[Richard Morell]

Richard’s Five Seasons

What I learned from this assignment is that I am overthinking things. I really like what AI did with the two different season sets I got from Bard and from ChatGPT. But it didn’t quite give me what I was hoping for in terms of its organization. I still had to get into my own creativity, which I appreciate. I don’t think this is the end of the matter for these seasons; they still can be improved. But I think it could also be that this is academic anyway, knowing that should my show attract some showrunner’s attention, it will change anyway. Still, it’s been fun.

Season One: Welcome Wagon

High Concept/major hook: Newcomers who accept climate change and that no one is coming to help them arrive in Skanekta, intent on creating a new world only to see their projects sabotaged or rendered ineffective—sometimes by humans, other times through mysterious forces.

Big Picture Arc/Journey: From know-it-all outsiders with lots of technical knowledge to humbled individuals who realize they don’t know what they’re up against. Also, from people invested in their temporal powers and abilities to the understanding they need more in order to face the supernatural influences at work.

Main Conflict: The newcomers’ attitudes and hubris vs. the townsfolk’s attachment to the status quo. Internal—the newcomers’ scientific arrogance vs. the growing awareness that the world has magic afoot.

Mystery/Open Loops: Growing awareness of the mystery in the town and the power therein, and will Dermot and Taliesin get closer together?

Cliffhanger: We find out at the end the Mayor has been behind the sabotage and the negative campaigns against the newcomers and has more planned.

Season Two – Unraveling

High concept/major hook: The newcomers and their local allies battle the Mayor and his minions, unaware that the Mayor is himself enchanted.

Big Picture Arc/Journey: Learning that there is more to Skanekta than meets the eye, the newcomers engage with the supernatural realm with varying attitudes. They push themselves deeper into territory that is uncharted. To some extent, most characters have embraced the magic, but Dermot is still agnostic throughout the episode, and only begins to move toward magic at the very end.

Main Conflict: The newcomers vs. the Mayor which then becomes the newcomers vs. the negative forces that would destroy Skanekta and by extension the world. This conflict also relies on the fact that the newcomers are splintered with Dermot’s agnosticism getting in the way of their effectiveness.

Mystery/Open Loops: The newcomers’ own magical powers begin to manifest in Season Two. Dermot’s marriage frays and he can get closer to Taliesin who seems to be engaged in some personal battles of his own. Will Dermot get with the program?

Cliffhanger: The forces hollow out the Mayor and turn him into a functional puppet. The Newcomers face the power behind the mayor which aligns itself with other negative powers and turns formidable, maybe even invincible.

Season Three: Chess Pieces on a Go Board

High concept/major hook: Will the newcomers survive the onslaught of enmity that the evil-force-driven Mayor is pushing their way?

Big Picture Arc/Journey: As the Newcomers battle the Mayor and the negative forces, they attract the attention of magical allies who assure them that they will overcome this time of difficulty. They struggle with understanding that the battle is not so much a direct return of force as it is directing their efforts toward winning the hearts of the locals and building the vision of the future they all came to create.

Main Conflict: The newcomers vs. the Mayor and the forces operating inside him and his allies.

Mystery/Open Loops: All the characters’ relationships are put under strain. Will they survive? How has the town survived these negative forces all this time?

Cliffhanger: The Mayor captures Taliesin and successfully enchants him. But there are signs that Taliesin let himself be captured—does he have a secret plan?

Season Four: The Square Root of 1%

High concept/major hook: Taliesin is taken and while appearing to be controlled and tortured, his magic brings in the powers of Annabel, Edmond, and Dermot to turn things from inside their circle. The town becomes enthralled to the negative forces, but quietly rebellion gets stoked. The negative forces have also allied themselves with forces affecting other towns, far and wide. This is a world-wide battle.

Big Picture Arc/Journey: Everyone is finding their connection to Spirit so as to take the best care of themselves they can. Dermot moves even further from his agnosticism and lets the magical allies direct his actions toward maximum effectiveness. He connects up with magical people back in Colorado and Annabel revisits some places in Georgia.

Main Conflict: Now that the magical allies are on board, the battlefield is more equal between the negative forces and the forces of conversion. Magical allies make themselves known in other communities as well.

Mystery/Open Loops: The folks who join up with the negative forces believe themselves to be deficient and worth very little. Will they begin to see their true worth? What is Taliesin’s plan to break through the powers of the negative forces?

Cliffhanger: Taliesin miscalculates, but not before Dermot discovers where Taliesin went wrong and Dermot sacrifices himself to ensure the positive forces burst through the spells cast on the Mayor and the other townies who let themselves be taken over. The sacrifice succeeds but what will the world look like now?

Season Five: Harmony’s Restoration

High concept/major hook: The aftermath of Dermot’s sacrifice. Though he is gone, his spirit is everywhere apparent. Edmond stays in contact with him in the Summerlands. They can now initiate the plans that were always in store for Skanekta.

Big Picture Arc/Journey: Rebuilding the town and dealing with a different set of circumstances.

Main Conflict: Deciding what to keep and what to discard from the time before the conflagration. The magical allies instruct them on how to work with them without losing their individuality—sometimes by possessing people and showing them what they don’t want.

Mystery/Open Loops: Could the magical allies sometime in the future turn bad? Have all the negative forces that didn’t want to change really been banished to the outer darkness? Will Taliesin meet someone new, now that Dermot is gone?

Cliffhanger: The new status quo is ascendant. But all around are signs of obstinacy. Some of the townies who never got on board with the newcomers will always hold themselves apart—perhaps to splinter off one day and become a new negative force? Does human nature change, really?

[Richard Morell]

Richard’s Compelling Character Descriptions

What I learned for this assignment is that first, I do need to have another program ready if my preferred program gives me a response that it needs more information. (Bard did that with Edmond, but I was able to get answers from Chat GPT.) As someone else stated, this is the best aspect of AI, to help condense information into a concise paragraph that gets the gist of what I want to say. I had to tweak some of what AI gave me—it was a lot better than what I created, sad to say. I’ve really enjoyed this assignment.

Dermot Friend: Dermot, Skanekta’s charismatic businessman, hides a web of secrets beneath his civic-minded facade. Haunted by environmental sins and yearning for redemption, he’s drawn to the town’s allure, unaware he’s entangled in a supernatural web tied to his hidden desires. His biggest adversary Mayor Marchetti, spins Dermot’s zeal to change the course of Skanekta’s future as ruthless ambition, to pit him against allies, just as the growing attraction to fellow newcomer Taliesin will ignite a love triangle that unleashes chaos upon the seemingly idyllic community.

Haunted by betrayal and ostracized for his ideas, Taliesin Kerrdorion, with his moonlit gaze and formidable power, plays the enigmatic outsider. But under the stoic facade lies a wounded warrior, a Priest of Kerridwen destined to be Skanekta’s Shaman. He navigates the town’s treacherous web with deception, tolerating Dermot’s secrets and conspiring with Mayor Marchetti – all while harboring a sustainable vision for the future. Can Taliesin overcome his inner demons, embrace his destiny, and protect Skanekta from the darkness it hides?

Mayor Marchetti’s vision is a double-edged sword. He dreams of transforming Skanekta into a beacon of progress, attracting investors and luring in a new era of prosperity. But his methods are as ruthless as his goals. He wields charm and deceit as his weapons, manipulating the town’s hopes and fears to pave the way for his grand vision. While Dermot champions sustainable solutions, Marchetti tempts with promises of quick fixes and cheap energy, blinded by the potential wealth his deals offer. His ambition knows no bounds, he’ll exploit spiritual awakenings fueled by Annabel and Sarah, silence the Sheriff’s cries for justice, and crush any opponent who dares stand in his way. Will Skanekta be seduced by Marchetti’s glittering promises, or will they see through the cracks in his façade and expose the darkness lurking beneath his ambition?

Meet Edmond, Skanekta’s elusive Town Pathfinder and local guide, whose gentle exterior hides a complex struggle between loyalty and personal desires. As a nonbinary empath entangled in the town’s supernatural forces, Edmond’s wisdom and caring nature become a double-edged sword, as they grapple with the moral tightrope of helping newcomers while concealing their own painful past from high school bullying. Edmond’s unpredictability, shifting allegiances, and alliances with the urban transplants against a corrupt mayor create a character whose enigmatic layers and hidden agendas add layers of suspense to the unraveling mysteries beneath Skanekta’s progressive facade.

Other Major Character:

In the realm of Skanekta’s environmental struggles, Annabel Masterson, a passionate and cunning environmental attorney, fights for justice while grappling with personal demons. As a legal expert with Ojibwe heritage, Annabel’s moral compass navigates the delicate balance between environmental advocacy and the boundaries of the law. Unpredictable in her relationships and a fierce protector of the underdog, Annabel’s hidden agendas, including suspicions about her wife’s fidelity and a dark past with dubious clients, propel her into a web of conspiracies, rivalries, and a secret identity as a Druidic force within a clandestine environmental activist group, all while coping with the haunting loss of faith that lingers beneath her tenacious exterior.

Connecting characters:

Sheriff Osborne, Edmond’s dad and a sometime ally of the Mayor. A man who, for all his verbiage about being the protector of all, has more loyalty to the long-time town residents rather than the newcomers.

Pastor Sarah Masterson, Annabel’s wife. A compassionate and spiritual woman who disappears from Annabel’s life a lot. She’s a part of a mysterious society that seeks to stay away from the public eye.

Michael St. Regis, Dermot’s husband back in Denver. A chef and part-owner of a chi-chi eatery in Lower Downton, Michael enjoys urban life and relishes the existence he and Michael created together. He’s resistant to starting anew in a rinky-dink small town.

Mackenzie Quincy. One of Taliesin’s exes. She is a junior-level witch in one of the covens that disavowed Taliesin in Chicago. She still has fondness for Taliesin even though they didn’t work out. She sometimes thinks they might get back together.

Rufus “Roofie” Potter. Edmond’s biggest bully from high school. Roofie is from one of the richer families in town. He’s not very smart and uses his connections to push down on those he doesn’t like.

Linda Marchetti, the Mayor’s wife. A good-time gal and quite savvy about how to hobnob with the town’s mucky-mucks. She’s a stalwart ally and serves as an eager partner to whatever plans her husband has for the town.

[Richard Morell]

Richard’s Intriguing Concept and World

What I learned from this assignment is that AI can help me take my initial concept and make it sound so much more exciting and intriguing. I did have the experience once of putting my bio through AI and watching it come up with something that rather makes me look more enticing to others. I am happy to see how AI has reformulated the concept such that the basic concept sounds different but similar to other shows out there. This is the first time as well, that AI acknowledged the “small town with a big secret” trope that will form the essential basis for the show.

Engaging and highly proactive hero or group: A group of environmentally-aware and disaffected urban LGBTQ professionals

… up against a major conflict… who act from climate change acceptance despite the near-universal desire to deny its existence…

… goes on unique transformational journey… relocate to Skaneta, Michigan, a seemingly progressive small town and confront both a stubborn and shady mayor and that a mysterious power which magnetized the group to relocate there…

… into an intriguing world… and begin the work to transform Skanekta to weather the upcoming storms against the Mayor’s wishes and initially fighting the power but then learning to work with it and understand what it needs.

Hook 1: Someone is facing climate change and doing something about it, however misguided it might seem. This bumps up against the power structure in the town with Skanekta’s Mayor and his allies (many of whom are LGBT) still push the status quo.

Hook 2: Skanekta ha a vast history of magical protection and power and has drawn these people to the town… for what purpose?

Hook 3: The story will interweave the supernatural underpinnings with the threat of climate change in unexpected and novel ways.

Unique Sub-World: A small town where LGBTQ+ folks and magic practitioners are welcome

Previously unexplored: More LGTBQ folks live in big cities. Small Towns have a reputation of being closed-minded.

The unknown: The history and mindset of Skanekta would have to be different in significant ways from most other small towns. The dysfunctions would also be rather unusual.

The unseen: The power holding the town together is unseen. The Mayor’s plans are also hidden behind his tailored façade.

Unheard of Dangers: The town’s power has a mind of its own, and our transplants will learn the hard way what it’s don’t-cross lines are.

Reason to explore it: The thing that unites the characters is the acceptance that climate change is a foregone conclusion, and the power of the town seems to want them there. That is a mystery well worth unraveling.

Ideas for Increased Intrigue:

Mystery: Deepen the “unknown force” concept, leaving clues hinting at its nature and purpose.

Character Twists: Reveal hidden agendas or unsettling abilities possessed by seemingly ordinary townsfolk.

Supernatural Threat: Introduce a tangible supernatural element directly tied to the town’s secret.

Environmental Integration: Weave climate change’s impact into the supernatural element, creating a unique narrative thread.

LGBTQ+ Representation: Explore the town’s secret through the lens of its LGBTQ+ characters, offering a deeper commentary on societal acceptance and hidden prejudices.

