Randy Surles - Story Grid Editor
Creating Better Stories in Thrillers and Military Fiction
Showrunners 019: Analysis of You – a perfect story grid thriller
This week, the Story Grid Showrunners fell in love with the Netflix TV Series YOU – a perfect combination of a thriller and an obsession love story that is topped by a strong Morality internal Genre that moves from Selfishness masked as altruism to pure selfishness.
- Foolscap of the Thriller
- Foolscap of Thriller and Love combined
- Editor’s 6 Core Question Analysis for YOU
Reminder: Please watch the TV-Series YOU before you listen to the following episode. We not only give away spoilers, but we talk about the global story and it’s just more valuable for you if you know what we are talking about because we reference a lot.
Initial Observations
Mel – The villain is the hero of his own story. And it was great to get into the mind of a psychopath, especially through the first-person narrative, seeing how he leaves red herrings for whoever is trying to get him and start seeing the good guys as his antagonists while wanting him to succeed.
Parul – Another great story where we have great innovations of the Love Genre mixed with the thriller genre to give us an engaging narrative drive. Reminds me of Killing Eve.
Randy – Awesome. A compelling story, well told.
Read MoreShowrunners 018: Intro to Netflix’s You
Does the Story work?
That’s the question isn’t it?
Welcome to the Story Grid Showrunner Podcast, dedicated to answering this question by using the story grid method developed by Shawn Coyne.
In 2020 we’re focusing on action and thriller stories. Each month we will release 2 podcast episodes. First, we’ll discuss the expectations of the show from seeing the trailer and reading the series descriptions. Then in our second show of the month show, we will discuss the Editor’s 6 core questions and what worked or didn’t work in the series and why and how the writers might have made it better.
Read Moreshowrunners 017: Analyzing the Witcher
Reminder: Please watch The Witcher TV Series before you listen to the following episode. We not only give away spoilers, but we talk about the global story and it’s just more valuable for you if you know what we are talking about because we reference a lot
Bonus Download
Initial Observations
Randy: Interesting, but no game of thrones. One word: confusing
Mel: Wonderful portrayal of The Witcher by Henry Cavill, but my one word for this TV series: disappointing.
Parul. A good example of how a great idea is lost without structure and world-building.
Read MoreShowrunners 016: The Witcher Introduction
Welcome back to Season 2 of the story grid showrunners podcast. In 2020 we’re focusing on action and thriller stories. Each month we will release 2 podcast episodes. First, we’ll discuss the expectations of the show from seeing the trailer and reading the series descriptions.
After this we’ll give you 2 weeks to watch the series and the second monthly recording will cover the 6 core questions (genre, obligatory moments), to help you understand why the series was good/ bad/ innovative and how you can apply learning from this to your writing.
So if you’re writing an action or a thriller story or want to see how we analyse story, we invite you to watch these series with us, so that you too, can have a deeper understanding of how to make a better story . By the end of the year, we will have analysed 12 TV series in the Action/ thriller genre.
Let’s get started! This month the Story Grid Showrunners will dissect the hit Netflix television series The Witcher.
Today we’re giving you an introduction to the Witcher.
Read MoreE09: Selling Girls in America – Community
Here’s the ninth episode of the Podcast: Selling Girls in America, which I host with Guardian Group. to learn more about this horrible crime and how to protect yourself and your loved ones, visit their website at www.guardiangroup.org.
To listen to the podcast, go here or subscribe at your favorite podcast platform.
Community
Training someone to recognize the indicators of trafficking is vital to stopping the crime. Think of it this way if someone robs your house, you recognize that the crime happened, you report it, action is taken. However, if you don’t recognize that the crime was committed you never know to report and and therefore action isn’t taken. By training the community we are providing opportunity for reports to be made and action to be taken.
Training Offered by Guardian Group
Hotel Training – Through our Guardian Seal® Recognition and Response Training we equip hotel staff with the indicators specific to their industry. This training is offered in-person, through an e-learning tool as well as a train-the-trainer model that is designed to equip upper management to provide the training to employees. Learn more about this training here.
Healthcare Training – 88% of victims report utilizing healthcare while 6% of healthcare providers report treating a victim of trafficking, meaning they are there we just are not identifying them as such. Currently our healthcare training is provided in-person, please email us if you are interested.
Law Enforcement – Our Pursuit Team offers specialized training for Law Enforcement communities across the nation. You can learn more about what customizable options we provide here.
We provide training in a variety of other sectors, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like training for your community or your business.
E08: Selling Girls in America – Aftercare
Here’s the eighth episode of the Podcast: Selling Girls in America, which I host with Guardian Group. to learn more about this horrible crime and how to protect yourself and your loved ones, visit their website at www.guardiangroup.org.
To listen to the podcast, go here or subscribe at your favorite podcast platform.
Aftercare
This episode covers the importance of the aftercare process. This is something Guardian Group does not provide directly, however, we have helped communities start a CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) Response Team to ensure their aftercare response is victim-centered, trauma-informed and their resources are leveraged efficiently.
Definitions:
CSEC – a multi-disciplinary team made up often of law enforcement, victim advocates, nonprofit resources and district attorneys. If you are interested in what this may look like check out our local team. We helped set this team up and would be happy to consult with you best practices to establish a response team in your area, just email us here.
