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Day 10 Assignments
Post your Day 10 assignment here.
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Robert R. Smith Counterexamples
What I learned doing this assignment is to find in any story I write all the opportunities to create conflicts and challenges that define characters and move the story forward to iits intentional ending.
I already have a complete script “Angels in Gangland” Copyright 2021 Robert Russell Smith.
The Old Ways are the code and mores of the Italian – American Mafia, chiefly, the code of silence and loyalty to the criminal organization and not to sell narcotics under penalty of death.
1. When Sam, Rabbi Solomon’s son, abandons Jewish faith and practices to be an associate of the Giordano crime family, His father beratingly questions him: “ So you throw away the Law of Moses which is life for a code of criminals which is death?” Of course the Law of Moses is more ancient than the Mafia code but under these circumstances the old ways are the traditions of the Mafia that attract Sam and are challenged by the Law of Moses. This is a tension for Sam right up until the ending when he returns to his faith when he decides to turn state’s evidence and join Witness Protection.
2. Sam reminds his father Solomon of his uncle who was in the “Kosher Nostra” as a hitman for Meyer Lansky, but he never did a hit on a Jewish holiday. His father says, “So did his hypocrisy make it good? Sam indicates that he won’t be a hypocrite” so he is abandoning the faith. His father castigates him “So, are you saying crime is okay as long as you’re not a hypocrite?” Sam’s moral confusion (old way) is too much for Solomon so he disowns him. Which he regrets which fuels Solomon’s drive to persuade Sam to leave the mob through Carlo if Lou could get Carlo to “flip” and leave the mob. jis why Solomon
3. Lou, after being killed by Carlo, finds himself in the Afterlife with his spirit guide Rabbi Solomon Levinsky who is wearing full ritual vestments for Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement. Lou asks, “Is today the Day of Atonement?” Solomon says, “For you, yes.” This challenges Lou to see his life of crime (old ways) for what it is and gives context to the entire story, this is Lou’s Day of Atonement for his life of crime with the mob (the old ways). Lou protests that he is not Jewish, he is Catholic. Solomon shows him ihis mother begging the priest do conduct a Funeral Mass for Lou. The priest refuses. It is church policy not to conduct Funeral Masses for Mafiosi.
The facts of his life are revealed to Lou that he has lived by the old belief that he could live with two loyalties: one to the church and the other to its antithesis, the mob, This discovery of Lou establishes his character and begins his quest for change with Solomon’s guidance. Solomon gives him a mission: He can straighten himself out with by doing an act of supreme good, to rectify his life of crime, he must return to earth and persuade his assassin (Carlo) to quit the mob and Solomon hopes that a collateral good will be that if Carlo quits, Sam, his close friend will do the same.
4. Boss Tony Rizzo, the captain of the crew that includes Carlo and Sam needs to kill them as they have been dealing drugs and because Carlo’s ranting about “the ghost of Lou
Tasca will draw heat. The death penalty for dealing drugs is part of the Mafia oath (old ways). Russian Mafia kingpin, Oleg Oransky tells Tony, that, unlike the Russian mob, the Italian American Mafia has too many rules. “Why assassinate two enterprising young men?” Oleg is an FBI informant who is wearing a wire. The conversation tells the FBI Carlo and Sam are in danger and the FBI and Oleg proceed to try to beat Tony’s hitman to Carlo’s apartment and save them and get them to join witness protection. Lou and Solomon are already working on both Carlo and Sam to do just that. The ending is set-up.
5. In Carlo’s apartment, Tony has arrived to find Carlo, Sam, Sherrie, and Oleg present and calls all of them “lousy stinking rats” for wanting to surrender to the FBI and Witness Protection. Tony is still committed to the mores of the mob that “flipping” is wrong. In spite of Carlo, Sam, Sherrie, and Oleg trying to persuade him that it is good to turn from crime, he is unswayed until the FBI enter with Tony’s wife (Lisa). It turns out Lisa was an FBI informant all along. She finally persuades him to surrender, “Can’t you see that you’ll get a lesser penalty for your crimes and that in prison you’ll get help for your gambling addiction and our new life and identity will be good for our marriage and the children?”
The mission is accomplished. This is the Epilogue of the screenplay: Because of Solomon and Lou, not only Carlo and Sam will leave the mob, but so will Tony to the benefit of his family. Solomon calls it a “jackpot of souls.” END.
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Mark Smith/ASSIGNMENT/ Day 10
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Brainstorm at least 5 Question challenged and 5 Counterexamples you can put in your screenplay.