Rewrite for TV Producer Appeal:

Logline: In Skanekta, Michigan, a town built on a dark secret, a group of urban transplants seeking a fresh start stumble upon a supernatural force that binds them to its fate and compels them to confront the unsettling reality beneath the idyllic facade.

Keywords: Climate Change, LGBTQ+, Supernatural, Mystery, Hidden Agenda, Urban vs. Rural, Midwestern Setting

Target Audience: This series targets young adults and millennials (under 45) experiencing anxieties about the future, drawn to the show’s exploration of climate change, societal issues, and the search for belonging in a world teetering on the brink of change.

Unique Selling Points:

Combines timely themes like climate change and LGBTQ+ representation with a captivating supernatural mystery.

Offers a fresh perspective on the “small town with a secret” trope through diverse characters and current social anxieties.

Creates a chilling and thought-provoking viewing experience that resonates with the target audience’s fears and aspirations.

[Richard Morell]

What I learned from this assignment is that I’ve got some thinking to do about irony in general. I naturally put it into my work but I think it could be more valuable if I was more conscious about how I use it and how to apply it. AI points to ironies that I didn’t realize were ironies—I just thought they were parts of the story. So I’m better at irony than I think I am.

ASSIGNMENT 1: RIVERDALE

Situational irony:

A small town with a wholesome reputation hides criminal and dangerous individuals.

Archie, Betty, and Veronica are upstanding kids who must engage in secret conspiracies to protect themselves and Jughead.

The respectable Blossom family harbors some deep evil.

Jughead is the smart and honorable kid from the wrong side of the tracks.

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper cart Polly off to a home for unwed mothers professing their love for her.

Character irony:

Cheryl wants love and affection but she puts out a Mean Girls vibe.

Betty wants to be seen as the good girl but she has a fierce streak of independence.

Archie loves his friend Jughead but he resorts to lies to protect him.

Veronica appears to be a tough urban rich bitch but she’s actually more caring and loyal with her friends.

Fred wants to be seen as a decisive and worldly businessman, but he must rely on others’ help to get ahead.

Jughead desperately wants to be a part of a family, but he’s actually quite resourceful when he has to go it alone.

Alice wants to be the voice of the community, but she’s driven by revenge and pettiness.

Hermione has gone after the good life, but she really longs for a simpler time like Riverdale was in days gone by.

Assignment 2: THE APOCALOPTOMISTS or THE NEWCOMERS

Plot Irony

The new transplants, who come from the bustling urban environment, are drawn to the small town’s peaceful and idyllic atmosphere, only to discover that it is harboring deep-seated conflicts and mysteries.

The town’s seemingly progressive mayor, Mayor Marchetti, turns out to be hiding a secret agenda that contradicts his environmentally conscious and LGBTQ-friendly persona.

The town’s reliance on traditional values and beliefs proves to be a hindrance in adapting to the urgent challenges of climate change and economic dislocation.

Situational Irony:

A seemingly urbane and progressive town that values science and progress sits in an area that has powerful spirits and ancestral influences.

The new transplants, seeking a fresh start and a new life in the small town, are soon confronted with the town’s unsolved mysteries and conflicts, disrupting their peaceful intentions.

The town’s hidden power source, which could be a source of salvation, becomes a target of both good and evil forces, creating an ironic twist of fate.

This town that has so much invested in looking to the future is attracting people who want to bring back elements of the past in order to move forward with the times.

Businesses that are attempting to work with climate change need to work within an economy that favors extraction and repression.

The usual ways of doing things have to live alongside awkward attempts to create a parallel way of life in its shadows, and emerging through the cracks in the façade.

Annabel’s reputable law firm relies on clients who benefit from pain, suffering, and environmental damage.

Taliesin must engage with the dominant society to provide him the sustenance to engage in rites that would do away with the same economic strategies.

For all their talk about preparing for the onslaught of major disruptive change, the newcomers seem to Edmond, a non-binary local person who wishes to help the town, is often overlooked due to their lack of experience and status, adding an ironic layer to their desire to make a difference.

look forward to said shitstorm.

Character Irony:

Dermot seeks to build an environmentally-conscious business to counteract his past benefits from working in the most destructive industry there is.

Dermot wishes to show up to his marriage but can’t deny his growing attraction to Taliesin.

Dermot, a successful businessman who values pragmatism and logic, finds himself drawn to the town’s mystical and unexplained occurrences, challenging his rational worldview.

Taliesin professes to be on the Middle Path (which can choose the ethical as well as the unethical), yet he is actually more of a do-gooder than he puts on.

Taliesin, a bisexual warlock concealing his powers, finds himself drawn to Dermot, a man who is unaware of his true identity, creating an ironic contrast between their public and private selves.

Annabel, an environmental attorney, champions the preservation of nature, but her relationship with Pastor Sarah, who represents the town’s traditional values, highlights the irony of their contrasting beliefs.

Annabel wants to put forth a welcoming but activist appearance yet she’s obsessed with finding out why Sarah is distant from her.

Annabel professes to be honorable and transparent, yet she is willing to use gains from unsavory sources to push for the better way of life she knows is possible.

Mayor Marchetti appears as a benevolent and progressive mayor but he’s hiding his corrupt activities and connections to a fracking corporation.

Despite Edmond being an outsider in the town, they crave love and affection.

Edmond appears as the weakest of the characters on hand, but they are the keeper of the library and the trusted servant of the spirits of the land and ancestors.

Dialogue Irony

Mayor Marchetti’s speeches about environmental protection and inclusivity contrast with his covert actions that undermine those very values, creating a sense of ironic hypocrisy.

The new transplants’ initial skepticism about the town’s mysterious forces is gradually replaced by acceptance, highlighting the irony of their journey from disbelief to belief.

Edmond’s insightful observations about the town’s past and the hidden power source are often dismissed by others, adding an ironic layer to their knowledge and understanding.

Dramatic Irony

The audience knows that the new transplants have been drawn to the town by an unknown force, while the characters themselves are unaware of this connection, creating a sense of suspense and anticipation.

The audience is aware of Taliesin’s true identity as a warlock, while the townspeople remain oblivious, adding an ironic dimension to his interactions with them.

The audience understands the town’s hidden power source and its potential for both good and evil, while the characters are still grappling with its implications, creating a sense of impending conflict.

These forms of irony will add depth, complexity, and intrigue to your TV series, keeping the audience engaged and curious as they navigate the unfolding mysteries and conflicts.

Relationship Irony

Dermot and Michael: Dermot, a gay businessman who has always struggled with acceptance in his urban life, finds love and acceptance in the small Midwestern town, but his relationship with Michael is tested by the town’s hidden mysteries and his own secret identity as a warlock.

Taliesin and Annabel: Taliesin, a bisexual warlock who has always concealed his powers, finds himself drawn to Annabel, an environmental attorney who advocates for openness and transparency. Their relationship is built on a foundation of hidden truths, adding an ironic layer to their connection.

Edmond and Mayor Marchetti: Edmond, a non-binary local person who yearns for recognition and respect, finds an unlikely ally in Mayor Marchetti, the town’s seemingly progressive leader. Their alliance is based on mutual need and shared secrets, creating an ironic twist in their relationship dynamic.

Cover-Ups

Mayor Marchetti’s Secret Agenda: Mayor Marchetti’s public persona as an environmentally conscious and LGBTQ-friendly leader masks his covert dealings with a polluting company that threatens the town’s future. His actions create a web of deception and betrayal, adding suspense and intrigue to the narrative.

Taliesin’s Hidden Powers: Taliesin’s concealment of his warlock powers from the townspeople, including his lover Dermot, creates a layer of distrust and potential conflict within their relationships. His secret identity could have far-reaching consequences for the town and his personal life.

The Town’s Hidden Power Source: The town’s hidden power source, which could be a source of salvation or destruction, is shrouded in secrecy and mystery. The cover-up surrounding this resource adds an element of danger and uncertainty to the narrative, as both good and evil forces seek to control it.

Layers of Irony

The New Transplants’ Unexpected Purpose: The new transplants, who initially seek a peaceful and idyllic life in the small town, are drawn into a web of mysteries and conflicts, revealing a deeper purpose for their arrival. Their journey takes an ironic turn, as they become the town’s unexpected saviors.

The Town’s Reliance on Traditional Values: The town’s adherence to traditional values and beliefs, while initially providing a sense of stability and community, proves to be a hindrance in adapting to the urgent challenges of climate change and economic dislocation. This ironic contrast highlights the need for change and progress.

The Mysterious Forces at Play: The existence of mysterious forces, both benevolent and malevolent, adds a layer of complexity and intrigue to the narrative. The characters’ understanding of these forces evolves as they confront the town’s hidden truths, creating a sense of shifting perspectives and evolving ironies.

[Richard Morell]

Lesson 11 – Precise Character Profiles

Richard’s Precise Character Profiles

What I learned is this is a great use for AI, to distill all this information down to bite-size concepts that will be useful for the coming weeks.

Dermot Friend

Role in the show: Central Character, civic-minded businessman

Unique Purpose / Expertise: Practical leader driven to create a harmonious community

Intrigue: Beneath his confident exterior lies a fear of the future and a complex love triangle

Moral Issue: Grapples with potential infidelity and moral compromises for personal gain

Unpredictable: Calculated risk-taker prone to making questionable decisions

Empathetic: Guided by a good heart and a willingness to learn from mistakes

Traits: Pragmatic, supportive, decisive, yearning

Hidden Agendas: Secretly develops renewable agriculture to atone for his ties to petroleum.

Competition: Vying for leadership of Skanekta against Mayor Marchetti

Conspiracies: Engages in clandestine meetings with Taliesin and strategizes with Edmond and Annabel

Secrets: Conceals his past at the petroleum company and his growing feelings for Taliesin

Deception: Misleads both Michael and Mayor Marchetti

Wound: Judged harshly for speaking his truths. Chooses to be tight-lipped.

Secret Identity: Awakens to magical powers and embraces his role as a humble and protective leader

Situational: Driven by hope for a new purpose, yet haunted by the fear of failure

Motivation: Seeks to create a safe and viable space to weather climate change

Mask: Hides underlying rage behind a life coach persona

Weaknesses: Prone to overtrusting and inflexible thinking

Triggers: Reminders of past mistakes or discussions about climate change

Coping Mechanism: Relies on maneuvering, manipulation, and suppressing negative emotions

 

Taliesin Kerrdorion

Role in the show: The Man with the Powers, also Dermot’s potential love-interest

Unique Purpose / Expertise: Astrologer, warlock, and enforcer of an ethical code

Intrigue: Guided by scary-accurate ancestral wisdom from Kerridwen and Hekate

Moral Issue: May act in ways some would consider evil due to his connection to the goddesses

Unpredictable: Guided by divine will

Empathetic: Struggles with being an outsider

Traits: Enigmatic, formidable, intuitive, loyal, deceptive

Hidden Agendas: To guide the town towards a more sustainable future. Address suspicious magical activity.

Competition: Initially feels threatened by those who sense his power

Conspiracies: Tolerates Dermot’s deception and initially conspires with Mayor Marchetti

• Secrets: Aware of a secret society with overlapping goals

• Knows that Annabel’s wife is a member of the secret society

• Relationship with Dermot

• Keeps his mission as a magical enforcer a secret

Deception: Poses as a budding herbalist/astrologer

Wound: Abandoned in a polyamorous relationship and ostracized for his ideas

Secret Identity: Priest of Kerridwen and future Town Shaman

• Motivations: Wants: Inclusion and diversity

• Needs: To use his powers to help others

• Mask: Base Negative Emotion: Worthlessness and vulnerability

• Public Mask: The Impervious Enigma

Weaknesses: Arrogant and proud, impulsive, perfectionist

Triggers: Being questioned or gaslighted

Coping Mechanism: Escapes into the occult and natural worlds

 

Annabel Masterson

Role in the show: Environmental attorney and fighter for cultural change

Unique Purpose / Expertise: Legal knowledge, Ojibwe heritage

Intrigue: Secretly suspects wife’s infidelity, anticipates new arrivals

Moral Issue: Balances environmental justice with legal boundaries, marriage fears clouding judgment

Unpredictable: Cunning lawyer, out-of-the-box thinker, relationship problems as catalysts

Empathetic: Advocate for the underdog, fierce protector

Traits: Passionate, articulate, empathetic, scheming

Hidden agendas: Political aspirations masked by environmental advocacy

Competition: Vying for townspeople’s support, leadership rivalry, uneasy about Taliesin

Conspiracies: Investigating wife’s loyalty, suspects Mayor Marchetti’s corruption

Secrets: Dark past working for dubious clients, seeking redemption through activism

Deception: Ambivalent about radical environmentalism, prefers systemic change

Wound: Loss of faith lingers deeply

Secret Identity: Druidic powers, member of clandestine environmental activist group

Situational: Hope / Fear: Impactful climate change action / Public exposure of secrets

Motivation: Want / Need: Open lesbian family life, faith-activism reconciliation

Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: Fear, insecurity / Sustainability champion

Weaknesses: Obsessive, possessive, impulsive, idealistic

Triggers: Hypocrisy, injustice, apathy

Coping Mechanism: Neatness, workaholism, emotional avoidance through food

 

Edmond Osborne:

Role: Local guide, linked to ancestral forces.

