Zeke Farrow
Forum Replies Created
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WHAT I LEARNED:
This is such a great way to organize learning the essential depths of the main characters. I found this very helpful.
JACK
DISTRESS:
UNDERSERVED MISFORTUNE:
Jack gets the sucky assignment of profiling Dr. Montgomery because his ex-girlfriend is editor of the paper.
EXTERNAL CHARACTER CONFLICTS
Jack is in conflict with all the suspects. Jack is in conflict with the editor of the newspaper. Jack is in conflict with Dr. Montgomery who did not choose him for the acting program. Jack is in conflict with Cassandra when he has sex with Olivier.
PLOT INTRUDING ON LIFE
Jack is writing a hack piece on Dr. Montgomery when Dr. Montgomery is brutally murdered and Jack must solve the murder to write the best piece of journalism ever.
MORAL DILEMMAS
Jack can’t help sleeping with the suspects. Once Jack solves the crime, should he let the person get away with it, since It felt justified…? If jack
FORCED DECISIONS THEY’D NEVER MAKE
Jack decides totake the bullet for Olivier. Literally. Jack must decide between Olivier and Cassandra.
EMPATHY:
PUT THE CHARACTER IN DISTRESS:
Jack finds the body.
MAKE THEM RELATABLE
Jack falls for every seduction. Jack wants to be an actor – universal desires. Jack wants to maintain journalistic integrity.
UNIVERSAL EXPERIENCES THAT ARE EMOTIONAL
Sex. In search of answers. Disappointed with his assignment. Quest for truth and justice.
CASSANDRA
DISTRESS:
UNDERSERVED MISFORTUNE:
Prime suspect. Unfarily accused. She was under Dr. Montgomery’s control because she took someone else’s spot.
Past traumas resurface. Her secrets may be revealed.
Olivier manipulates Cassandra for his own gain. His own alibi. His own version of events.
EXTERNAL CHARACTER CONFLICTS
Cassandra is in conflict with Jack because she’s a suspect. Cassandra is in conflict with Olivier because they’re on-again-off-again lovers. Also, they have opposing theories of acting. Also Olivier is using Cassandra as an alibi.
PLOT INTRUDING ON LIFE
Cassandra is being scouted by an agent for after graduation and she’s gotta keep her shit together.
Her personal life becomes the subject of scrutiny and her secrets bubble up. She was on the waiting list and called up when someone else couldn’t attend.
MORAL DILEMMAS
Cassandra has no morals. It would seem that having sex with Jack may be a dilemma – nope. Also, taking someone’s place at the school was not a problem. Killing Dr. Montgomery – not a problem.
Will she reveal the truth about her past? Only when it benefits her. And then again, what truth is the real truth. You never know with Cassandra. But in the end, she must confront her past to absolve herself.
FORCED DECISIONS THEY’D NEVER MAKE
Cassandra must kill Penelope Ann Copala who knows too much.
EMPATHY:
PUT THE CHARACTER IN DISTRESS:
People are dying around Cassandra, and she really wants an agent. Cassandra’s whole life depends on this play.
Her wrongful accusation.
Her past trauma elicits sympathy.
MAKE THEM RELATABLE
Cassandra’s struggle to maintain her image as the star of the class while she faces being a prime suspect in a murder case are trying. Will anyone believe her as Nina anymore… Maybe in the second half. But the first half will feel too ironic.
She is vulnerable to the pressures of the limelight. Her resulting complex and fragile emotions make her human.
UNIVERSAL EXPERIENCES THAT ARE EMOTIONAL
Rejection. Dashed dreams. Keeping a dark secret. She battles the injustice of nepobaby status… Which isn’t even real.
OLIVIER
DISTRESS:
UNDERSERVED MISFORTUNE:
Olivier was under the control of Dr. Montgomery – being a nepo baby isn’t nearly enough. He was his call boy in exchange for casting.
EXTERNAL CHARACTER CONFLICTS
Olivier has a conflict with Jack because he is a suspect and he sleeps with him. Olivier has a conflict with Dr. Montromery because he is being blackmailed.
Dr. Montgomery’s wife finds a tape of Olivier and Montgomery.
PLOT INTRUDING ON LIFE
Olivier needs his parents’ approval and the cancelled show dashes that hope. Dr. Montgomery was going to ruin his future.
It’s rumored that he sucked Dr. Montgomery’s dick to get Hamlet.
Olivier’s obsession with Jack compromises the investigation.
MORAL DILEMMAS
He did suck Dr. Montgomery’s. Dick to get Hamlet. Killing Dr. Montgomery to escape. Montgomery would bleed him dry forever.
FORCED DECISIONS THEY’D NEVER MAKE
Pretends to be his twin brother to sleep with Jack.
EMPATHY:
PUT THE CHARACTER IN DISTRESS:
Prime suspect. Has a large, vulnerable heart.
MAKE THEM RELATABLE
Horny. Ambitious. Narcissist. Gives in to his passions. Chases pleasure.
Maintains charm and sex appeal while confronting demons and navigating the investigation.
UNIVERSAL EXPERIENCES THAT ARE EMOTIONAL
Guilt. Resentment. Fear of exposure.
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I LEARNED SO MUCH.I learned so much about my characters, that is. Layers and layers of intrigue for me to choose from. I couldn’t possibly use all of it… But I have the right things to choose from.
OPEN LOOPS
JACK
GOALS
NEW GOALS:
Change from writing the profile for his journalism class. Go to law school to solving the murder, writing something great and becoming an actor.
Olivier wants to sleep with Jack and prove his innocence. Same goes for Cassandra.
GOALS RELATED TO THE BIG PICTURE:
Jack wants to solve the murder.
Jack discovers a conspiracy that runs deeper than he thought.
Cassandra wants to prove her innocence
CRUSHED GOALS:
Jack had auditioned for the acting program and been waitlisted and then rejected.
Olivier’s role was given to another student TBD. ‘Being a nepo baby isn’t enough…
COMPETITION / CONFLICT AROUND GOALS:
His ex-girlfriend edits the school paper. As Jack goes from disinterested fluff writer to crime solving beat writer, she takes notice and competes and supports.
Jack is trying to catch the killer. The killer is avoiding being caught.
Everyone is playing a part.
The drama students / suspects are competitive artists.
CONSEQUENCES:
Will Jake get caught during his covert investigation.
Jack’s investigation implicates an innocent suspect. He must correct course.
Jack auditioned for the drama school and was rejected so he has a motive.
Will the killer be caught?
Will the killer kill again?
Cassandra took someone’s place from the wait list.
The class is made up entirely of nepo babies and they conspire to get away with murder. Why? Because for Dr. Montgomery, being a nepo baby wasn’t nearly enough.
SOLVING PROBLEMS:
Jack solves the murder.
Jack solves the problem / question of his sexuality.
Jack abandons his boring plan for his future.
Jack loves acting.
RELATIONSHIPS:
Jack and Cassandra have a new sexual relationship.
Jack and Olivier have a new sexual relationship.
Jack and his editor / ex girlfriend haven’t resolved their breakup.
Jack’s journalistic integrity is questioned.
DANGER / SURVIVAL / RISKS:
Jack is in the cross hares of the murderer.
Jack goes undercover
In search of the truth, Jack is constantly in greater danger.
Internally, Jack struggles with his sexual identity.
Cassandra has stolen an identity.
Olivier lives in the shadow of his parent and has no identity.
The acting classes are about finding your identity.
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WOW. What an exercise. Immediately, I started brainstorming all sorts of character moments, scenes, motivations, deceptions. And ChatGPT didn’t do so bad either. Looking forward to incorporating.
JACK
A. SITUATIONAL: HOPE / FEAR –
Solve the case for a killer article, become an actor / failure
B. MOTIVATION: WANT / NEED –
Wants to be recognized for his talents / Needs to give himself permission to express himself
C. MASK: BASE NEGATIVE EMOTION / PUBLIC MASK
Egotistical and reckless / Contemplative and neutral
D. WEAKNESSES
Repressed lust for a sexual awakening, always right, poor communicator
E. TRIGGERS
Being condescended to, being lied to
F. COPING MECHANISM
Manipulation, closed-book
CASSANDRA
A. SITUATIONAL: HOPE / FEAR
To be taken seriously as an artist / To be revealed to be a fraud
B. MOTIVATION: WANT / NEED
Escape her past – original sin – taking someone’s place at school / Move on
(** She had a stalker in high school who saw that she was on the wait list – she posted on Instagram. The stalker killed the person whose place she took. She has always known, but could never say. Now, her stalker is back.)
C. MASK: BASE NEGATIVE EMOTION / PUBLIC MASK
Suspicious / Confused
D. WEAKNESSES
Jealous, untrusting
E. TRIGGERS
Being lied to.
– Being questioned. ‘Just promise me one thing. I make anyone who fucks me promise me. Promise you’ll never lie to me.’
– ’No, no. I will never lie to you.’
Being questioned.
F. COPING MECHANISM
Effortless lying to others – Extreme self-care for herself
OLIVIER
A. SITUATIONAL: HOPE / FEAR
Wild success / He will stop accessing his brilliance
B. MOTIVATION: WANT / NEED
Affection / Love, validation
C. MASK: BASE NEGATIVE EMOTION / PUBLIC MASK
Emotional vampire / Charm-oozing sex appeal
D. WEAKNESSES
Overactive libido, emotionally overavailable, self-involved
E. TRIGGERS
Rejection, lack of sexual responsiveness,
F. COPING MECHANISM
Sex. Acting.
CHATGPT’S ANSWERS:
Jack Woodward:
A. Situational: Hope – Jack hopes to maintain his journalistic integrity while uncovering the truth about the murder. Fear – He fears that his pursuit of the truth will lead him down a dark and dangerous path.
B. Motivation: Want – He wants to solve the murder and write a compelling profile on Dean Evelyn Montgomery. Need – He needs to reconcile his professional duties with his personal desires and bisexuality.
