Stefani Zabner
Forum Replies Created
-
Infinity Plus One character profiles (better late than never!)
What I learned: Giving the characters loglines and agendas helped me find some new twists/turns/obstacles for the story, and tweaking character traits helped me add life to the characters that were otherwise more bland than I realized. This was so much more helpful than completing a 2-3 page questionnaire that asks questions like “What’s in their fridge?”
Logline: A jaded loner seeks the truth about her late father’s shameful past but digging for answers could mean losing her sister’s trust forever.
———————————————–
Character Name: Infinity
Role in the story: Prodigal sister
Core Character Traits:
-Loner
-Self-interested
-Jaded
Character Subtext Logline: Infinity is a jaded young woman who is secretly trying to prove her father’s innocence.
Her mission: To prove her father is innocent so she can forgive him and bury him in peace.
World view: The people she loves most always disappoint her or abandon her, so she’d rather be alone.
Changes:
Loner –> Misanthrope. Adds more disdain and contempt for humanity, rather than just avoidance of it.
——————————————
Character Name: Anne
Role in the story: Perfect sister
Core Character Traits:
-Uptight
-Guarded
-Traditionalist
Character Subtext Logline: Anne is an emotionally unavailable perfectionist who is trying to hold onto a secret as long as she can.
Secret: Anne lied about Infinity’s father molesting her when she was a child.
Agenda: If Anne can be a perfect wife and mother who gives back to the community, perhaps she can absolve herself for a lie she told that ended up destroying two peoples’ lives.
Changes:
Traditionalist –> Control Freak. Anne’s need to control everything, including her need to uphold traditions, is how she maintains her stability.
————————————————-
Character Name: Tabs
Role in Story: The lover / speaker of wisdom
Core Character Traits:
-Gen Z
-Party animal
-Effortlessly wise
-Brutally honest
Character Subtext Logline: Tabs is a free-spirited friend-with-benefits who persuades her lover to find forgiveness.
Flaw: Doesn’t set boundaries, complains later
World View: We’re all living in a simulation, so set yourself free and have a good time while you’re here.
Changes:
Character Subtext Logline –> Tabs is a free-spirited Buddhist who advises her friend-with-benefits on the true meaning of forgiveness.
Gives Tabs more depth and spiritual maturity to juxtapose her seemingly blasé lifestyle.
————————————————
Character Name: Carl
Role in Story: Unlikely friend
Core Character Traits:
-Jolly
-Rural
-Simplistic
-Sedulous
Character Subtext Logline: Carl is a neighborly grocery store GM who is the first in town to befriend a woman that has avoided people for years.
World View: Life ain’t all that complicated, ya’ll.
Flaw: Can’t take a hint
Changes:
Rural –> Country boy.
Fits the tone of the character better.
————————————————
Character Name: Morena
Role: Family friend
Core Character Traits:
-Maternal
-Vivacious
-Loyal
-Non-confrontational
Character Subtext Logline: Morena is the over-protective best friend who accidentally shares more than she should.
Life Metaphor/Identity: Everybody’s favorite auntie
Changes:
Vivacious –> Sassy
Gives the character more attitude to play with, so she’s not too warm and fuzzy.
-
Zabs’ Basic Structure Version 1
What I’ve learned doing this assignment is: I already knew that my biggest problem was in the first ten pages. It wasn’t clear what the main conflict was. And the protagonist’s Need that brings her into Act II wasn’t strong and detracted from the core story.
Brainstorming ideas for how to set up the conflict in the Opening while staying true to the character’s Want of being alone gave me what I needed to get the rest of the beats on track so they all honor the logline.
Original Structure:
Logline: A jaded loner seeks the truth about her late father’s shameful past but digging for answers could mean losing her sister’s trust forever.
Main Conflict: A woman wants to know if her sister lied about being molested, but fears losing her relationship with her sister in the process
1. Opening: Infinity wants to be alone. Ignores holiday card from her sister asking her to come home for Christmas. Avoids people and phone calls.
2. Inciting Incident: Infinity runs out of her inheritance money and calls Anne for a wire. Anne, who has been trying to call Infinity for days, lets Infinity know that their father died. Infinity needs to come home.
3. By page 10, you know what the movie is about: Not really. *This is the problem I’ve been trying to solve.
4. First turning point at end of Act 1: Infinity leaves her secluded mountain life and heads to Los Angeles to stay with Anne and her big family as they prepare for the funeral.
5. Mid-Point: Infinity enjoys being with family, is falling for her one-night stand, and has made friends.
6. Second turning point at end of Act 2: Infinity learns she can make a lot of money in Los Angeles by selling the natural ointments she makes. She’s thinking about staying in Los Angeles for good.
7. Crisis: Infinity says a speech at her father’s funeral, forgiving him. She alludes to his innocence. Anne angrily storms out.
8. Climax: Infinity confronts Anne who confesses to lying about their father molesting her. Ashamed and riddled with guilt, Anne cuts ties with Infinity and Infinity leaves Los Angeles.
9. Resolution: Infinity realizes it’s lonely to be alone. She extends an olive branch to Anne and they reconcile.
Look back over the 9 elements and select at least one to elevate:
The Opening!
Separating that one (or more) item(s) out, list the main purpose of that item in the story and brainstorm a list of other possible ways to deliver that structural item:
The Opening.
Purpose: To set up that Infinity has inner conflict of wanting to love her father while remaining loyal to her sister.
-Infinity attends an AA meeting where she sets up the conflict.
-Flashback of Infinity’s father being torn from her as a child.
-Flashback of Infinity’s mother explaining why her father won’t be around anymore.
-Infinity receives a Christmas card from her father, rips it up, and throws it away. Then digs it out of the trash remorsefully.
