[Stuart Voytilla]

I’m Stuart.

I’ve written about a dozen scripts (features, TV pilots, shorts, advertising).

Four hopes/goals:

1. To expand my use of AI as a writing assistant that supports my creativity.
2. To dispel perfectionism and self-criticism to unleash my creative writing.
3. To speed-write the “best” screenplay yet and get it out in the market.
4. To reclaim the joy of writing.

To learn HTML or have AI help with the HTML, so I don’t have to keep editing/re-editing these posts.

As a faculty member at San Diego State University, I’m leading a Living Land Acknowledgment for the Kumeyaay to install a series of sculptures created by a Kumeyaay artist with a QR code-activated immersive experience revealing Kumeyaay culture or history. This project transforms our university’s spoken land acknowledgment into a physical and virtual presence, a living acknowledgment. We installed the 3rd of six initial sculptures yesterday.

[Stuart Voytilla]

1. Stuart Voytilla
2. I, Stuart Voytilla, agree to the terms of this release form.”
3. Please leave the entire text below to confirm what you agree to.

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.

[Stuart Voytilla]

Stuart’s Romance Emotions Part 2

What I learned from this exercise is that it’s a valuable way to understand how the emotional journey shapes both the overall structure and the character transformational journeys. It’s interesting to see how the deeper, more intense emotions tend to emerge in the latter half of the movie. I made great discoveries that alleviated doubts about whether my approach to the story concept was working.

With this pass, I’m focusing on the bigger picture by examining each of the ten Romance Emotions.

1. Attraction

Scene: Meet-Cute – Julian collides with Angelina
Despite their anger, they are attracted to each other. The physical closeness and shared soaked situation spark attraction.

Scene: Angelina is Julian’s guest lecturer!
Their intellectual sparring shows explicit anger, hiding implicit attraction.

Scene: Attraction at the wine and cheese gala
Playful banter and Julian’s self-deprecating critique of his assignment convey attraction; the accidental brush of hands creates a spark neither can ignore.

Scene: Julian witnesses Angelina’s confidence in her world
Julian sees Angelina in her Venetian world, in the art museum, and with her friends. She appears to have everything he doesn’t, and she is an expert in romance and love—what he lacks.

Scene: A masked ball during Carnival
Both in costume and mask, they dance unaware of each other’s identities but feel a mysterious attraction.

2. Desire

Scene: Julian sees Angelina in Venice
Julian sets up chance encounters to be closer to her.

Scene: Julian is Angelina’s gondolier (in training)
As a gondolier trainee, Julian transports Angelina and her two rivals. The distance between them intensifies Julian’s desire, pushing him to use disguises to win her heart.

Scene: Masked ball
During Carnival, Angelina sees Julian in disguise. Intrigue builds to desire when they dance.

3. Yearning

Scene: Meet-Cute – before their collision
Angelina sketches Julian rowing, yearning for someone showing determination and focus. But distance keeps him unattainable—only captured in her sketch.

Scene: Art Seminar
Angelina and Julian yearn for each other, but the professor-student relationship keeps this unattainable.

Scene: Julian is a gondolier in training
Julian goes to Venice to train as a gondolier (as encouraged by Angelina), but Angelina keeps them distant. He is a servant; she is a member of upper society.

Scene: Masked ball
In disguises, they dance, but Julian yearns to unmask himself, fearing the pain of her rejection and anger.

Scene: Angelina rejects Julian, unmasked
After Julian reveals himself, defending the real feelings they shared, Angelina rejects him. Distanced from her, he must focus on the gondolier competition, yearning for Angelina.

Scene: Angelina witnesses Julian’s determination
Angelina attends the gondolier competition and is impressed by Julian’s determination and artistry. She questions her feelings of yearning for him.

4. Doubt

Angelina’s backstory:
With her past heartbreak, she doesn’t believe in love. She’s doubting her feelings. This will influence her throughout much of her transformative journey.

Scene: Art Seminar
Doubt is reinforced by the professor-student relationship.

Scene: Julian fails his art assignment
Julian is unable to express love in the painting and doubts whether he can ever find it.

Scene: Angelina encourages Julian to find love as a Gondolier
Angelina encourages Julian to go to Venice to train as a gondolier and observe and find love. Julian is attracted to Angelina but doubts whether Angelina has other, romantic motives for encouraging him.

Scene: Julian is a gondolier in training
Angelina again enforces class to keep them distant, casting doubt on their relationship ever happening.

Act II Scenes: Francesco manipulates Julian
Francesco secretly schemes to humiliate Julian through disguises. He builds doubt in Julian (and plays with other emotions) during the Act II shenanigans.

Scene: Angelina rejects Julian
When Angelina discovers Julian’s disguises, she rejects him. He doubts his feelings of love for her.

Scene: Angelina arrives at her wedding
Angelina has been doubting her feelings and whether she truly loves Julian. She’s fearful of that feeling.

5. Jealousy

Scene: Angelina celebrates her students’ art assignments
During the class critique of art assignments, Julian is jealous that they can express love.

Scene: Julian is jealous of Remi’s study abroad companion
Julian discovers Remi and a friend are going to Paris together. They suggest something romantic, fueling Julian’s jealousy.

Scene: Julian serves as Angelina’s gondolier in training
Angelina hires Francesco’s gondola with Julian as his trainee. Julian witnesses romantic trips between Angelina and a suitor, feeling jealous.

Scene: Julian wins Remi’s heart at the Gondolier Competition
Julian competes in the gondolier competition with a surprising, authentic display of romance. It wins Remi’s heart, and they kiss. But Julian intended it for Angelina. She, too, witnesses it but sees their kiss and is jealous of Remi.

6. Betrayal

Scene: Remi breaks up with Julian
Remi feels betrayed that Julian can’t express love. Julian feels betrayed that she applied for Study Abroad without telling him and has sprung this breakup on him.

Scene: Art Seminar
Angelina feels betrayed that she didn’t know Julian was a student when they had their meet-cute. It’s not his fault, but betrayal can be fun to explore here.

Scene: Angelina is betrayed by Julian’s costumed manipulation
Julian reveals himself to Angelina to stop her from committing to the wrong lover. Betrayed and humiliated by him, Angelina breaks off all connections with him and fires Francesco.

