (Antagonist) is the leader of a violent gang.
Logline: The Hatchet takes pride is terrorizing citizens in a suburban neighborhood.
Unique: Is known for being ruthless and terrifying.
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Reginald’s Title, Concept, and Character Structure!
My Vision: I am going to utilize my talents as a writer to catapult myself to the A-list, causing people in this industry to consider my writing among the best in the business.
What I learned from doing this assignment is by creating an outline I am able to discover new parts of my story along with providing a great way for me to make big picture decisions.
Title: Burying The Hatchet
Concept: After multiple attempts to rid their neighborhood of a gang leader who continues to terrorize citizens, a member of a group that calls themselves the Vipers decides to strike back by bringing his own version of terror.
The character structure I’ve chosen is Protagonist versus Antagonist
My apologies for being so late to the party…
-RJ
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Hello, everyone,
My name is Reginald L. Joseph and I live in sunny Florida.
I am an Optioned Screenwriter and have written 4 full length features and 15 shorts. My biggest goal for this class is to learn some
new skills. I am also looking forward to sharpening all of the skills I learned in the ProSeries and MSC. Aside from writing, I love to ride my Harley and watch really good movies and TV.I am looking forward to learning with you all.
-RJ
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I, Reginald L. Joseph, agree to the terms of this release form.
As a member of Writing Incredible Movies, 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, through social media, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, videos, 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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I agree to the terms of this release form.
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Thank you, Claire 🙂