[ZhiMin Hu]

I re-write the opening scene which originally was not made for the opening. It lacks of compelling visual elements. So, I re-wrote the scene, change the dialogue and make it much funnier.

Although the pitch guideline suggests that we should have only two elements while we introduce our project, but I can safely say that Under the Red Umbrella is a funny ghost drama.

[ZhiMin Hu]

I re-arranges the sequences of the first 10 scenes and puts the most powerful scene in the beginning for the two main characters. the end result is stunning, it enhances the message.

I modified the exit for one character and make it much more funny instead of cheesy.

[ZhiMin Hu]

I put the character profile and his or her photo on a big screen while I re-worked on the dialogue and revised their action and reaction.

It made a huge difference.

Also, I realized that when I do character profile, I should put two qualities and two flaws. It’s more actual to life. No one is prefect and no one has no quality at all.

Here is one example,

Before:

When Jade (their mother) asks Sarah to give up her doll to her younger sister Cassie, Sarah refuses, because the doll means a lot to her.

TEEN SARAH

No way! It’s my baby doll.

Grandma gave it to me.

After:

TEEN SARAH

Over my dead body!

Sarah is independent, she looks strong but fragile inside.

[ZhiMin Hu]

Love this part. I went through the whole script and makes the scenes much more exciting and interesting. It certainly adds so much quality to the script. I also cut out quite a lot of dialogues and use only action to express the character’s inner world.

[ZhiMin Hu]

I enjoyed lesson 13. I not only worked on the scenes that I rated low, but also checked on the others scenes again. It’s exhausted, but the script is getting more and more interesting. I love this ride.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  ZhiMin Hu.

[ZhiMin Hu]

I just finished rating scenes. I’m so glad that I did that. Now it’s clear for me which scenes that I need to work on and which scenes that I like and why. A lot of room to improve. The class really points me to the right direction.

[ZhiMin Hu]

Just finished the first draft. Oh boy….

First of all, thanks for all the feedback that I received from the fellow scriptwriters.

I cut a lot of scenes, but add some more. Now from 100 pages script now turns to 116 pages. I know I will do more operation later. So, not worried at this point.

But everything is going to the good direction. Super happy.

[ZhiMin Hu]

Hi,

How to send private message? How to connect with another writer?

Thanks.

[ZhiMin Hu]

Looking for partner to exchange notes. Please add me if you’re interested. Thanks.

[ZhiMin Hu]

I used these methods for the two main characters (Sarah and Jade) in the original idea. After this lesson, I also applied it for the third character (Cassie) and even the fourth (Lynn). It made the whole story much more interesting and have more depth.

Character:

Cassie

Cassie hides the fact that she is pregnant and her boyfriend dumps her. She doesn’t want Sarah look at her as a loser. Her secret comes out when her conflict with Sarah reaches the top. I use mislead/reveal technique.

Lynn

Lynn’s secret is that she has a child when she was teen and the baby was sent to adaption. She has a hole inside her.

I also use mislead/reveal/surprise/

[ZhiMin Hu]

I was doubting my decision and wanted to “playing it safe”. Now I’m not worried about it anymore. I want the characters to be honest for who they are. They are not normal because of the situation that they are in. I don’t need to make them look normal so that audience would accept them.

A. Need Stronger Lead Characters

The two characters are quite strong and complex.

B. Need Stronger Intros

The film starts from intercut between the two main characters and how they join together.

C. Playing it Too Safe

The two characters have opposite personalities. The clash is very interesting.

D. Lead Characters Not Present

Only one scene without two characters and it’s very necessary.

[ZhiMin Hu]

I re-examine the four important parts of the script. Although I didn’t make changes for the four parts, the re-examination confirms my choices. Thanks!

P.S.

I strongly recommend the movie The Whale, it has strong character, intro, conflict, and transformational journey.

When I watched this film, I have a deeper understanding of this lesson.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  ZhiMin Hu.

[ZhiMin Hu]

The script is improved. It’s more dramatic and more organic.

The characters’ personalities analysis and the outline of their paths are very helpful. My headache is healed.

The plot works better and the dialogue flows much better.

Loves this class.

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by  ZhiMin Hu.

[ZhiMin Hu]

I learned the path of every character and how to wire them together.

Beginning:

Sarah:

Sarah suffers chronical depression. Although she is professional, she is a cold doctor. In a raining night, Sarah was given the red umbrella. She brings home a ghost, Jade.