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion – Jack’s base negative emotion is the fear of being trapped in a role that doesn’t allow him to express his artistic and sexual desires. Public Mask – He presents himself as a stoic and professional journalist.
D. Weaknesses: Jack’s weaknesses include a tendency to become emotionally involved in his investigations and a susceptibility to the allure of passionate connections.
E. Triggers: Triggers for Jack include discovering hidden desires and passions within the drama school’s secret world, as well as uncovering evidence that may implicate the people he cares about.
F. Coping Mechanism: Jack copes with his internal struggles by immersing himself in his journalistic work, using it as a distraction from his yearning for artistic and sexual exploration.
Cassandra Redgrave:
A. Situational: Hope – Cassandra hopes to clear her name and regain her lost memories. Fear – She fears being falsely accused of murder and losing her promising acting career.
B. Motivation: Want – She wants to prove her innocence and remember the events of the murder night. Need – She needs to maintain her image as the ethereal actress while dealing with the darkness within her.
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion – Cassandra’s base negative emotion is the fear of being accused and forgotten. Public Mask – She maintains an enigmatic and ethereal facade to uphold her acting persona.
D. Weaknesses: Cassandra’s weaknesses include a vulnerability to pressure and her fear of losing her unique image.
E. Triggers: Triggers for Cassandra involve discovering clues related to the murder that may reveal her involvement or the presence of her own repressed darkness.
F. Coping Mechanism: Cassandra copes with her internal struggles by attempting to maintain her ethereal image, even though it might be a facade.
Olivier Barrymore:
A. Situational: Hope – Olivier hopes to maintain his charm and allure. Fear – He fears that his darker desires and secrets will be exposed.
B. Motivation: Want – He wants to maintain his charismatic facade and succeed as an actor. Need – He needs to explore his primal desires and maintain his enigmatic allure.
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion – Olivier’s base negative emotion is the fear of losing his charisma and allure. Public Mask – He presents himself as a seductive and confident drama student.
D. Weaknesses: Olivier’s weaknesses include a struggle to control his darker impulses and a potential lack of trustworthiness.
E. Triggers: Triggers for Olivier include moments of vulnerability and exposure of his true desires and motivations.
F. Coping Mechanism: Olivier copes with his internal struggles by maintaining his charismatic facade and using his allure to manipulate and seduce others.
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So many layers. Lots of brainstorms. No decisions made yet.
MY ANSWERS:
JACK WOODWRD is a buttoned-up, graduating journalism student, an ace interviewer, a closed book, stifles a yearning to break free as an artist and explore new carnal possibilities, in order to maintain journalistic integrity. This ethos is tested as his profile of DEAN EVELYN MONTGOMERY becomes an investigation into his murder, taking Jack on a journey into the dark underworld of the drama school and also his psyche.
<font color=”#4d5c6d” face=”SF UI Text, sans-serif” size=”3″>A. Role in the show: </font> A buttoned-up senior journalist writing the profile of the Dean of Acting until the Dean is murdered and Jack becomes a detective.<font color=”#4d5c6d” face=”SF UI Text, sans-serif” size=”3″>B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: </font> EXPERTISE: Jack is an ace reporter. Great at interviewing people and giving away no emotion. He’s unreadable and a closed book.UNIQUE PURPOSE: To solve the crime.C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Jack secretly wants to be an actor, stop repressing himself, discover carnal bliss.D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Having sex with the suspects, while keeping his objectivity is not possible.E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? also Set loose by Olivier and Cassandra, Jack will try anything once. He will lie to anyone believably. He will become ambitious for success as an actor.<font color=”#4d5c6d” face=”SF UI Text, sans-serif” size=”3″>F. Empathetic: Why do we care? </font> also Jack is deeply committed to solving the crime. He’s ambitious. We want to see him shed his rigidity. Loosen up. Become the artist he’s yearning to be. To free himself artistically and sexually.
NAME: Jack
ROLE: Detective
Hidden Agenda: Wants to be an actor
Competition:
Conspiracies:Theories about the murder. Secrets about suspects. Red herrings. Ultimately the murderer.
Secrets: He can act. He’s sexually deviant. He holds the suspects’ secrets and lies close.
Deception: He uses his covert acting skills to fool people.
Wound: He auditioned for the drama program and was rejected.
CASSANDRA REDGRAVE is an actress of ethereal, unique perfection – Tilda, Cate, Cruz… Cassandra. She was found, knife in hand, blacked out, in shock. She remembers nothing of the night of the murder. Jack is intrigued by her as an enigma, and is determined to discover what’s deep in her psyche, so when he realizes that it’s she who has drawn him into her dark psyche, it’s too late, he is trapped under her control.
A. Role in the show: The main suspect because she was found, catatonic, with the murder weapon in her hand. B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Expertise: She is a superb actress. The best the school has seen in decades. Purpose:An artistic enigma to help pull Jack out of his shell.C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? She knows who the murderer. It’s buried in her sub-conscious. She could have memories at any moment. Or invent them.D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? She will use her talents to manipulate how people think of her. And people will believe her. She has a secret past.E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Her memories about the murder come in spurts. She is a very faulty suspect and witness.F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Cassandra’s emotions get the better of her. We love how talented she is and how good she is at using her talents to her advantage.
NAME: Cassandra
ROLE: Suspect. Femme Fatale.
Hidden Agenda: Cover up for the murderer.
Competition: With the other actors for a career. For attention from Montgomery. For scholarship money.
Conspiracies: With the rest of the class in the conspiracy to kill Montgomery.
Secrets: She knows who the murderer is. She thinks she knows. She’s wrong.
Deception: She throws Jack off the trail of the wrong murderer.
Wound: She was rejected. Her twin sister died. She slept with Montgomery for her spot.
OLIVIER BARRYMORE is sexy as fuck. His alluring charm only vaguely covers a dark, brooding, appetite for primal connections. He vies for Jack’s soul, diving deep into his artistic mind as they rehearse together. He slides into Jack’s yearning, is clear, heated, decisive where Cassandra is mysterious and cool. Passions can clear judgement. Maybe Olivier can never be fully trusted, once you’ve fallen for him.
A. Role in the show: Prime suspect. Cassandra’s on-again, off-again lover. B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:Purpose: He pulls a deeper artistic expression out of Jack and Jack falls for him and opens up sexually to him. Expertise: Charm, wit, great looking, great actor, and fucking fantastic in bed.C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Olivier has been Dr. Montgomery’s rent boy for the past several years.D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? An He crosses every possible moral boundary in search of pleasure and success.E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? He is a lively and entertaining lover. He is a perfectionist as an artist and he is always DTF. F. Empathetic: Why do we care? We want to see him win because he is so charming, so attractive, so talented, and has been so used.
NAME: Olivier
ROLE: The greatest actor the school has ever known. Unlikely to be the culprit… Alibi.
Hidden Agenda: Seduce everyone he meets
Competition: His classmates in the game of success.
Conspiracies: He conspired to kill Montgomery? Conspired to cover it up?
Secrets: He has been Montgomery’s dominister since freshman year.
Deception: He’s fooled Montgomery into thinking they had a true relationship
Wound: Got in off the waiting list. (Instead of Jack). Imposter complex.
AI’S ANSWERS:
Character Name: Jack Woodward
Role: The journalist detective at the center of the investigation into Dean Evelyn Montgomery’s murder.
Hidden agendas: Jack’s hidden agenda is to maintain his journalistic integrity while also pursuing the truth about the murder, even if it means crossing moral boundaries.
Competition: Jack is in competition with himself, as he battles his yearning to break free as an artist against his professional role as a journalist.
Conspiracies: Jack uncovers hidden conspiracies within the drama school, including mafia ties and a secret society, as he delves deeper into the murder.
Secrets: Jack’s bisexuality is a well-guarded secret, one that becomes increasingly difficult to conceal as he gets entangled in the drama school’s intrigues.
Deception: Jack’s investigative journey involves deceiving others, concealing his true motives, and pretending to be someone he’s not.
Wound: Jack’s wound is the conflict between his journalistic ethics and his personal desires, which intensify as he investigates the murder and becomes involved with Olivier and Cassandra.
Secret Identity: Jack’s secret identity as a journalist is known to the audience, but he often hides behind his professional persona, obscuring his personal struggles and bisexuality.
Cassandra Redgrave:
Character Name: Cassandra Redgrave
Role: An ethereal and enigmatic actress who was found near the murder scene with a knife in her hand, suffering from memory loss.
Hidden agendas: Cassandra’s hidden agenda is to conceal her involvement or knowledge of the murder, protecting her reputation and acting career.
Competition: Cassandra competes with her fellow students for the spotlight in the senior class production, and she’s in an ongoing competition with herself to maintain her ethereal image.
Conspiracies: Cassandra’s mysterious blackout and her connection to the murder give rise to conspiracy theories about her involvement and her potential motives.
Secrets: Cassandra’s primary secret is the blackout and memory loss related to the night of the murder, which she is determined to keep hidden.
Deception: Cassandra deceives others by withholding her memories and suppressing any knowledge she may have of the murder, which adds to the intrigue surrounding her character.
Wound: Cassandra’s wound is her struggle to remember the events of the murder night and her fear of being wrongly accused, as well as the pressure to maintain her perfect image.
Secret Identity: Cassandra’s secret identity as a renowned actress is known to the audience, but her amnesia and the murder investigation cast doubt on her true identity.
Olivier Barrymore:
Character Name: Olivier Barrymore
Role: A charismatic and alluring senior drama student who becomes entangled in the murder investigation and Jack’s personal life.
Hidden agendas: Olivier’s hidden agenda may involve manipulating Jack for his own gain, either personally or professionally.
Competition: Olivier’s competition is primarily with other students for roles and recognition in the drama school, and he’s in competition with himself to maintain his enigmatic allure.
Conspiracies: Olivier’s involvement in the murder investigation may lead to conspiracy theories regarding his potential role or motive.
Secrets: Olivier’s enigmatic and seductive facade conceals his darker desires and motivations, which remain secret until they’re exposed.