-Infinity talks on the phone with her sister, who trash talks their father. Infinity holds back from defending him.
-Infinity attends confession at a Catholic church
Make a second list of the Main Conflict and Structural items with the improvements you’ve made:
Main Conflict: A woman wants to know if her sister lied about being molested, but fears losing her relationship with her sister in the process
1. Opening: Infinity attends an AA meeting. She hasn’t spoken up at a meeting in a very long time. Today she confesses it’s weird she didn’t receive a Christmas card from her father. Even though they are estranged, he’s sent one every single year until now. It makes her feel conflicted. On one hand, she’s sad because she wants to love him, and worries he’s given up on her. But on the other, she feels guilty about being sad because of what he did to her sister, who she is loyal to despite some tension between them.
2. Inciting Incident: A lawyer calls Infinity and delivers the news: Her father has passed away.
3. By page 10, you know what the movie is about: Infinity needs to resolve inner conflict that is creating turmoil inside of her so she can find peace.
4. First turning point at end of Act 1: Infinity leaves the mountains and goes to Los Angeles to stay with her sister and put her father to rest.
5. Mid-Point: Infinity and her sister are closer than ever. Infinity is also learning more and more about her father from people who knew him. She is leaning toward his innocence.
6. Second turning point at end of Act 2: Infinity learns she can forgive both her father and sister without ever having to confront Anne or confirm the truth. She decides she’s going to stay in Los Angeles with her sister.
7. Crisis: Infinity speaks at her father’s funeral. She honors him, forgives him, and asks for amends for not believing him. When she looks up, she sees that Anne showed up and has heard everything. Anne storms off.
8. Climax: Infinity chases Anne. Anne confesses to lying about their father molesting her. Ashamed and riddled with guilt, Anne cuts ties with Infinity. All alone once again, Infinity goes back to her secluded home in the mountains.
9. Resolution: Infinity extends an olive branch to Anne. Anne accepts.
-
Hey guys! I’m looking for a partner.
My feature “Infinity Plus One” is a slice-of-life style dramedy that hits on some very serious topics, but uses character-driven comedy to lighten the mood and finishes with a feel-good ending.
It has placed as Quarter Finalist and Semi Finalist in multiple screenplay competitions, as well as Finalist in the Richmond International Film Festival, but I’m hoping to fix a few things that have been bugging me to elevate it.
I also write horror/thriller and love comedies, so happy to work with anyone in these genres!
-
Zabs’ Logline and One Page
What I’ve learned doing this assignment: Improving my logline has already helped me discover the problems in my script that I knew needed work, and I have a clearer idea of how to fix them.
Title: Infinity Plus One
Logline: A jaded loner seeks the truth about her late father’s shameful past but digging for answers could mean losing her sister’s trust forever.
One Page:
Having secluded herself in the mountains following her mother’s death and a stint in rehab, Infinity spends her days hiking with her dog Badger while actively avoiding people and phone calls. When she finds out her estranged father has passed away, she makes the trek back home to the city that broke her to put him to rest.
Infinity arrives at her sister Anne’s home in the Hollywood Hills where everything is annoyingly perfect, from her three immaculate nieces to the pristine guest house where she’ll be residing. Infinity asks about the funeral, but Anne avoids the subject. She gives Infinity her annual guilt trip for not visiting their mother’s grave and leaves for bed. Ever the night owl, Infinity seeks solace at a bar where she meets a sassy chick named Tabs. Infinity insists on running solo, but she warms up to Tabs and confides her deepest secret: She has always wondered if her sister was lying about being molested by their father. It’s a huge accusation. But so was her sister’s.
Infinity begins to break through Anne’s walls, and they rekindle their relationship. They laugh over good memories and create new ones. But as they grow closer, Infinity finds more evidence that her father was innocent. Which means her sister lied.
With Tabs’ help, Infinity realizes she doesn’t need to confront Anne. She can forgive both parties without needing to know the truth. At her father’s funeral, she honors him for the good he has put in the world, despite any animosity they may have had in the past. But she’s said too much, and Anne storms off.
Infinity confronts Anne, who finally confesses to the lie she told that broke their family apart. Infinity can’t understand why Anne would do such a thing. Anne drops the bomb that the man who raised them is not her biological father, only Infinity’s. And that it’s his fault Anne learned she was the product of rape. Infinity is heartbroken but still forgives her sister. Only, her forgiveness isn’t enough. Anne can’t look at Infinity now that she knows the truth. She cuts Infinity off for good. Infinity blames Tabs for pushing her into this situation and abandons Tabs at the funeral.
Infinity returns to her hideaway in the woods to find her house completely flooded. She gives in and befriends a neighbor, asking for help. He teaches her the very simple meaning of friendship. Infinity realizes she’s been pushing everyone away because she fears losing them. She finally understands she doesn’t have to be alone.
Infinity apologizes to Tabs. She visits her mother’s grave for the first time. And Anne, having received Infinity’s olive branch, joins her at the grave as Infinity’s “plus one.”
-
Hi class
I’m Stefani Zabner, but my nickname is Zabs.
I’ve written one pilot, one feature, and a spec for a popular TV show (not produced). I’m currently finishing up my second feature and using this class to help me get it to a polished level. I’ve also written and produced a couple short films.
I’m hoping to step up my screenwriting skills overall. I also work in development, so I’m hoping this helps me communicate better with writers.
Something interesting about me: I left the platform in 2020 (too much drama!), but I was the first person with my last name “Zabner” to have an account on Facebook. And ended up learning about cousins and distant relatives all over the world as more started joining!
-
Stefani Zabner
“I agree to the terms of this 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.
-
Annie, I sent you a “Connect” request so I can send you a private message with my phone number. Would love to jump on a call to go over our projects if that works for you!
-
Let’s do it!