In an ideal situation a licensed and accredited victim advocate is called as soon as a victim is realized or before a sting is performed. The first 72 hours after recovery the focus should be on providing food, a safe place to sleep and clothes. If the victim is a minor CPS (Child Protective Services) should also be called.
In an aftercare situation an advocate works for the victim and will only provide the resources and support that the victim requests. This can be difficult for most to understand, however, we must remember the complex trauma the victim has experienced and understand that on average it will take 7 attempts for her to leave the trafficking situation. Victim Advocates are there to meet the victim where they are at and remain a resource even is she goes back to her trafficker. They are often the only person that has never lied to the victim and at some point in time may be the only person she trusts when she decides she is ready to leave.
One of the key aspects of aftercare is making sure you have the correct advocate present. Finding an advocate that is licensed and accredited as well as trained in trafficking is always ideal and will provide the best outcome for the victim. Unfortunately there are often well intentioned people that provide this type of service, however, without proper training they can do more damage than good. Contact us if you need assistance vetting an advocate resource in your area.
E07: Selling Girls in America – Recovery
Here’s the seventh episode of the Podcast: Selling Girls in America, which I host with Guardian Group. to learn more about this horrible crime and how to protect yourself and your loved ones, visit their website at www.guardiangroup.org.
To listen to the podcast, go here or subscribe at your favorite podcast platform.
Recovery
We are very careful when we talk about rescue vs. recovery. When you rescue someone you remove them from a dangerous situation, however, when you provide an opportunity for recovery you create a space that allows someone to return to a normal state of health and mind. Guardian Group simply exists to play a role in the overall recovery process. We believe the true heroes in this space are the law enforcement officers and aftercare providers.
Definitions:
Rescue Pimp – someone that thrives on being the rescuer, however, without the proper protocol in place to actually provide the necessary recovery elements. Results in an almost immediate re-exploitation of the victim
Laws – Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age [source].
If we are talking about a minor you do not need to prove force, fraud and coercion it is automatic trafficking. This makes for a much easier case to prosecute.
For more information on what we provide free to Law Enforcement check out our website.
E06: Selling Girls in America – Molly’s Story
Here’s the sixth episode of the Podcast: Selling Girls in America, which I host with Guardian Group. to learn more about this horrible crime and how to protect yourself and your loved ones, visit their website at www.guardiangroup.org.
To listen to the podcast, go here or subscribe at your favorite podcast platform.
Molly’s Story – On this episode you will meet Molly, the mother of a sex trafficking survivor. Her story takes bravery to share as we learn how this crime impacts all members of the family.
E05: Selling Girls in America – Traffickers
Here’s the fifth episode of the Podcast: Selling Girls in America, which I host with Guardian Group. to learn more about this horrible crime and how to protect yourself and your loved ones, visit their website at www.guardiangroup.org.
To listen to the podcast, go here or subscribe at your favorite podcast platform.
The Traffickers
Pimps or traffickers are responsible for running the supply aspect of the sex trafficking industry. Each uses their own tactics to recruit, manipulate and exploit the women and children involved. Selling people has become less risky and more rewarding than taking part in selling drugs or guns for two reasons: a person is a reusable product, they can be sold over and over. Second, a victim of trafficking experiences a lot of complex trauma and often times is too fearful to testify against their trafficker.
Statistics:
- 70% of pimps/traffickers are brought into the industry from a previous generation, they are continuing on the family business [source].
- 110 gangs in San Diego Country from a wide variety of neighborhoods and racial/ethnic backgrounds have members that are engaged in profiting from sex trafficking in San Diego. See the full study here.
There is some argument that due to inequality or lack of options we have “forced” people into making the choice to get into trafficking, however, does that make it right to exploit other humans? This is an argument we are going to leave to some else for now we will focus on helping law enforcement stop the violence associated with trafficking by placing these predators behind bars.
E04: Selling Girls in America – Buyers
Here’s the fourth episode of the Podcast: Selling Girls in America, which I host with Guardian Group. to learn more about this horrible crime and how to protect yourself and your loved ones, visit their website at www.guardiangroup.org.
To listen to the podcast, go here or subscribe at your favorite podcast platform.
The Buyers
Prostitution is not the oldest profession it is the oldest oppression.
Yes, there are outliers out there that make their living selling their body for sex, but as a country we must stop focusing on this small percentage and start focusing on the children being sold as products. In most cases of consensual sex work there is a history of abuse or trauma somewhere in her story or another form of oppression that lead the the belief that this is her only choice in life.
One of the number one contributors to who purchases sex is the fact that as a society we have created a culture where this is viewed as normal behavior, just “men being men.” Those that purchase sex are purchasing a fantasy, unfortunately they often do not know that the pimp may very well be in the closet, under the bed or in the bathroom.
Two forms of combating this crime:
1. Educate the community on the actual victimization and oppression going on within the sex industry. Change the culture through education so that this is no longer viewed as acceptable or normal behavior, allow the peers of those purchasing sex to call out the behavior.
2. Raise the level of fear of being arrested — right now the punishment is often similar to a traffic ticket.
John Shaming – This tactic was successfully used by law enforcement for a time, publicly shaming those that purchase sex by printing their name and picture in newspapers or on billboards. However, this tactic is seldom used now because an unforeseen consequence resulted. The John’s family, wife and children, had to endure that form of shame as well.
For extensive and interesting research on who buys sex check out Demand Abolition.
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Copyright
Copyright 2019 Randall R. Surles
