Russel Traher
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Russel Traher’s World and Characters
What I learned doing this assignment is:
The world we define can also have a M.I.S. that helps stimulate the actions all character. And can play an important part in defining setting/places of intrigue for scenes.
CONCEPT:
A candidate for US Senator finds out that a close friend of a person he murdered 40 years ago is still alive. He is hunting her down in order to prevent her from telling anyone what she might have seen.
CAST:
Lori Hatfield (initial age 15)
Ted Hatfield (Lori’s dad)
Emily Hatfield (Lori’s mom)
Jason Wilson (initial age 18, now 59) friend of Lori, known to be seeing her
George Wilson – Jason’s father and the local sheriff
Fred Smith (initial age 17) friend of Jason
Tammy Whitefield (initial age 16) friend of Lori
Julie Stevens (initial age 16, now 56) (Lori’s best friend)
Private Investigator – Jason Wilson
Psychiatrist – Jenny Farrell
Big M.I. S.
Big Mystery:
What did the candidate for US Senator do 40 years ago in this city? What will he do if he finds the girl’s best friend?
Big Intrigue:
Who is the candidate for US Senator? Why is he trying to keep his identity a mystery? Who will take on the challenge to discover what happened 40 years ago? Will a local or outside person intervene?
Big Suspense:
What will happen to the girl’s best friend? Will she disappear or something worst?
Intriguing World
Small farming community that has a reputation for picking the best candidates for office in the state. So votes this city so votes the state. It also grows the best corn in the country.
Characters M.I.S.
Jason Wilson (initial age 18, now 59) friend of Lori, known to be seeing her, candidate for US Senator.
Mystery: What did he do 40 years ago? Why is he kicking off his campaign in this city?
Intrigue: Why is he running for US Senator?
Suspense: To what lengths will he go to suppress past information about him?
Private Investigator – Jason Wilson
Mystery: What brought Jason to this city? Is he passing through or will he be staying?
Intrigue: Why is he helping solve the murder of Lori Hatfield? He seems to been spending a lot of time with Jenny Farrell. Is there something between Jenny Farrell and him?
Suspense: How committed to solving this murder case is he? His life is in danger.
Psychiatrist – Jenny Farrell
Mystery: What brought her to this city? Why is an unmarried, attractive woman making her home in this city?
Intrigue: Will she disclose the details of Jenny Farrell hypnotism when she was 17? Is there something between Jason Wilson and her?
Suspense: Is her life in danger? Will she remain silent? Will she stand up for Jenny?
Tammy Whitefield (initial age 16) friend of Lori
Mystery: Will her memory return.
Intrigue: Is she strong enough to fight the that pressure that will surely be put on her?
Suspense: If her memory returns what will she do? Does she remember Jason Wilson? Will she go to her grave with the details of Lori Hatfield’s death?
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Russel Traher’s BIG M.I.S.
What have I learned from this assignment?
To understand the main characters better we need to detail their M.I.S. This will make them more interesting and personable for the audience.
CONCEPT:
A candidate for US Senator finds out that a close friend of a person he murdered 40 years ago is still alive. He is hunting her down in order to prevent her from telling anyone what she might have seen.
CAST:
Lori Hatfield (initial age 15)
Ted Hatfield (Lori’s dad)
Emily Hatfield (Lori’s mom)
Jason Wilson (initial age 18, now 59) friend of Lori, known to be seeing her
George Wilson – Jason’s father and the local sheriff
Fred Smith (initial age 17) friend of Jason
Tammy Whitefield (initial age 16) friend of Lori
Julie Stevens (initial age 16, now 56) (Lori’s best friend)
Private Investigator – Jason Wilson
Psychiatrist – Jenny Farrel
CONVENTIONS:
Unwitting but Resourceful Heroes:
Private Investigator, psychiatrist and Lori’s best friend who has forgot what she saw just before Lori died.
Dangerous Villain:
The candidate for US Senator.
High stakes:
The identity of the candidate for US Senator is in jeopardy. The identity of Lori’s best friend is in jeopardy.
Life and death situations:
A person’s life is in imminent danger.
This story is thrilling because?
Several sub plots will explore the unknown and hidden lives of the main characters. And how they are an integral part of saving Lori.
Big M.I. S.:
Big Mystery:
What did the candidate for US Senator do? Will he kill the girl’s best friend if he finds her?
Big Intrigue
Who is the candidate for US Senator? Why is he trying to keep his identity a mystery?
Big Suspense:
The girl’s best friend will likely be murdered.
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Movie title: “The Departed”
Summary: An undercover cop and a mole in the police department attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
What I learned doing this assignment is:
The MIS are important mapping details for writing thriller movies.
Lead Characters
Leonardo DiCaprio (Billy Costigan)
– gang member posing as a cop
Matt Damon (Colin Sullivan) – policeman
posing as a gang member
Jack Nicholson (Frank Costello) – crime
boss
Martin Sheen (Captain Queenan) – police
captain
Mark Wahlberg (Staff Sgt. Sean
Dignam)
Vera Farmiga (Madolyn Madden) – a
psychologist who works for the police
Alec Baldwin (Captain Ellerby) – police
captainUnwitting but Resourceful Hero: Matt Damon (Colin Sullivan) fraudulent gang member
Dangerous Villain: Leonardo DiCaprio (Billy Costigan) fraudulent cop
High stakes: Working as fraudulent cop and gang member that can be exposed at any time.
Life and death situations: Death is imminent if either is betrayed.
This movie is thrilling because? If Billy’s employer, Capt. Queenan, gets killed, no one can testify that Billy isn’t really a cop? Both men succeed with their fraudulent identities; Colin rises in the force, and Billy rises in the mob.
What is the BIG Mystery, Intrigue, and Suspense of this story?
Big Mystery: The goal is to kill Capt. Queenan and make it look like a gang member did it. The two main characters are hiding their true identity and trying to infiltrate each other’s organizations.
Big Intrigue: The goal is to kill Capt. Queenan and make it look like a gang member did it. Leonardo DiCaprio (Billy Costigan) (fraudulent cop) wants to get information when the police are going to attack or capture Jack Nicholson (Frank Costello) crime boss.
Big Suspense: If Billy Costigan (fraudulent cop) is exposed by police or Billy Costigan (fraudulent gang member) is exposed by the crime boss, they will be killed.
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I, Russel L Traher II, agree to the terms of this release form.
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GOOD MORNING script writers! I am joining a week late. Bad week last week, enough said. Surely, not the way I wanted to start out. Glad to be learning with you all. I will do my best to catch up as quickly as I can.
1. Russel Traher
2. Scripts – 4, first one had lots of interest, but no sell.
3. I want to be able to create a really brilliant thriller script! Beware of the wordy writer!
4. I am an engineer/technologist who loves to create unique leading-edge technology