Unique Purpose: Navigates town dynamics; interprets ancestral messages.

Intrigue: Nonbinary, torn between loyalty and personal desires.

Moral Issue: Balancing loyalty with aiding newcomers.

Unpredictable: Shifts allegiance; unpredictable actions keep suspense.

Empathetic: Kind and caring, struggles to do right.

Traits: Wise, gentle, observant, awkward.

Hidden Agendas: Gathers intel for newcomers guided by ancestors.

Competition: Rivalry with ruthless high school alumni.

Conspiracies: Teams up with newcomers against corrupt mayor.

Secrets: Conceals wealth, oak library knowledge until ready.

Deception: Pretends poor, overcompensates woke identity.

Wound: Scarred from brutal high school bullying.

Secret Identity: Skanekta’s Town Pathfinder, guided by ancestors.

Situational: Hope: Belonging in changing Skanekta. Fear: Climate chaos isolating them further.

Motivation: Want: Acceptance and love. Need: Take action, help detached from results.

Mask: Negative: Loneliness and isolation. Public: Easygoing, wise youngster.

Weaknesses: Impressionable, naive, self-sacrificing.

Triggers: Bullying, unkindness, dismissiveness.

Coping Mechanism: Gossips, withdraws, finds solace in nature.

 

Mayor Marchetti

Role in the show: Town’s seemingly progressive leader

Unique Purpose / Expertise: Political connections and influence could aid town’s problems

Intrigue: Beneath the façade lies a desire for personal gain

Moral Issue: Willing to deceive those he represents to maintain power

Unpredictable: Capable of anything to maintain control

Empathetic: A complex and contradictory figure, both charming and manipulative

Traits: Charismatic, driven, manipulative, power-hungry

Hidden Agendas: Prioritizes personal gain over town’s true needs; force for regression.

Competition: Dermot (leadership rival), Annabel and Sarah (spiritual leaders), Sheriff (moral compass)

Conspiracies: Secret meetings with developers, factory owners, and lobbyists

Secrets: Hides corrupt activities, maintaining fake and real calendars

Deception: A charismatic mask concealing a self-serving agenda

Wound: Carries a chip on his shoulder from being overshadowed by a brainiac brother

Secret Identity: Former coal miner, proud of humble beginnings but pressured by wealthy allies

Situational: Hope / Fear: Hopes to save town from economic ruin but fears sacrificing his values

Motivation: Want / Need: Craves power and control while juggling personal interests with town’s needs

Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: Greed/Ambition masked by a charismatic, compassionate leader persona

Weaknesses: Reactive, easily corrupted by power and money

Triggers: Being called out, public disagreements, challenges to his authority

Coping Mechanism: Abuses power to manipulate and control, resorts to booze and smoking

[Richard Morell]

Richard’s intriguing layers

What I learned from this assignment is how great it is to keep digging deeper into the possible layers that underlie the surface. Again, it’s great to bounce ideas off of the AI. I’ve been getting a lot out of this. It’s interesting too to see how all 3 programs do it differently. (I’m using Claude to generate ideas for turning a feature I’ve been working on into a Limited Series. It’s actually a related show in many ways, for they both feature magical folks in small towns, but with very different agendas.) One of the benefits of this is that intrigue seems to beget intrigue. And though I find some of what the Ai has come up with to be wrong for this show, I now have a new way to look at the world and the characters in some exciting and thought-provoking ways. I’ve been coming up with some more ideas that are quite fun!

ASSIGNMENT 1: RIVERDALE

Plot Layers

Surface: Jason’s murder speaks to something larger going on.

Layer 1: Hidden Histories: The Blossoms have enmity with both the Coopers and the Lodges.

Layer 2: Hidden plan: The Blossoms are up to something and it involves both Polly and Archie.

Layer 3: Thought story was one thing…: There is a dimension of class that also connects Alice to the South Side Serpents, who have a larger role than we realize.

Layer 4: More hidden history: The sins of the parents are being replicated in their young.

Character Layers: Veronica

Surface: She’s the poor little rich girl whose family has seen better days, and who was shown to be a shallow and destructive force in New York.

Layer 1: Hidden Character History: She destroyed someone in her previous school and wants to atone.

Layer 2: Conspiracy: She conspires with Betty to ferret out the football team’s awful book and then with Betty and Jughead to find out what’s going on with all the crap in the town surrounding Jason’s death.

Layer 3: Hidden romance: She and Archie start to romance one another, with Jughead the only one who knows.

Layer 4: Secret Identity: Veronica is really keen for justice and protecting her friends. She has it in her to be a formidable enemy if people threaten those she deems worthy of her loyalty. She’s really a good egg who looks to others like a bitch.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

PLOT LAYERS

Surface layer: The Newcomers bring a fresh energy and new perspectives to the town.

Layer 1: Thought it was one thing… – The Newcomers each come to the town with baggage and seek to free themselves of their guilt and shame but discover that they are there for a larger purpose and that their lives have been orchestrated to bring them to this place.

Layer 2: Major shift in Meaning: The Newcomers pretend to believe that things will be rosy as they help the town to adjust to the realities of climate change and economic freefall, but when they become aware of the larger forces at work, they need to change how they respond and react to the strange goings-on in the town. Along with the exigencies of climate change and economic dislocation.

Layer 3: Major Betrayal: The newcomers are also there to subvert the current regime and take control of the resources. As this unfolds, some of the newcomers (Dermot, Annabel), discover nascent powers they didn’t know they had until the town exposed their hidden truths.

Layer 4: Major Scheme Revealed: The betrayal is part of a scheme first to discredit Mayor Marchetti and also to shine a light on his corruption and attempt to sell the town out to Dermot’s old gas company that seeks to frack near the coast of the Lake.

Layer 5: Hidden plan: The oak library reveals that this set of plans was always preordained, and that not even Mayor Marchetti and those who would uphold the status quo would be able to combat it.

Surface Layer: Edmond hears the voices and then the newcomers find the Oak Library.

Layer 1: Hidden history: Certain people have been touched with this clairaudience before.

Layer 2: Major scheme revealed: Taliesin cast a spell before coming here to learn the mysteries of Skanekta.

Layer 3: Mystery revealed: The books contain valuable information from the past but also a set of prophecies about this current time and beyond.

Layer 4: Major betrayal: Mayor Marchetti uses Taliesin to get to the library, seeking to destroy it.

Layer 5: Hidden plan: The library itself is a node of sentience with mother earth and has pre-knowledge of all Mayor Marchetti’s plans.

Layers of the Hidden Library

Surface Layer: The library is a hidden repository of knowledge and wisdom, containing ancient texts, maps, and artifacts that hold the key to understanding the town’s history and the secrets of the unknown force.

Layer 1: The library is a gateway to the past, allowing Edmond to connect with the spirits of the town’s ancestors and learn about their experiences, their struggles, and their hopes for the future.

Layer 2: The library is a symbol of the town’s hidden potential, representing the power of knowledge and understanding to overcome adversity and shape a brighter tomorrow.

Layer 3: The library is a test of Edmond’s courage and resolve, challenging them to confront their own fears and insecurities while navigating the mysteries of the past.

Layer 4: The library is a source of inspiration, providing Edmond with the guidance and wisdom they need to fulfill their destiny as a protector of the town and a guardian of its secrets.

CHARACTER LAYERS

Dermot

Surface layer: He’s a hopeful businessman in a long distance, long-term relationship with an IP attorney in Denver.

Layer 1a: Hidden relationships: Dermot and Michael are having issues regarding Dermot’s change in outlook. Michael refuses to leave Denver or to consider where Dermot is coming from. Further, Michael is accustomed to his way of life and will not entertain the notion that its days are numbered.

Layer 1B: Dermot has a hidden romance with Taliesin developing, and he and Annabel have also met before. They both have skeletons in their closets and conspire together to build a better Skanekta and then to foil Mayor Marchetti’s plans.

Later 2: Wound: When Dermot was starting to see how climate change has a huge anthropogenic piece, he tried to share this with Michael and was chagrined to discover Michael was hostile. He lashed out at him and told him to go live in a cave if that’s how he felt. It recalled other wounds from his childhood where he was shut down for speaking his truths.

Layer 3: Intrigue: Dermot believes he is faithful to Michael and that eventually he will come around, but then Taliesin offers his a new course and creates a dilemma.

Layer 4: Hidden Character History 1: Until 18 months ago, Dermot worked as a high-level executive for a petroleum/natural gas corporation. But in the last 3 years of his employment, he stopped believing the lies that they told and slowly stopped repeating the lies he’d been paid to promote. He has major guilt.

Layer 5: Hidden Agenda: Mayor Marchetti is aware of Dermot’s past in the oil/gas industry, and is quietly playing on his feelings of guilt to distract him from what the Mayor is doing behind closed doors.

Layer 6: Hidden Character History 2: Dermot is unaware that he has magical powers and that the town has been pulling him inexorably towards it because his powers will be useful for the transition that is now upon us all.

Layer 7: Mystery revealed: His magical powers were a mystery to him. Once this becomes known, he will now need to learn what he’s capable of and make mistakes along the way. (Hopefully nothing too damaging…)

Layer87: Secret Identity: Dermot uncovers his magic and becomes aware that he is both a humble servant of the town and one of its protectors.

Taliesin

Surface layer: Taliesin is a bisexual man who has a part-time gig with the Town of Skanekta and has a side gig as a mail-order herbalist with a local face.

Layer 1: Hidden relationships: Taliesin has a hidden conspiracy with Mayor Marchetti, wherein he uses his magic to help the Mayor ascertain certain information, and then he and Dermot start having an affair.

Layer 2a: Hidden history: Taliesin was a part of a powerful coven in Chicago, which is part of a larger secret organization, but he was not always aligned with the coven’s goals or modalities. He became too strident in his beliefs and also showed he was willing to sabotage some of their communal rites and was banished.

Layer 2b:He has a further hidden role in the organization as an enforcer of magical ethics, and they’ve dispatched him to this town because they have promptings of some malfeasance.

Layer 2c: Taliesin has also been dreaming of Skanekta since he was seven. He senses that an older version of himself helped him to come to the town at this time.

Layer 3: Intrigue: Edmond gets the sense that Taliesin knows more than what he appears to—in part because the voices are telling him this is so. Taliesin and Edmond are each wary of the other and they act separately toward the same goals without knowing it.

Layer 4:Wound: Taliesin has received his share of persecution over his short life. He has always been a smart kid with an eye for justice, which made him a target in the small town in Wisconsin he grew up in. He learned not to speak up back then and got out of town as soon as he could. He has some misgivings about Skanekta being a small upper Midwest town as well.

Layer 5: Secret identity: Taliesin is a badass bisexual warlock, and has been drawn to Skanekta to be the Moral-Arbiter/Shamanic Edgewalker the town will need in the aftermath of the Great Turning.

Mayor Marchetti:

Surface layer: He’s an affable, seemingly environmentally conscious and LGBTQ+ friendly mayor.

Layer 1: Intrigue: He’s operating at cross purposes to his stated missions with backdoor deals and politicking to get some dirty industries to invest in development.

Layer 2: Hidden relationships: Mayor Marchetti and his wife Linda are both involved in relationships with unscrupulous billionaires who have a vision that is more exclusive to the uber-wealthy. Mayor M. keeps his practical relationship with Taliesin a secret too, because he knows that the town probably won’t really support someone like him or see his value.

Layer 3: Wound: Mayor Marchetti carries a chip on his shoulder from his working-class roots. He has made it a priority to skewer intellectuals and goody-two-shoe types of people because they slapped him down all through high school and even at Indiana State University.

Layer 4: Hidden Agenda: Mayor M is really a force for regression, and though he gives lip service to the interests of the populace, he is devoted to keeping Business As Usual going for as long as possible—until the end of the world if need be.

Annabel

Surface: Annabel is an accomplished environmental attorney and social activist in a loving relationship with Pastor Sarah.

Layer 1: Hidden relationships: Annabel is secretly working with a PI to see if Sarah is stepping out on her, and also has a hidden partnership with Dermot to work out the transformation of the town..

Layer 2: Hidden Agenda: The PI discovers that Sarah isn’t having an affair but is involved with a secret society that has some questionable motives. Annabel will confront Sarah, who will read her into what she’s been doing, leaving Annabel conflicted.

