BASING CHARACTERS ON REAL PEOPLE
by Vanessa Morgan
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| photo courtesy of author |
I often get the question if I base my characters on real people. Normally, this is not the case, but I made an exception for A Good Man. The scene that I'm going to share with you below is a good example as the character of Matthias is a combination of two people I know. When I started to write A Good Man, I clearly based it on a friend who goes on and on about how important strategy is to get ahead in the movie business without actually acting upon it. When Matthias Pohl (an insanely popular reality TV star in France) agreed to play the part, I changed it a bit so that it resembled his media appearance.
A Good Man is now being turned into a feature film. Who would you cast as Louis and Matthias?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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| cover courtesy of author |
ABOUT A GOOD MAN
Liked Dexter and American Psycho? Then you'll love A Good Man.
Louis
Caron is a good man – vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of
animals and is concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But
his altruism has a sinister edge – he's a vampire - and local detective
Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis' attempt to escape
the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he
is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the
lives of those he cares about most.
PURCHASE A GOOD MAN
EXCERPT of A Good Man (screenplay)
INT. BAR – NIGHT
The clock behind the bar indicates 1:30. Louis tries
to pick up a pretty girl. He talks a lot, but she
doesn't listen to him and seems bored.
LOUIS
I'm going to be a godfather. First time
ever, can you believe it? When I looked at
the father, a couple of years ago, he had
dropped out of college, couldn't even keep
a girl. I gave him a big kick in the butt,
and little by little, he started to study
again. He even has a masters today. He's
the one who gives me lessons now, with
philosophical quotes and stuff. And that
has an effect on me, like... incredible.
You know, there's a lot of bad stuff going
on in this world, but things like that...
that's what counts. You see what I mean?
Louis is still talking to the girl when a BOY
approaches her. He bites her in the neck, playfully.
They leave together.
LATER
Louis is still at the bar, but the clock now
indicates 5:15. The place is almost empty.
MATTHIAS (26 years old) talks to him. This time, it
is Louis who doesn't pay attention to the
conversation.
MATTHIAS
In order to succeed in the movie business,
you need a strategy. I need a strategy to
be able to play in a movie. I need a
strategy to progress, to get paid for what
I do. Having a good strategy is essential.
Louis takes a sip from his wine. Matthias awaits a
reaction. As the answer doesn't come, Matthias
continues his monologue.
MATTHIAS
Do you know how many years I've been
looking for a stategy? Twelve years! Or
fourteen… I'm not sure. It's really
difficult to find a good strategy.
LOUIS
If you say the word *strategy* once more,
you will regret it.
Matthias doesn't even hear what Louis says.
MATTHIAS
I failed another casting this morning. Just
because I don't have a good strategy yet.
There's no point really in going to a
casting without a good strategy... Secret
Story 2, that was something different. I
prepared my strategy more than a year in
advance.
LOUIS
(talking to himself)
Loser.
MATTHIAS
(didn't hear well)
What? I didn't catch that.
LOUIS
Nothing.
Louis notices a white line of powder under Matthias'
nose.
LOUIS
Do you have some coke by any chance?
MATTHIAS
(stupid question)
Of course.
Matthias reaches for the coke inside his jacket, but
Louis stops him.
LOUIS
Not here. Let's go to the car.
EXT. SIDEWALK – LATER
Louis and Matthias leave the bar and go toward the
car. They are the only ones in the street. Matthias
unlocks the car and the two men get in.
INT. CAR – LATER
Matthias takes the coke from the glove box. A few
speed pills accidentally fall on the ground.
LOUIS
I see you have some speed too. Let's do
that instead; it works more quickly.
Matthias gives Louis a pill and swallows one as well.
Once the drug starts to work, Louis jumps onto
Matthias and bites into his arm. Quick images of
Matthias' life (including some original images from
Secret Story 2) flash before Louis' eyes. Even before
Matthias is dead, Louis takes a pair of
latex gloves from the inside pocket of his jacket and
puts them on. He then pulls out a knife, places it in
Matthias' hand and cuts its victims veins at the
place of the biting wounds to make it look like
suicide.
Louis leaves the car, closes the door and starts to
run. Farther down the street, he stops to vomit.
CUT TO :
EXT. STREET - DAY
A police officer approaches Matthias' car and sees
him 'sleeping' with his mouth wide open. He knocks on
the window – several times – but Matthias doesn't
stir. When the police officer inspects the car more
closely, he notices that Matthias has cut his wrists
and that the car is full of blood.
Megan Blackwood has just lost her son in a terrible accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help to put her life back together. But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek. When rain falls over the village, the inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the village deserted with the first rays of sunshine. Beneath the lake's surface, an eerie presence watches... and waits... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors. By the time Megan realizes that her daughter is in danger, it might already be too late.
Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cottage after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they're being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with the strangers outside. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.
GIVEAWAY
Vanessa has graciously offered one e-copy of her new release A Good Man to a luck winner! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below for you chance!