Scene: Francesco manipulates Julian
Francesco secretly doesn’t want Julian reconnecting with his Italian roots. He uses his position as his trainer and cousin to manipulate Julian with disguises to humiliate him. Julian feels betrayed when Francesco outs him as the “rot” of the family, ruining his chances in the gondolier competition.

7. Anger

Scene: Meet-Cute – Julian collides with Angelina
They blame each other for the embarrassing collision.

Scene: Art Seminar
Julian and Angelina carry their anger into the first day of the seminar when they discover they are student and professor.

Scene: Angelina is angry by Julian’s costumed manipulation
Julian reveals himself to Angelina to stop her from committing to the wrong lover. She feels betrayal and anger.

8. Passion

Scene: Art Seminar
Angelina shows her passion for art and teaching in the classroom.

Scene: Art Museums, Venice
Angelina has opportunities to show her passion for art, as does one of her suitors. Julian also places himself in her world, opening himself to romance through art.

Scene: Masked Ball, Carnival
Julian, in disguise, displays passion through gestures and activities he’s planned for Angelina. As they dance, it’s more difficult for them to hide their attraction, leading to a sudden, impulsive kiss that ignites passion.

Scene: The Gondolier Competition
Expelled from the family and having lost Angelina, Julian channels his authentic self to express his romantic gondola experience. He may not win the competition, but his passion is not missed by Remi or Angelina. He may not be able to express love in a painting, but he does so on the gondola.

9. Obsession

Scene: Julian tries one last declaration of love to Remi
Julian is humiliated when he secretly goes to her apartment to declare his love.

Scene: Julian arranges encounters with Angelina
Not intended to be dark, but Julian tries to set up situations where he can run into Angelina. He may simply show up when she’s discussing art at the museum.

Scene: Angelina sketches Julian
The first sketch may have been a desire for something unattainable. But with further encounters in Venice, Angelina sketches him again and again. Yearning or obsession?

Scene: Julian needs to win the gondola competition
With everything blowing up on him (fallout with family, Angelina), Julian becomes obsessed with earning his certification and winning the competition.

10. Love

Scene: Julian unmasks himself
After their kiss and her commitment to the wrong suitor, Julian expresses his love to Angelina. She turns him down and cuts him off.

Scene: Gondola Competition
As his gondola experience, Julian expresses his love for Angelina. But Remi accepts it, and Angelina mistakes it.

Scene: Angelina Interrupts her Wedding
Angelina, on the verge of marrying another, realizes her true love is Julian and interrupts the wedding to be with him. They are about to kiss but stumble; he saves them from falling into the water. But as a demonstration of their love, she pulls him into the water where they kiss.

• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.
• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.
• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.

[Stuart Voytilla]

Stuart’s Romance Emotions Part 1

What I learned from this assignment is the crucial role that romance emotions play in shaping both the overall character journeys and the individual scenes. It was challenging to stay focused on the emotional shifts within scenes while still plotting out the broader story. However, exploring the sequence of emotions has helped me assess the purpose of each scene and maintain story momentum. To stay on deadline, I’m sharing my scene explorations from Act I.

Scene: Remi dumps Julian
Remi: Doubt → Anger (possibly Betrayal)
Julian: Doubt → Betrayal

Remi’s Doubt: Remi has doubted Julian’s feelings for her. Does he love her? Does he really know? She wants to test him in this scene. They’re celebrating their relationship, and he gives her the usual gift—she expects it—and she’s angry. Julian says he loves her, but Remi challenges him: “Do you really know what love feels like?” Now Julian feels doubt. Anger pushes Remi to dump him, and she surprises him with the news that she’s studying abroad in France and wants to go with an untethered, open heart. Remi asks him, “How do you feel now?” He feels betrayal.

Scene: Meet-Cute – Julian collides with Angelina
Julian: Anger → Attraction → Anger → Doubt
Angelina: Yearning → Attraction → Anger

Julian’s Anger: Frustrated after being dumped by Remi, he goes for an intense early morning rowing session on the Charles River. Angelina is also in a small boat on the river, relaxing and drawing. She’s sketching the activity on the river, notices Julian across the water, and is taken by his determined rowing. She includes him in the sketch (yearning, he’s at a physical distance, but she’s drawn to him). She’s interrupted by a phone call from her mom in Venice, who wants to know when she’ll return. Her mother is arranging two events, one for each suitor pursuing her heart. Angry, Angelina argues with her mother and stands up in the boat. Julian accidentally plows into Angelina’s boat, causing her to fall into the Charles River. Julian dives in after her. She impulsively pushes him away, but their eyes connect—a flash of attraction—quickly derailed by her anger at Julian for causing the collision. She fights him as he tries to help her back into the boat and notices the water-soaked sketch of himself. She wads it up and throws it at him. She ends the scene angry with her mother and showing anger at Julian. Julian ends the scene angry and doubtful.

Scene: Angelina is Julian’s guest lecturer!
Julian: Betrayal → Yearning → Doubt
Angelina: Yearning → Betrayal → Yearning

Julian arrives minutes late to his Romance in Art seminar, but the professor announces that the guest lecturer is also running late. Angelina arrives, and Julian recognizes her. She’s yearning to share her perspectives on art and romance with the students and calls on them to interpret the artwork she shows. Julian tries to avoid getting picked. She shows a painting of a couple on a boat and is intrigued by one student’s Italian name, “Rossi.” She calls on him, and Julian reluctantly raises his hand. She recognizes him! The two verbally spar over the painting, engaging in a blaming game that confuses the students—both feel betrayal and yearning, but they shut it down, reminding themselves they are professor and student. Doubt sets in. She gives the class their assignment: create a piece of art that conveys love or romance in their life.

Scene: Julian struggles with the assignment.
Julian: Yearning (for Remi) → Betrayal → Jealousy → Doubt

How does a broken heart feel? He yearns and decides to surprise Remi to win her back. He’s humiliated and sees her with friends, including a guy friend—betrayal. Jealous, he tackles the art assignment, but it’s a mess. The assignment defeats him—doubt!

Scene: Angelina critiques student work.
Angelina: Yearning
Julian: Doubt → Jealousy

Angelina yearns for students to share their perspectives on love. She critiques several assignments. Jealousy builds in Julian as he wishes he could have a similar experience to what students share in their work. He doesn’t turn in his assignment.