Jade:

Jade is waiting for Sarah for a farewell. She urges Cassie to contact her sister. But Sarah never came, she passed away as she collapsed on the red umbrella.

Cassie

Cassie complains about Sarah and assures Jade that she is capable to take care of her, but Jade is not convinced.

Mme Kwan:

A lonely Chinese old lady, Mme Kwan, enjoys community life and tries to connect with Sarah.

Inciting incident:

Sarah:

After Jade’s death, Sarah found out that her blood type is not match with the rest of the family. She always suspects that Jade is not her biological mother. She is overjoyed.

Jade:

Jade discovers that her images were marked off on all photos in Sarah’s photo album.

Cassie

She found out that she is pregnant, and her boyfriend Robert runs away.

Mme Kwan:

Mme Kwan meets Sarah at the elevator door and sees Jade, a ghost behind Sarah.

Turning point 1:

Sarah:

Aunt Lynn confirmed that Sarah is Jade’s biological child. Sarah is heartbroken that her beloved father is not biologically related to her. Her bubble is burst. Her mental disease gets worse.

Jade:

Jade finds the broken doll and suddenly understands Sarah and how much she hurt her feeling. She repairs the doll.

Cassie

She is stressed about raising a child and wants the house or a bigger share of the inheritance.

Mme Kwan

After Jade gave her some advice, Mme Kwan becomes curious about Jade.

Midpoint:

Sarah:

Sarah’s doll is repaired. She starts to like her ghost friend and they are getting along. Meanwhile, she discovers Jade’s painting and wants to know more about it.

Jade:

Instead of being angry at her, Jade is worried about Sarah’s wellbeing. The painting reminds her the painful past. She is anxious about her children unearth this unspeakable past.

Cassie

Cassie is surprised by the fact that Jade was a good painter. She is wondering if being a mother would destroy her dream.

Mme Kwan

Mme Kwan and Jade become friends. Two Chinese mothers have so many fun topics to chat.

Turning point 2:

Sarah:

Sarah caught Mme Kwan stealing Jade’s diaries.

Jade:

Jade’s plan of destroying the diaries goes south. She is desperate.

Cassie

Cassie makes up her mind to keep the baby.

Mme Kwan

Mme Kwan is touched by Jade’s care for Sarah.

Dilemma:

Sarah:

Her ghost friend tries everything to stop her from reading the diary. It’s a sour point between her and her ghost friend. Sarah locks herself in the bedroom.

Jade:

Jade tries everything to destroy the diaries. She back to an angry ghost again.

Cassie

Cassie desperately needs money to pay her credit card debt and a new start for her baby, but she doesn’t want Sarah looks at her as incompetent.

Mme Kwan

Jade asks Mme Kwan to play thief. She never did a crime before.

Major Conflict:

Sarah:

After reading Jade’s diaries, she is torn between hating Jade and empathizing her. She feels that she is worthless and not deserve to live in this world. She commit suicide.

Jade:

Jade scarifies herself to save Sarah. Finally, they can have a heart-to-heart conversation.

Cassie

After Sarah pointing out Cassie’s sense of entitlement and being irresponsible by having a load of credit card debt, Cassie breaks her relationship with Sarah.

Mme Kwan

Under Jade’s instruction, Mme Kwan sneaks into Jade’s old house to take the diaries. The adventure sounds so exciting to her until she is caught by Sarah.

Ending:

Sarah:

Sarah was saved and realizes that she was cared and loved. She changes her perspectives.

Jade:

Sees that Sarah and Cassie are coming together. Jade farewells the world and moves on.

Cassie

Sarah shares the family secrets with Cassie. The two sisters are getting closer. Sarah decides to help Cassie out of her trouble. Cassie decides not to take a bigger share from their inheritance. She wants to be strong and independent for her baby.

Mme Kwan

She misses Jade. She teaches Sarah how to make Chinese soup.

[ZhiMin Hu]

This is one of the most important steps for me. It was the roadblock, now it’s clear, the rest is easy.

I found their personalities among the 16 personality types. It was easy for Sarah and Cassie, but Jade is most difficult one, because the trauma has an impact on her.

· Name: Sarah

· Personality type: INTJ

· Role in the story: Protagonist, search her real identity and unearth the family secrets.

· Core Traits: Pessimistic, arrogant, dismissive of emotions, independent

· Motivation:
Sarah wants to unearth her identity and the family secrets.
Sarah needs a motherly love to grow.

