Help developing certain character storylines
Posted: Nov 22nd 2003, 4:32 pm
I have six episodes started, some are near the halfway mark, others are a little less than that, but I am finding that I am most comfortable creating storylines for Jordan and Angela, and Brian only in relation to Angela. I love Graham and Patty as characters, but still find it difficult to continue their individual stories, and to capture their moments of passing dialogue -- such as their conversations about Yoko, Chelsea Clinton and Ru Paul. I do have a few scenes between them an several interacting with Angela... (In short, I feel comfortable with the actual dialogue, and staying faithful to the series and the characters, but am not sure where to ealistically take some of them.)
So, maybe this question can't and/or shouldn't be answered, but I was wondering if anyone could suggest storylines for characters that they would like to see written but were not going to pursue themselves.
Some decisions I have made:
#20, which is a family weekend visiting relatives, starts a week after the letter, we never see a conversation about it, either with Jordan or Brian. Angela is with Jordan, but feels a little awkward for a while. The usher who Angela kissed at the wedding ("Dancing in the dark') makes an appearance, advising Angela about her situation.
For the first few episodes Brian and Angela either avoid each other or are very distant.
#21(There is not a lot to this one yet) Jordan and Angela have their final conversation about him and Rayanne (and Tino) before she puts it behind them. Our Town is performed. The sex issue arises again, but with less pressure. Jordan and Brian share a quick sex conversation about not getting any.
#22 Mr. Katimpsky is asked to resign because of having a student live with him (I have written the dialogue between him and the principal, and the initial dialogue between him and his partner, bur have not take it further yet – I do not want it to turn into a sensationalized melodrama).
Jordan's father begins abusing him again—he confides momentarily in Rickie and withdraws from Angela. Rayanne and Cynthia both give Angela advice. It is made clear (as if “In Dreams” didn’t make it clear enough, that nothing will ever happen between Graham and Hally – or Graham and any “other” woman.
#23 More between Jordan and Angela, playful, moving more towards sex, but n pressure “waiting” – I definitely need other storylines in this one
#24 –have not touched (I just know that there has to be an episode in between what happens in 23 and what happens in 25. I need an episode on Sharon, Rayanne, Rickie, and Brian – NO Jordan.
# 25 Angela is thinking about Rayanne, but does not see a way to be friends again. In a weekend away Rayanne and Jordan get locked in a storage room together (an act of Tino’s), Angela gets drunk with friends. Angela asks Jordan about Jody Barsh, he begins to tell her but Angela interrupts to finally admit she misses Rayanne.
In #26 Jordan and Angela do finally have sex. There are some scenes with Residue (we explore the significance of that name as a greater theme of the show). Rayanne and Angela kind of slip back into the beginnings of a friendship.
OK, so I guess that is a basic outline for what I have so far. I definitely need to develop the storylines of the other characters now. (I don’t want to go anywhere with Cory, and probably not Delia either (although she and Rickie holding hands at the end of “In Dreams” may have been a indicator that she would become a bigger part of the show…)
One storyline I do need help with is a fight/disagreement between Graham and Patty in #22. I do not want it to be about jealousy or the fact that Patty is suspicious of something. It also needs to be something important enough to upset patty, and leave them both feeling isolated, but something that can pretty much be resolved within one episode. Graham needs to be the one at fault – I had thought about making it about her parents, but it seemed forced and repetitive. Any ideas for this one?
I understand that the little I have given you may make it difficult to respond.
Maybe I should just post some of what I have so far, or send it to the Beta Readers but I stupidly wanted to have at least a complete draft before I had someone read them.
Thank you for any help, and I hope at least these beginning outlines sound faithful to the show.
So, maybe this question can't and/or shouldn't be answered, but I was wondering if anyone could suggest storylines for characters that they would like to see written but were not going to pursue themselves.
Some decisions I have made:
#20, which is a family weekend visiting relatives, starts a week after the letter, we never see a conversation about it, either with Jordan or Brian. Angela is with Jordan, but feels a little awkward for a while. The usher who Angela kissed at the wedding ("Dancing in the dark') makes an appearance, advising Angela about her situation.
For the first few episodes Brian and Angela either avoid each other or are very distant.
#21(There is not a lot to this one yet) Jordan and Angela have their final conversation about him and Rayanne (and Tino) before she puts it behind them. Our Town is performed. The sex issue arises again, but with less pressure. Jordan and Brian share a quick sex conversation about not getting any.
#22 Mr. Katimpsky is asked to resign because of having a student live with him (I have written the dialogue between him and the principal, and the initial dialogue between him and his partner, bur have not take it further yet – I do not want it to turn into a sensationalized melodrama).
Jordan's father begins abusing him again—he confides momentarily in Rickie and withdraws from Angela. Rayanne and Cynthia both give Angela advice. It is made clear (as if “In Dreams” didn’t make it clear enough, that nothing will ever happen between Graham and Hally – or Graham and any “other” woman.
#23 More between Jordan and Angela, playful, moving more towards sex, but n pressure “waiting” – I definitely need other storylines in this one
#24 –have not touched (I just know that there has to be an episode in between what happens in 23 and what happens in 25. I need an episode on Sharon, Rayanne, Rickie, and Brian – NO Jordan.
# 25 Angela is thinking about Rayanne, but does not see a way to be friends again. In a weekend away Rayanne and Jordan get locked in a storage room together (an act of Tino’s), Angela gets drunk with friends. Angela asks Jordan about Jody Barsh, he begins to tell her but Angela interrupts to finally admit she misses Rayanne.
In #26 Jordan and Angela do finally have sex. There are some scenes with Residue (we explore the significance of that name as a greater theme of the show). Rayanne and Angela kind of slip back into the beginnings of a friendship.
OK, so I guess that is a basic outline for what I have so far. I definitely need to develop the storylines of the other characters now. (I don’t want to go anywhere with Cory, and probably not Delia either (although she and Rickie holding hands at the end of “In Dreams” may have been a indicator that she would become a bigger part of the show…)
One storyline I do need help with is a fight/disagreement between Graham and Patty in #22. I do not want it to be about jealousy or the fact that Patty is suspicious of something. It also needs to be something important enough to upset patty, and leave them both feeling isolated, but something that can pretty much be resolved within one episode. Graham needs to be the one at fault – I had thought about making it about her parents, but it seemed forced and repetitive. Any ideas for this one?
I understand that the little I have given you may make it difficult to respond.
Maybe I should just post some of what I have so far, or send it to the Beta Readers but I stupidly wanted to have at least a complete draft before I had someone read them.
Thank you for any help, and I hope at least these beginning outlines sound faithful to the show.