Deception: Olivier deceives others, including Jack, by presenting an alluring exterior that hides his brooding and mysterious nature.
Wound: Olivier’s wound is his struggle to maintain his charismatic image while concealing his more primal instincts, creating internal conflict.
Secret Identity: Olivier’s secret identity as a charming and alluring drama student is known to the audience, but his hidden depths and potential involvement in the murder investigation add intrigue to his character.
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What I learned…. Wow, I’m not sure if I can put it into words. I worked hard on the five-point character development. And then I wrote short character descriptions, building much of what I’d discovered myself. Then, I used those character descriptions when prompting AI, to do the development. I found that it really worked well from what I’d fed it, clarified some things for me, had some intriguing twist possibilities, I hadn’t thought of. And it did all this more concisely than I did, because my brain works… Er, differently…? The comparison of result is cool.
A really cool back and forth is happening.
MY TAKE ON THE CHARACTERS (Including the bios I wrote informing and informed by my 5 point development process):
JACK WOODWRD is a buttoned-up, graduating journalism student, an ace interviewer, a closed book, stifles a yearning to break free as an artist and explore new carnal possibilities, in order to maintain journalistic integrity. This ethos is tested as his profile of DEAN EVELYN MONTGOMERY becomes an investigation into his murder, taking Jack on a journey into the dark underworld of the drama school and also his psyche.
<font color=”#4d5c6d” face=”SF UI Text, sans-serif” size=”3″>A. Role in the show: </font> A buttoned-up senior journalist writing the profile of the Dean of Acting until the Dean is murdered and Jack becomes a detective.<font color=”#4d5c6d” face=”SF UI Text, sans-serif” size=”3″>B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: </font> EXPERTISE: Jack is an ace reporter. Great at interviewing people and giving away no emotion. He’s unreadable and a closed book.UNIQUE PURPOSE: To solve the crime.C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Jack secretly wants to be an actor, stop repressing himself, discover carnal bliss.D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Having sex with the suspects, while keeping his objectivity is not possible.E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? also Set loose by Olivier and Cassandra, Jack will try anything once. He will lie to anyone believably. He will become ambitious for success as an actor.<font color=”#4d5c6d” face=”SF UI Text, sans-serif” size=”3″>F. Empathetic: Why do we care? </font> also Jack is deeply committed to solving the crime. He’s ambitious. We want to see him shed his rigidity. Loosen up. Become the artist he’s yearning to be. To free himself artistically and sexually.
CASSANDRA REDGRAVE is an actress of ethereal, unique perfection – Tilda, Cate, Cruz… Cassandra. She was found, knife in hand, blacked out, in shock. She remembers nothing of the night of the murder. Jack is intrigued by her as an enigma, and is determined to discover what’s deep in her psyche, so when he realizes that it’s she who has drawn him into her dark psyche, it’s too late, he is trapped under her control.
A. Role in the show: The main suspect because she was found, catatonic, with the murder weapon in her hand. B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Expertise: She is a superb actress. The best the school has seen in decades. Purpose:An artistic enigma to help pull Jack out of his shell.C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? She knows who the murderer. It’s buried in her sub-conscious. She could have memories at any moment. Or invent them.D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? She will use her talents to manipulate how people think of her. And people will believe her. She has a secret past.E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Her memories about the murder come in spurts. She is a very faulty suspect and witness.F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Cassandra’s emotions get the better of her. We love how talented she is and how good she is at using her talents to her advantage.
OLIVIER BARRYMORE is sexy as fuck. His alluring charm only vaguely covers a dark, brooding, appetite for primal connections. He vies for Jack’s soul, diving deep into his artistic mind as they rehearse together. He slides into Jack’s yearning, is clear, heated, decisive where Cassandra is mysterious and cool. Passions can clear judgement. Maybe Olivier can never be fully trusted, once you’ve fallen for him.
A. Role in the show: Prime suspect. Cassandra’s on-again, off-again lover. B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:Purpose: He pulls a deeper artistic expression out of Jack and Jack falls for him and opens up sexually to him. Expertise: Charm, wit, great looking, great actor, and fucking fantastic in bed.C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Olivier has been Dr. Montgomery’s rent boy for the past several years.D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? An He crosses every possible moral boundary in search of pleasure and success.E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? He is a lively and entertaining lover. He is a perfectionist as an artist and he is always DTF. F. Empathetic: Why do we care? We want to see him win because he is so charming, so attractive, so talented, and has been so used.
AI’S TAKE ON 5 POINT DEVELOPMENT, BEING FED THE CONCEPT, THE GENRE, AND THE CHARACTER BIOS THAT WERE THE RESULT OF MY WORK:
JACK WOODWRD is a buttoned-up, graduating journalism student, an ace interviewer, a closed book, stifles a yearning to break free as an artist and explore new carnal possibilities, in order to maintain journalistic integrity. This ethos is tested as his profile of DEAN EVELYN MONTGOMERY becomes an investigation into his murder, taking Jack on a journey into the dark underworld of the drama school and also his psyche.
<font color=”#4d5c6d” face=”SF UI Text, sans-serif” size=”3″>A. Role in the show: </font> A buttoned-up senior journalist writing the profile of the Dean of Acting until the Dean is murdered and Jack becomes a detective.<font color=”#4d5c6d” face=”SF UI Text, sans-serif” size=”3″>B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: </font> EXPERTISE: Jack is an ace reporter. Great at interviewing people and giving away no emotion. He’s unreadable and a closed book.UNIQUE PURPOSE: To solve the crime.C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Jack secretly wants to be an actor, stop repressing himself, discover carnal bliss.D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? Having sex with the suspects, while keeping his objectivity is not possible.E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? also Set loose by Olivier and Cassandra, Jack will try anything once. He will lie to anyone believably. He will become ambitious for success as an actor.<font color=”#4d5c6d” face=”SF UI Text, sans-serif” size=”3″>F. Empathetic: Why do we care? </font> also Jack is deeply committed to solving the crime. He’s ambitious. We want to see him shed his rigidity. Loosen up. Become the artist he’s yearning to be. To free himself artistically and sexually.
CASSANDRA REDGRAVE is an actress of ethereal, unique perfection – Tilda, Cate, Cruz… Cassandra. She was found, knife in hand, blacked out, in shock. She remembers nothing of the night of the murder. Jack is intrigued by her as an enigma, and is determined to discover what’s deep in her psyche, so when he realizes that it’s she who has drawn him into her dark psyche, it’s too late, he is trapped under her control.
A. Role in the show: The main suspect because she was found, catatonic, with the murder weapon in her hand. B. Unique Purpose / Expertise: Expertise: She is a superb actress. The best the school has seen in decades. Purpose:An artistic enigma to help pull Jack out of his shell.C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? She knows who the murderer. It’s buried in her sub-conscious. She could have memories at any moment. Or invent them.D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? She will use her talents to manipulate how people think of her. And people will believe her. She has a secret past.E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? Her memories about the murder come in spurts. She is a very faulty suspect and witness.F. Empathetic: Why do we care? Cassandra’s emotions get the better of her. We love how talented she is and how good she is at using her talents to her advantage.
OLIVIER BARRYMORE is sexy as fuck. His alluring charm only vaguely covers a dark, brooding, appetite for primal connections. He vies for Jack’s soul, diving deep into his artistic mind as they rehearse together. He slides into Jack’s yearning, is clear, heated, decisive where Cassandra is mysterious and cool. Passions can clear judgement. Maybe Olivier can never be fully trusted, once you’ve fallen for him.
A. Role in the show: Prime suspect. Cassandra’s on-again, off-again lover. B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:Purpose: He pulls a deeper artistic expression out of Jack and Jack falls for him and opens up sexually to him. Expertise: Charm, wit, great looking, great actor, and fucking fantastic in bed.C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface? Olivier has been Dr. Montgomery’s rent boy for the past several years.D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing? An He crosses every possible moral boundary in search of pleasure and success.E. Unpredictable: What will they do next? He is a lively and entertaining lover. He is a perfectionist as an artist and he is always DTF. F. Empathetic: Why do we care? We want to see him win because he is so charming, so attractive, so talented, and has been so used.
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A CONTINUATION:
I learned even so much more. I slept on what I had written and what AI had fed me, and it gave me something to brainstorm about and elevate very quickly.
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Main Characters)
JACK WOODWRD is a buttoned-up, graduating journalism student, an ace interviewer, a closed book, stifles a yearning to break free as an artist and explore new carnal possibilities, in order to maintain journalistic integrity. This ethos is tested as his profile of DEAN EVELYN MONTGOMERY becomes an investigation into his murder, taking Jack on a journey into the dark underworld of the drama school and also his psyche.
CASSANDRA REDGRAVE is an actress of ethereal, unique perfection – Tilda, Cate, Cruz… Cassandra. She was found, knife in hand, blacked out, in shock. She remembers nothing of the night of the murder. Jack is intrigued by her as an enigma, and is determined to discover what’s deep in her psyche, so when he realizes that it’s she who has drawn him into her dark psyche, it’s too late, he is trapped under her control.
OLIVIER BARRYMORE is sexy as fuck. His alluring charm only vaguely covers a dark, brooding, appetite for primal connections. He vies for Jack’s soul, diving deep into his artistic mind as they rehearse together. He slides into Jack’s yearning, is clear, heated, decisive where Cassandra is mysterious and cool. Passions can clear judgement. Maybe Olivier can never be fully trusted, once you’ve fallen for him.
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Assignment #2
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS LESSON? HOLY FRIGGIN MOLY. I’m blown away. I have work to do deepening the characters, obviously. But man with one prompt and a couple of nudges, ChatGPT was exhaling such good first draft workable answers, I could not believe it.
A. Main Characters:
Jack Riley (Unique Role: Journalist Detective): The graduating senior pursuing the truth about the murder, who finds himself questioning his own sexuality during the investigation, realizing he’s bisexual.