1. Go through your story outline or script and brainstorm the following:
– 5 Question Challenges to an Old Way.
What do we have to lose if teachers like us refuse to give passing grades to undeserving students athletes?
How much longer can we ignore how sexist the principal is in dealing with female teachers?
As a responsible teacher, how can I change a student’s grade to a “C” when they never attended my class?
What really will happen if a speak up about the abuses going on by this administration?
Is ignoring what occurs in the school really worth the price of keeping my job, gaining a positive job recommendation for the future, yet not being able to sleep at night?
– 5 Counterexamples to an Old Way.
Robert Kennedy does his homework, speaks up in class, and tells Big Mo that he feels better about himself, even if he gets the same passing grade as Don Arnold who is “handed” his grade to stay eligible for basketball.
Frank Hammond tells the female teachers that he has seen examples where teachers have much more power by sticking together as a group, even if they need to challenge the abuse by the principal.
Teacher Ashmore continues to stay positive, maintaining his after school “help” sessions for all students, even volunteering to come in early to help athletes who fail to come to his class regularly.
Counselor Gwen Brown shares school supplies with other teachers rather than take “cuts” from the sale of items by Big Mo in her classroom.
As counselor, Frank Hammond continues to monitor and discuss the classroom work of troubled students, despite pressure from principal to focus his attention on focusing on only certain high-profile students.
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Suzanne Kelman – Counter Examples
Old Way
He is part of the KGB and must follow orders.
Challenge
If he doesn’t bend the rules he will not find out how his father died.
Old Way
Not caring about the training and hoping they will remove him from the mission
Challenge
When his first partner dies because of his negligence he makes the decision to never let that happen again
Old Way
He toes the line when he starts the mission wanting to get it over with.
Challenge
When The Russian change side and decide to work with the allies – he goes rogue to protect him and his new partner.
Old Ways
He is offered and would have taken the information about his father.
Challenge
He chooses to save his partner’s life from a firing squad in exchange for helping the British and losing the most important info he is seeking.
Old Ways
He would have chosen his own desires over serving his country.
Challenge
He has to choose to give up the woman he loves in order to serve his new country.
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DAY 10 ASSIGNMENT – CHALLENGING OLD WAYS – COUNTEREXAMPLES
Joshua Doerksen’s Counterexamples
WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT:
The subtlety of Counterexamples in challenging character complexity can be more powerful than the action itself.
I.) OLD WAYS: LEGACY IS POWER
CHALLENGES:
The Board of Directors essentially condemn the current state of Bishop Enterprises pointing to slow decline in market standing and questioning Bill’s capacity as Director.
Bill lambastes the Board for placing the priority of economics over principle, which is a sentiment contrary to their executive function. Bill asserts his mandate:
“I want the Bishop name to mean more than a fancy sign on a skyscraper! I want to know that Bishop Enterprises means more than a trust fund I left behind when I’m gone!”.
The challenge is to Bill’s definition of legacy.
COUNTEREXAMPLES:
The Board of Directors of Bishop Enterprises have lost trust in Bill’s leadership capabilities and strategize to remove him as Director. This is a direct Action/Consequence of Bill’s stalwart resolve to follow his own beliefs despite the feelings of others.
II.) OLD WAYS: FEAR. PRIDE.
CHALLENGES:
Bill vehemently squashes the prospect of reexamining the Turing Tech Program citing his original decision; the viability of the research itself and the instability of experimental technology. It is a departure from his earlier thinking and a decision born of fear – possibly even guilt and remorse.
COUNTEREXPAMPLES:
The Board believes the TTP is the right course of action to survive a dynamic market shift of the 1970’s. Though the hallmark of the company has always been progressive forward thinking in technology advancement, Bill is resistant to explore the option that seems most aligned with the company’s mission and likely to solidify a legacy on which it was founded. Bill’s past behavior is mirrored by his own Board of Directors.
III.) OLD WAYS: RELATIONSHIPS ARE TRANSACTIONAL.
CHALLENGES:
The Board has taken the action to remove Bill as Director of his own company questioning his mental capacity. This action reinforces for Bill the idea that loyalties run thin where money and power are threatened.
COUNTEREXAMPLES:
Edward stands alone in defending Bill to the Board. He places his loyalty above all else in what he truly believes to be just. Edward’s resolve in this matter is remarkable, and it demonstrates to Bill what he had not previously recognized in his personal life.