Layer 3: Hidden Character history: She worked for a seemingly respectable law firm which actually did some shady dealings with certain notorious figures in the Russian mob and in drug cartels. She doesn’t’ know she possesses dangerous knowledge to the Russians and that they are watching her.

Layer 4: Intrigue: How does Annabel maintain any sort of faith in this day and age—especially as a social justice activist and lesbian?

Layer 5: Hidden Agenda: Annabel and Pastor Sarah both have been part of the Prepper community, and she hasn’t shared that with Dermot. She’s waiting for the right moment.

Layer 6: Intrigue: When she finds out about the Oak Library, she is hesitant because of her Christian upbringing. She wonders if it isn’t demonic, somehow.

Layer 7: Wound: When she came out, she received support from her parents and most of her siblings. Her closest sibling, Adelaide rejected her, however. Adelaide joined up with some nasty girls who picked on Annabel in high school, and then they also caused a lot of pain to her parents for their support.

Layer 8: Mystery Revealed: Annabel’s work with the environment leads to the awareness that she is in an active dialogue with nature, and that nature speaks back to her. She is a modern-day druid and the town brings this into focus as part of how she will help the town navigate whatever’s coming.

Edmond:

Surface: Edmond is a welcoming non-binary kid, recently graduated from high school, who has some special abilities.

Layer 1: Intrigue: Something inside him makes them the one who gets to hear the messages. What is it?

Layer 2: Wound: The town doesn’t accept Edmond and uses male pronouns when they talk about them. Certain intransigent stupid people seek to torment Edmond to this day.

Layer 3: Hidden relationships: Edmond is a part of a psychic circle that meets in random locations once a week. They do different sorts of rites, and they encourage each other’s psychic abilities.

Layer 4: Hidden character history: Edmond had a vision of themselves when they were much younger, that they would be the keeper of some secret knowledge and that the town and region are animated with spirits.

Layer 5: Secret identity: It comes out that Edmond is the Oak Library’s Librarian, in charge of disseminating its secrets and wisdom.

[Richard Morell]

Lesson 8 – Inviting Obsession

Richard’s Open Loops

What I learned from this assignment is that when I get a fun idea to work with and need to change my concept a little, I can go back and bring AI forward along with the process. It was interesting that the AI at first focused on open loops affecting the group of newcomers as opposed to the individual characters. That is actually something I need to consider, especially since it will become apparent by the end of the first season that there’s something mystical going on in Skanekta. (And I realize too that it’s by the end of Season 2 that they operate with the understanding that they were each chosen specifically to be in this place.) I did once try to use the prompt with adding in several considerations, but Bard came back with a blank reply—probably too many things in that one. So I broke it down for each character to come up with 5 open loops each could focus on. And they were close to the ones I came up with.

ASSIGNMENT #1 – RIVERDALE

Large loops

Do Cheryl and Jason have an incestuous relationship?

Why do the Coopers hate Jason?

Will Betty and Archie get together? Or Archie and Veronica?

Will Archie move toward a musical career?

“I’m Breakfast at Tiffany’s and this place is In Cold Blood.”

Will Betty vanquish her intimidating mother’s insatiable need for control?

What’s with Veronica’s Dad?

What happened with Jason and Polly?

Will Betty and Veronica be rivals or friends?

Will Archie and Grundy come forward with the fact they heard the gunshot?

Who will come out on top in the school dynamics? Cheryl or Veronica?

There are open loops galore in the relationships between the kids and the students?

Small Loops

Will they find Jason or is he dead?

Who are Veronica and Hermione? What’s their story?

Can Archie do football and music?

What will happen with Archie and Valerie?

Will Archie and Grundy keep up their relationship?

Will Kevin hook up with Moose?

ASSIGNMENT 2: THE APOCALOPTOMISTS or THE NEWCOMERS

Before AI Open Loops:

GOALS:

New goals?

Annabel sets up a new environmental law practice in the expectations that this will be necessary. She’s also researching laws pertaining to refugees, as there will be mass migrations in the future.

Because of the voices and the library under the oak tree, Edmond has a new goal of listening to them and then taking actions upon their guidance—even if they don’t always understand what it is they’re being asked to do.

Goals related to the big picture?

Dermot’s goal of starting a successful business to support regenerative agriculture ties in with the big picture of accepting climate change.

Mayor Marchetti’s private project to work with the asphalt company is a big picture goal against the wishes of the rest of the town.

Edmond is dimly aware that everyone’s actions pertain to the future they all want to create for themselves and with each other.

Crushed goals?

Taliesin had goals for his place in Detroit, but these were crushed by politics and personalities. He’s licking his wounds, and seeking a new goal.

Competition / conflict around goals?

Dermot and Annabel’s goals conflict with Mayor Marchetti’s, though they are unaware of this.

CONSEQUENCES:

Are they going to be caught?

Mayor Marchetti could get caught in this web of deceit he’s creating.

Though he’s not doing anything wrong, Taliesin wonders if he might not be witnessed engaging in his rituals and then be shamed for it.

What problems can be created from past actions?

Dermot’s past work with the oil company during one of the worst pipeline bursts in recent memory could come back to haunt him.

Annabel left some nasty clients for her firm to deal with back in Atlanta. Some of them will come back to haunter her, and at least one actively pesters her to represent their company.

Good plans gone wrong?

Taliesin’s spellwork could potentially create problems for both himself and Skanekta down the line. Also, Taliesin’s work with the Mayor could potentially be a good plan that has unforeseen consequences.

SOLVING PROBLEMS:

What is the major problem for this character?

Dermot’s major problem is trying to keep a long-distance relationship with Michael while also beginning this business in Skanekta. Dermot seeks to convince Michael to relocate there.

Taliesin is drawn to Skanekta and feels an urgent need to understand why. He’s rather unnerved by some of the things he’s experiencing, as he feels he’s had these experiences before—perhaps in his night dreams?

Annabel’s uppermost concern is with Pastor Sarah, her wife. She really wants to ensure that their marriage is solid, but her jealousy causes her to worry about Sarah’s true allegiance.

What are they trying to solve?

Edmond is seeking community while also holding space for the voices that are coming to him and informing him of the events that are about to transpire.

Major change imposed on character?

Mayor Marchetti now has to deal with these newcomers who have a very different mindset than himself.

All of the characters feel the pressure of climate change, but still hold onto denial to varying degrees, with the Mayor being most in the dark.

Previous solutions cause new problems?

Mayor Marchetti’s choices to support the LGBTQ+ community and the environmental concerns of the town prove to be insubstantial. They will confront him eventually to give the ordinances some teeth.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Relationships in peril?

Both Dermot and Annabel experience turmoil in their relationships. Dermot also contends with his growing attraction to Taliesin.

New relationships forming?

Taliesin and Dermot start to get closer to each other. Edmond grows fond of the newcomers and the newcomers are also fond of Edmond. Edmond alternates with crushes on each of them, but really likes Taliesin.

Conflict inside relationships?

Dermot and Michael; Annabel and Sarah

Relationships changing?

Mayor Marchetti’s relationship with his wife and kids are changing as they interact with the newcomers.

DANGER / SURVIVAL / RISKS:

Can they survive X?

All of the characters have people in their lives who are in danger due to climate change, but they aren’t yet aware of it.

Putting themselves in danger / making dangerous decisions?

Taliesin finds that he will need to work with spirits with questionable trustworthiness. He might draw both the Mayor and Edmond into the danger.

Who else is pulled into their danger?

Edmond’s attention to the voices will put Dermot, Taliesin and Annabel into uncomfortable situations that could be life-threatening. Part of Edmond’s job is to temper these souls to prepare them for the much more difficult work ahead.

Internal dangers (drug addiction, need for medicine, inner demons)?

Dermot’s guilt and shame about his past in the oil and gas industry is likely to create a few issues in the future.

Annabel’s clientele did include a couple of respectable people hiding criminal actions. She doesn’t realize she knows some things that are threatening to their continued operations.

All of the LGBTQ+ characters carry wounds related to owning their sexuality and gender identity.

AI Contributions

Prompt: ’m writing a TV Series that is [Format/Genre] about [Concept] and [Conflict] with [Lead Characters]. Can you generate [Open Loops] and setups that could play out over the course of Season 1.

Definition of “Open Loops”:Questions that can only be answered in future episodes. An open loop is a rhetorical device to instill curiosity by creating anticipation for what will come next.

Open Loops opportunities:

GOALS:

New goals?

Goals related to the big picture?

Crushed goals?

Competition / conflict around goals?

CONSEQUENCES:

Are they going to be caught?

Problems created from past actions?

Good plans gone wrong?

SOLVING PROBLEMS:

What is the major problem for this character?

What are they trying to solve?

Major change imposed on character?

Previous solutions cause new problems?

RELATIONSHIPS:

Relationships in peril?

New relationships forming?

Conflict inside relationships?

Relationships changing?

DANGER / SURVIVAL / RISKS:

Can they survive X?

Putting themselves in danger / making dangerous decisions?

Who else is pulled into their danger?

Internal dangers (drug addiction, need for medicine, inner demons)?

Format/Genre =

Concept =

Conflict =

Lead Characters =

Sure, here are some open loops and setups that could play out over the course of Season 1 of your TV series:

Goals

New goals: The new transplants discover that they have been brought to the town for a specific purpose, and they must now find out what that purpose is and how they can fulfill it.

Goals related to the big picture: The new transplants begin to realize that their individual goals are intertwined with the fate of the town, and they must learn to work together to save it.

Crushed goals: The new transplants face setbacks and challenges that force them to reevaluate their goals and priorities.

Competition / conflict around goals: The new transplants find themselves competing with each other for resources and influence, which creates tension and conflict.

Consequences

Are they going to be caught: Taliesin’s secret identity as a warlock is at risk of being exposed, which could have serious consequences for him and the others.

Problems created from past actions: Dermot’s past comes back to haunt him, threatening to jeopardize his new life and his relationship with Michael.

Good plans gone wrong: Annabel’s efforts to help the town adapt to climate change have unintended consequences that could make things worse.

Solving Problems

What is the major problem for this character: Edmond struggles to find a way to balance their loyalty to the town with their desire to help the new transplants.

What are they trying to solve: Mayor Marchetti must find a way to protect the town from the mysterious forces that are at work.

Major change imposed on character: Taliesin is forced to confront his true nature and accept his role as a protector of the town.

Previous solutions cause new problems: The new transplants’ attempts to solve the town’s problems often create new problems.

Relationships

Relationships in peril: Dermot and Michael’s relationship is tested by the challenges of starting a new life in a new town.

New relationships forming: Annabel and Pastor Sarah develop a close relationship, but they face opposition from some members of the town.

Conflict inside relationships: Taliesin’s secret powers create tension in his relationship with Dermot.

Relationships changing: The new transplants’ relationships with each other evolve as they work together to save the town.

Danger / Survival / Risks

Can they survive X: The new transplants face a number of threats, including the mysterious forces at work in the town, the town’s resistance to change, and the challenges of adapting to climate change.

Putting themselves in danger / making dangerous decisions: Taliesin uses his powers to protect the town, putting himself in danger.

Who else is pulled into their danger: The new transplants’ friends and family start to get caught up in the danger that they are facing.

Internal dangers (drug addiction, need for medicine, inner demons): Edmond struggles with their own inner demons, which could threaten their ability to help the town.

These open loops and setups will provide plenty of intrigue and suspense for Season 1 of your TV series. As the new transplants work together to solve the town’s problems, they will learn more about themselves, each other, and the mysterious forces that are at work. They will also face difficult choices that will affect their own lives and the future of the town.

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For each of the characters, create five open loops they could be working with throughout the series that are specific to them.

Sure, here are five open loops that each character could be working with throughout the series that are specific to them:

Dermot

Can he balance his love for Michael with his growing attachment to the town and its people?

How will he deal with the guilt of leaving his family behind in the city?

Will he be able to use his business acumen to help the town adapt to climate change and economic dislocation?

How will he overcome his fear of rejection and accept his new role as a leader in the town?

What will he do when he discovers that Taliesin is a warlock?

Taliesin

How will he keep his magical powers a secret from the townspeople?

How will he learn to control his powers and use them for good?

Will he be able to reconcile his bisexual identity with his role as a protector of the town?

How will he deal with his growing feelings for Dermot?

What will he do when he discovers that Mayor Marchetti is hiding a dark secret?

Annabel

How will she reconcile her faith with her growing belief in the existence of supernatural forces?

How will she balance her commitment to environmental justice with her relationship with Pastor Sarah?

Will she be able to use her legal expertise to help the town adapt to climate change and economic dislocation?

How will she deal with the opposition from some members of the town who are resistant to change?

What will she do when she discovers that the town’s hidden power source is connected to the ancient forces that are at play?

Mayor Marchetti

How will he maintain his control over the town and keep the new transplants from uncovering his secrets?

How will he balance his desire to protect the town with his own personal gain?

How will he deal with the growing distrust of the townspeople who are starting to suspect that he is not who he seems?