Maggie Turner (Unique Role: Editor and Love Interest): The sharp-witted editor of the campus newspaper. Maggie initially assists Jack with the investigation, but a deeper connection forms between them, leading to a surprising revelation: Maggie is not just a journalist but an undercover detective working on a related case.
Oliver Grant (Unique Role: Charismatic Leading Man): A talented and charismatic senior drama student who has an on-again, off-again romantic relationship with Cassandra. Oliver’s involvement in the murder investigation leads to an unexpected romantic encounter with Jack, which prompts Jack to embrace his bisexuality.
Cassandra “Cassie” Wright (Unique Role: Aspiring Diva): An ambitious drama student and Oliver’s lover. She hides a shocking secret related to the murder, and her roller-coaster relationship with Oliver plays a central role in the story.
Liam Hargrove (Unique Role: Enigmatic Drama Student): A mysterious and talented drama student at the prestigious school. Liam tries to seduce Jack as part of his own agenda, creating an additional layer of intrigue and complexity.
B. Connected Characters:
Dean Evelyn Montgomery (Connected Role: School Dean): The beloved dean with a hidden past involving a passionate affair with a now-disgraced alumna.
Professor Isabelle Stone (Connected Role: Clown Teacher): Concealing an old grudge against the dean that links her to the murder.
Professor Arthur Reed (Connected Role: Alcoholic Co-Chair): Has a dark secret involving an undisclosed financial connection to the mafia.
Detective Lorraine Shaw (Connected Role: Lead Homicide Investigator): Carries a hidden agenda that could jeopardize Jack’s investigation.
Gloria Petrov (Connected Role: Mafia-Connected Alumna): Is not just connected to the mafia but is also the estranged mother of one of the senior students.
Lucas Finch (Connected Role: Drama School Janitor): Once an aspiring actor, now harbors a secret recording of a crucial conversation related to the murder.
Catherine Knox (Connected Role: Theater Stage Manager): Carries a concealed passion for the performing arts and may have been involved in the murder as a cover for her secret ambition.
Madeline Cruz (Connected Role: Campus Librarian): Holds a hidden collection of rare theater books, some of which contain cryptic messages related to the murder.
Officer Dennis McCall (Connected Role: Campus Security): Has a past affiliation with a student protest group that adds a layer of suspicion to his actions.
Sylvia Mathis (Connected Role: Theater Costume Designer): Secretly has an ongoing feud with the drama school’s head of the costume department, leading to a possible motive for the murder.
C. Environment Characters:
Theatre Stage
CrewScene
DesignersCostume
Department
Fellow Students in the Senior Class
Campus Security Personnel
Janitorial StaffCampus
Cafeteria StaffSchool
Administrators
Local Police Officers
Campus Librarian
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I’m Zeke Farrow
I’ve written over 30 scripts.
I want to improve my use of AI as a writing assistant, to help me work faster and more creatively.
I grew up on a farm in a town of 500 people in VT.
Pro Series 33. I also took WIM and the TV Bootcamp and the Bingeworthy TV classes – and many others.
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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.
Zeke Farrow
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS Adding depth is easy when you’re looking for some very specific ways of doing it.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
GENRE: TEEN BUDDY COMEDY
INTRIGUE:
SECRET:
ACT 1
COVERT AGENDA: Mitch wants to go back in time and change the poop incident.
COVERT AGENDA: Robbie is gay.
COVER UP: Mitch is New Mitch before traveling in time.
ACT 2
HIDDEN IDENTITY: Mitch pretends to be Cousin Mitch to hide his identity.
CONSPIRACY: Mitch and New Mitch conspire to create Cousin Mitch.
SCHEME: New Mitch wants Mitch to help him get New Sophie back.
SCHEME: New Mitch schemes to give Mitch the opportunity to do his trick again at the mid point.
ACT 3
SUPERIOR POSITION: Sophie is in a superior position to Mitch and New Mitch.
MYSTERY: How can New Robbie and New Simon have such different relationships to the world because of Mitch…?
MYSTERY: Will New Mitch and New Sophie end up together?
COVERT AGENDA: Mitch needs to help New Sophie and New Mitch fall in love with each other.
ACT 4
COVERT AGENDA: FUTURE MITCH shows up to help solve the time travel paradox. Multiverse exists.
COVERT AGENDA: Mitch is able to get on a new path with Mom, Dad, Robbie, and Simon. Mitch does his magic trick again at graduation. He wins Sophie over.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that planning for emotional moments helps make plot decisions… Because, what else needs to happen…? Not much. GREAT.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
GENRE: TEEN BUDDY COMEDY
EMOTIONAL MOMENTS:
ACT 1:
EXCITEMENT/BONDING: Mitch teaches his dog an amazing trick. They love each other.
BONDING: Mitch meets Robbie. Robbie falls in love with Mitch.
COURAGE/LOVE: Mitch does his trick. Picks Sophie out of the audience. Mitch and Sophie have a major connection.
DISTRESS: Mitch shits his pants and then shits all over Sophie.
DISTRESS: Mitch’s dog dies.
DISTRESS: Mitch is bullied by Simon who won’t let him use the BOYS’ bathroom so he has to take a shit in the teacher’s lounge bathroom.
WOUND: Mitch pooped on Sophie and he can no longer talk to her or look at her, even now, four years later. He avoids her at all costs… But he still thinks she’s beautiful. He remembers tat one moment they had… Before it all went so wrong.
SUCCESS: Mitch calibrates the time machine and makes it work.
DISTRESS: Mitch’s dog dies.
DISTRESS: He doesn’t want to go to his graduation – upsetting his parents.
EMOTIONAL DILEMMA: Just as Mitch is about to go back in time, Robbie professes his love for Mitch and kisses him.
ACT 2
DISTRESS: Mitch’s time machine breaks down a week early.
SURPRISE: Mitch and NEW MITCH meet each other and they are the same, but different.
EXCITEMENT: New Mitch is blown away by the whole situation and Mitch is in perplexed awe of New Mitch’s flamboyant magicality.
SUCESS: Mitch and New Mitch succeed at building the Cousin Mitch narrative.
SURPRISE: NEW MOM is a winner of Survivor and now she’s a motivational speaker. Consults with executives about presentation skills.
DISTRESS: Mitch’s dog doesn’t know any tricks and is despondent.
DISTRESS: Mitch’s Dad has gone A Beautiful Mind in the basement.
EMOTIONAL DILEMMA: New Mitch and New Sophie have a tumultuous on-again-off-again love story.
BETRAYAL: New Robbie is gay and in love with New Simon who is the best boyfriend ever.
SURPRISE: New Mitch is pansexual and has slept with both New Robbie and with New Simon.
HIDDEN WEAKNESS: Mitch has no self esteem. He’s reluctant to trust that any of this could possibly be real.
SUCCESS: The Mitches further build on the ‘Cousin Mitch’ narrative – they both did their 5th grade geography report on Vancouver Island, CA.
ACT 3
SUCCESS/DISTRESS: Mitch gets to do his magic trick during New Mitch’s magic show. This time he succeeds and New Sophie falls for Mitch like she had New Mitch that first day of school. New Mitch sees this and gets INSANELY jealous.
COURAGE: Mitch strips off his baggage and pursues New Sophie at the cast party…
LOVE: New Sophie tells Mitch what she dreams of in a man. What she loved about New Mitch. What they’re missing.
BONDING: New Mitch tells Mitch about what he thinks is missing from his relationship with New Sophie. They both yearn for the same thing.
LOVE: Mitch, New Sophie, and New Mitch have a threeway and a transcendent sexual experience.
DISTRESS: New Sophie is confused. She has left them both. She needs time to think.
BONDING: Mitch brings New Mitch and New Sophie together.
DISTRESS: Mitvh is going to disappear forever and he has come to love life.
SACRIFICE: Mitch gives up his existence for Nww Mitch.
LOVE: New Mitch and New Sophie will miss Mitch very much.
SURPRISE: The moment when Mitch departed comes… And goes. They are not in a closed-loop time travel path, but they’re actually in a multiverse…
ACT 4
SURPRISE: MITCH-FROM-THE-FUTURE shows up to explain things to them so they can do the right thing. Faster.
LOVE: Mitch reminds his parents. Just loves his mom and loves his dad in a moment of excitement over his graduation.
SUCCESS/WINNING: He wins a special prize at graduation.
COURAGE: He goes up on the stage. He does his trick again. He picks Sophie from the audience – Open ending. The future is theirs…
SUCCESS.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS Knowing what and where the reveals should be will really help keep the story on track.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
GENRE: TEEN BUDDY COMEDY
WHAT/WHERE ARE THE REVEALS?
Mitch is a magician.
Mitch is a time travel scientist.
NEW MITCH is the new Mitch.
New Mitch is a pansexual.
New Mitch is in a tumultuous relationship with New Sophie
New Mitch is deep into skincare
New Mom is New Mitch’s assistant
New Dad is a conspiracy theorist.
New Dog doesn’t know tricks.
New Dog learns tricks
Mitch helps New Dad get over his conspiracy.
Mitch does transformational magic.
Time travel exists in the multiverse, not in a closed loop.
Mitch can get his old life back.
Robbie is gay.
Simon is dating Robbie.
ACT 1
Mitch is a magician at the start.
4 years later Mitch has invented a time machine.
Mitch gets stuck in New Mitch’s multiverse
ACT 2
New Mitch’s life and family/friends are all new.
New Mitch is dating/not dating Sophie.
New Mom
New Dad
New Sophie
New Robbie
New Simon
The magic show!
New Student Body
ACT 3
New Sophie seduces Mitch
New Mitch and Mitch have a 3way with New Sophie
New Mitch realizes he must put New Sophie before all else.
Mitch learns from New Sophie what her fantasy of a man is.
WHAT/WHERE DO THE SETUPS NEED TO BE?
ACT 1
Set up who the old version of the characters are – especially Mitch.
Mom
Dad
Robbie
Simon
Sophie
Dog
Mitch has a passion for magic.
Gives up magic for science.