Scene: Attraction at the wine and cheese gala.
Julian: Doubt → Attraction
Angelina: Yearning → Attraction

Julian and Angelina have an encounter. Julian is doubting love altogether and hands her his assignment. Yearning, she supports the effort and questions, “Is this love?” He confesses his jealousy. He admits he’s failed the class and doesn’t know what true love is. She remembers his name and asks whether he’s related to the famous Rossi family, the gondola builders, and gondolier trainers. But she doubts it based on his weak rowing skills. Playful banter, laughter, their hands brush accidentally, and they feel something—attraction.

[Stuart Voytilla]

Stuarts Comedy Situations:

What I learned doing this assignment…

This was a valuable exercise in exploring comic situations as I evaluated sequence and scene development. I found it challenging to brainstorm within the romantic context, but it also allowed me to expand the possibilities for comedy.

Brainstorming…

Misinterpretation:
Before Julian and Angelina are aware of their professor-student relationship, during the meet-cute conflict on the water, this can set up a misinterpretation in their classroom scene where she embarrasses him. This theme continues at the school’s wine and cheese gala for Angelina, where she encourages him to come to Venice to learn about romance and love as a gondolier.
When Julian goes to Venice, he’s no longer the student but the servant.
The disguises in Venice offer opportunities for misinterpretation: Julian as a gondolier, Julian disguised as one of Angelina’s suitors during Carnival, leading to their first kiss.
Julian can craft misinterpretation while manipulating Angelina’s dual suitors.
In Acts III and IV, when Remi comes to Venice to win Julian back, Angelina misinterprets their relationship.
When Julian ingratiates himself with the Rossis—there’s uncertainty about whether he’s a cousin. The reality is much worse: he’s related to the branch of the family responsible for the deep divide between the Rossis and the Bianchis.
Julian’s crew skills may help him maneuver a gondola, but his initial attempts with the single oar could escalate the embarrassment until he learns to adapt.
A misinterpretation over a work of art—Julian and Angelina are reflecting on two different pieces, one romantic, one erotic.
When Julian hires Marco Bianchi to transport Angelina to her wedding, Marco places Julian in his own place.

Comedic Surprises:
Julian unveils his reinvented gondola and gondola experience at the competition, subverting all expectations.
Surprises will happen in juggling Angelina’s two suitors.
The comedic, humiliating surprise when Francesco outs Julian, causing him to lose the family endorsement of his competition entry.
Fun commedia dell’arte-inspired comic mechanics with the dueling suitors for Angelina’s heart, especially when Julian (in disguise, mistaken for one suitor) kisses Angelina, and the power of this kiss pushes her to commit to the suitor.
Angelina hires Francesco as her gondolier—surprise, Julian is training under Francesco (also an opportunity for misinterpretation).

Wildly Inappropriate Responses:
The escalation of inappropriate responses during their charged meet-cute carries into the classroom, with students perplexed by the exchange between Julian and Angelina.
The escalation of inappropriate, embarrassing responses between the dueling suitors vying for Angelina’s heart—how far will the situation and stakes push them?
During the wine and cheese send-off, Angelina shuts Julian down and tells him to pursue Remi. This intensifies their exchanges when Julian shows up in Venice and realizes he’s falling in love with Angelina.
Julian’s responses to his gondolier training—coming from an East Coast university crew background, his initial trials to learn how to be a gondolier challenge him.

Forced Union of Incompatibles:
Their meet-cute conflict sets up a man vs. woman dynamic, which then shifts into a professor-student scenario.
Julian tries to break this dynamic when he goes to Venice—he’s out of school but now a gondolier, a servant to Angelina. When she discovers him, she wields her power of privilege over him.
In terms of love (personal transformation), Angelina has closed off her heart due to her past and shut herself off from genuine love. Julian needs to find and learn to express his authentic heart. They are incompatible, yet they need each other for their development.

Embarrassment:
Julian is embarrassed when he declares his love to Remi in Act I.
He’s embarrassed again when he’s outed by cousin Francesco.
Julian and Angelina experience mutual embarrassment (though they deny it) during their meet-cute.
I’m exploring the sequence(s) in Act III where Angelina is embarrassed while maneuvering her two suitors’ proposals. She kisses Julian (disguised), believing he’s one of the suitors. She’s embarrassed when she commits to the suitor and another kiss feels oddly different.
This escalates to a situation where Julian is embarrassed during the competition in Act III, leading to a miserable failure.

Comedic Tragedy:
Julian’s abysmal failure during the certification, followed by his embarrassing outing by Francesco, pushes him to reformulate his gondola for the competition.
Angelina has been pushing Julian to focus on Remi, but she realizes she’s fallen in love with Julian.

• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.
• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.

[Stuart Voytilla]

Stuart’s Plot:
What I learned from this assignment is the importance of integrating three story tracks for a much stronger romantic comedy: the Bigger Story Structure, the 7 Stages of Love, and Her Journey/His Journey. These three passes helped me elevate the stakes within the story's world while deepening the individual transformational journeys of my two lovers as they find true love.

Act 1:

Him – Initial State:
Julian is a risk-averse engineering student who believes he's in love with Remi. However, he has never fully given himself up to love, doing only what he believes is correct without truly making himself vulnerable. He engineers romantic relationships with dates and gifts—token obligations rather than authentic, vulnerable experiences. Professionally, he’s following the career path of his father as a marine engineer, but he has a hidden passion for art.

Her – Initial State:
Angelina is a sophisticated, emotionally guarded professor from Venice. Her expertise is in Art and Romance. She is cynical about true love due to a past heartbreak. However, she is facing family pressures to marry and has two suitors, both well-respected in Venetian society, who are vying for her heart.

Opening:
Julian works for his dad at a shipyard. He helps his dad with an innovative fix but needs to rush off for a date with Remi.

Inciting Incident:
Julian's girlfriend, Remi, dumps him, claiming he doesn’t understand love. Remi shares that she’s studying abroad in France and wants to go with an untethered, open heart. Julian didn’t know she applied for Study Abroad! Julian’s determined to follow Remi to France.

Him – Meet-Cute Moment:
Julian, frustrated after being dumped by Remi, goes for an intense early morning rowing session to figure out how to fix the breakup. He accidentally collides with Angelina, who is sketching in a small boat. They both fall into the water and angrily blame each other for the incident.

Her – Meet-Cute Moment:
Angelina, enjoying a peaceful morning sketching in a small boat, receives a call from her mother in Venice, pressuring her and distracting her, contributing to the collision with Julian's rowing boat. They both fall into the water and angrily blame each other.

