Writing Group 3-30

https://nycmidnight.com –How to write a script. 

There are things left unsaid and things that shouldn’t be said. Aloud. 

“Are you sure you want that ice cream?”

“Why did you ignore me all those years?”

“That hat looks ridiculous on you.”

And there then there are the things said that are better left as personal musings that once said can’t be taken back. I excel in this category.

Unknowingly complaining about a person to their best friend.

Oversharing childhood traumas, just oversharing in general.

Generalizing when specifics are needed, conveying an overall sense of incompetency.

Characters

Think of a name that rolls off the tongue as a pejorative or curse for someone particularly nasty. 

Something somebody completely condescending, convinced of their own righteousness. Suspects the same from everyone else.

David Ulyses Kreiger

Age: 42

Height: 6’1”

Eye Color: brown

Physical appearance: fastidious and conspicuously showing off labels

Favorite Clothing: Jacket and tie when on the job. Expensive polo shirt and jeans otherwise.

Things about their appearance … change: The people around them. They believe that they have no flaws.

Where do they live: Someplace on the outskirts. Not country but not urban.

Gestures: darting, passively aggressive, taking up space uncomfortably close at times, intimidating, effortlessly offensive.

Speaking style: condescending, uses humor to create tension and put people down

Pet peeves: anybody that’s not at or above their perceived level, anybody they see as a threat. Anybody they’re not currently trying to impress.

Fondest memory:  Recent sports related but only if they won or the other person hurt themselves.

Hobbies interests: being alone. domineering others. people watching and pointing out others flaws. Laughing when others fail.

Special skills/abilities: can turn on the charm when necessary. Learns quickly or at least can fake it long enough to fool casual observers.

Insecurities: all of them

Quirks: can easily switch emotional modes on a whim, but not flighty. Has to be viewed as the smartest in the room.

Temperament: In control, except when blaming “others” for their own troubles, or when they feel they are being blamed for something going wrong.

Things that upset them: Anything they didn’t think of. Incompetency. People that are happy for no reason. Innocence.

Things that embarrass them: nothing that they would admit to, and if cornered they will viciously turn on the other person and that person will be the worst person ever to exist to them.

This character is highly opinionated about: Everything and you’re stupid for suggesting that they might be wrong.

Phobias: Being exposed feeling vulnerable

Things that make them happy: Abject worship. Getting under another’s skin. Being an ass. Being manipulative.

Family: First child, maybe only child. Mother was exacting and judgemental overly critical, father stayed out of things but was violent when pulled into family affairs, the job-giver.

Deepest darkest secret: He was married once, but it understandably did not go well. If asked, his wife was a whore, cunt, bitch and all he could do was kick her to the curb. That’s not what happened.

Reason they kept this secret for so long: They don’t want anyone to be able to see their failures.

Favorite bands…: Anything that pisses off other people. Currently country music.

Favorite movies: Bad Santa, Animal House, Little Nicky

Favorite TV shows: Anything on fox news.

Favorite books: The ones that give them an edge in their field of knowledge but they only have a shallow understanding of the concepts as they only read to first couple chapters anyway.

Sports: Golf, Squash, 

Favorite foods: spaghetti and meatballs, garlic toast, a glass of wine

Political views: whatever gets him the most recognition, but mostly Neo-Libertarian

Religion/philosophy: no religion, religious belief is seen as a weakness. 

Physical health: fit and trim

Dream vacation: being served caviar with Moet & Chandon in an upscale resort in a third world nation by poor people.

Description of their home: Lives in a condo that bans children. Everything has a place and everything in its place.

Description of where they sleep: A bed. Satin sheets.

Any pets: A cat.

Best thing to ever happen to the character: Being emancipated from his shitty parents and taking them to court for their house and money.

Superstition and other quirky behavior: Afraid of germs, always carries a handkerchief to wipe things down before touching them. Afraid of children and dogs.

Three words: < 0 empathy

Theme song: Imperial March