Petrified of Sophie.
Bullied by Simon.
Too self-absorbed to be a good friend to Robbie.
Finishes time machine.
ACT 2
Mitch explains time travel to New Mitch.
Mitch pretends to be Cousin Mitch.
New Sophie and New Mitch are in a post-break-up dramatic fight.
New Mitch is rehearsing his new magic show – co-starring New Sophie, directed by New Robbie, produced by New Simon.
New Robbie and New Simon are dating.
New Mitch does transformational magic.
New Robbie wants Mitch to be part of the show!
Mitch redoes his old trick and it works!
New Sophie falls for Mitch at first sight like she did New Mitch four years ago.
ACT 3
New Sophie loves both the Mitch’s
New Sophie role-plays with Mitch.
Mitch expects to disappear when he catches up with the moment he left.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS Purposeful action in the outline helps visualize the story in three dimension.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
GENRE: TEEN BUDDY COMEDY
ACT 1:
OPENING:
PJ/AJ Mitch is bright eyed and excited for his first day of high school and his magic trick.
ACTIONS: Incredible magic trick. Trick with dog.
INCITING INCIDENT B STORY:
PJ 1 MITCH’s magic trick fails. Mitch has a panic attack and shits all over SOPHIE.
ACTIONS: Mitch and Sophie fall in love at first sight.
ACTIONS: Mitch tries to run away. Panic attack. Passes out.
PJ 2 It’s 4 years later and Mitch is caught in his old ways – Bullied by SIMON, Afraid to speak to Sophie, His one friend is ROBBIE who he treats badly.
ACTIONS: Runs away from Simon. Sneaks into teacher’s lounge to take a shit.
ACTIONS: Mitch hides from Sophie – overhears her… She’s artistically frustrated.
INCITING INCIDENT A STORY:
PJ 3 Mitch gets in the time machine he built and goes back in time to the first day of Freshman year to fix the trick and stop the poop.
ACTION: Mitch is a talented builder. Tester. Scientist. Mitch
SURFACE LAYER: Mitch goes back in time in order to stop the event that ruined high school and leave the new version of himself to live happily ever after.
DEEPER LAYER: Mitch needs to fix himself, not become someone else..
TURNING POINT:
PJ 4 AJ 3 Mitch meets New Mitch. They’re both the same and utterly different.
ACTION: Mitch and New Mitch do the mirror routine
ACTION: New Mitch flaunts his body. Does a magic trick.
ACTION: New Mitch reveals his tramp stamp.
ACT 2:
REACTION/NEW PLAN:
PJ 5 Mitch investigates the new present that he’s created.
ACTION: Mitch tries to do a trick with dog. Dog is confused.
ACTION: Spies on Dad in basement.
ACTION: Locks himself in New Mitch’s room to avoid the butterfly effect.
ACTION: New Mitch comes up through a trap door into his room.
ACTION: New Mitch does a magic trick.
– Mitch pretends to be Old Mitch’s cousin Mitch. Navigates the new future: His mom manages his social media. Stage mom. His dad lives alone in the garage working on the ‘algorithm’ that will change advertising, Sophie and New Mitch still aren’t dating. Robbie is gay and dating Simon. His dog doesn’t know how to do any tricks. Old Mitch is petrified of all of these changes. His new self. His new relationships.
AJ 4 New Mitch is driven crazy by Sophie as he puts on his magic show and mentors Mitch.
ACTION: New Mitch sets himself on fire to get Sophie’s attention.
PJ 6 Mitch helps New Mitch rehearse for his magic show. Sees that New Mitch is a true artist. Inspired/Jealous.
ACTION: Mitch tries to do simple management and fails.
PJ Mitch meets New Robbie who is dating New Simon. They’re completely in love with each other. And New Mitch treats them like the stage manager and producer that they are…
ACTION: Mitch throws a hissy fit when he finds out Simon and Robbie are dating.
TURNING POINT 2 / MIDPOINT
PJ 7 During the spectacular magic show, New Mitch gives Mitch the opportunity to do the magic trick again. He does. Mitch and New Sophie fall in love at first sight.
ACTION: New Mitch does spectacular magic.
ACTION: Mitch does the OG trick and this time it works.
ACTION: New Sophie falls in love at first sight with Mitch.
ACTION: New Mitch flies off the handle, jealous of Mitch.
AJ 5 New Mitch sees New Sophie fall for Mitch like she fell for him on the first day of freshman year.
ACT 3:
RETHINK:
PJ Sophie tells Mitch what she wants in a man.
ACTION: Mitch kisses Sophie
PJ/AJ New Mitch has a 3way with Mitch to make Sophie jealous?
ACTION: The Mitches seduce Sophie and each other.
PJ Mitch doesn’t have his baggage anymore. He can be a new him. Mitch tells Sophie who he is and repairs her relationship with New Mitch.
ACTION: Mitch walks naked through the house. Makes New Mitch and Sophie breakfast in bed.
PJ Mitch realizes that he can have a chance to be a good friend to Robby. He can learn to have empathy for Simon. He can have a chance to woo Sophie. He can help his father. He can give his mom the love she needs. But he can’t save his dog.
ACTION: Mitch finally cries over the death of his dog.
ACTION: Mitch helps his father take down his Beautiful Mind room.
ACTION: Mitch hugs Simon. Deeply. Tightly.
NEW PLAN:
PJ Mitch fixes New Mitch and New Sophie.
AJ – New Mitch must value New Sophie above all else. New Sophie must recognize New Mitch’s genius.
ACTION: Mitch does a magic trick uniting New Sophie and New Mitch.
PJ/AJ New Mitch and Sophie prepare to say goodbye Mitch.
ACTION: Mitch fixes the time machine.
PJ Dog won’t snuggle with him.
TURNING POINT:
– Mitch was wrong about Time Travel. It’s not a closed loop. He’s created a multiverse. Mitch will have to live his whole future in the wrong timeline.
ACT 4
CLIMAX:
Mitch can have his old life back. He has to travel back in this universe to before he went back to… And then travel forward in time and he’ll end up with his whole life back.
ACTION: Mitch kisses Robbie.
AJ New Mitch and New Sophie must say goodbye to Mitch.
PJ Mitch has to fix the time machine. Go back. Leave to go back forward the moment he left.
RESOLUTION:
PJ Mitch is able to fix his relationships with his mom, dad, Robbie, Simon, his dog, and Sophie. Mix does the magic trick again for Sophie. She falls in love with him at first sight.
ACTION: Mitch hugs his mom and dad.
ACTION: Mitch spreads his dog’s ashes.
ACTION: MItch does the magic trick for Sophie – they fall in love at first sight again.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS Thinking in every which direction really helps find plot holes! Thanks you.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
GENRE: TEEN BUDDY COMEDY
ACT 1:
OPENING:
PJ/AJ Mitch is bright eyed and excited for his first day of high school and his magic trick.
INCITING INCIDENT B STORY:
PJ 1 MITCH’s magic trick fails. Mitch has a panic attack and shits all over SOPHIE.
PJ 2 It’s 4 years later and Mitch is caught in his old ways – Bullied by SIMON, Afraid to speak to Sophie, His one friend is ROBBIE who he treats badly.
INCITING INCIDENT A STORY:
PJ 3 Mitch gets in the time machine he built and goes back in time to the first day of Freshman year to fix the trick and stop the poop.
SURFACE LAYER: Mitch goes back in time in order to stop the event that ruined high school and leave the new version of himself to live happily ever after.
DEEPER LAYER: Mitch needs to fix himself, not become someone else..
TURNING POINT:
PJ 4 AJ 3 Mitch meets New Mitch. They’re both the same and utterly different.
ACT 2:
REACTION/NEW PLAN:
PJ 5 Mitch investigates the new present that he’s created.
– Mitch pretends to be Old Mitch’s cousin Mitch. Navigates the new future: His mom manages his social media. Stage mom. His dad lives alone in the garage working on the ‘algorithm’ that will change advertising, Sophie and New Mitch still aren’t dating. Robbie is gay and dating Simon. His dog doesn’t know how to do any tricks. Old Mitch is petrified of all of these changes. His new self. His new relationships.
AJ 4 New Mitch is driven crazy by Sophie as he puts on his magic show and mentors Mitch.
PJ 6 Mitch helps New Mitch rehearse for his magic show. Sees that New Mitch is a true artist. Inspired/Jealous.
PJ Mitch meets New Robbie who is dating New Simon. They’re completely in love with each other. And New Mitch treats them like the stage manager and producer that they are…
TURNING POINT 2 / MIDPOINT
PJ 7 During the spectacular magic show, New Mitch gives Mitch the opportunity to do the magic trick again. He does. Mitch and New Sophie fall in love at first sight.
AJ 5 New Mitch sees New Sophie fall for Mitch like she fell for him on the first day of freshman year.
ACT 3:
RETHINK:
PJ Sophie tells Mitch what she wants in a man.
PJ/AJ New Mitch has a 3way with Mitch to make Sophie jealous?
PJ Mitch doesn’t have his baggage anymore. He can be a new him. Mitch tells Sophie who he is and repairs her relationship with New Mitch.
PJ Mitch realizes that he can have a chance to be a good friend to Robby. He can learn to have empathy for Simon. He can have a chance to woo Sophie. He can help his father. He can give his mom the love she needs. But he can’t save his dog.
NEW PLAN:
PJ Mitch fixes New Mitch and New Sophie.
AJ – New Mitch must value New Sophie above all else. New Sophie must recognize New Mitch’s genius.
PJ/AJ New Mitch and Sophie prepare to say goodbye Mitch.
PJ Dog won’t snuggle with him.
TURNING POINT:
– Mitch was wrong about Time Travel. It’s not a closed loop. He’s created a multiverse. Mitch will have to live his whole future in the wrong timeline.
ACT 4
CLIMAX:
Mitch can have his old life back. He has to travel back in this universe to before he went back to… And then travel forward in time and he’ll end up with his whole life back.
AJ New Mitch and New Sophie must say goodbye to Mitch.