How will he stop the mysterious forces that are threatening the town’s existence?

What will he do when he discovers that the new transplants are more than just a group of transplants?

Edmond

How will they balance their loyalty to the town with their desire to help the new transplants?

How will they find their place in the world, feeling torn between their past and their future?

How will they use their knowledge of the town’s history to help the new transplants solve the mysteries that threaten the town’s existence?

How will they deal with their own internal conflicts, such as their struggle with their non-binary identity?

What will they do when they discover that they have a unique connection to the town’s hidden power source?

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What open loops can be created for Dermot’s past as an oil/gas executive? How might that create some tensions audiences might find intriguing?

Sure, here are some open loops that can be created for Dermot’s past as an oil/gas executive, and how that might create some tensions audiences might find intriguing:

Open Loops

Will Dermot’s past come back to haunt him in the small town?

Will Dermot’s past values and beliefs conflict with the new values and beliefs that he is trying to adopt in the town?

Will Dermot’s past connections to the oil/gas industry create problems for him and the new transplants?

Will Dermot be able to make amends for his past mistakes?

How will Dermot’s past experiences shape his approach to solving the town’s problems?

Intriguing Tensions

Dermot’s past as an oil/gas executive could create tension between him and the environmentally-conscious residents of the town.

Dermot’s past could make it difficult for him to gain the trust of the townspeople.

Dermot’s past could lead him to make decisions that conflict with his own values and beliefs.

Dermot’s past could be a source of shame and guilt for him, which could affect his relationships with others.

Dermot’s past could be used against him by those who want to keep the town from changing.

These open loops and intriguing tensions could add a layer of complexity to Dermot’s character and make him a more interesting and relatable character for audiences. They could also provide opportunities for conflict and drama throughout the series.

Here are some specific examples of how Dermot’s past could create tensions in the series:

Dermot could be approached by his former colleagues in the oil/gas industry who want to exploit the town’s hidden power source.

Dermot could be blamed for the town’s past environmental problems.

Dermot could be ostracized by the townspeople who believe that he is not one of them.

Dermot’s past could make it difficult for him to find love and acceptance in the town.

These are just a few examples, and there are many other ways that Dermot’s past could be used to create conflict and tension in the series. The specific challenges that he faces will depend on the overall plot and themes of the series. However, there is no doubt that Dermot’s past will play a significant role in his journey of self-discovery and redemption.

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Those are great. Now, how could Annabel’s work with her former law firm in Atlanta come back to haunt her?

Annabel’s past work with her former law firm in Atlanta could come back to haunt her in several ways, creating intriguing tensions and conflicts within the narrative of the TV series. Here are some potential scenarios:

Conflicts with Environmental Ideals: Annabel’s past work at the law firm may have involved representing clients who were involved in environmentally damaging practices. This could create tension between her current commitment to environmental justice and her past actions, potentially leading to internal conflicts and challenges to her credibility.

Unforeseen Legal Consequences: Legal decisions made by Annabel in her previous role could have unforeseen consequences that manifest in the small Midwestern town. This could involve cases related to property rights, environmental regulations, or corporate dealings, leading to legal battles and challenges for the town.

Unwelcome Attention from Former Colleagues: Annabel’s former colleagues, aware of her legal expertise and connection to the town, could approach her for assistance in handling legal matters related to the town’s hidden power source or the presence of the new transplants. This could force Annabel to confront her past and make difficult choices about her involvement in the town’s affairs.

Resurfacing of Past Scandals: If Annabel’s former law firm was involved in any scandals or unethical practices, her association with them could come under scrutiny in the small town, potentially damaging her reputation and making it difficult for her to gain the trust of the townspeople.

Lingering Guilt or Regrets: Annabel’s past work could be a source of guilt or regret for her, especially if she realizes that she was unknowingly contributing to environmental harm or injustice. This internal conflict could affect her personal relationships and her ability to fully embrace her new life in the town.

These scenarios could create compelling storylines for the TV series, exploring the impact of Annabel’s past on her present and future. They could also serve as catalysts for personal growth and self-discovery, allowing Annabel to confront her past mistakes and make amends while working towards a more fulfilling and meaningful life in the small town.

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The idea of Edmond hearing those voices from the ancestors of the place are intriguing as is their connection to the mysterious library under the oak tree. How might this create open loops?

Edmond’s connection to the voices of the town’s ancestors and the mysterious library under the oak tree could introduce various open loops, adding layers of intrigue and mystery to the TV series. Here are some potential open loops that could arise from this connection:

Deciphering the Ancestors’ Whispers: Edmond’s ability to hear the whispers of the ancestors could become a crucial tool in unraveling the town’s hidden history and understanding the nature of the mysterious forces at play. However, deciphering the meaning of these whispers could prove challenging, leading to a series of puzzles and quests for Edmond and the new transplants.

Uncovering the Library’s Secrets: The hidden library beneath the oak tree could hold ancient texts, artifacts, and knowledge that are essential to understanding the town’s secrets and the role of the new transplants. Edmond’s connection to the library could allow them to access these secrets, but they would also face challenges in safeguarding the library’s contents and protecting them from those who seek to exploit its knowledge.

The Ancestors’ Purpose and Guidance: As Edmond delves deeper into the whispers and the library’s secrets, they could discover the true purpose of the ancestors’ communication and the guidance they offer. This could lead to questions about the role of the new transplants in the town’s future and the choices they must make to fulfill their destiny.

The Ancestors’ Warnings or Prophecies: The whispers could contain warnings or prophecies about impending threats, dangers, or challenges that the town and the new transplants may face. Edmond would have to interpret these warnings and decide how to act upon them, creating a sense of urgency and suspense.

Edmond’s Growing Powers and Responsibilities: Edmond’s connection to the ancestors and the library could enhance their own abilities and responsibilities. They could develop new powers or insights that allow them to protect the town and guide the new transplants, but they may also face internal struggles and doubts about their own role in this unfolding drama.

These open loops could provide ample opportunities for character development, plot twists, and intriguing storylines. Edmond’s unique connection to the town’s past and the mysterious forces at play could make them a central figure in the narrative, driving the story forward and keeping audiences engaged in the unfolding mysteries.

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Mayor Marchetti is hiding several things from the town, including working with a company that will no doubt contribute to pollution and make the climate worse. He also seems keen to suppress this new knowledge that Edmond is putting out there. What open loops would this create?

Mayor Marchetti’s secret dealings with a polluting company and his attempts to suppress Edmond’s knowledge of the town’s past could create several intriguing open loops that add layers of tension and conflict to the TV series. Here are some potential open loops that could arise from this situation:

Mayor Marchetti’s True Motives: Exploring Mayor Marchetti’s motivations behind his secret alliance with the polluting company could reveal a complex interplay of personal gain, political ambitions, and a misguided belief that he is acting in the town’s best interests. This could lead to a clash between his outward persona as a progressive leader and his hidden agenda.

Unveiling the Polluting Company’s Plans: As the new transplants investigate the town’s hidden energy source and Edmond’s revelations about the past, they could uncover the polluting company’s plans to exploit this resource for their own profit. This could put the town’s environment at further risk and create a conflict between the town’s interests and the company’s greed.

Mayor Marchetti’s Efforts to Silence Edmond: Mayor Marchetti, fearing that Edmond’s knowledge of the past and the town’s hidden power source could expose his secret dealings, could resort to various tactics to silence Edmond. This could lead to a cat-and-mouse game between Edmond and the mayor, with Edmond struggling to protect their knowledge and the new transplants trying to uncover the truth.

The Town’s Reaction to Mayor Marchetti’s Betrayal: If the townspeople discover Mayor Marchetti’s secret dealings and his willingness to compromise their environmental well-being for personal gain, it could lead to a loss of trust and a crisis of leadership. The new transplants could play a role in exposing the truth and helping the town grapple with this betrayal.

Mayor Marchetti’s Desperate Measures: As Mayor Marchetti feels the pressure mounting, he could resort to increasingly desperate measures to protect his secret and maintain his control over the town. This could lead to moral compromises, dangerous actions, and a potential clash with the new transplants and Edmond.

These open loops could create a compelling narrative that explores themes of power, corruption, environmental justice, and the struggle for truth. Mayor Marchetti’s actions could serve as a catalyst for the new transplants to unite with Edmond and the townspeople to protect their new home and shape its future.

[Richard Morell]

Richard’s Show Mysteries

What I learned from the lesson is that AI can really help with unearthing deeper ideas. Since the last assignment, I had an epiphany about how to deepen the mysteries of my concept. Now I have a new way into this story and was excited to see what AI would come up with. My revised concept adds something really unexpected and unique, but it’s also an outgrowth of my own lane based on three of my previous feature scripts. AI has pointed to some great ideas not just for this season but for future seasons as well.

Assignment 1: RIVERDALE

Well, the assignment already put in the mysteries I was going to speak of. This time I get a pass.

Assignment 2: THE APOCALOPTOMISTS or THE NEWCOMERS

A. Shocking Event

During a peaceful night in the town, Edmond, the non-binary local, is awakened by an eerie whisper coming from their bedroom closet. As they cautiously approach the closet, the whispers intensify, transforming into a chorus of ancient voices.

B. Secret:

The town’s history is shrouded in a veil of secrecy, with ancient legends passed down through generations. Edmond, with their deep connection to the town’s past, believes that these whispers are the voices of the town’s ancestors, calling out to them.

C. Investigation:

Driven by the whispers and their own burning curiosity, Edmond sets out to unravel the mysteries of the town’s past. Their investigation leads them to a hidden library beneath the town’s oldest oak tree, where they discover ancient texts and artifacts that hint at a hidden power source and the town’s true purpose.

Who Receives: Edmond

What: The powers surrounding Skanekta.

When: Since time immemorial.

Where: The entire region.

Missing:

Who Gives: The ancestors, both white and native, along with the spirits of the land.

Why: This time has long been foretold and Edmond is the harbinger.

How: The other newcomers are also foretold and preordained.

Over-Time Mystery: The Looming Threat

A. Cover Up:

The town’s seemingly harmonious existence is a carefully constructed façade, hiding a deep-seated fear of the unknown. Mayor Marchetti, aware of the town’s hidden secrets, has been working tirelessly to suppress any information that could expose the town’s vulnerability.

B. Secret:

The town’s hidden power source, while beneficial in adapting to climate change, is also a beacon for malevolent forces that seek to exploit it for their own purposes. Mayor Marchetti, fearing the chaos and destruction that these forces would bring, has been keeping the town’s secret in an attempt to protect them.

C. Reveals:

As the new transplants delve deeper into the town’s mysteries, they uncover Mayor Marchetti’s cover-up. They realize that the town’s survival depends on their ability to harness the hidden power source for good and protect it from the impending threat of the malevolent forces.

Who: Mayor Marchetti

What: Keeping the secrets out of view

When: Now

Where: Mayor Marchetti’s home.

Missing:

Why: The power is wild but can be harnessed, and Marchetti harnesses it for personal gain.

A different where: A hidden compound operated by Marchetti

How: The hidden library gives more insight into how.

[Richard Morell]

Richard’s Empathy and Distress

What I learned from this assignment is that AI can point to possible relationships that raise tensions and distress that I hadn’t considered. It can also use what I have already constructed in ways that enrich the material and make the web of interactions all that much stronger.

Assignment #1: RIVERDALE

Undeserved misfortune:

Veronica is caught up in her parents’ shady business against her will.

Betty is under suspicion in her own home due to the actions of her sister Polly.

Jughead’s dad is on a downward trend with alcoholism and Jughead is house insecure, living at the drive-in until it gets sold off.

Polly is in a home for unwed mothers. Unaware also that Jason is dead.

External Conflicts:

Archie has conflicts with his Dad and Miss Grundy especially, but also Betty.

In addition to Archie, Betty has conflicts with the football team, with Cheryl and the Vixens, with Veronica at times, but most especially with her Mother.

Veronica’s biggest conflicts are with her Mom. But she conflicts with Cheryl as a frenemy, with Archie when he’s being obtuse, and she goes to bat for anyone who’s being marginalized.

Jughead is a nerd, so he is usually getting negative attention from the jocks. He has a chip on his shoulder regarding rich kids, and he also has heartbreaking conflicts with his dad.

Plot intrudes on life:

The murder investigation intrudes on each of the characters in different ways.

The sale of the drive in intrudes on Jughead’s living arrangements.

Archie’s pursuit of music intrudes on the Pussycats’ operation.

Alice’s obstinacy intrudes on Betty being able to make her own choices.

Hermione signs Veronica’s name on a document that she refused to sign. Veronica retaliates with a shopping spree and a night on the town.

Moral dilemmas:

Archie had a moral dilemma about coming forward about the gunshot he heard because he was with Grundy that day. It would mean exposure of their relationship.

