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"Characters are complex... Give them a want, drive, fear, and a secret. They will soon have a life of their own." - Greta Gerwig
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QUESTIONSANSWERSNOTES
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CHARACTER NAME/AGE:
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OCCUPATION & WHY YOU DO IT
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DESCRIBE YOURSELF PHYSICALLY:
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DO YOU HAVE ANY VICES/BAD HABITS?
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OBJECTIVES [INTENTION] (WHAT DO YOU WANT TO WIN, GAIN, GET OR ACHIEVE DURING THE COURSE OF THIS STORY?)
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WHY DO YOU WANT THIS?
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STAKES: (IF YOU DON'T ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, WHAT WILL HAPPEN? AND/OR IT WILL BE THE DEATH OF/END OF WHAT?)
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WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOURSELF BY THE TIME YOU DIE? (WHAT IS YOUR MOST POWERFUL, IMPORTANT DREAM?)
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WHAT DO YOU SUBCONSCIOUSLY NEED?
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DO YOU HAVE A TRAGIC FLAW? IF SO, WHAT IS IT AND WHY DO YOU HAVE IT?
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WHAT IS YOUR "SECRET" -- SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER SHARED OR RARELY SHARED -- AND HOW HAS IT IMPACTED YOUR LIFE?
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WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS: FIRST IMPRESSIONS (AND MORE)
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WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INCIDENT IN YOUR PAST THAT DEFINES YOU TODAY? WHAT IS YOUR “GHOST”?
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WHAT IS YOUR HEART OF DARKNESS? (YOUR FEAR, WHAT YOU ARE MOST AFRAID OF)
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CHARACTER ARC (BEFORE THE STORY BEGINS I WAS...)ESSENTIAL!
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CHARACTER ARC (DURING THE STORY I DISCOVER THAT...)ESSENTIAL!
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CHARACTER ARC (AFTER THE STORY, I WILL [DO/BECOME/CHANGE/REALIZE)ESSENTIAL!
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QUESTIONSANSWERSNOTES
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(FURTHER) STORY QUESTIONS FROM A NETFLIX WRITER
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WHO IS IT ABOUT AND WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT THEM? (READ THAT SECOND PART AGAIN)
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WHERE AND WHEN IS IT SET? IS THAT IMMEDIATELY CINEMATIC TO THE IMAGINATION AND DOES IT HAVE TO BE THERE AND THEN? (MAKE A GOOD CASE.)
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WHAT HAPPENS? AND WHY IS THAT COMPELLING?
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WHO DOES YOUR HERO CARE ABOUT? OR, (THIS IS IMPORTANT AND OFTEN LEFT OUT): WHO ARE THEIR PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS? WHAT’S THE INHERENT TENSION THERE THAT MAKES US ROOT FOR THEM? WHY CAN’T THEY HAVE WHAT THEY WANT?
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WHY IS THIS STORY RELEVANT OR EXCITING TO TELL NOW? IS THERE A POINT OF VIEW FROM YOU AS THE CREATOR?
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WHAT IS THE TONE AND GENRE? FILM TITLES THAT ARE LOVED AND EVOKE THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU’RE HOPING TO CREATE AND A MASH UP OF GENRES IS OFTEN MORE SALE-ABLE THAN NOT.
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IS THERE A TWIST OR SURPRISE TO IT? WHAT IS THE WORLD OF THE STORY? IS IT DIFFERENT THAN WHERE IT BEGAN? IS THERE AN ELEMENT OF WISH FULFILLMENT OR CAUTIONARY TALE THAT IS COMPELLING IN THE TWIST OR JOURNEY?
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CAN YOU IMMEDIATELY PICTURE A STAR AS THE LEAD/S? CAN THEY?HOW WILL YOU TELL THE STORY STRUCTURALLY? (THIS IS POV AGAIN- YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH POV IMHO). THIS POV IS ABOUT EPISODES, CHARACTERS AND ARC STRUCTURES.
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LAST BUT PROBABLY FIRST- WHY IS IT YOUR ‘DESTINY’ (I’M KIND OF SERIOUS) AS A WRITER TO TELL THIS STORY, THIS WAY, RIGHT NOW?
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QUESTIONSANSWERSNOTES
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FURTHER questions from ChatGPT
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What is your character's deepest fear, and how does it drive their actions in high-stakes situations?
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Describe a traumatic event from your character's past that haunts them and influences their decision-making.
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What is your character willing to do in order to achieve their goal, even if it means crossing moral boundaries?
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How does your character handle extreme stress or life-threatening situations?
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Is there a personal connection between your character and the antagonist, and how does it impact the plot?
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What moral gray areas is your character comfortable navigating for the greater good, or their personal gain?
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How does your character react to betrayal, and have they experienced it in the past?
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What skills or special training does your character possess that make them particularly adept in dangerous situations?
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What is the catalyst that propels your character into the heart of the thriller's conflict?
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Describe a moment when your character must make a life-or-death decision and the consequences that follow.
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WHAT IS YOUR B STORY??
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