· Flaw/Wound:
Flaw: Sarah fabricates an image to hide her problems. She is pessimistic and always sees the negative side of everything. She keeps a distance from everyone, and she doesn’t believe that anyone would care for her.
Wound: Sarah was neglected during her growing up. She never experienced the physical closeness with her mother.

· Secret/ Hidden Agenda:
Secret: She suffers chronically depression.

Hidden Agenda: To find her biological mother and the motherly love that she craves.

· Internal dilemma:
Sarah wants to be looked at as a strong and independent person, but inside she is fragile and sensitive.

· What makes this character perfect for their role in this story?
She has the motivation and needs to investigate the family secrets.

· Name: Jade

· Personality type: ENFP

· Role in the story: Sarah’s mother, looking for a closure with her daughter Sarah.

· Core Traits:
Empathic, good-nature, perceptive, disorganized

· Motivation:
Jade wants to have a proper farewell with Sarah, and she wants to know if she is ok.

· Flaw/Wound:

Flaw: She suppresses her trauma memory, and she didn’t deal with her sense of shame and anger. She unconsciously lets these emotions ruin her relationship with Sarah.

Wound: She was raped. The presence of Sarah reminds her of the rapist and provokes her senses of shame and anger.

· Secret/ Hidden Agenda:

Secret – Sarah is the result of a rape.
Hidden Agenda: To bury her unspeakable past.

· Internal dilemma:
Jade looks happy and carefree, but inside she carries a lot of pain and anger.

What makes this character perfect for their role in this story?

Jade would do everything to bury the family secrets. She never faces and heal from her trauma.

· Name: Cassie

· Personality type; ESFP

· Role in the story: Sarah’s sister

· Core Traits: poor long-term planner, aesthetics and showmanship, entitlement, dependent

· Motivation:
Wants to own the house and get a bigger share of Jade’s heritage.

· Flaw/Wound:
Flaw: Cassie has problem of entitlement and dependence.

Wound: She is spoiled and overly cared.

· Secret/ Hidden Agenda:
Secret: Cassie feels insecure when she becomes pregnant and her boyfriend run away.
Hidden Agenda: revenge Sarah for her being cold and cruel to Jade.

· Internal dilemma:
Cassie seems like someone carefree and irresponsible, but inside she wishes to be someone who is competent and independent.

· What makes this character perfect for their role in this story?
Cassie is part of the family. Her existence shows Jade’s motherhood and her uneven care and closeness for two daughters.

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by  ZhiMin Hu.

[ZhiMin Hu]

I learn Drama and its elements.

– Title: Under the Red Umbrella

· Concept: A pessimistic and self-destructive doctor and her estranged ghost mother change their perspectives and their relationship as they learn about each other’s true colours and hidden secrets.

· Genre: Supernatural Drama

Act 1

· Opening

Sarah suffers chronical depression.

Jade is expecting Sarah to have a final farewell, but she never comes. Jade passes away.

The red umbrella shelters Jade’s spirit and finally arrives in Sarah’s home. Jade starts to learn about Sarah.

Sarah learns that she has a lady ghost friend from her neighbour Mme Kwan, she puts up different religious symbols in her home and hopes the ghost will go away.

· Incident

Sarah discovers that her blood type does not match with the rest of her family members. She is overjoyed and is determined to unearth hidden family secrets and her real identity.

· Turning Point

Jade becomes friends with the lonely old lady Mme. Kwan. She finds Sarah’s broken doll and remembers the past. She starts to understand Sarah’s perspective. She repairs the doll. Sarah is touched and starts to like this unknown ghost.

Sarah learns that she is Jade’s biological child. Jade suffered baby blues, so she stayed with her grandparents until she was three. She missed the bonding period. Sarah’s fantasy of having a loving mother is broken.

Act 2

· New Plan

Sarah opens up to her ghost friend and the two slowly develop a relationship. Jade understand more and more Sarah’s perspective. Sarah needs closure and back to Jade’s house for clues.

· Plan in Action

Sarah discovers Jade’s paintings and never knew that her mother was an artist. Jade suddenly remembers that she forgot to destroy her diaries. She uses her ghost powers to lock Sarah out of the house.

· Turning Point

Sarah starts to suspect her ghost friend and asks Mme Kwan about her identity. Mme Kwan insists that she has no idea. It sounds too fishy to Sarah.

Mme Kwan breaks into Jade’s house. Under Jade’s instruction, she finds the diaries in the basement. As Mme Kwan sneaks out of the house, she is caught by Sarah, who had followed her.

Act 3

· Rethinking

Jade tries everything to distract Sarah and to destroy the dairies. This is a sour point between Sarah and her ghost friend. Sarah locks herself in her bedroom where Jade can’t enter.