Awkward discovery! Angelina is a guest lecturer for Julian’s Romance in Art seminar. She discovers Julian is a student and embarrasses him in class. A guest professor from Venice, Angelina, lectures about the imagery of water and love in art. She calls on Julian to interpret a painting, but he falters to see the imagery of love. She embarrasses him, noting that his name, Rossi, offers Italian heritage of romance—especially the romance of the gondolas that define her home city.

2. Attraction/Flirting:

At the university’s wine and cheese gala for Angelina, Julian has an accidental encounter with her. There’s attraction, but they maintain a professional distance: professor and student. He provides his interpretation of the painting—impressing her. She asks why he’s taking the seminar. He wants to find out what true love is, to accept the challenge from his ex. She remembers his name and asks whether he’s related to the famous Rossi family, the gondola builders, and gondolier trainers. Clearly, he has demonstrated weak skills at rowing—it's obvious he couldn’t be related to the great Rossi family. She suggests the way to know what love is to experience the world as a gondolier. Playful banter, laughter, their hands brush accidentally.

3. Denial:

Both hide the spark they feel from their encounter. She is the professor, and he is the student. And he’s also committed to Remi. Angelina has two suitors vying for her heart. Julian makes a final show of his love for Remi, and it’s humiliating—Remi’s with another guy. Julian’s investigation uncovers likely ties to the Venetian Rossis. His father doesn’t offer much—his grandfather had a falling out with them and immigrated to America. He wants to connect with his family.

4. Separation/Forced Together:

Distance initially keeps Julian and Angelina separated. But Julian takes a semester leave to get closer to Remi and take Angelina’s challenge: to become a gondolier to find out what romance and love are. He goes to Venice and trains as a gondolier (and connects with his family and water heritage) with the Rossi family.

Her – Initial Challenges:
Angelina's cynicism about true love and her guardedness create a barrier to connecting with Julian. She also holds a grudge from their water encounter. She maintains professionalism and class to demonstrate her power over him and keep their hearts distanced. In the university seminar, she is the visiting professor, he is the student. In Venice, she is upper-class Venetian and treats him as a lower-class apprentice gondolier, resisting her growing feelings.

Him – Initial Challenges:
Julian accepts Angelina’s challenge to go to Venice and learn about love from the experiences of a gondolier. Julian is determined to win back Remi but has growing feelings for Angelina. Angelina sees him as a gondolier, a servant. Julian’s fear of vulnerability continues to hold him back, and he holds a grudge from their fiery meet-cute. Julian ingratiates himself with the Rossi family as a distant cousin and begins his training as a gondolier. His experience on the crew team helps him accelerate through the initial steps of training. He has repeated encounters with Angelina, but she is from higher society, and he is an apprentice gondolier. The class and privilege keep them separated.

Turning Point:
He passes the initial test to become a Rossi trainee. He’s assigned to Francesco Rossi. He’s determined to become a gondolier (to win Remi’s heart) and to connect with his Italian roots (a member of the Rossi family).

Act 2:

Angelina frequently uses gondolas and is particular about her gondolier, hiring Francesco Rossi, who is training Julian. Julian doesn’t want to be discovered by Angelina, and she doesn’t recognize him.

New Plan:
Francesco Rossi is aware of Julian’s pining over Angelina, who is seen as unattainable, especially by someone seen of lower class—a gondolier, and a gondolier-trainee at that. So Francesco convinces Julian to take on disguises to get closer to Angelina.

Julian investigates his great-grandfather’s story—and the circumstances of his falling out with the family. This has been “forgotten” history—the Rossis have ripped his page from the family history. Julian’s investigation will elevate it and get him in trouble when Francesco outs him.

Plan in Action:
Julian struggles with the physical demands of gondoliering and navigating Venice's canals, while also uncovering the bitter rivalry between the Rossi and Bianchi families. He discovers the divide goes back several generations. As he gets closer to Angelina, he discovers that she has two suitors—upper-class, well-established Venetians.

5. Working through Issues/Differences:

She treats Julian as a servant, a gondolier (in disguise). But he starts revealing insights that reveal an innocence of love that intrigues her—Angelina still protects her heart and follows family expectations to marry, and she has two suitors for her heart.

Midpoint Turning Point (Carnival):
During the two-week Carnival celebrations, Julian immerses himself in Venetian traditions and uses disguises to get close to Angelina, manipulated by Francesco. Angelina’s suitors also plan to propose to Angelina during the festivities. With Francesco’s scheming, Julian takes on disguises to get closer to Angelina, be accepted in her higher social circles, and disrupt the rivals’ plans. Julian is taking more risks, with the mask and costume. He’s realizing the deeper true love that he’s feeling for Angelina. During his training, he serves as a gondolier for Angelina and her suitor during a double date. In another disguise, Julian is mistaken for one of the suitors. This encounter sparks something in her—she feels something different—and commits to him, the suitor!

Him – Major Conflict / Obstacle:
During the Carnival festival, Julian uses disguises to manipulate her suitors’ schemes to win her heart. But this leads to Angelina mistaking Julian for one of her suitors and using this to make her decision.

Her – Major Conflict / Obstacle (continued):
Julian realizes the depth of the Rossi-Bianchi feud and uncovers further details about his great-grandfather’s reason for cutting himself off from the Rossis. He was in love with a member of the Bianchi family.

Act 3:

Rethink Everything:
Julian has failed with Angelina because she’s beginning to commit herself to the suitor (who was actually Julian in disguise). Julian feels a need to reveal himself, but he knows she’ll reject him. Additionally, the family stakes help fuel Julian’s commitment to his Italian heritage and the craft of the gondola and gondolier.

New Plan:
Julian commits to rigorous training and uses his engineering skills and fashion design passion to create an innovative gondola design and experience.

6. Hate/Betrayal/All Hope is Lost:

Julian realizes his disguises and trickery have pushed Angelina to commit to the wrong suitor. He feels their love is true and reveals himself to Angelina. Enraged and betrayed by Julian’s trickery, Angelina ends any relationship with Julian, and she stops her connection to the Rossis for her gondola service.

Turning Point: Huge Failure / Major Shift:
Julian now needs to reveal himself, be authentic, and take a risk. He reveals himself, and Angelina is enraged that he deceived her. Broken-hearted, Julian needs to find a way to win her heart.