Betty did choose to act with a little recklessness to ensnare the son of the football coach who was seducing and undermining the girls at the school.

Forced decisions they’d never make:

Fred decides to go to bat for Jughead’s dad to give him an alibi.

Archie lies to protect Grundy but opens himself up to exposure as a potential suspect re: Jason

Betty decides to pretend to be a bad girl to ensnare the football coach’s son, then she and Jughead decide to sneak onto the campus of the unwed mothers’ home and bust Polly out.

Alice is forced to announce that Polly is pregnant with Jason’s baby to foil the Blossoms’ plans to pin the murder on Polly.

ASSIGNMENT #2: THE APOCALOPTOMISTS or THE NEWCOMERS

Dermot

Distress:

External character conflict: Dermot’s business goals, which are change-oriented, are at odds with the forces in the town that are more oriented towards things remaining status quo. This could lead to conflict with Mayor Marchetti, who may see Dermot as a threat to his power. It could also lead to conflict with other members of the community who are resistant to change.

Plot intruding on life: Michael pressures Dermot to return to Denver.

Forced decisions: Dermot may have to choose between his loyalty to his husband, Michael, and his growing attraction to Taliesin. Also, in one episode, Dermot will need to testify in a trial on behalf of an odious former coworker, who he’d rather see be taken down than to be supportive.

Moral dilemmas: Dermot may have to decide whether to expose Mayor Marchetti’s corruption, even if it means putting himself and his loved ones in danger. Also, Dermot’s plan for building a business to support regenerative agriculture requires faith in a long-term vision, but there are short-term needs, and he will be offered opportunities to help his oil/gas buddies in ways that would contradict his moral vision.

Empathy:

Relatable: Dermot is a complex and relatable character who is struggling to find his place in the world. He is intelligent, ambitious, and compassionate, but he is also flawed and insecure.

Universal experiences: Dermot experiences universal human emotions such as love, loss, fear, and hope.

Taliesin

Distress:

Undeserved misfortune: Taliesin is born with magical powers that he must keep hidden from the world. This isolation and secrecy can lead to feelings of loneliness and despair.

Another UM: Taliesin acted according to his conscience which resulted in his losing his job and community and leaving Detroit under a cloud of suspicion.

External character conflict: Taliesin may have to choose between using his powers to help the town or keeping them hidden to protect himself and his loved ones. Also, his magical abilities put him at odds with both Dermot and Mayor Marchetti. Dermot may see Taliesin’s powers as a threat to his business interests, while Mayor Marchetti may see them as a threat to his control over the town. This could lead to conflict between Taliesin and both of these characters.

Plot intruding on life: Taliesin’s magical powers may interfere with his personal life and relationships. For example, he may have to use his powers to save someone’s life, even if it means missing an important date or event. Also, Taliesin’s own personal plans to help the environment through his magical abilities are put on hold while he helps the Mayor with some things as a municipal employee.

Moral dilemmas: Taliesin will need to face taking a magical course of action which involves some borderline sacrifices that could be seen as immoral. He will have to go into meditation to align himself with a pure intention.

Empathy:

Relatable: Taliesin is a relatable character who is struggling to find his place in the world. He is powerful and intelligent, but he is also kind and compassionate.

Universal experiences: Taliesin experiences universal human emotions such as love, loss, fear, and hope.

Annabel

Distress:

External character conflict: Annabel’s idealism may clash with the reality of the town’s situation. She may also face conflict with Mayor Marchetti, who may not be as environmentally conscious as he seems.

Plot intruding on life: The Mayor gets wind of Annabel’s hiring of the P.I. to investigate Sarah, and attempts to blackmail her into giving up her quest for environmental preservation.

Moral dilemmas: Annabel may have to decide whether to work within the system to make change or to take more radical measures which may or may not be legal.

Forced decisions: Annabel may have to choose between her loyalty to Pastor Sarah and her commitment to environmental activism. In one episode, Annabel takes on a client who she realizes has a stake in doing something bad to the environment in her hometown of Atlanta. She has to argue against the things she actually believes in.

Empathy:

Relatable: Annabel is a relatable character who is passionate about making a difference in the world. She is intelligent, determined, and compassionate.

Universal experiences: Annabel experiences universal human emotions such as love, loss, fear, and hope.

Mayor Marchetti

Distress:

Undeserved misfortune: Twelve years ago, the Mayor lost his shirt on a business venture that took him 7 years to dig himself out and be in a more prosperous place.

External character conflict: Mayor Marchetti may have to choose between his own personal ambitions and the best interests of the town. He may also face conflict with the new transplants, who may not share his vision for the town.

Plot interfering with life: The Mayor wants to get this secret deal done, but the movements of the newcomers causes him to focus on undermining their projects while seeming to support them.

Moral dilemmas: Mayor Marchetti may have to decide whether to break the law to save the secret project. He also appears impervious to the entreaties of people who want to save the environment, that is until some of his grandchildren express alarm and despair that they won’t be able to have a good future because of decisions being made now.

Forced decisions: Mayor Marchetti may have to choose between his loyalty to the town and his loyalty to his own power.

Empathy:

Relatable: Mayor Marchetti is a complex and relatable character who is struggling to do what he thinks is best for the town. He is ambitious and intelligent, but he is also flawed and insecure.

Universal experiences: Mayor Marchetti experiences universal human emotions such as ambition, fear, and hope.

Edmond

Distress:

Undeserved misfortune: Edmond is the son of Skanekta’s Sheriff and wrestles with the man’s stony countenance—does he or does he not like Edmond?

External character conflict: Edmond may have to choose between being true to themselves and being accepted by the community. They do have some harsh relationships with townies who went to high school with Edmond.

Plot intruding on life: The newcomers’ presence brings welcome pressures on Edmond, who gravitates towards them while also trying to keep a focus on what’s best for Skanekta.

Moral dilemmas: Again and again, Edmond will be put into situations where he needs to choose between safeguarding some valuable old ways vs. opening up to new possibilities that will make Skanekta a more resilient and antifragile place during the onslaught of climate change.

Forced decisions: Edmond may have to decide whether to leave the town to find a more accepting community or to stay and fight for change. Also, Sheriff Osborne takes a dislike to Dermot and Annabel and conscripts Edmond into spying on them to see if he can find way to get them out of town.

Empathy:

Relatable: Edmond is a relatable character who is struggling to find their place in the world. They are kind, compassionate, and strong, but they are also vulnerable.

Universal experiences: Edmond experiences universal human emotions such as love, loss, fear, and hope.

Ideas for episodes using these aspects of empathy/distress

Dermot

Episode 1: Dermot proposes a new development project to the town council, but Mayor Marchetti blocks it, claiming that it is not in the best interests of the town.

Episode 5: Dermot discovers that Mayor Marchetti has been corruptly awarding contracts to his cronies. Dermot decides to expose the corruption, but Mayor Marchetti threatens to destroy his business if he does.

Taliesin

Episode 2: A local farmer’s crops are threatened by drought. Taliesin uses his magic to bring rain, but Dermot sees this as interference in his business and tries to stop him.

Episode 7: Mayor Marchetti learns about Taliesin’s secret powers and blackmails him into using them to help him win the next election. Taliesin refuses, and Mayor Marchetti threatens to expose his secret to the town.

Annabel

Episode 3: Annabel discovers that Mayor Marchetti has been secretly dumping toxic waste in a nearby river. She tries to expose him, but he denies everything and calls her a liar.

Episode 8: Annabel leads a protest against a new factory that is polluting the town’s air. Mayor Marchetti tries to discredit her by spreading rumors about her personal life.

Mayor Marchetti

Episode 4: Mayor Marchetti’s popularity declines as the town struggles to adapt to climate change and economic dislocation. He tries to deflect the blame by scapegoating Dermot and the other new transplants.

Episode 9: Mayor Marchetti is facing a tough re-election campaign. He tries to cheat by bribing voters and stuffing ballot boxes.

Edmond

Episode 6: Edmond is bullied by a group of classmates for being non-binary. They feel isolated and alone.

Episode 10: Edmond runs for student council president on a platform of promoting inclusivity and diversity. They face opposition from the more conservative members of the student body.

These are just a few examples, and there are many other ways that these conflicts could come up in different episodes of the series. It is up to the writer to decide how these conflicts will unfold and how they will impact the characters and the town.

[Richard Morell]

(FYI, the system is saying I’m replying to Kristina who put up the first post.)

Richard’s Character Relationship Map

What I learned from this assignment is that using graphs to chart out relationships can be useful. It offers a way into the territory but be careful of mistaking it for the real work of creating characters interacting with each other. I sense too that I will be revisiting this character map as I get to know the characters more. With adding AI into the mix and being open to its suggestions, I see a whole new set of possibilities for my five main characters as well as some of the 2nd Ring characters in the Circles. New episode possibilities begin to surface—yea!

Assignment 1: RIVERDALE

Character Map for Veronica Lodge

Veronica Lodge Archie Andrews Betty Cooper Cheryl Blossom

Relationship Surface Friends Best Friends Frenemy

Relationship Common Mutual attraction. Care about Betty. Both are on the edge of
Ground popular/outsider. Both come
from wealthy backgrounds.

Relationship Conflict Veronica’s direct Archie can be Cheryl thinks Veronica
nature conflicts w/ a sore point, and wants to usurp her. Veronica
Archie’s trans- Betty is mistrustful reads her and is a step
actional and self- because of V’s b.g. ahead of her—she used to absorbed aspect. be Cheryl.

Relationship History The somewhat Veronica is new— Veronica is new–no hx.
spoken attraction no history. Her mom Cheryl’s parents looked
between them is and Betty’s parents looked down on V’s Mom.
palpable, will no didn’t like each other
doubt play a part in high school.
in future episodes.
A’s dad and V’s mom
are mutually attracted.

Relationship Subtext They skirt about the Fear of losing the Rivalry but with empathy
attraction while they friendship. on V’s part.
strive to make space
for each other.

Relationship Arc From friends to allies. From friends to From frenemy to enemy?
estranged.

Assignment 2: THE APOCALOPTOMISTS or THE NEWCOMERS

Dermot’s Character Relationship Map:

Mayor Marchetti

Surface: Citizens/fellow businessmen

Common Ground: Both have influence in Skanekta

Conflict: Mayor Marchetti’s hidden agendas could conflict
with Dermot’s desire to save the town.

History: They start off as allies, but their relationship becomes strained as Dermot learns more about Mayor Marchetti’s true nature.

Subtext: Dermot is both fascinated and repelled by Mayor Marchetti’s power and charisma.

Arc: They become adversaries with Dermot working to expose Marchetti’s corruption.

Taliesin Kerrdorion

Surface: Fellow newcomer

Common Ground: Both are outsiders in the town, trying to find their place.

Conflict: Dermot’s marriage to Michael, and Dermot is not pagan.

History: They start off as wary of each other, but eventually develop a mutual trust and respect.

Subtext: Dermot is drawn to Taliesin’s msterious and enigmatic nature.

Arc: They begin a secret affair, which eventually
comes to light and threatens to destroy Dermot’s marriage. In the end, Dermot
chooses to be with Taliesin, divorces David, and starts a new life with him.

Annabel Masterson

Surface: Fellow newcomer

Common Ground: They share a passion for social and environmental justice.

Conflict: Annabel’s idealism and Dermot’s pragmatism could lead to conflict

History: They start off as professional colleagues, but eventually develop a deep friendship and mutual respect.

Subtext: Misunderstandings lead to a strained tug-of-war between them

Arc: They remain close friends throughout the series.

Mayor Marchetti’s Character Relationship Map:

Dermot Friend

Surface: Citizens/fellow businessmen

Common Ground: Both have influence in Skanekta

Conflict: Mayor Marchetti’s hidden agendas could conflict
with Dermot’s desire to save the town.

History: They start off as allies, but their relationship
becomes strained as Dermot learns more about Mayor Marchetti’s true nature

Subtext: Mayor Marchetti is wary of Dermot’s intelligence and ambition. He also fears that Dermot may expose his corruption.

Arc: They become adversaries, with Mayor Marchetti trying to undermine Dermot’s efforts to save the town.

Taliesin Kerrdorion

Surface: Colleagues

Common Ground: Both have visions for the future; intelligence.

Conflict: Mayor Marchetti is suspicious of Taliesin’s
mysterious nature and his hidden powers.

History: They start off as strangers, but Taliesin
eventually becomes Mayor Marchetti’s confidant.

Subtext: Mayor Marchetti is drawn to Taliesin’s power and
charisma. He also sees Taliesin as a potential asset in his plans to control
the town.

Arc: Taliesin eventually realizes that Mayor
Marchetti is not who he seems, and he turns against him.

Annabel Masterson:

Surface: Cordial Adversaries

Common Ground: They share a passion for social and
environmental justice.

Conflict: Annabel’s idealism and Mayor Marchetti’s skullduggery
will lead to conflict.