· New Plan

Sarah reads Jade’s diaries and learns about Jade’s past.

Jade is from a strict Chinese Catholic family. She was raped by her mentor in art school and got pregnant. She is forced to keep the baby due to her family’s religious beliefs and marry Peter. Jade gave up her dreams being a painter.

· Turning Point / Huge Failure

Sarah learns that Jade tried to murder 3-year-old Sarah but fail to do so, instead, she saved her from drowning. Sarah’s suicide fantasy is in fact a déjà vu.

Act 4

· Climax

Sarah feels that her life is nothing but a burden. She commit suicide. Her soul meets Jade and finally have a meaningful conversation. Jade has a proper farewell and Sarah has closure.

Mme Kwan leads the medic into the apartment and rescues Sarah.

· Resolution

Sarah is saved. Her perspective of life is changed. Jade is happy and leaves the world. Mme Kwan misses her ghost friend and so does Sarah. Sarah starts to have interest in Chinese culture.

[ZhiMin Hu]

I learn how to re-examine the structure and analyze the plot.

Title: Under the Red Umbrella

Genre: Supernatural Drama

· Concept:

A pessimistic and self-destructive doctor and her estranged ghost mother change their perspectives and their relationship as they learn about each other’s true colours and hidden secrets.

· Main Conflict: The spirit of an angry mother obstructs her estranged daughter’s quest to unearth her unspeakable past.

Act 1

· Opening

A writer pitches a producer for a film idea. The writer introduces Sarah as a doctor in her 30’s suffering chronic depression and Jade as a Chinese woman in her 50’s suffering late-stage cancer dying in a hospital.

Jade is expecting her daughter Sarah to have a final farewell, but she never comes. Jade collapses onto a red umbrella and passes away.

The red umbrella shelters Jade’s spirit and finally arrives in Sarah’s home. Jade starts to learn about Sarah and adapt to her life as a ghost.

Sarah can’t see nor hear Jade but is disturbed by paranormal activities at home. She learns that she has a lady ghost friend from her neighbour Mme Kwan, a lonely old Chinese woman. She puts up different religious symbols in her home and hopes the ghost will go away.

· Incident

Sarah, her sister Cassie, and their aunt Lynn clean up Jade’s house and prepare it for sale. Sarah and Cassie don’t get along and they constantly bickering at each other. Jade has a ghost headache and disappears.

Sarah discovers that her blood type does not match with the rest of her family members. She is overjoyed and is determined to unearth hidden family secrets and her real identity.

· Turning Point

Jade finds Sarah’s broken doll and remembers the past. She starts to understand Sarah’s perspective. She repairs the doll. Sarah is touched and starts to like this unknown ghost.

Jade makes friends with Mme Kwan.

Jade’s house reminds Sarah of her painful childhood, her cold and distant relationship with Jade, the sibling jealousy, and her beloved father, Peter, passed away.

From Lynn, Sarah learns that she is Jade’s biological child. Jade suffered baby blues, so she stayed with her grandparents until she was three. She missed the bonding period.

Sarah’s fantasy of having a loving mother is broken and it’s hard for her to accept that Peter is not her biological father. Sarah’s mental health declines.

Act 2

· New Plan

Sarah has an empty life. She doesn’t have friends. Jade cares for her. Soon the two develop a close relationship. Sarah shares her childhood stories with Jade and tells her how much she hates her mother. Jade understand more and more Sarah’s perspective.

Sarah needs closure and she needs to discover the truth.

· Plan in Action

Sarah, Cassie, and Lynn meet again for house cleaning. Sarah discovers Jade’s paintings. The sisters never knew that their mother was an artist. The award-winning painting reminds Jade of a painful past. She suddenly remembers that she forgot to destroy her diaries. She uses her ghost powers to kick the three ladies out of her house.

· Turning Point

Sarah takes more and more pills to treat her depression. As a side effect, she has problems eating. Jade tries many ways to cheer her up. They find out that they both enjoy watching soccer. Sarah becomes curious about the ghost’s identity. Mme Kwan refuses to tell her anything.

Mme Kwan breaks into Jade’s house. Under Jade’s instruction, she finds the diaries in the basement. As Mme Kwan sneaks out of the house, she is caught by Sarah, who had followed her.

Act 3

· Rethinking

Jade tries everything to distract Sarah and to destroy the dairies. This is a sour point between Sarah and her ghost friend. Sarah locks herself in her bedroom where Jade can’t enter.