Him – Self-Reflection:
Separated from Angelina, Julian focuses on the testing for his gondolier certification. But his cousin outs him as an imposter. This forces Julian to reflect on his actions and realize that his fear of vulnerability and need for validation have kept him from being authentic—he recognizes a need to fully open up, expose himself, and experience true love. His cousin, Francesco Rossi, outs Julian as representing the “rot” of the family that needs to be removed. Francesco manipulates Julian’s qualification round for gondolier testing, and Julian fails miserably. A humiliating blow. Recognizing what his great-grandfather may have felt, Julian leaves the Rossi family.

Him – Acceptance and Growth:
Julian accepts that he must be vulnerable and genuine to achieve a meaningful connection. He sets up an encounter with Angelina to show his heart, but she rebuffs him. Remi visits him from Paris—she’s been following his gondolier training on social media and wants him back. She pushes him to complete his gondolier training without the Rossi sponsorship.

Her – Self-Reflection:
When Julian reveals his deception, Angelina feels betrayed and ends their relationship. This conflict forces her to confront her fear of being hurt again and her belief that true love is unattainable. Separated from Julian, Angelina reflects on her past heartbreak and realizes that her cynicism, fear, and biases have prevented her from opening up to new possibilities.

Her – Acceptance and Growth:
Angelina accepts that she must let go of her past hurt and be open to vulnerability. She begins to see the value in risking her heart for genuine love and starts to soften her guardedness. She rejects Julian’s authentic declaration and his invitation to attend the gondola competition. Her grandmother reveals a dark secret about finding true love a second time, prompting Angelina to reconsider her beliefs. She attends the gondola competition in disguise.

Act 4:

His – Demonstrate the Change:
Julian demonstrates his change during the gondolier competition at Festa della Sensa. His performance showcases his authentic self, displaying skill, passion, and artistry (in love and marine engineering).

Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict (Festa della Sensa):
Julian channels his authentic heart and enters the gondolier competition during Festa della Sensa as an unexpected participant. He’s facing the top trainees representing each of the gondola families, including the fierce rival Marco Bianchi.

Her – Demonstrate the Change:
Julian initially falters in the competition, but Angelina accidentally drops her disguise—enough to catch Julian’s eyes. This prompts him to reveal his authentic self. Angelina supports Julian’s performance, recognizing his genuine skill and heartfelt passion. Julian delivers the ultimate romantic experience with skill, prowess, and romantic heart… Remi believes it is for her, and Angelina leaves.

Resolution:
Julian wins the competition, earns the respect of both families, and brokers a level of peace between the families. Julian commits to Remi, but he’s heartbroken for another—Angelina. Remi wants to return to the U.S., but Julian has found a new life in Venice.

7. Love Happens:

Angelina commits to her suitor, and on their wedding night, she has hired Marco Bianchi to escort her, the bride, to the event and the married couple from their wedding—Marco gives the position to Julian.

His – Reunion:
Angelina discovers the switch on the way when she asks for romantic songs to carry her to her wedding. Conflict ensues, and Angelina commits to the wedding plans. From the gondola, Julian watches the romantic wedding ceremony on the water. Angelina can’t complete the ceremony and storms Julian’s gondola, irate that he’s ruined her wedding.

Her – Reunion:
He wins her heart with his vulnerability and authentic actions. They kiss on his gondola and almost fall into the canal. What the hell—Angelina pulls him into the water. She welcomes true love.

• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.
• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.

[Stuart Voytilla]

Stuart’s Her Journey / His Journey

What I learned doing this assignment is the importance of the transformational journey to continue to discover deeper layers in the characters and their relationship. This allowed me to focus on distinguishing between Julian and Angelina based on how their idea and experience of love and romance have impacted them in their initial states. This assignment also allowed me to have fun with alternatives for the meet-cute and how it can impact the reunion to show their relational growth.

Julian’s Transformational Journey

1. Initial State:
   Julian is a risk-averse engineering student who believes he's in love with Remi. However, he has never fully given himself up to love, doing only what he believes is correct without truly making himself vulnerable. He engineers romantic relationships with dates, gifts—token obligations rather than authentic vulnerable experiences.

2. Meet-Cute Moment:
   Julian, frustrated after being dumped by Remi, goes for an intense early morning rowing session to figure out how to fix the breakup. He accidentally collides with Angelina, who is sketching in a small boat. They both fall into the water and angrily blame each other for the incident. Awkward discovery! Angelina is the guest lecturer for his Romance in Art seminar.

3. Initial Challenges:
   Julian accepts Angelina’s challenge to go to Venice and learn about love from the experiences of a gondolier. Julian is determined to win back Remi but has growing feelings for Angelina. Angelina sees him as a gondolier, a servant. Julian’s fear of vulnerability continues to hold him back, and he holds a grudge for their fiery first encounter.

4. Major Conflict / Obstacle:
   With the help of his cousin, Julian takes on disguises to get closer to Angelina and be accepted in her higher social circles. During the Carnival festival, Julian uses disguises to manipulate her suitors’ schemes to win her heart. But this leads to Angelina mistaking Julian for one of her suitors and using this to make her decision. This forces Julian to reveal his true identity to Angelina. She feels betrayed and ends their relationship.

5. Self-Reflection:
   Separated from Angelina, Julian focuses on the testing for his gondolier certification. But his cousin outs him as an imposter. This forces Julian to reflect on his actions and realize that his fear of vulnerability and need for validation have kept him from being authentic—he recognizes a need to fully open up, expose himself, to experience true love.

6. Acceptance and Growth:
   Julian accepts that he must be vulnerable and genuine to achieve a meaningful connection. He sets up an encounter with Angelina to show his heart, but she rebuffs him. Remi visits him from Paris, she’s been following his gondolier training on social media and wants him back. She pushes him to complete his gondolier training without the Rossi sponsorship.

7. Demonstrate the Change:
   Julian demonstrates his change during the gondolier competition at Festa della Sensa. His performance showcases his authentic self, displaying skill, passion, and artistry (in love and marine engineering). But he confesses that this wasn’t his demonstration of love for Remi. He’s heartbroken for another.

8. Reunion:
   Angelina also witnessed Julian’s declaration of love, and the two reunite. He wins her heart with his vulnerability and authentic actions. They kiss on his gondola and almost fall into the canal. What the hell, Angelina pulls him into the water.

Angelina’s Transformational Journey

1. Initial State:
   Angelina is a sophisticated, emotionally guarded professor from Venice. She is cynical about true love due to a past heartbreak. However, she is facing family pressures to marry and has two suitors, both well-respected in Venetian society, who are vying for her heart.