History: They start off as professional colleagues, but
Annabel eventually becomes suspicious of Mayor Marchetti’s motives.

Subtext: Mayor Marchetti is attracted to Annabel’s
intelligence and idealism. However, he also sees her as a threat to his power.

Arc: Annabel eventually exposes Mayor Marchetti’s
corruption, leading to his downfall.

Taliesin Kerrdorion’s Character Relationship Map:

Dermot Friend:

Surface: Fellow newcomers / eventual lovers

Common Ground: Both are outsiders in the town, trying to find
their place.

Conflict: Taliesin’s secret powers and Dermot’s corporate
past could clash.

History: They start off wary of one another but develop
trust and respect. Taliesin is attracted to Dermot’s intelligence, compassion
and strength.

Subtext: They each feel a spark between each other and
develop a passion and intensity in their affair. Because it’s secret, they have
to pretend to just be acquaintances and save their true romance behind closed
doors.

Arc: The secret affair will challenge their
relationship, with both feeling guilt and shame about hurting Michael, while Taliesin
deals with the frustration of feeling out of his integrity. It leads to a reckoning,
with Dermot leaving Michael for Taliesin.

Mayor Marchetti:

Surface: Initially adversarial but then respectful

Common Ground: Both are ambitious and intelligent individuals who
are eager to make a difference in Skanekta.

Conflict: Mayor Marchetti is suspicious of Taliesin’s
mysterious nature and his hidden powers.

History: They start off as strangers, but Taliesin
eventually becomes Mayor Marchetti’s confidant.

Subtext: Taliesin is intrigued by this man who seems
comfortable with the middle path. He sees someone who has lessons to teach, but
also to be wary.

Arc: Taliesin eventually realizes that Mayor
Marchetti is not who he seems, and he turns against him.

Annabel Masterson

Surface: Mutual curiosity

Common Ground: They share a passion for social and
environmental justice.

Conflict: Annabel’s idealism and Taliesin’s cynicism could
lead to conflict. Also, some tension between Annabel’s Christian views with
Taliesin’s pagan ones.

History: They start off as professional colleagues, but
eventually develop a deep friendship and mutual respect.

Subtext: Taliesin is drawn to Annabel’s idealism and her
commitment to fighting for what she believes in. She can tell something’s
bothering him, having to do with Dermot and that creates some distance.

Arc: Seeing their differences in approach evolves toward
these two being stronger allies

[Richard Morell]

Richard’s Character Emotions

What I learned from this assignment is to be open to AI saying similar things to what I want in a more concise and direct way. That being said, when I felt my vein was a mite richer, I kept my language. Sometimes I also veered away from both my own and AI, coming up with something even better thanks to AI’s choices which shone a different light on my own.

Assignment #1: Riverdale

Archie

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: To pursue both music and Miss Grundy / Fear of Exposure

B. Motivation: Want / Need: To make a difference / self-acceptance

C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask – Worthlessness / BMOC

D. Weaknesses: Wants to be the hero, self-absorbed

E. Triggers: Disagreements, being judged

F. Coping Mechanism: Distracting himself, evasion

Betty

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: To be with Archie / Fear of being seen as incompetent

B. Motivation: Want / Need: To tell the truth / Being independent

C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask – Anger / “Miss Agreeable”

D. Weaknesses: Competitive with mother; reactive, sheltered

E. Triggers: Injustice, being stifled, people keeping secrets from her

F. Coping Mechanism: Rebellious behavior, manipulation

Assignment 2: The Apocaloptomists or The Newcomers

Dermot Friend:

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: New sense of purpose / Fear it might be too little too late

B. Motivation: Want / Need: Peace and tranquility / atonement for his past

C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask – Rage / Life Coach

D. Weaknesses: Fear of failure, Rigid

E. Triggers: Anything that reminds him of his past or hearing about climate change

F. Coping Mechanism: Maneuvering for better position, manipulation, suppressing negative emotions

Mayor Marchetti:

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: Keep town from economic ruin / sacrificing his values

B. Motivation: Want / Need: To be securely in charge / balancing his own interests with Skanekta’s

C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask – Greed/Ambition / Charismatic, compassionate leader

D. Weaknesses: Reactive, easily corrupted by power and money

E. Triggers: Being called out, public disagreements, someone having a better idea (all threaten his position/authority)

F. Coping Mechanism: uses power/influence to manipulate and control, booze/smoking

Taliesin Kerrdorion

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: A place where he can be open about his magic / Being rousted from home

B. Motivation: Want / Need: Inclusion and Diversity / Use his powers to help others

C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask – Worthlessness/Vulnerability / The Impervious Enigma

D. Weaknesses: Arrogant and proud, impulsive, perfectionist

E. Triggers: When someone questions his motives, or gaslights him.

F. Coping Mechanism: He uses his knowledge of the occult and the natural world to escape into his own world of fantasy and imagination.

Annabel Masterson

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: To make a difference in working around climate change / What’s hidden will become public knowledge

B. Motivation: Want / Need: Living openly as a lesbian family / Reconciling faith with activism

C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: Fear, Insecurity / Warrior for Sustainability and Regeneration

D. Weaknesses: Obsessive, possessive, impulsive and idealistic

E. Triggers: Two-faced people, injustice, apathy

F. Coping Mechanism: Neat-freak and workaholic, also takes comfort in food. Avoids facing her personal issues

Edmond Osborne

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: Skanekta will change to allow them to belong / climate change will wreak havoc and cause them to be more of an outsider

B. Motivation: Want / Need: Want acceptance and love / They need to take action and help others, detaching from results

C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: Loneliness and isolation / Easygoing, wise youngster

D. Weaknesses: Impressionable, naïve, put others’ needs before their own

E. Triggers: Being bullied, others’ being unkind or dismissive

F. Coping Mechanism: Sometimes they gossip, but mostly withdraw into themselves or comfort themselves in the natural world.

[Richard Morell]

Richard’s Engaging Layers of Intrigue

Assignment #1

RIVERDALE

Character: Archie
Role: Central Character, High School kid who likes music
Hidden Agendas: He’s having an affair with Miss Grundy. They heard a gunshot at Sweetwater River.
Competition: At the start of the series he doesn’t have any competitors yet.
Conspiracies: Works with Grundy to hide their affair.
Secrets: Keeps his interest in music secret from his dad. Also the affair.
Deception: Lies to the Principal and the Sheriff to protect Grundy. Sneaks out of the house to play music.
Wound: His parents are divorced. It feels like there’s some sense of loss there in the b.g.
Secret Identity: Rock Star

Character: Betty

Role: Best friend to Archie. School paper editor
Hidden Agendas: She wants to help the underdog, fights for the preyed-upon girls. Wants to do whatever it takes to help Archie. Also, she finds ways to undermine her mother’s attempts to control her. Wants to learn what happened to Polly.
Competition: Mother, Grundy, Veronica, Cheryl.
Conspiracies: Conspires with Jughead, Veronica and the girls to take down the coach’s son.
Secrets: Her mother’s control is a secret to the outside world.
Deception: Betty sometimes deceives her mother when it comes to Archie and Veronica. She surprises Veronica by dressing all dom with the coach’s son.
Wound: Archie wounded Betty by rejecting her when she told him she loved him.
Secret Identity: Mrs. Archie Andrews

Assignment #2

THE APOCALOPTOMISTS or THE NEWCOMERS

Character: Dermot Friend
Role: Central Character, a businessman preparing for life after carbon.
Hidden Agendas: To atone for his past as an executive at a petrochemical company, Dermot is secretly working to develop a new renewable energy source for the town.
Competition: Dermot competes with Mayor Marchetti to be the leader of Skanekta.
Conspiracies: Dermot conspires with Taliesin to meet clandestinely for their affair. He conspires with Edmond and Annabel to figure out ways to get a better message out.
Secrets: Dermot’s past at the petrochemical company is a secret he keeps from the other main characters, fearing that they will judge him for it. The budding affection for Taliesin.
Deception: Dermot tells people he had an awakening about doing something to prepare for a life of adjusting to climate change, etc.; he pretends that his life began with this, and denies what happened when he was at the petrochem company. He deceives Michael into thinking they’re still a couple, even if they’re long-distance.
Wound: He and Michael had a big fight and Michael said “Go live in a cave if that’s how you feel.” He’s aware that his marriage is probably done but can’t yet accept it.
Secret Identity: The Town Savior

Character: Taliesin Kerrdorion

Role: Newest newcomer, a warlock who’s quiet about his abilities

Hidden Agendas: Taliesin’s vision for the future of the town is one that is deeply rooted in the natural world. He believes that the town can thrive by embracing renewable energy and sustainable living practices. However, his vision may conflict with the goals of others, such as Mayor Marchetti, who is more interested in economic development at any cost.
Competition: At first, Taliesin assumes he’s in competition with everyone, including his allies, because his vision is so particular. He especially feels it with Annabel and the Mayor, because they feel his power. He sees their machinations and responds accordingly.
Conspiracies: Taliesin tolerates Dermot’s conspiracy regarding their affair. He conspires with Edmond to learn the secrets of the land—though no one is really looking at what they’re doing.
Secrets: Taliesin happens upon Sarah with her secret girlfriend. He keeps her confidence, but he will expect a favor at a future time.
Deception: Taliesin moves about as a seeming budding herbalist/astrologer with a part-time job at the local independent bookstore. He does his rites in secret.
Wound: He was in a polyamorous relationship with a man and a woman, and one day he came home to find they’d abandoned the relationship and taken almost all the furniture, leaving him alone with a high rent to pay.
Secret Identity: He has personal relationships with the trees, the spirits of the land, and the Goddess Cerridwen.

Annabel Masterson:

Role: Newcomer Environmental Attorney, moved to Skanekta with her partner Pastor Sarah
Hidden agendas: She is secretly using her position as an environmental attorney to advance her own political career.
Competition: She is in competition with Mayor Marchetti for the support of the townspeople and in a rivalry with Dermot to lead the group. She is threatened a bit by Taliesin, but doesn’t understand why.
Conspiracies: Annabel is working with a private investigator to investigate Mayor Marchetti’s past. She believes that he may be involved in corrupt activities, but she needs proof in order to expose him.
Secrets: Annabel’s secret from her past is that she was once a lobbyist for the oil and gas industry. She is now deeply ashamed of her past work, and she is determined to make amends by fighting for environmental justice.
Deception: Annabel is ambivalent about environmental activism because she believes that it can be too radical and counterproductive. She prefers to work within the system to achieve change.
Wound: She is deeply hurt by the loss of her faith.
Secret Identity: Annabel is secretly a member of a secret society of environmental activists who are working to expose and undermine the fossil fuel industry.

Character: Mayor Crestone Marchetti

Role: Mayor of Skanekta, Seeming Ally
Hidden Agendas: Mayor Marchetti still believes in the corporate project and is seeking to develop Skanekta for personal gain. He’s rather indifferent to the progressive agenda, but uses it as whitewash to conceal his truths.
Competition: Dermot, who wants to lead. With Annabel and Sarah, who want to be the spiritual guides of the town. The Sheriff, who really embodies the town’s values, and doesn’t give lip-service.
Conspiracies: The Mayor has secret meetings with developers and the owners of a horrible factory. He also has clandestine meetings with various sorts of lobbyists who would raise eyebrows with the rank-and-file of the town.
Secrets: He hides his corrupt activities from everyone else, even keeping a fake calendar and a real calendar.
Deception: The Mayor’s entire mask is a fabrication with no substance. He maintains it, but it’s starting to fray around the edges.
Wound: He was seriously judged inferior in school because he had a brainiac brother. Even though he outdid his ineffective brother who got lost in his own delusions of grandeur, Crestone carries a chip on his shoulder when smart people pipe up and disagree with him. It triggers him.
Secret Identity: Mayor Marchetti’s secret identity is that he is a former coal miner. He is proud of his humble beginnings, and he sees himself as a man of the people. However, he also feels the pressure to live up to the expectations of his wealthy donors and allies.

Edmond Osborne:

Role in show: Edmond is a non-binary townie, ambivalent about the locals and intrigued by the newcomers.
Hidden agendas: They are secretly using their position as a trusted member of the community to gather information for the newcomers.
Competition: Edmond gets competitive with the alumni from the local high school, who ruthlessly suppressed them.
Conspiracies: They believe that the newcomers are hiding a dark secret. They’re not sure if they will join with the newcomers, but they are open to it and are willing to engage in conspiracies with Taliesin, Annabel, and Dermot.
Secrets: Edmond and their father Sheriff Osborne hide that they have a lot of money from an inheritance. They were left the funds in the will of an uncle who owned some businesses in the armaments industry, which leaves a sour taste in their mouths.
Deception: They pretend to be poor but proud, hiding the money. Edmond is insecure in their budding “woke” identity, so they go overboard at times to prove their credibility.
Wound: High school was brutal until they acknowledged they were nonbinary and bisexual. They have quite a few scars from having been bullied.
Secret Identity: Edmond is secretly a member of a coven of witches who are working to protect the town from its dark secrets. This is even secret from Taliesin; neither knows the magical workings of the other.