CHALLENGES:
Dr. Pratt is simply unimpressed by status or influence with respect to Bill. She can see beyond his genius and stoic façade through to a fragility of heart. The foundation of this relationship, of which his entire working legacy hangs in the balance, cannot be purchased or manipulated.
COUNTEREXAMPLES:
Bill sees in Dr. Pratt the struggle of success he so often persevered himself. Though he has experienced the gentle, compassionate care of Dr. Pratt, he recognizes the misinterpretation of her cold exterior like posture within the confines of the rigid institutional domain.
IV.) JUSTICE IS EQUITABLE FOR ALL. IGNORANCE.
CHALLENGES:
When forced to decide whether to fight for his company or his soul, Bill not only learns to define true legacy, he realizes a truth he had long overlooked: justice is not always equitable.
COUNTEREXAMPLES:
In fighting for his company Bill is presented with a victory he would not normally have seen as such. The settlement offered by the Board essentially represents all that he currently values yet everything he would have previously resented. Bill prevails in his fight without fighting at all.
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Frank Jordan’s Day 10 Assignment (Challenging Old Ways – Counterexamples)
What I learned doing this assignment is that by challenging the Old Ways with “questions” and “counterexamples” we can, perhaps, get people to reconsider their way of thinking or behaving.
5 Question Challenges to an Old Way:
1. ELIJAH “Make me a promise?” FREDDIE (age 8) “Anythin’ ‘Lijah.” ELIJAH “There’s a great big world out yonder, waitin’ just for you. Never surrender your hopes, and dreams. Dream big.”
2. CPL. THOMAS “Think the army’s gonna let these niggas fight?” SGT. HELLER “Best heed how you refer to my men, corporal.”
3. FREDDIE “Why should we risk our lives for a country that treats us like dirt?” SUGAR FOOT “Can’t you see? If we fight, we can show everybody what we made of. What we can do. Our opportunities will come.”
4. MOSES (after being abused) “This ever gonna end? FREDDIE “We can’t control what other folk do, or say. Every man gotta search his own soul, colored or white, and be accountable for his own self.”
5. SGT. HELLER “How can we ask a man, any man, to fight and maybe die for his country when his country don’t want ’em?” CPL. THOMAS “I don’t understand.”
5 Counterexamples to an Old Way (using Experience):
1. Sgt. Heller slugs an MP who has whacked Freddie in the back with his club. (Stark contrast to home where whites would stand back and watch, or participate, in the beatings of black men and boys.
2. Lt. Heller (promoted) shares his canteen with Freddie after a trench raid in which Freddie kills his first man, and survives a near-death situation. (Stark contrast to the Whites and Colored Only water fountains back home.)
3. Freddie’s short leave in Paris fulfills his dream of seeing the ‘big-city.’ Freddie, Moses, and Sugar Foot slowly make their way along the crowded street. Parisians of every nationality come and go. / A handful of young French soldiers pass in the opposite direction. Mixed races, drunk, laughing. / Freddie glances around. The club is filled with a diverse crowd of soldiers and civilians, young and old, men and women, mixed races, enjoying their evening (watching Lt. James Reese Europe, black American, and his octet play Memphis Blues). This experience didn’t exist in South Carolina.
4. After learning that Freddie can’t write, Lt. Heller writes a letter to Pearl, Freddie’s wife. Freddie dictates a beautiful letter. Also describes Lt. Heller to Pearl. (Lt. Heller demonstrates his compassion, not afforded Freddie back home.)
5. Following Lt. Heller’s death on Hill 188, Freddie removes the tattered, blood-soaked American flag he had concealed under his tunic. Freddie stuffs the flag down the front of his own tunic and carries it forward into battle. (Less than a year earlier, Freddie was tripped by a white recruit while gazing at an American flag, entering Camp Jackson.)
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Chris Cornelius’ Counterexamples
What I learned doing this assignment is: These questions being asked by characters in the script are the same questions the audience may want answers to. And that will create a further connection with the lead character – Trish.
– 5 Question Challenges to an Old Way.
Undertaker Tad is trying to appeal to her Old Way by offering her incentives to stay and work for him.
TAD – Wouldn’t you like a life of travel and luxury?
TAD – What more can I offer you?
Bart and Tom are teaching Trish how to shoot a rifle. Trish hits all six cans at the far end of the yard.
TOM – Who’d you say you were?
TRISH – What do you mean? You saw my resume.
TOM – Yeah… one line said you worked for the US Government.
TRISH – That’s right… Former Fed… a summer desk job for Social Security. Worried are you?
TOM – So where’d you learn to shoot.
TRISH – You just taught me.