· New Plan

Sarah reads Jade’s diaries and learns about Jade’s past.

Jade is from a strict Chinese Catholic family. She was raped by her mentor in art school and got pregnant. She is forced to keep the baby due to her family’s religious beliefs and marry Peter.

· Turning Point / Huge Failure

Sarah learns that Jade tried to murder 3-year-old Sarah but fail to do so, instead, she saved her from drowning. Sarah’s suicide fantasy is in fact a déjà vu.

Act 4

· Climax

Despite being burnt, Jade bursts open the bedroom door. However, Sarah already overdosed and passed away. The two souls meet and finally have a meaningful conversation. Jade has a proper farewell and Sarah has closure.

Mme Kwan leads the medic into the apartment and rescues Sarah.

· Resolution

Sarah is saved. Her perspective of life is changed. She realizes that people around her care about her and she constantly locked them out of her life. She has a meaningful conversation with Cassie. Seeing the two sisters getting closer, Jade is happy and leaves the world.

Mme Kwan misses her ghost friend and so does Sarah. Mme Kwan starts to teach Sarah how to make Chinese soup and Sarah starts to have interest in Chinese culture.

· Real Ending

The producer asks the writer if the story is a fantasy. The writer tells her that in real life, Sarah never reconciled with her mom and concludes that it’s a horrible thing when women have no rights over their womb.

[ZhiMin Hu]

What I learned:

Prioritize my message.

· Genre: Supernatural drama

· Title: Under the Red Umbrella

· High Concept:

A chronically depressed doctor bonds with a ghost without knowing that the spirit is her estranged mother.

· Main conflict

The spirit of an angry mother obstructs her estranged daughter to unearth her unspeakable past.

· Transformational journey

A pessimistic and self-destructive doctor and her estranged ghost mother change their perspectives and their relationship as they learn about each other’s true colours and hidden secrets.

· Opposition:

The mother’s sense of shame and anger as a rape victim.

Under the Red Umbrella is about a mother’s struggle to raise a child, a result from a rape. Although it’s a fictional story, the elements are real, and it has been through intensive research.

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by  ZhiMin Hu.

[ZhiMin Hu]

ZhiMin Hu

I agree to the terms of this release form.

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

[ZhiMin Hu]

Hi,

My name is ZhiMin. I’m an independent filmmaker in Toronto. I have written and directed seven short films and one feature documentary. I wrote two feature fictions scripts, one is optioned and the other one is in development.

We have a writer come in to touch up the script, but it didn’t work out. So, I have to do the re-writing. The first assignment already throw me into a deep hole and I’m trying to climb out of it. It’s amazing. This is the class that I really need at this stage of my development. More challenge means more learning and more clarity as a writer and director.

My goal is to become a director so I have to make three best debut films to set up my base. Script is essential. Please feel free to comment on my assignment, That only helps me to grow as a filmmaker and a person.

Thanks.

[ZhiMin Hu]

My learning from The Groundhog Day

-ZhiMin Hu

1. THE TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY:

An unhappy narcissistic weather reporter, who has an empty and unhappy life, transformed into a man who knows how to love and lives a fulfilling life.

For the audience:

Choice leads to consequence. You can alternate your fate by changing your perspectives and improving yourself.

2. LEAD CHARACTERS

Change Agent: Rita

Transformational Character: Phil Connors

Oppression: The re-occurring Groundhog Day

3. CONNECTION WITH AUDIENCE

RELATABILITY

1. Phil lives a boring life, working on a job that doesn’t excite him. We feel his pain.

2. Phil takes crazy actions without suffers from the consequence. It’s an electrifying fantasy for us.

3. Phil takes the advantages to learn about Rita. We wish he fails because he is not genuine.

4. Phil is angry because he feels stuck. We understand the frustration. Sometimes, we feel hopeless for our circumstance too.

5. Phil cares for the others, understand humanity. We start to love him.

6. Phil won the respect and the love from Rita. We love him and wish him to be with Rita.

INTRIGUE

1. Taking bold action without suffering the consequence.

2. How to make a difference every day in a totally predictable and same old environment.

4. OLD WAYS VERSUS NEW WAY

Old Ways: Phil cares for himself and having an empty life, he doesn’t care for the others and nobody cares for him.

New Way at end: Phil cares for the others and everyone loves him.

5. GRADIENT OF CHANGE

1. confused

2. scared

3. excited

4. thrilled

5. bold

6. taking advantage

7. failed

8. miserable

9. angry

10. devastated

11. enlightened

12 accepted

13. enjoy the life to the maximum

14 be a better person, improve himself.