PJ Mitch has to fix the time machine. Go back. Leave to go back forward the moment he left.
RESOLUTION:
PJ Mitch is able to fix his relationships with his mom, dad, Robbie, Simon, his dog, and Sophie. Mix does the magic trick again for Sophie. She falls in love with him at first sight.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS dropping these elements from these different brainstorms into a structure is absolutely astonishingly useful. Thank you.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
GENRE: TEEN BUDDY COMEDY
ACT 1:
OPENING:
PJ/AJ Mitch is bright eyed and excited for his first day of high school and his magic trick.
INCITING INCIDENT B STORY:
PJ 1 MITCH’s magic trick fails. Mitch has a panic attack and shits all over SOPHIE.
PJ 2 It’s 4 years later and Mitch is caught in his old ways – Bullied by SIMON, Afraid to speak to Sophie, His one friend is ROBBIE who he treats bad.
INCITING INCIDENT A STORY:
PJ 3 Mitch gets in the time machine he built and goes back in time to the first day of Freshman year to fix the trick and stop the poop.
SURFACE LAYER: Mitch goes back in time in order to stop the event that ruined high school and leave the new version of himself to live happily ever after.
DEEPER LAYER: Mitch needs to fix himself, not change who he is.
TURNING POINT:
PJ 4 AJ 3 Mitch meets New Mitch.
ACT 2:
REACTION/NEW PLAN:
– Mitch pretends to be Old Mitch’s cousin Mitch. Navigates the new future: His mom divorced his dad and is a shark real estate agent. His dad lives alone in a bachelor apartment working on the ‘algorithm’ that will change advertising, Sophie and New Mitch still aren’t dating. Robbie is gay and dating Simon. His dog doesn’t know how to do any tricks. Old Mitch is petrified of all of these changes. His new self. His new relationships.
PJ 5 Mitch investigates the new present that he’s created.
AJ 4 New Mitch is driven crazy by Sophie as he puts on his magic show and mentors Mitch.
PJ 6 Mitch helps New Mitch rehearse for his magic show and becomes sick with envy that New Mitch has fulfilled his dream, but doesn’t know how to express his feelings.
TURNING POINT 2 / MIDPOINT
PJ 7 During the spectacular magic show, New Mitch gives Mitch the opportunity to do the magic trick again. He does. Mitch and New Sophie fall in love at first sight.
ACT 3:
RETHINK:
PJ/AJ New Mitch has a 3way with Mitch to try to forget about Sophie.
PJ Mitch doesn’t have his baggage anymore. He can be a new him.
PJ Mitch realizes that he can have a chance to be a good friend to Robby. He can learn to have empathy for Simon. He can have a chance to woo Sophie. He can help his father. He can give his mom the love she needs. But he can’t save his dog.
NEW PLAN:
PJ Mitch fixes New Mitch and New Sophie.
AJ – New Mitch must value New Sophie above all else. New Sophie must recognize New Mitch’s genius.
TURNING POINT:
– Mitch was wrong about Time Travel. It’s not a closed loop. He’s created a multiverse. Mitch will have to live his whole future in the wrong timeline.
ACT 4
CLIMAX:
Mitch can have his old life back. He has to travel back in this universe to before he went back to… And then travel forward in time and he’ll end up with his whole life back.
AJ New Mitch and New Sophie must say goodbye to Mitch.
PJ Mitch has to fix the time machine. Go back. Leave to go back forward the moment he left.
RESOLUTION:
PJ Mitch is able to fix his relationships with his mom, dad, Robbie, Simon, his dog, and Sophie. Mix does the magic trick again for Sophie. She falls in love with him at first sight.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that this is a super helpful tool. Knowing the deeper layer ahead of time is a great way to keep on track while brainstorming structure and plot!. Thank you.
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
SURFACE LAYER: Mitch goes back in time in order to stop the event that ruined high school and leave the new version of himself to live happily ever after.
DEEPER LAYER: Mitch realizes that if he changes the way he lives his own life, he can self-fulfill and have a better future.
MAJOR REVEAL: Mitch can impress Sophie and win her heart.
INFLUENCES SURFACE STORY: New Mitch has his own whirlwind of romantic drama with Sophie… Mitch helps him realize what he really wants from life – Sophie.
HINTS: Mitch and New Mitch do a mirror scene – identical. Mitch and New Mitch both are magicians. They’re the same person in many ways throughout the film.
CHANGES REALITY: New Mitch becomes less of a narcissist and Mitch finds self-worth and having found deep love and respect for each other, they must say goodbye to live their own lives.
CHARACTER STRUCTURES:
MITCH:
BEGINNING
Mitch is bright eyed and excited for his first day of high school and his magic trick.
INCITING INCIDENT
Mitch does his magic trick. It fails and he poops on Sophie.
TURNING POINT 1
Mitch arrives back in the almost-present and meets New Mitch.
ACT 2
Mitch investigates the new present that he’s created.
TURNING POINT 2 / MIDPOINT
Mitch gets the chance to do his magic trick again and succeeds this time and attracts Sophie.
ACT 3
Mitch ends up in a love triangle with New Mitch and Sophie and explores the new relationship between Robbie and Simon. He learns that he can be himself and fix his relationships.
TURNING POINT 3
Mitch realizes he’s living in the multiverse.
ACT 4 CLIMAX
Mitch fixes the time machine. Travels back in time. Then back to his timeline where he reconciles his relationship with Sophie, Robbie, and Simon.
RESOLUTION
There’s hope for Mitch’s future.
NEW MITCH:
BEGINNING
New Mitch is bright eyed and excited for his first day of high school and his magic trick.
INCITING INCIDENT
New Mitch does the magic trick and it works, attracting Sophie and everyone in the school.
TURNING POINT 1
New Mitch and Sophie fall in love.
ACT 2
New Mitch and Sophie have a tumultuous love affair while New Mitch has huge success as a magician.
TURNING POINT 2 / MIDPOINT
Mitch shows up and New Mitch takes him under his wing.
ACT 3
New Mitch is driven crazy by Sophie as he puts on his magic show and mentors Mitch.
TURNING POINT 3
New Mitch has a 3way with Mitch to try to forget about Sophie.
ACT 4 CLIMAX
New Mitch learns to choose Sophie above all else from Mitch.
RESOLUTION
New Mitch says goodbye to Mitch and professes his love for Sophie.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that thinking of two distinct story arcs that don’t have to coincide 1-for-1 is a BRILLIANT way to figure out plot. Thank you.
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
MITCH:
BEGINNING
Mitch is bright eyed and excited for his first day of high school and his magic trick.
INCITING INCIDENT
Mitch does his magic trick. It fails and he poops on Sophie.
TURNING POINT 1
Mitch arrives back in the almost-present and meets New Mitch.
ACT 2
Mitch investigates the new present that he’s created.
TURNING POINT 2 / MIDPOINT
Mitch gets the chance to do his magic trick again and succeeds this time and attracts Sophie.
ACT 3
Mitch ends up in a love triangle with New Mitch and Sophie and explores the new relationship between Robbie and Simon. He learns that he can be himself and fix his relationships.
TURNING POINT 3
Mitch realizes he’s living in the multiverse.
ACT 4 CLIMAX
Mitch fixes the time machine. Travels back in time. Then back to his timeline where he reconciles his relationship with Sophie, Robbie, and Simon.
RESOLUTION
There’s hope for Mitch’s future.
NEW MITCH:
BEGINNING
New Mitch is bright eyed and excited for his first day of high school and his magic trick.
INCITING INCIDENT
New Mitch does the magic trick and it works, attracting Sophie and everyone in the school.
TURNING POINT 1
New Mitch and Sophie fall in love.
ACT 2
New Mitch and Sophie have a tumultuous love affair while New Mitch has huge success as a magician.
TURNING POINT 2 / MIDPOINT
Mitch shows up and New Mitch takes him under his wing.
ACT 3
New Mitch is driven crazy by Sophie as he puts on his magic show and mentors Mitch.
TURNING POINT 3
New Mitch has a 3way with Mitch to try to forget about Sophie.
ACT 4 CLIMAX
New Mitch learns to choose Sophie above all else from Mitch.
RESOLUTION
New Mitch says goodbye to Mitch and professes his love for Sophie.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that this is an amazing and necessary and easy list of things to brainstorm and know!
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
HIGH CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to change the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – himself.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:
SOPHIE/NEW SOPHIE
ROLE: The girl the Mitch once loved, but cannot face.
MAIN PURPOSE: To petrify Mitch/To show Mitch the whirlwind of romance and passion he’s missing BUT capable of…
VALUE: Mysterious/Throw caution to the wind! You only live once! Poop does not matter!
ROBBIE/NEW ROBBIE:
ROLE: Mitch’s best friend / Simon’s BF.
MAIN PURPOSE: To be subordinate to Mitch but think he’s crazy./To make Mitch regret the way he was.
VALUE: Live hiding / Live free and you be you
SIMON/NEW SIMON
ROLE: Mitch’s bully / Robbie’s boyfriend
MAIN PURPOSE: To humiliate Mitch beyond belief / To make Mitch jealous of his relationship with Robbie.
VALUE: Making fun of others instead of being yourself / Be yourself and love everyone
MOM:
ROLE: Mom / Mom-servant
MAIN PURPOSE: To worry about Mitch and raise his anxiety / To worship Mitch and give him incredible sense of ego and confidence
VALUE: Blame yourself / Go for it
TEASCHER:
NAME:
ROLE:
MAIN PURPOSE:
VALUE:
ARGOS:
NAME:
ROLE:
MAIN PURPOSE:
VALUE:
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
MITCH CHARACTER PROFILE:
HIGH CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to change the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – himself.