2. Meet-Cute Moment:
   Angelina, enjoying a peaceful morning sketching in a small boat, is suddenly collided with by Julian's rowing boat. They both fall into the water and angrily blame each other, creating a memorable and contentious first encounter. Angelina discovers that Julian is a student in the Romance in Art seminar and embarrasses him in class.

3. Initial Challenges:
   Angelina's cynicism about true love and her guardedness create a barrier to connecting with Julian. She also holds a grudge for their water encounter. She maintains professionalism and class to demonstrate her power over him and keep their hearts distanced. In the university seminar, she is the visiting professor, he is the student. In Venice, she is upper-class Venetian and treats him as a lower-class apprentice gondolier, resisting her growing feelings.

4. Major Conflict / Obstacle:
   During Carnival, Angelina is navigating her two suitors—and their proposals. She doesn’t realize Julian is using disguises to get closer to her. Wearing a disguise similar to one suitor, Angelina’s heart is melting. She commits to the suitor, not realizing it was Julian. When Julian reveals his deception, Angelina feels betrayed and ends their relationship. This conflict forces her to confront her fear of being hurt again and her belief that true love is unattainable.

5. Self-Reflection:
   Separated from Julian, Angelina reflects on her past heartbreak and realizes that her cynicism, fear, and biases have prevented her from opening up to new possibilities.

6. Acceptance and Growth:
   Angelina accepts that she must let go of her past hurt and be open to vulnerability. She begins to see the value in risking her heart for genuine love and starts to soften her guardedness. She rejects Julian’s authentic declaration and his invitation to attend the gondola competition. Her grandmother reveals a dark secret about finding true love a second time, prompting Angelina to reconsider her beliefs. She attends the gondola competition in disguise.

7. Demonstrate the Change:
   Julian initially falters in the competition, but Angelina accidentally drops her disguise. Enough to catch Julian’s eyes. This prompts him to reveal his authentic self. Angelina supports Julian’s performance, recognizing his genuine skill and heartfelt passion.

8. Reunion:
   Angelina and Julian reunite. Angelina is moved by his vulnerability and authentic actions. They kiss on his gondola and almost fall into the canal. What the hell, Angelina pulls him into the water. She welcomes true love.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by  Stuart Voytilla.
• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by  Stuart Voytilla.

[Stuart Voytilla]

What I learned from doing this assignment is the importance of conventions and delivering on audience expectations while also exploring surprising, unexpected ways to meet those expectations. Additionally, I discovered that my lead will juggle two romances. He leaves for Venice to train as a gondolier and learn what love is, initially intending to win back the heart of Remi, his old girlfriend. However, in Venice and through his encounters with Angelina, he truly falls in love with her. I’m excited to explore ways to juggle these two romantic desires and how the audience will root for one love over the other. Julian and Angelina are the romantic leads, and this assignment focused on their Seven Stages of Love.

• Meet-Cute:
  Julian Rossi takes a Romance in Art seminar where Angelina, a guest professor from Venice, lectures about imagery of water and love in art. She calls on Julian to interpret a painting, but he falters in seeing the imagery of love. She embarrasses him, noting his Italian heritage of romance, especially the romance of the gondolas that define her home city. She asks him why he is taking the seminar, and he can't answer.

• Attraction/Flirting:
  At the university’s wine and cheese gala for Angelina, Julian has an accidental encounter with her. He provides his interpretation of the painting, impressing her. She asks why he’s taking the seminar, and he explains that he wants to find what true love is, accepting a challenge from his ex. She remembers his name and asks whether he’s related to the famous Rossi family, the gondola builders. She suggests that the way to know what love is to experience the world as a gondolier. Playful banter, laughter, and their hands brush accidentally.

• Denial:
  Both hide the spark they feel from their encounter. She is the professor, and he is the student. Additionally, he’s committed to Remi. She has two suitors vying for her heart.

• Separation/Forced Together:
  Distance initially keeps them separated. But Julian goes to Venice and trains as a gondolier with the Rossi family. He has repeated encounters with Angelina, but she is from higher society, and he is an apprentice gondolier. Class and privilege keep them separated. She frequently uses gondolas and is particular about her gondolier, hiring Francesco Rossi, who is training Julian. Julian tries to keep himself “disguised” as a gondolier, hoping she doesn’t recognize him as the student.

• Working through Issues/Differences:
  She treats him as a servant, a gondolier. But he starts revealing insights that intrigue her with his innocence of love. Angelina still protects her heart and follows her family’s expectations to marry, having two suitors for her heart. During the two-week Carnival celebrations, Julian takes advantage of disguises to get closer to Angelina. Angelina’s suitors also plan to propose to her during the festivities. With Francesco’s scheming, Julian uses disguises to disrupt the rivals’ plans. In disguise, Angelina mistakes Julian for one of the suitors. This encounter sparks her commitment to him—the suitor.

• Hate/Betrayal/All Hope is Lost:
  Julian realizes his disguises and trickery have pushed Angelina to commit to the wrong suitor. He feels their love is true and reveals himself to Angelina. Enraged and betrayed by Julian’s trickery, Angelina ends any relationship with Julian and stops her connection to the Rossis for her gondola service.

• Love Happens:
  Heartbroken, Julian focuses on successfully completing his gondolier training by passing his test and winning the gondolier competition. His authentic, unique display of skill, artistry, and heart during the competition wins Angelina’s heart.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 4 weeks ago by  Stuart Voytilla.

[Stuart Voytilla]

Lesson 3 Assignment:

What I learned doing this lesson is the importance of asking questions. They helped me be open to the bigger story (the rival Venetian families). And to know when I can pull back from the rabbit holes the questions unearth, and put something down as the current draft to work from. The bigger story perspective explored in this lesson was very valuable.

Act 1:

Opening:

Julian Rossi is a shy, risk-averse engineering student at an East Coast university, following the career path of his father as a marine engineer. He’s interning for his dad at a shipyard during the summer. Julian has a hidden passion for art, and is also taking a summer session on Romance and Art.

