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Day 12 Assignments
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Eric Humble’s Seabiscuit Analysis
What I learned doing this assignment is: How the profound moments can be illustrated through action. In virtually all of the scenes that felt profound to me, the power came through the character’s actions, taking on the New Ways or struggling against the Old Ways. Very little dialogue was used in any of these scenes, especially with regard to the transformational journeys that all three lead characters were on.
-Red’s parents give him away to the racehorse owner – it showed how The Old Ways are imprinted on Red at a young age. His wound, his resentment, his distrust of parental figures – and the reason he has to fight to survive.
-”You don’t throw a whole life away just because he’s banged-up a little.” This is a line that not only states the theme of the film, but can be applied to every one of the leads.
-Smith sees Red fighting the stablehands just as Seabiscuit is fighting his handlers – and decides to link the two of them up. This is a turning point of the story and illustrates one of the New Ways – alone they’re at conflict with the world, together they might find purpose.
-Red gets fouled, gets angry, and blows the race… and Howard asks him what he’s so mad at. This leads Red to nearly drop his books over the bridge in his fury over what his father did to him. It’s a moment where Red’s flaw and the hold of the Old Ways nearly sabotages the whole operation… and forces him to consider change.
-Red asks Howard for money… and unspoken, Howard’s kindness touches him. Red is learning to trust his new father-figure.
-”Sometimes when the little guy doesn’t know he’s the little guy, he can do big things.” This can be applied to all of them at different moments of their lives.
-Red reveals that he’s blind in one eye – which is a reveal that answers why he’s missed so many big moments previously: the punch thrown at him in the ring, the hole that the rival jockey rides through. It elicits a new empathy with the audience and a new challenge forcing Red and Smith to change.
-Smith is furious that Red lied about his sight, and Howard reminds him of what he said about not throwing a whole life away just because he’s banged up a little. Howard acts as the change agent here, refusing to let Red go.
-Red coaches his rival, Wolf, from his hospital bed.
-Red gives Wolf his own strategy to hold Seabiscuit back on the final stretch. “It’s not in his feet, it’s in his heart.”
-Smith is about to give Wolf the same strategy, when Wolf reveals Red already gave him the same advice. :You’re not the only one who knows this horse.”The race is shown through still photos of people listening to the race, putting it in the broader context of the way the rest of the country pinned their hopes and dreams on Seabiscuit.
-Seabiscuit wins the race against Man O War. This is a rousing scene that shows how each of the lead character’s lives and the changes they’ve made are tied to Seabiscuit’s success.
-Red convalescences while Wolf rides Seabiscuit in other races… and senses that something is wrong with Seabiscuit. There is a bond between Red and Seabiscuit that allows them to sense when the other is in trouble.
-The vet recommends Seabiscuit be put down… but they bring him back home to see Red. Both are seriously injured in the leg. They understand one another better than anyone in the world.
-Red coaches Seabiscuit back to health… and vice versa.
–Red eats more than usual to gavin his strength back – feeling purpose in his life and potential to keep riding. He then mows a practice track and rides Seabiscuit to get himself strong enough. Once he’s strong enough to ride, he starts watching his weight again. Red’s determination to get Seabiscuit back to health rejuvenates himself as well.
-Red catches them working out Seabiscuit. Howard protests that Red can’t ride him because he’d be crippled forever. Red counters that he was crippled forever… until Seabiscuit made him better… and Howard made him better, too. Tells him he’s as much his horse as he is Howard’s. A scene of betrayal that brings all the lead characters into conflict with one another. The Old Ways intruding in again.
-The stakes are raised because even though Red’s leg could shatter at any moment, the race is the Santa Anita, the loss of which haunts Red. This sets the stage for the most suspenseful race of all.
-Living metaphor: the game Howard is always playing with. Marcela tells him she always plays with it, too, and can never get the ball to stay in the hole. She convinces him to let Red ride – even though Howard’s biggest fear is that Red could die just like his son did.
-Seabiscuit comes from behind and wins the Santa Anita. The ultimate victory that brings Red and Seabiscuit back on top and fulfills the hopes of Smith. Howard, and Marcela.
-Red’s voiceover at the end reflecting that it wasn’t them who fixed Seabiscuit, it was Seabiscuit who fixed them – and each other. The final line encompasses the film’s Profound Truth.
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Eric Humble Turns Insights into Action
What I learned doing this assignment is: This lesson really energized and clarified the beats in MM6-8, wherein my protagonist starts adopting the New Ways. Although many of these beats exist i my outline already, this has given me the emotional focus of the beat and I feel like they will have much greater emotional impact, firstly because challenging the Old Ways from the previous lessons will set it up, but secondly because I have them designed through action now. It is a much more powerful way to deliver the New Ways without any of the characters (or myself) coming across as “preachy.”
-Stand up for your beliefs
Action: Instead of taking Leiber’s “out” – his paycheck and the ability to walk away clean, Raf takes Leiber hostage to gain access back into the kitchen… in order to prove that the President is being targeted.
-You have to take a side
Action: He decides to help the refugees and complete Natalia and Victor’s mission.
-Success is empty if it only benefits yourself
Action: He’s offered a lucrative deal to open some restaurants across Europe, but turns it down. His life is here and he’s got a daughter on the way… but he recommends Natalia.
-Anyone can change the world—even you
Action: Raf himself makes the deal for peace without Moldova in the offering – he provides the leverage POTUS doesn’t have… he’ll tell the other NATO leaders exactly what the Russian President did to them as part of his scheme, and it’ll cause a world war they’re not prepared to win.
-Your voice counts
Action: Raf threatens to use his voice to tell the NATO presidents what’s been going on here.
Action: Raf goes to the gun manufacturer protest with his girlfriend and lends his voice to the cause – and his food, allowing them to stay until the media arrives.
-Commit to his fiancée
Action: He gives his girlfriend some food – no ring inside. He’s got it with him, proposes – then tells her not to answer yet. Let’s go save some lives first.
-Powerful people are only people—they only have power if you give them power
Action: The Russian President refuses to engage, goes to get up – but Raf treats him as a customer, not a powerful figure. He slips him a hot pepper, then shows him there’s nothing to drink but the tainted water… or the bottle of fresh water Raf has in his pocket; which he’ll only give him if he engages in the conversation.
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