CHARACTER JOURNEY: Mitch needs to learn to figure out who he is and accept that in order to come of age and deserve love.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS: Super smart and verbal, adventurous, bullied
ROLE IN STORY: Protagonist
1. AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: 17, nerdy, unathletic, intense, filled with anxiety
2. CORE TRAITS: Pessimistic/cynical, hyper smart, adventurous
3. MOTIVATION, WANT/NEED: Wants to be liked. Needs to like himself.
4. WOUND: The poop incident.
5. LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY: Has a crush on Sophie, scared on his first day of high school, poops on Sophie
7. CHARACTER SUBTEXT: Hiding something. His desire to be an artist and express himself. The metaphor being that he’s from another time line and he can’t tell anyone.
8. CHARACTER INTRIGUE: Unspoken wound/Secret identity. He’s really the guy who pooped on Sophie, but he has to hide who that person is in order to not ruin the universe.
9. FLAW: Undervalues himself because he’s stifled who he is. Can’t face his fears so he has to change
10. VALUES: Science and reason and truth.
11. INTERNAL DILEMMA: Contains himself but needs to let go.
NEW MITCH CHARACTER PROFILE:
HIGH CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to change the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – himself.
CHARACTER JOURNEY: New Mitch needs to learn to give up his ego and learn to give love in order to receive it.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS: Stunning magic, center of attention,
1. ROLE IN STORY: Antagonist
2. AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: 17, strikingly good looking, well built
.3, CORE TRAITS: Talented, charming, egomaniac, pansexual
4. MOTIVATION, WANT/NEED: Wants Sophie to love him. Needs to love others.
5. WOUND: Rejected by Sophie.
6. LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY: Great at magic, loves attention, rejected by Sophie
7. CHARACTER SUBTEXT: Luring/seducing. He lures Mitch out of himself. Seduces him. Sets him free.
8. CHARACTER INTRIGUE: Secrets. New Mitch knows who he is and all the secrets of his life to reveal to Mitch.
9. FLAW: Over confidence. His downfall in love and in art! Huge successes and huge failures like Richard Burton.
10. VALUES: Excitement and surprise and magic.
11. INTERNAL DILEMMA: Loves being a star, but needs to love others. Can he do both? Yes. His heart is big enough. Open up your heart, dude.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that to fulfill the concept, the characters have to be defined specifically.
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
MITCH CHARACTER PROFILE:
HIGH CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to change the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – himself.
CHARACTER JOURNEY: Mitch needs to learn to figure out who he is and accept that in order to come of age and deserve love.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS: Super smart and verbal, adventurous, bullied
ROLE IN STORY: Protagonist
AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: 17, nerdy, unathletic, intense, filled with anxiety
CORE TRAITS: Pessimistic/cynical, hyper smart, adventurous
MOTIVATION, WANT/NEED: Wants to be liked. Needs to like himself.
WOUND: The poop incident.
LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY: Has a crush on Sophie, scared on his first day of high school, poops on Sophie
NEW MITCH CHARACTER PROFILE:
HIGH CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to change the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – himself.
CHARACTER JOURNEY: New Mitch needs to learn to give up his ego and learn to give love in order to receive it.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS: Stunning magic, center of attention,
ROLE IN STORY: Antagonist
AGE RANGE/DESCRIPTION: 17, strikingly good looking, well built
CORE TRAITS: Talented, charming, egomaniac, pansexual
MOTIVATION, WANT/NEED: Wants Sophie to love him. Needs to love others.
WOUND: Rejected by Sophie.
LIKABILITY/RELATABILITY/EMPATHY: Great at magic, loves attention, rejected by Sophie
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that listing these moments is a good brainstorm exercise for scene work… Because I’m going to want to make sure the scenes I invent have room to show these character elements…
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
MITCH
LIKEABILITY:
Mitch has a crush on Sophie and is willing to express that.
Mitch is nice to Robbie and makes a friend.
Mitch eats his mom’s pudding to make her feel good about herself.
RELATABILITY:
Mitch has a crush on Sophie.
Mitch is super excited tho share his magic with the world.
Mitch is nervous on his first day of school.
Mitch is still scared to talk to Sophie and it’s graduation day.
EMPATHY:
Mitch gets sick to his stomach. Like really sick.
Mitch’s magic trick doesn’t work and it humiliates him.
Mitch poops on Sophie, and while we can’t all claim to have pooped on the girl with have a crush on on the first day of high school, we certainly can empathize with doing something so embarrassing.
Mitch is the victim of Simon’s bullying.
NEW MITCH
LIKEABILITY:
Friendly, affable, smart
Extremely good at magic.
Good looking
Charming
Liked by most everyone
Great friendship with his mom
RELATABILITY:
Takes advantage of his popularity.
Loves attention.
Loves to make out with people.
Still in love with Sophie and can’t get her attention
EMPATHY:
Sophie still won’t give New Mitch the time of day.
Sophie does things to make New Mitch jealous.
New Mitch doesn’t have Robbie as a best friend anymore.
New Robbie and New Simon are dating.
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Zeke’s Subtext Characters – MITCH & NEW MITCH
VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS it’s really subtext that’s driving the story.
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
MITCH
SUBTEXT IDENTITY: Identity Wound
SUBTEXT TRAIT: Concealing/Manipulating. Genius.
SUBTEXT LOGLINE: Mitch has an identity wound and avoids revealing it at any cost.
Mitch has an identity wound and avoids revealing it, and lashes out when he’s forced to see a new perspective on his life.
POSSIBLE AREAS OF SUBTEXT: Without identity. Socially alienated. Social anxiety. Shitting on a girl on the first day of school. Literally catatonic or explosive at school. Shuts out others. Pretends to be Cousin Mitch… Invents time travel. Tries to keep a secret and change the past. Experiences a new present as his old self, but no one knows who he is. He’s ‘Cousin Mitch’… Performing a great magic trick. Opens up his wound where he had always shut it. First with New Mitch, then New Sophie, New Robbie, New Mom, New Simon, and even his New Dog.
NEW MITCH
SUBTEXT IDENTITY: The Seducer
SUBTEXT TRAIT: Manipulative
SUBTEXT LOGLINE:
POSSIBLE AREAS OF SUBTEXT: A brilliant magician. Charms everyone he speaks to. Manipulates people, but they seem to be perfectly happy to gain his attention in exchange.
Gives Cousin Mitch a chance to take part in a new reality. He believes in the multiverse, while Cousin Mitch. Names Mitch, Cousin Mitch. Seduces New Mitch has hooked up with New Sophie… And with New Robbie and New Simon, together…
Oh… Sophie… Yeah, we used to hook up. And then I started to think… Maybe I don’t like her… Or maybe I didn’t like her because she doesn’t like me… Or maybe I just don’t like her and she doesn’t like me.
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Zeke’s Actor Attractors:
VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS thinking about actor attractor main characters is just good writing. Good business is good writing. Good writing is good business.
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?
MITCH: He’s a genius with a complicated and combustive pessimistic energy.
NEW MITCH: He’s a popular, narcissistic, pansexual magician, worshipped by all the girls and a disproportionate number of guys at the school.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in your story?
MITCH: He has the most vivid and emotional experience, starting on page 1.
NEW MITCH: He is a wildly talented, nice, guy… And a complete narcissist. And a sex symbol.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead could take in the script?
MITCH: He INVENTS TIME TRAVEL! He builds a time machine! He poops on a girl. He does a fantastic magic trick. He has a panic attack. He gets the girl.
NEW MITCH: He does brilliant and hysterical magic. He makes out with everyone. He’s focused. He’s nice. He’s optimistic.
4. How can you introduce this role in a way that could sell it to an actor?
MITCH: It’s the first day of high school and Mitch’s magic trick goes wrong. He has a panic attack. He poops on SOPHIE. He ruins high school.
NEW MITCH: New Mitch is an adonis… And naked he does the Marx Bros/I Love Lucy/Big Business mirror scene with Mitch.
5. What could be this character’s emotional range?
MITCH: From petulant, pessimistic, cynic to optimistic, lovable, optimist. Shits. Tears. Panic. Anger. Elation. Disappointment.
NEW MITCH: Incredible positive and excited. Romantic. Fast talking. Charming. Deep sadness.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
MITCH: He has all of the baggage from his old life that the people in the new world don’t know about!
NEW MITCH: New Mitch knows that Mitch is the old him.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character can have?
MITCH: CENTRAL: with New Mitch. SUBPLOTS: SOPHIE, SIMON, ROBBIE, MOM, DAD / NEW SOPHIE, NEW SIMON, NEW ROBBIE, NEW MOM, NEW DAD
NEW MITCH: CENTRAL: Mitch SUBPLOTS: NEW SOPHIE, NEW SIMON, NEW ROBBIE, NEW MOM, NEW DAD
8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?
MITCH: Brilliant at everything, this includes linguistic dexterity, that he is presently focused on the foulest, most pessimistic view of life.
NEW MITCH: Brilliant at everything, this includes linguistic dexterity that makes him a worthy companion for Mitch.
9. What could make this character special and unique?
MITCH: Time travel and magic and linguistic dexterity.
NEW MITCH: Magic, charm, hotness, and linguistic dexterity.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that watching an in-genre movie that does it right gets the brain moving fast.
TITLE: Cousin Mitch
What’s Up, Doc?:
LEADS: Howard Banister/Judy Maxwell
1. Why would and actor WANT to be known for this role?
HOWARD BANISTER: An interesting straight man in a hysterical comedy.
JUDY: A live-action version of a Bugs Bunny like ridiculously zany carefree woman.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
HOWARD BANISTER: He’s a doctor of musicology. He’s brilliant. He’s befuddled. He’s the object of Judy’s undying and inexplicable affection and we want him to be with her. We want him to free himself from Eunice.
JUDY: An utterly unique woman who is beyond brilliant, if dangerous,.
3. What are the most interesting actions the character takes in the movie?
HOWARD BANISTER: Attends the conference with his special rocks. Plays his rocks.
JUDY: Stalks Howard throughout the Hotel. Insinuates herself into his life. She burns down the hotel room. She helps Howard get the grant through her brilliance. Charms everyone at the conference. Her father is the judge.
