[Wanda Huntington]

Subject line: (Dangerous Lies) Thriller Conventions (Psychological Thriller)

What I learned during this assignment: How to weave a story that has many layers, if you look closely and they all are connected, even if not obvious at first. Also, the story was 100% plausible – it could happen in everyday life.

Wanda’s Day 1 Assignment:

Unwitting but resourceful Hero: Detective Chessler, through following various leads, is able to uncover the truth at the eleventh hour and save Katie.

Dangerous Villain: When Julia Byron-Kin (estate lawyer) says to Katie, in reference to Mickey Hadden (supposed real estate agent/ex-con): “Because he wasn’t half as smart as he wanted you to think” the viewer realizes that Julia is not only involved but the mastermind behind everything that had recently happened.

High stakes: Katie’s life, Adam’s life, Leonard’s life, and the discovery of mounds of cash/stolen diamonds.

Life and death situations: At the beginning of the movie, Leonard thinks he hears someone in the house – he tells Katie. Towards the end of the movie, there is an intruder who shoots Adam and knocks Katie unconscious. The intruder is then shot dead by Adam. As Katie cradles Adam as he dies, the real villain shows up to ‘console Katie’ and to help her before revealing wh they truly are.

This movie is thrilling because: You think know who the villain is, you think you know what is going to happen and yet, you remain surprised by what transpires. Anticipation and intrigue are intertwined and used as the singular vehicle that propels you forward through the story as it unfolds.

Big Mystery: Did Leonard know about the diamonds and where did the trunk full of over $100K in cash come from?

Big Intrigue: How is the death of Leonard, missing diamonds and the robbery at the Smile’s Diner all connected?

Big Suspense: What is Adam’s end game? Is he involved in everything that is going on and how? What is Katie going to do?

Anything else that made this a great thriller?: The ending wasn’t evident until the final seven minutes of the movie – I personally love a movie that keeps me guessing until the end and is able to do so with a fluid, cohesive story that is completely plausible.

[Wanda Huntington]

Wanda Huntington

I agree to the terms of the 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.