[Richard Morell]

What I learned from Assignment 1 is that putting these elements into character creation at the outset create payoffs in the story. What I learned from Assignment 2 is that, while I like many of my own ideas, sometimes AI will fill in the gaps of what I don’t know or push me to think of something better, as well as cut to the point with some of my discursive descriptions.

Assignment #1

RIVERDALE:

Archie

A. Role in the show: Central character; earnest high school kid

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Because he got hot over the summer, people pay more attention. Like other high school kids, he’s trying to find himself and has latched onto music.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? He’s seeing Miss Grundy and both of them heard the gunshot on the day of Jason’s disappearance.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Will he betray Grundy and come forward with news of the gunshot? Will he stay with Grundy or get with Betty or Veronica?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? His desires can push him to take actions that will create conflict.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Because he’s trying to find himself and he’s late to the game of music. Because he is a victim of statutory rape and doesn’t know it.

Veronica

A. Role in the show: The New Girl who has a tarnished reputation; after a fall from grace.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Urban girl who lived the high-life, has high standards but also is streetwise.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Whatever happened with her family in New York and the cloud of dishonor the Lodge family carries.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? The moral boundaries are being crossed in the minds of the townies, so she is striving to stay on the high ground. But will she be tempted to live to their expectations?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? She goes all in when there’s something to be done. Screw the rules and expectations of others!

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Veronica’s a fighter, and she is incredibly loyal to Betty and probably Archie.

Betty:

A. Role in the show: The good girl next door, in love with Archie

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Her brains give her the ability to make plans. She’s also the school newspaper editor.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Competitive with her Mom; what happened to her sister?

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Will Betty’s desire to know things and to shame those who abuse power turn her into that which she hates?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Her desire for revenge and for standing up for the marginalized can cause her to go too far.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Her controlling mother is in her business, and we root for her to get out from under the maternal thumb.

Assignment #2

My Show: THE APOCALOPTOMISTS or THE NEWCOMERS

Journey of the show: THE NEWCOMERS follows the arrival and settling into a small town in Upper Michigan of four disparate LGBTQ+ people from various urban backgrounds but who recognize that climate change is now hard-wired. They seek to reconfigure their lives and change their status quo while the charming but deceptive mayor seeks to sell nearby land for a factory that will pollute the waters and the air.

Main characters who will sell the show:

· Dermot, a gay businessman who has arrived in town alone, with his husband Michael back in Denver;

· Taliesin, a bisexual warlock who comes to town guided by his Ancestors;

· Annabel, an articulate and formidable environmental attorney, with her partner Pastor Sarah;

· Edmond, a local non-binary person fresh out of college and seeking direction; and

· Mayor Marchetti, the town mayor who presents a gay-positive, environmentally-conscious face to the world.

Final Character Profiles:

Dermot

A. Role in the show: Central Character and a civic-minded businessman. The pragmatic and stabilizing force in the group, used to being in charge,

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: His business and leadership skills extend toward concrete ways to manifest his vision of a village of kind and happy people.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Dermot’s confidence belies his fears of the future along with the dilemma of being way from husband Michael—who doesn’t share his vision—and also his growing feelings for Taliesin.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Dermot might cheat on Michael with Taliesin, and he might compromise his moral vision to secure his future.

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? His business has thrived on taking calculated risks, and he could definitely make some risky choices that would make people question his judgment.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Dermot is a guy whose heart is in the right place, who tires to do the right thing, and is willing to try things and fail—if he can learn from it.

G. Traits: Pragmatic, supportive, decisive, longing

Taliesin:

A. Role in the show: The Man with the Powers, also Dermot’s potential love-interest

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Taliesin is both a skilled astrologer and warlock with knowledge of many occult disciplines. His knowledge of the natural magical world could benefit the town.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? He is in contact with his ancestors and the goddess Hekate, who offers him scary-accurate guidance. Thus, he keeps mostly to himself.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? His connection to the ancestors and Hekate might cause him to act in ways some would consider evil.

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? What do the Gods want from him? Only the Gods know.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? An outsider by nature, Taliesin struggles with walking at the edge.

G. Traits: enigmatic/formidable, intuitive, loyal, deceptive

Annabel:

A. Role in the show: Environmental attorney and fighter for cultural change

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: As a lawyer, she has valuable knowledge that can serve in her fight for the town. She is half-Ojibwe and has ties with nearby reservations.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface: Secretly Annabel believes her wife Sarah is having an affair. She’s watching who else will show up in town.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? To save the ecosystem of the local waters, she might take radical, questionably legal actions. Her fears over her marriage also push at her reason.

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Annabel thinks like a lawyer and knows just how far she can stretch things without actually breaking the law. She’s also an out-of-the-box thinker. Her relationship problems act as triggers.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Annabel advocates for the little guy and gal in plainspoken ways, and she can be a dogged and scary fighter when she needs to be. Definitely a Mama Bear.

G. Passionate, articulate, empathetic, scheming

Edmond:

A. Role in the show: the young person who grew up in town and who knows they are mostly accepted. Wise, but also naïve and innocent.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Knows the lay of the land and can relate to the newcomers who the powers are and what to watch out for.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Edmond tries to find their place in the world, and struggles between loyalty to the town and the attraction to the newcomers.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Are they willing to betray their own people in order to help the newcomers?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Edmond has a history of making changes on a dime. One can never be sure if Edmond will be there in the clutch or run off after some new shiny thing.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? We care about Edmond because they are a kind and caring person who is trying to do the right thing, even when it is difficult.

G. Traits: Wise, gentle, observant, awkward

Mayor Marchetti:

A. Role in the show: The seemingly progressive leader of the town.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: His political connections and influence may be helpful in addressing the town’s problems.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? His image belies his desire to make a lot of money. He’s not as gay-friendly as he seems, but damn he’s a good actor.

D. Moral Issue: Is he willing to deceive the people he is supposed to represent?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? He may be capable of anything in order to maintain his power.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care? We care about Mayor Marchetti because he is a complex and contradictory figure who is both charming and manipulative.

G. Traits: Charismatic, driven, manipulative, fearful of losing power

[Richard Morell]

Richard’s Three Circles of Characters

What I learned from this assignment is that I can use AI to help me brainstorm and play with the unique secrets/intrigues of my characters. While I have some potential ideas for my concept that will play with externalities, the inner workings will be the things that keep audiences watching.

Assignment 1: Riverdale’s Three Circles of Characters

Main – Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead

Connecting—Cheryl, Fred Andrews, Hermione Lodge, Betty’s Mom and Dad, Josie, Miss Grundy, Principal Weatherbee, Kevin, Moose, Polly, Reggie

Environmental: Cheerleaders, Football team members, teachers, school staff, police, diner staff, local business folk, students, marching band, opposing team, the Pussycats

Assignment 2: My Three Circles for THE NEWCOMERS

Main Characters:

Dermot Friend

Unique Role: Dermot, a gay man who is married to his husband, Michael, moves into town with big plans to work with the townspeople to make changes accepting that climate change is now baked-in.

Secret or Intrigue: Dermot has been developing feelings for Taliesin, and is afraid to tell David for fear of hurting him.

Taliesin Kerrdorion

Unique Role: Taliesin, a male warlock from Atlanta, is drawn to the town by a mysterious force.

Secret or Intrigue: Taliesin hides his powers from the other townspeople, fearing rejection.

Annabel Masterson

Unique Role: Annabel is an environmental attorney who has moved to the town to be with her partner, Pastor Sarah.

Secret or Intrigue: Annabel is worried that her partner is cheating on her, and she’s afraid to confront her about it.

Edmond Crane

Unique Role: A young non-binary person born in the town, Edmond seeks to find their place in the world.

Secret or Intrigue: Edmond struggles with their mental health, and they’re afraid that the townspeople will judge them. Being the Sheriff’s son doesn’t help much.

Mayor Crestone Marchetti:

Mayor Marchetti a straight man who is trying to balance the needs of the community with the challenges of climate change and economic dislocation.

Secret or Intrigue: The Mayor is working with a corrupt developer to build a new factory that will pollute the town’s water supply.

Connected Characters:

Pastor Sarah: The town’s pastor, who is trying to keep the community together during difficult times, and also Annabel’s wife.

Sheriff Crane: The town’s sheriff and father of Edmond, who is trying to keep the peace in a town that is increasingly divided.

Dr. Patel: The town’s doctor, who is seeing a growing number of patients with climate change-related illnesses.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith: A local couple who are trying to save their farm from the effects of climate change.

The Green Collective: A group of environmental activists who are trying to raise awareness about climate change and economic dislocation.

Michael: Chris’s husband, who is unaware of Chris’s feelings for Rowan.

Crystal Jones: Mayor Jones’ wife, who is oblivious to her husband’s machinations.

C. Environment Characters

Tourists

Teachers

Shopkeepers

Waiters and waitresses

Police officers

Firefighters

Farmers

Factory workers

Construction workers

Students

Retirees

[Richard Morell]

Riverdale 5 Star Model

What I learned doing this assignment is how packed a pilot should be to engage interest. I also watched the Pilot for Game of Thrones when considering this assignment, and Riverdale had a lot more that engaged my interest. Not that I couldn’t see the 5 elements in GOT, but Riverdale was spicier.

Big Picture Hooks: The pleasant exteriors of the small town hide many machinations and less-than-savory situations. The pilot also showcases an intriguing set of dynamics between Archie, Veronica, and Betty. For those who grew up with Archie comics, it also creates a fun tension with what we knew and what is developing. The world of Riverdale is also inclusive, with Veronica being Hispanic and perhaps bisexual, and Betty’s good friend Kevin being openly gay. Also, we see the parents of the trio in their well-drawn humanity.

Intriguing Characters: Archie is intriguing because of his secret dalliance with Miss Grundy, but also that he and Miss Grundy saw something relating to the disappearance of Jason. Veronica comes in with a past that everyone knows but a determination not to let that get in her way, and she has a winning personality. I loved that she wants to be loyal to anyone who she befriends. I was intrigued by Cheryl Blossom–was she in an incestuous relationship wth twin Jason? Veronica’s family with its baggage is intriguing, as is Archie’s Dad and his history with Hermione Lodge. And of course, I loved Kevin.

Empathy/Distress: Archie is likeable and I feel distress for him with Miss Grundy. Also empathy because he’s a kid who has to fight for everything in his life, and it’s hard for a working-class kid to get into music. Betty elicits empathy and distress with the typical high school dilemmas of being on the outs with the popular kids. Veronica’s situation is a little remote but I do know what it’s like to come down off a pedestal rudely. She elicits unconscious distress because she’s doing so well with Betty and Archie I fear she’ll have a misstep and ruin her new friendships. I also felt a lot of empathy for Archie’s Dad, and Miss Grundy as well. At the end of the pilot I feel distress for all the schoolkids because of Kevin and Moose’s discovery of Jason’s body with a bullethole in his head.

Layers/Open Loops: The obvious open loop of Betty, Veronica and Archie’s relationship. The layers of Betty’s sister’s dishonor and her mother’s hatred of Jason. The parents’ relationships that existed since high school–what sorts of mysteries will unfold? We already see the feelings between Hermione and Archie’s Dad. It’s both an open loop and an intriguing layer about Daddy Lodge and his machinations. The bag of money that Hermone receives. The Blossom family will offer a lot of open loops. Archie’s pressing Miss Grundy to work with him independent study on music–what will unfold there?

Inviting Obsession: The fact that Archie wasn’t ripped before the show began offers some obsession. He’s pretty fine. Fine enough to attract his teacher’s erotic attention, and that invites obsession as well. The mystery surround Cheryl and Jason. The Veronica-Archie-Betty trio. Some great lines: Veronica–“I’m Breakfast at Tiffany’s but this town is In Cold Blood.” and Archie: “Geraldine, we have a secret.” For the LGBTQ+ folks, Kevin’s journey will also elicit curiosity, and also if Veronica might date girls as well as boys.

[Richard Morell]

1. Richard Morell

2. I’ve written 13 features and 2 TV pilots.

3. As I’ve learned more about writing for TV and film, I’ve discovered I’m more suited to television. I want to use AI as a tool to speed up my writing of TV pilots and begin to create a library of scripts to market. I’m also curious about if it’s possible to use AI to help me write spec scripts, though I know that is outside the purview of this course.

4. I’ve been studying astrology since I was 7 years old. Also, I’ve just been cast in a local production of Larissa Fasthorse’s “The Thanksgiving Play” as Caden.

5. I was in ProSeries 54 and BingeWorthy 3, I think? (2019) Also MSC 6 and MSC 12.

[Richard Morell]

Richard Morell

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.