Inciting Incident:

Julian’s girlfriend, Remi, dumps him, claiming he doesn’t understand love. Remi’s preparing for her study abroad in France and she wants to go with an open heart. Julian’s determined to follow Remi to France. The Romance in Art seminar has a guest lecturer, Angelina, a visiting professor from Venice. Smitten, he tries to connect with her, but she’s the professor and he’s the student. At the end of the seminar, they have an exchange and she’s curious about his heritage. She’s familiar with the Rossi family based in Venice, famous gondola makers and gondoliers. His father doesn’t know much about the Italian cousins. His grandfather had a falling out with them and immigrated to America.

Turning Point:

Julian’s investigation uncovers likely ties to the Venetian Rossis. He takes a semester leave from university and travels to Venice, determined to become a gondolier and connect with his distant family.

Act 2:

New Plan:

Julian ingratiates himself with the Rossi family as a distant cousin and begins his training as a gondolier.

Plan in Action:

Julian struggles with the physical demands of gondoliering and navigating Venice’s canals, while also uncovering the bitter rivalry between the Rossi and Bianchi families. Discovers the divide goes back several generations. Also discovers that Angelina has a suitor.

Midpoint Turning Point:

During Carnival, Julian immerses himself in Venetian traditions and uses disguises to get close to Angelina. He’s taking more risks, with the mask and costume. Deeper in the training, he serves as gondolier serving Angelina and her suitor. This happens to be the night and situation when the suitor proposes to Angelina. Julian crashes the gondola, ruining the romantic moment for Angelina and suitor.

He realizes the depth of the Rossi-Bianchi feud, and uncovers further details about his great grandfather’s reason for cutting himself off from the Rossis.

Act 3:

Rethink Everything:

Julian’s failure with Angelina makes him recognize the importance of authenticity. The stakes help fuel Julian’s commitment to his Italian heritage and the craft of the gondola and gondolier.

New Plan:

Julian commits to rigorous training and uses his engineering skills and fashion design passion to create an innovative gondola design.

Turning Point: Huge Failure / Major Shift:

His cousin, Francesco Rossi outs Julian as representing the “rot” of the family that needs to be trashed. Francesco manipulates Julian’s qualification round for gondolier testing, and Julian fails miserably. A humiliating blow. Recognizing what his great-grandfather may have felt, Julian leaves the Rossi family.

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict:

Julian channels his authentic heart, and enters the gondolier competition as an unexpected participant. He’s facing the number one trainees representing each of the gondola families, including the fierce rival Marco Bianchi. Julian delivers the ultimate romantic experience with skill, prowess, and romantic heart. And winning the heart of Angelina.

Resolution:

Julian wins the competition, earns the respect of both families, and brokers a level of peace between the families. He’s established his new life in Venice and love and romance with Angelina.

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.

[Stuart Voytilla]

Lesson 3 Assignment:

What I learned doing this lesson is the importance of asking questions. They helped me be open to the bigger story (the rival Venetian families). And to know when I can pull back from the rabbit holes the questions unearth, and put something down as the current draft to work from. The bigger story perspective explored in this lesson was very valuable.

Act 1:

Opening:

Julian Rossi is a shy, risk-averse engineering student at an East Coast university, following the career path of his father as a marine engineer. He’s interning for his dad at a shipyard during the summer. Julian has a hidden passion for art, and is also taking a summer session on Romance and Art.

Inciting Incident:

Julian’s girlfriend, Remi, dumps him, claiming he doesn’t understand love. Remi’s preparing for her study abroad in France and she wants to go with an open heart. Julian’s determined to follow Remi to France. The Romance in Art seminar has a guest lecturer, Angelina, a visiting professor from Venice. Smitten, he tries to connect with her, but she’s the professor and he’s the student. At the end of the seminar, they have an exchange and she’s curious about his heritage. She’s familiar with the Rossi family based in Venice, famous gondola makers and gondoliers. His father doesn’t know much about the Italian cousins. His grandfather had a falling out with them and immigrated to America.

Turning Point:

Julian’s investigation uncovers likely ties to the Venetian Rossis. He takes a semester leave from university and travels to Venice, determined to become a gondolier and connect with his distant family.

Act 2:

New Plan:

Julian ingratiates himself with the Rossi family as a distant cousin and begins his training as a gondolier.

Plan in Action:

Julian struggles with the physical demands of gondoliering and navigating Venice’s canals, while also uncovering the bitter rivalry between the Rossi and Bianchi families. Discovers the divide goes back several generations. Also discovers that Angelina has a suitor.

Midpoint Turning Point:

During Carnivale, Julian immerses himself in Venetian traditions and uses disguises to get close to Angelina. He’s taking more risks, with the mask and costume. Deeper in the training, he serves as gondolier serving Angelina and her suitor. This happens to be the night and situation when the suitor proposes to Angelina. Julian crashes the gondola, ruining the romantic moment for Angelina and suitor.

He realizes the depth of the Rossi-Bianchi feud, and uncovers further details about his great grandfather’s reason for cutting himself off from the Rossis.

Act 3:

Rethink Everything:

Julian’s failure with Angelina makes him recognize the importance of authenticity. The stakes help fuel Julian’s commitment to his Italian heritage and the craft of the gondola and gondolier.

New Plan:

Julian commits to rigorous training and uses his engineering skills and fashion design passion to create an innovative gondola design.

Turning Point: Huge Failure / Major Shift:

His cousin, Francesco Rossi outs Julian as representing the “rot” of the family that needs to be trashed. Francesco manipulates Julian’s qualification round for gondolier testing, and Julian fails miserably. A humiliating blow. Recognizing what his great-grandfather may have felt, Julian leaves the Rossi family.

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict:

Julian channels his authentic heart, and enters the gondolier competition as an unexpected participant. He’s facing the number one trainees representing each of the gondola families, including the fierce rival Marco Bianchi. Julian delivers the ultimate romantic experience with skill, prowess, and romantic heart. And winning the heart of Angelina.

Resolution:

Julian wins the competition, earns the respect of both families, and brokers a level of peace between the families. He’s established his new life in Venice and love and romance with Angelina.

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.

[Stuart Voytilla]

What I learned doing this assignment:

This assignment allowed me to explore the vulnerabilities of the lead characters and why they could need each other. The story allows Julian to see a strong bridge to take to win Angelina’s heart. Julian’s genuine passion and willingness to take risks can ultimately help Angelina overcome her cynicism about true love.

Who is She?

Angelina: Angelina is a sophisticated, 28-year-old visiting lecturer from Venice. She is an expert in romance through the arts. However, she is cynical about the existence of true love, believing it only exists in art.

Who is He?

