Alters screenplay

[dianneordi.livejournal.com]

I don't have MPD / DID, but I've had two close friends with DID and have known several others.

I'm currently working on a screenplay which I'm hoping will cast multiplicity in a favorable light, and would love to get some input.

The log line: A college student with multiple personalities must make a choice between the boy she loves and the alters who've kept her safe since childhood.

Although there's no explicit sex or violence, I've tried to be very straightforward, so there may be some triggers.

The screenplay can be downloaded it at www.fileden.com/files/2006/11/5/350846/Alters.pdf

Comments can be directed to dianneordi at excite dot com. Use "Alters" as the subject.

Thank you!
Dianne.

Comments

[tempusfrangit.livejournal.com]

The thing is, she doesn't have to be sexually assaulted to be multiple. Cliche 1.

She doesn't have to have a little in her system that's the "innocent".. cliche 2.

She doesn't have to have stereotypical people living within her system. The innocent. The slut. The bitch. The one who doesn't know about anyone else. Cliche 3.

Did you even READ my last comment or did you just just see there was one, then hit "reply"?

The movie going public is not going to want another "Identity".. That was a painful enough pile of shit to eek through the first time. I'm not saying so you have to make her a happy fluffy being, but the sexually assaulted messed up "disordered" DID, NOT multiple, is overplayed. If you wanted to REALLY make a movie to help bring healthy multiplicity to light, you failed MISERABLY.

The "me or them" storyline.. It's an overplayed situation in any case, so cliche 4.

Need I go on, or do you see it yet?

[mirrorbrothers.livejournal.com]

Okay, calm down. This isn't week 62 of the "I wanna write about an average girl who has to get away from her evil alter" show. This is someone who wanted to write about the experience of and prejudice against a minority, did her research - including talking to multiples, that's clear in the operating system and the dialogue - and failed to grok a paradigm shift. She's smart. She's listening. If we keep the flame off, we can get her to write something good.

Now, your cliches...

#1 - The trauma origin. Okay, yeah, it's a bit cliche, but it does happen, kind of a lot. At a guess, I'd say at least one in ten of the systems even on this community started from trauma. The real problem with it is that it has nothing to do with the rest of the story, which is a bad way to start anything.

#2 - Okay, B.J.'s, what, four? Four-year-olds only get so world-weary and jaded. And anyway, little kids are hard to write. I thought it was done pretty well.

#3 - Having less sexual inhibitions than other people in your system doesn't make you a slut. Zoe seemed pretty normal, in that department, it's just that Heather was critically shy. Suzanne was a little bit trite, true, and didn't really add much. And the one who doesn't know about anyone else, yeah, okay, it's done a lot, but it's also an interesting plot twist, and it lets her get in a scene about what it's like to wonder if you're crazy, etc.

#4 - This one I can't argue with. Johnny talked about this before - it's not just a cliche, it's also harmful and false.

[dianneordi.livejournal.com]

Are you saying that no multiples ever want to be singles? Or that none of the individuals in a system ever resent the others?

Can you give me movie examples where the "me or them" storyline is used? Where the protagonist's determination to become a single actually makes her life worse? And when she gets what she thinks she wants, she realizes she's incredibly lonely and misses her family?

[mirrorbrothers.livejournal.com]

It's not that no multiples ever want to be singlets. Lots of gay people would like to be straight, too, but you'll sure as hell offend people writing about that. The point is that we're fighting the prejudice that of course we all want to be singlets, because everything is better when you're not crazy, right?

And you keep talking like you've written the multiple's Invisible Man, but you haven't. Heather gets rid of her head mates, and then gets a job, loses her jerk boyfriend on amicable terms, and marries the boy she loves. That's what you wrote in the script, it doesn't matter what you write in the thread. She decided to become a singlet, her life got worse, she was lonely, but then she got over it and everything worked out better than before. It's like you wrote Invisible Man and then set the manuscript on fire.

[dianneordi.livejournal.com]

OK, haven't seen "Identity," so I'll try to get a copy and watch it.

I'm rewriting right now to remove the sexual assault.

Of the three multiples I've communicated with on an ongoing basis, all three had littles. I guess I'm not quite sure why you're saying my use of a child multiple is cliche. Is there something in particular that B.J. does that -- as a multiple -- is cliche? Are there films that you can suggest that use the child multiple in a cliche way? Are you saying that B.J. shouldn't act like a child (innocent), or that there shouldn't be any littles at all? (As I remember in "The Three Faces of Eve," "Psycho," and more recently, "Lord of the Rings" (gollum vs smeagol) "Heroes," none of the multiples have had littles.)

What about B.J., Heather, Zoe, and Suzanne do you find cliche? Heather is intelligent, shy, a medal-winning skater who's great with kids. Zoe is a geeky, self-confident tomboy. Suzanne is an anti-establishment waif who enjoys singing and speaks French. B.J. is a precocious kid who enjoys drawing. I wouldn't consider any of them a "bitch" or a "slut."

As for "the one who doesn't know about anyone else," several people here have suggested that's a rarity. Can you give me an example where it's been used in movies as a cliche?

Finally, the "me or them" story line. What about it do you find cliche? Again, can you give me examples of movies that have explored this? I'm not making a documentary or a docudrama, so what would you consider an acceptable conflict? What would you consider an acceptable story line?

[crystalseraph.livejournal.com]

It is mostly the line about "Heather's innocence safely preserved, colouring on the floor" bit, I think.

Finally, the "me or them" story line. What about it do you find cliche? Again, can you give me examples of movies that have explored this? I'm not making a documentary or a docudrama, so what would you consider an acceptable conflict? What would you consider an acceptable story line?

Please read my article through. What you consider an acceptable storyline is, in the end, entirely your decision, but you will be responsible for presenting a specific image of multuplicity to the public. The "me and them" story creates tension, sure. But what impression of multiplicity does it give?

[dianneordi.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry -- not very good at threads, and I think I've lost my place. What article are you referring to?

[rhymer-713.livejournal.com]

::Shrug:: BJ was my favorite character. ::Grin:: We have littles ourselves....Um..If you want to talk to me I'd be willing to help all I can. Just email me and put my name in the subject line so that I get the message. And I, too, am sorry Alissa snarked you. She's nice just has been called an alter far too many times. So yeah...And when you rewrite, can we have a copy?
Jess

Better opening?

[dianneordi.livejournal.com]

OK, this would take the place of the opening, and remove any reference to abuse to the screenplay. Does it work?

Re: Better opening?

[rhymer-713.livejournal.com]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!! That's tons and tons better!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!! That's a lot like what happens here!!!!! Keep that opening. :-)Jess and Alissa who is pumping her fist in the air and doing war-whoops.

Re: Better opening?

[rhymer-713.livejournal.com]

email is rhymershouse777@yahoo.com

Re: Better opening?

[mirrorbrothers.livejournal.com]

Yes! Here we introduce the system as, (hallelujiah,) a normal life, which is really what the story's about. Better both politically and dramatically.

Re: Better opening?

[tempusfrangit.livejournal.com]

That's better, yes. That would truly compel me to read further. MUCH better.