15. grow humanity

16. find the true happiness through care, love, and empathy.

6. BELIEFS CHALLENGED

1. Phil loves no one and no one cares for him.

2. Since, there is no consequence for his action, he takes advantage of the re-occurring Groundhog Day to benefit his short-term desire, but still feeling empty.

3. Phil could not obtain what he really wants by taking the advantage of the new system.

5. When Phil could not change his circumstance, he changed himself.

6. As he learns so much about the town and the people, he starts to care for them.

7. Phil wants to be useful. He found the meaning of his life.

8. The only way to break away from a stagnant life is to grow and improve yourself.

7. PROFOUND MOMENTS

1. Phil wakes up the second day and realizes that nothing has changed in his life.

2. Phil meet the two men in bowling alley. The conversation inspires and excites him to take advantage of the new system.

3. Phil drives the car on railway and chased by police car.

4. Phil got slapped by Rita.

5. Phil tries to kill himself in different ways.

6. Phil ask the piano teacher to teach him piano.

7. Phil gives a lot of money to the homeless man.

8. Phil send the homeless man to hospital and the man dies.

9. Rita spent all her money to get Phil.

10. Phil wakes up next to Rita on a new day.

8. PROFOUND DIALOGUE

In bowling alley,

Man 1 – That guy said, “That glass is half empty.” Other guys would say, “That glass is half full.” I peg you as a “glass is half empty” kind of guy, am I right?

Phil – What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing you did mattered?

Man 2 – That about sums it up for me.

In the car,

Phil – What if there were no tomorrow?

Man 1 – No tomorrow? That means there’d be no consequences, no hangover, we could do whatever we wanted!

Phil- I’m not gonna live by their rules anymore. You make choices and you live with them.

Phil driving on the rail road,

Phil – Sometimes I think you just have to take the big chances.

In the café

Phil – So what do you want out of life?

Rita – I guess I want what everybody wants, career, love, marriage, children.

Bedroom

Rita- Maybe it’s not a curse, it just depends on how you look at it.

Bedroom

Phil – Today is tomorrow.

9. PROFOUND ENDING

As Phil transformed from someone who is narcissistic and selfish to a person who is humble and caring, his life is changed from empty and stagnant to fulfilling and satisfying.

10. PROFOUND TRUTH

If you want to make a change for your circumstance, you must start the change from within.

[ZhiMin Hu]

ZhiMin Hu

I agree to the terms of this release form.”

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

[ZhiMin Hu]

Hello everyone,

I’m not sure that if this is the right place for me. English is not my first language, so please forgive my horrible grammar mistakes.

When I was 12, Les Miserable turned me upside down. It had a great impact on my development. I wanted to become a storyteller that promotes humanity and explores human psychology.

My desire to become a writer and director pushed me far beyond what I imagined 20ish years ago, when I wrote and directed my first theatre piece at University in GuangZhou-China.

I have written and directed seven short fictions and one feature documentary. I optioned one feature fiction and now it’s in development with Telefilm fund; and my second feature fiction script was completed last year and now in re-writing phrase. I have ideas for the third feature fiction but do not have time to pour it out yet.

When I write my script, if the story can’t ache my heart and make me tear, I know the script is not ready. I has to be the first victim of my own art. LOL.

Writing a profound screenplay is absolutely what I’m doing and what I love to do.

Thanks everyone.

ZhiMin

[ZhiMin Hu]

Thanks. Please feel free to send yours to me, verycrazyfilm@gmail.com. I’m working on my outline, once it’s done, I will send out to the exchange partners.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  ZhiMin Hu.

[ZhiMin Hu]

Hi, I’m also a drama writer. Yes, I would like to exchange with you. Recently, I have some family issues that delay my progress. But I back to full speed. My outline is still not finished yet. But please feel free to send me yours. My email is verycrazyfilm@gmail.com.

[ZhiMin Hu]

Hi,

Sorry Joseph, just got your message. Yes, please send me your outline,

verycrazyfilm@gmail.com.

I’m still working on my outline. It’s 13 pages long, I try my best to cut down to 8 pages. Not ready to be sent out yet. But please feel free to send me yours and I will do my best to analyse it for you.

Thanks,

ZhiMin

[ZhiMin Hu]

Hi Rhonda,

I would like to connect with you and exchange outline with you.

But I don’t know how to send you a private message.

Thanks,

ZhiMin