4. How is the character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
HOWARD BANISTER: He’s being controlled by Eunice – his head in the clouds. He’s particularly spacey.
JUDY: She has a magical way of wreaking havoc on everyone and everything around her. Cars crash. Motorcycles crash. She steals a meal from room service.
Also, she sings the credits song – a jazz version of Cole Porter’s ‘You’re the Top’.
5. What is the character’s emotional range?
HOWARD BANISTER: Repressed to fully in love. Humor. Confusion. Excitement. Despair.
JUDY: Optimism. Joy. Hurt. Embarrassment. Singy. Dancey. Charming.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
HOWARD BANISTER: Falling in love.
JUDY: Sexual agression. Extreme intelligence. Manipulative. Pretends to be Eunice.
7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has?
HOWARD BANISTER: With Judy – a Bugs Bunny like romantic interest who he’s never met.
JUDY: With Howard – a man who she falls in love with at first sight and relentlessly pursues until she makes him hers.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presence?
HOWARD BANISTER: Brilliant but a space cadette. He repeats what others say. He confuses words and rhetoric. Always a step behind in a conversation.
JUDY: A mile a minute whirlwind of brilliant linguistic rhetoric. A story teller. Fabricator.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
HOWARD BANISTER: A niche brilliance. A repressed handsome introvert who is slowly pulled out of his shell.
JUDY: A whirlwind of sex appeal and intelligence. She drives the story.
10. A SCENE THAT FULFILLS ALL OR MOST OF THIS.
EVERY FRIGGIN’ SCENE fulfills the hysterical potential of these two main characters and a parade of small but memorable smaller characters.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS by putting the pieces in place, it’s easier to define them.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
OLD WAYS:
Anti social
Victim of bullying
Afraid of intimacy and friendship
Doesn’t believe in himself
Doesn’t like himself
NEW WAYS:
Charismatic
Forgiving
A good friend
Has a sense of humor about himself
Has the courage to talk to Sophie
ACT 1:
OPENING:
– MITCH’s magic trick fails. Mitch has a panic attack and shits all over SOPHIE.
– It’s 4 years later and Mitch is caught in his old ways – Bullied by SIMON, Afraid to speak to Sophie, His one friend is ROBBIE who he treats bad.
INCITING INCIDENT:
– Mitch gets in the time machine he built and goes back in time to the first day of Freshman year to fix the trick and stop the poop.
TURNING POINT:
– Mitch gets in his time machine to go to the future and disappear forever, but his machine breaks down a week early and Mitch meets… NEW MITCH.
ACT 2:
REACTION/NEW PLAN:
– Mitch pretends to be Old Mitch’s cousin Mitch. Navigates the new future: His mom divorced his dad and is a shark real estate agent. His dad lives alone in a bachelor apartment working on the ‘algorithm’ that will change advertising, Sophie and New Mitch still aren’t dating. Robbie is gay and dating Simon. His dog doesn’t know how to do any tricks. Old Mitch is petrified of all of these changes. His new self. His new relationships.
NEW PLAN IN ACTION:
– Mitch helps New Mitch rehearse for his magic show and becomes sick with envy that New Mitch has fulfilled his dream, but doesn’t know how to express his feelings.
TURNING POINT:
– During the spectacular magic show, New Mitch gives Mitch the opportunity to do the magic trick again. He does. Nervously. The trick goes well. This time he doesn’t shit on Sophie, but it’s lack luster and rusty in Mitch’s hands. It doesn’t change who he is.
ACT 3:
RETHINK:
– Mitch doesn’t have his baggage anymore. He can be a new him.
NEW PLAN:
– Mitch realizes that he can have a chance to be a good friend to Robby. He can learn to have empathy for Simon. He can have a chance to woo Sophie. He can help his father. He can give his mom the love she needs. But he can’t save his dog.
– New Mitch and Mitch fall out.
TURNING POINT:
– Mitch was wrong about Time Travel. It’s not a closed loop. He’s created a multiverse. Mitch will have to live his whole future in the wrong timeline.
ACT 4
CLIMAX:
– He can have his old life back. He has to travel back in this universe to before he went back to… And then travel forward in time and he’ll end up with his whole life back.
– Mitch has to fix the time machine. Go back. Leave to go back forward the moment he left.
RESOLUTION:
– Mitch is able to fix his relationships with his mom, dad, Robbie, Simon, his dog, and Sophie.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS knowing your subtext plot is so helpful for brainstorming! Once you know what the SP is… You can be so mjuch more specific when you’re brainstorming.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
SUBTEXT PLOT: Layering
In this time travel story, a high school senior goes back to the first day of freshman year to change the event that ruined high school.
He comes back to the present a week before he left and meets himself. He relives life in this world where nothing is as it was, but nothing is as it should be.
His best friend from timeline one no longer knows him and is dating his bully.
His mother got the house in a bitter divorce from his father.
He is a beloved figure at the school. He is a famous TikTok magician.
He still hasn’t gotten the attention of Sophie.
His dad is spiraling, living in a bachelor apartment, working on an advertising algorithm.
He no longer has any baggage himself because he doesn’t belong in this timeline.
He gains a whole new perspective on the people in his life.
He travels through the multiverse to get back to his rightful timeline…
When he gets there, he sees the people in his real life in a whole new way.
He is no longer afraid of Sophie.
He knows how to be a good friend.
A supportive son.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that clarifying the arc is so simple and so important to everything that comes after.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
CHARACTER STRUCTURE: Buddy Comedy – between a guy and himself.
ARC BEGINNING: Cynical senior outcast
ARC ENDING: A guy with a bright future
INTERNAL jOURNEY: From pessimistic and afraid to optimistic and fearless
EXTERNAL JOURNEY: From timid stress ball to a confident baller
OLD WAYS:
Anti social
Victim of bullying
Afraid of intimacy and friendship
Doesn’t believe in himself
Doesn’t like himself
NEW WAYS:
Charismatic
Forgiving
A good friend
Has a sense of humor about himself
Has the courage to talk to Sophie
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that characters all have to be relevant… At least the part of them we see.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
MITCH is a petulant, cynical high school senior who travels back in time to change the event that ruined his life.
Mitch is unique because he invites time travel.
NEW MITCH is a narcissistic, pansexual magician, who teaches Mitch how to enjoy life and not five AF what other people think.
New Mitch is a teen wonderland magician, loved by all, most fervently himself, with 4 million TikTok followers.
SOPHIE is the girl that Mitch pooped on his first day of high school and is terrified of, then in the new present she thinks New Mitch is a douche canoe.
Sophie is French and cool and doesn’t give AF what people think of her.
ROBBIE is Mitch’s best friend who is secretly in love with Mitch and in the new timeline is dating…
SIMON is Mitch’s bully and in the new timeline is dating Mitch’s best friend, Robbie.
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VISION FOR SUCCESS: I will deliver delicious, surprising, seemingly effortless work, that is constantly in demand and causes people to recommend me for original and rewrite projects without hesitation.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS that I’m ready to work on this project. My brain is itching to get inside it.
TITLE: Mitchwich
CONCEPT: On graduation day, a petulant cynic goes back in time to the first day of high school and changes the event that he thinks ruined his life and when he returns, he meets his worst nightmare – HIMSELF.
CHARACTER STRUCTURE: Buddy Comedy – between a guy and himself.
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Zeke Farrow
I agree to this release form.
As a member of Writing Incredible Movies, 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, through social media, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, videos, 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.
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This reply was modified 3 years ago by Zeke Farrow.
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This reply was modified 3 years ago by
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Zeke Farrow
I agree to this release form.
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WHAT I’M LEARNING:
The more I know about the story, the harder it is for me to get useful results from AI. It’s an okay aid in each of the lessons, maybe to get my brain working. But, I find that it’s level of cliche… Even knowing my general characters and genre and conflict and concept, it’s not really giving me much anymore.
ON THE OTHER HAND:
I find that it has springboard me over these first weeks, helping me get to where I am faster and with a more wholistic understanding of what I’m doing than I may have working without it.
MORAL ISSUE
Jack was rejected for the drama program by Montgomery. Secretly spiteful.
Cassandra was on the waiting list. The girl whose place she took disappeared mysteriously.
Olivier is a nepo baby.
CHARACTER INTRIGUE / HIDDEN PLAN
The murderer smartly pulled the murder off.
Jack investigates the murder.
Olivier must cover up his relationships with Montgomery.
CHARACTER WEAKNESS
Jack is starved to explore sexually.
Cassandra’s vanity.
Olivier –
UNKNOWN RELATIONSHIP HISTORY
Cassandra and Olivier are like the feuding Lundts of their class. Dr. Montgomery used Olivier as a servant – being a nepo baby isn’t enough. They both now have affairs with Jack.
Cassandra is Dr. Montgomery’s daughter…? The Mom had tried to expose him, but this was pre-#MeToo and she committed suicide when no one believed her.
Jack uncovers the clue to this amongst Montgomery’s things. Quickly. Too quickly? To easily?
Jack could find her 23 and me.
OR, she could discover that she wasn’t related to Montgomery and her mom had been lying…
THEN who was the real father…? Who is Cassandra’s father…?
She and Olivier are siblings…
She and Olivier are twins.
Amanda and Tom in The Glass Menagerie
MYSTERIES AND DEEPER LAYERS
All of the above layers about the history of Cassandra, Olivier, and Montgomery is a good onion of mystery for Jake to pull back.
Who killed Montgomery?
How did they kill Montgomery?
Olivier and Cassandra and the whole class have conspired to kill Montgomery.
They all have alibis. Is the best acting teacher in the world worth saving?
LOOPS AND NEW LOOPS AND NEW LOOPS
Jack goes from writing a take-down of Montgomery to investigating his death.
Olivier and Cassandra both sleep with Jack to influence the investigation.
Jack peels back the onion – layer by layer
Jack has a passion for acting.
Neither Cassandra nor Olivier are who they say they are.
Jack is in danger after danger
Jack’s life plan changes.
Jack’s relationship with his ex/editor explodes.