Julian: Julian is a 22-year-old engineering student from an East Coast university. He’s shy and averse to taking risks. Dumped by his girlfriend because he’s incapable of love and romance, he has a hidden passion for art (drawing, painting, fashion).

What makes them lovable?

Angelina:

Her intelligence and expertise in romance through the arts.
Her ability to inspire her students.
Her flaw and vulnerability: she can teach love and romance, but she doesn’t live it.

Julian:

His broken heart.
His innocence.
His willingness to take risks for love.
His hidden talent and passion for art, and his desire to find real love.

What attracts them to each other?

Angelina’s Attraction to Julian:

Julian’s naivety and sincerity are refreshing compared to the more jaded men she’s encountered.
His determination and passion.
His risk-taking and vulnerability in honestly pursuing love.

Julian’s Attraction to Angelina:

Angelina’s sophistication and beauty.
Her expertise in romance and the arts.
The challenge of her cynicism; he’s driven to prove to her the existence of true love.
What needs does each fulfill for the other?

Angelina for Julian:

She represents the sophisticated, artistic world he wants to be a part of.
He’s determined to prove love–his love for her–exists.
The opportunity to win her heart pushes him to take risks.
Winning her heart validates his belief in love.

Julian for Angelina:

His innocence and genuine passion provide a fresh, unjaded perspective on romance.
He allows her to find love, helping her overcome her cynicism.

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by  Stuart Voytilla.

[Stuart Voytilla]

Stuart’s Rom Com Concept:

What I learned about this assignment…

I learned these initial elements of rom-com conventions allowed me to focus on character and relationship development to give depth to my romantic comedy concept. Culture and location was also important in this stage of exploration.

Here’s the concept:

When a timid American engineering student travels to Venice to woo a sophisticated romance professor, he must navigate a world of disguises, deceptions, and gondoliers to win her heart and prove that true love is real.

1. Two People Who Belong Together:

Julian: A 22-year-old engineering student with a hidden passion for art, questioning his future. He is shy, risk-averse, and has never been in love.

Angelina: A 28-year-old visiting lecturer from Venice, an expert in romance through the arts. She is sophisticated, emotionally distant, and cynical about true love.

Shared Values and Chemistry: Both seek deeper meaning and authenticity in their lives. Julian is drawn to Angelina's allure and sophistication, while Angelina is intrigued by Julian’s innocence and his heart.

2. How Are They Separated:

Professional Boundaries: Julian is a student in Angelina’s seminar, creating an inherent separation due to their roles.
Geographical Distance: Angelina returns to Venice, while Julian remains in the U.S. until he decides to follow her.
Julian’s Insecurities: His shyness and fear of taking risks keep him from pursuing Angelina openly.

3. What Forces Them Together:

Driven by his belief that Angelina is “the one,” Julian takes a semester leave from college and travels to Venice. He ingratiates himself with a famous family of Gondola makers, convincing (most of) them that he’s a distant cousin. One of the cousins (and top gondoliers) initially helps Julian navigate Venetian culture to help him get close to Angelina. Julian trains as a gondolier which allows him to deliver romance to his patrons. During Carnivale festivities, masked anonymity allows Julian to interact with Angelina without revealing his true identity.

4. Issues to be Resolved:

Julian’s Issue: Overcoming his fear of taking risks, embracing his Italian heritage, and expressing his true feelings.

Angelina’s Issue: Letting go of her belief that true love is unattainable and valuing genuine connection over romantic ideals.

5. On Their Journey of Love:

Literal Journey: Julian travels to Venice, immersing himself in the local culture, learning to be a gondolier, and participating in the Gondolier’s test.

Figurative Journey: Both characters undergo personal growth. Julian transforms from a timid student to a confident man who can express his love and embrace his heritage. Angelina evolves from a cynical lecturer to a woman who experiences true love.

And Part Two, the Conventions:

1. Experience of Falling in Love:

Julian’s smitten by Angelina and her lessons of romance in the classroom. Angelina’s intrigued by Julian’s innocence and his determination to learn the ways of the gondolier to find romance.

2. The Journey of Love:

Julian is driven by his belief that Angelina may be “the one” and takes a leave from university to go to Venice to woo Angelina. He ingratiates himself into a famous family of gondola builders and gondolier trainers, claiming he is a distant cousin. During Carnivale, disguises, mistaken identities will challenge their hearts.

3. Relationship Set-up:

Julian and Angelina first meet when he takes a university seminar course titled “Romance in Art”. She is a visiting professor from Venice. At the close of the seminar, Julian gets the courage to speak with her and she questions whether his family name is the same as the famous gondola builders in Venice. He confirms without knowing. A chance touch of their hands solidifies his determination to follow her.

4. Issues Each Must Resolve:

Julian needs to take risks, embrace his true passion for art, and not just learn what love and romance may be but also awaken it, share it and live it. Angelina is cynical about love. Love in the arts is her specialty as a professor but she doesn’t believe true love is attainable – it can be expressed in art. Her aspirations for love and romance were important and attainable when she was younger, but now at 28 she’s grown cynical. Building trust is an important issue that both lovers need to resolve – especially with Julian’s deception as a cousin of the famous family of gondoliers and the further deceptions with disguises during Carnivale.

5. Separation:

Julian’s based at an East Coast university. Angelina is Venetian. He bridges this separation by taking leave from college and ingratiating himself as a distant cousin to the famous family of gondola builders. Initially, Julian and Angelina are professionally separated in the seminar – she is the professor, he is the student. Emotionally they are separate, Julian wants to find love, while Angelina is now cynical of true love (despite what she teaches in the classroom).

6. How Will the Comedy be Expressed:

While I seek warm, romantic interplay. I also want influence from Italian Commedia dell’Arte and farce, romantic misunderstandings, deceptions and disguises, several pairs of lovers, and the schemes of one of the gondoliers to unmask and humiliate Julian.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by  Stuart Voytilla.

[Stuart Voytilla]

Hello Everyone,
I’m Stuart Voytilla (he/him), and I just delivered my latest feature action-thriller screenplay. I’ve written about a dozen scripts (feature, television pilots, shorts, plays).
I’m excited to take this course to kick the tires of two Rom-Com concepts long in the works.
Unusual or strange, I was a collegiate fencer (feeding my passion for high romance adventure films).
It’s great to share this creative space with you.
— Stuart

[Stuart Voytilla]

I, Stuart Voytilla, 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.