Trish is discussing here Head vs Heart and Freedom vs Settling Down predicament regarding Tom.
TRISH – Even met a man that has me thinking about settling down.
PHIL – Well hell. You ain’t ever gonna settle down girl. (to guys) Well look at her.
JOHN – I am looking at her… and I see someone that’s going to do whatever she decides to do,
SON (present story line) – How could you have done that… and alone? What if you had an accident? And weren’t you worried about the people you’d meet?
TRISH – It was actually sad leaving the people I met, but I learned I’d cheer up by meeting new people. When one door closes another opens.
LA BOY – You came all the way across the country on this?
ANDY – I like watchin them fly. Must feel great to be that free… Is that why you ride alone?
TRISH – I don’t know. I don’t feel so alone. I’m with whomever I want to be with. I just think about them. And I can be whoever I want to be ’cause there’s no one around to define me.
– 5 Counterexamples to an Old Way.
Chilhood friends of Trish’s brothers sexually discriminate against her on their way to crabbing..
FRIEND DON – Woah, we’ not goin’ anywhere widda girl.
BOTHER STEVE – Girl? What girl?
FRIEND ROB – Girls can’t go crabbin.’
YOUNG BROTHER ARTY – That’s not a girl… That’s our sister.
During the Intervention to discourage Trish from taking her cross county motorcycle trip.
AUNT – Your poor mother.
BROTHER TED – Yeah…We give you a fifty-fifty chance of survival.
AUNT – Working at Harvard couldn’t you just meet a nice professor and settle down?
COUSIN CATH – Your not going alone are you?
COUSIN CATH – What do you have a death wish or something?
Trish is confiding in the Vietnam Vets about her issues with Tom’s marijuana business.
TRISH – This Mississippi man is a bit of an outlaw.
JOHN – Really? What’s he doing?
TRISH – Growing pot.
PHIL – Awe shit… You’re worried about that? Got news for you girl.
John and Joey feel uncomfortable. John quickly interrupts.
JOHN – You wet-backed it from Mexico today. That makes you a bit off an outlaw.
WOMAN at rest area – … Are you running into any problems traveling alone?
TRISH – Not so far.
WOMAN – Do you carry a gun?
TRISH – Not a Real one.
WOMAN – You ought to at least pick up a can of mace.
TRISH – Hmm… Yeah… Maybe I should.
TRASH TRUCK DRIVER – Hey biker chick. Hows about you an me go out for some beers and some fun?
Trish shakes her head.
TRUCK DRIVER – That’s what you been doin’ ain’t it? Ridin’ round, campin out, makin a little love…
TRISH (25/VO) – Had to hand it to him… That just about summed it up.
Matt is dealing with cocaine and feels comfortable as a natrurist.
MATT – What are you gonna do… drag those (sheets) through the woods with you? I take ev’ry chance I get to walk naked in nature. It feels great!
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What I learned doing this assignment is there are subliminal ways you can get your audience to shift from Old Ways to New Ways: Question Challenges to an Old Way and Counterexample Challenges to an Old Way. The latter can be through Dialogue, Experience, or Character. The following five Old Ways appear across a number of different episodes of the series.
Old Way 1: 15 or 20 players on the field from each team
Experience Counterexample: Camp sees the 1873 Eton v. Yale football match, which has 11 players on the field per team and realizes the game is livelier and the ball more visible to the spectators. Harvard keeps pushing for 15 players, but over time it becomes clear 11 is a better number and they yield to Camp/Yale.
Old Way 2: Hopkins School students play baseball for free, but only the wealthy kids can play away games in other towns
Counterexample Challenge: Camp, on hearing that the baseball team is scheduled for an out-of-town game, touches his pocket, making Jennings aware he’s concerned about money. Jennings offers to pay, but Camp says no. Jennings asks how Camp will be able to get to the game. Camp consults with the Yale baseball captain and implements a subscription and ticket model so the team can pay for umpires and travel to away games.
Old Way 3: control over the ball inside the rugby scrum
Experience Counterexample Challenge combined with Question Challenge: Camp asks Baker if he noticed how Harvard deliberately moved the ball backwards, rather than forwards in the scrum as they heaved their bodies forward, which was counterintuitive to wanting to move the ball forward on the field. Baker, who hadn’t thought strategy was possible in football, agrees to try out the technique at the next practice. It works, so Yale starts using the technique in games.
Old Way 4: the rugby scrum
Question Challenge: Camp asks why have the scrum. He suggests the line of scrimmage would give spectators a chance to see the ball, would give teams a chance to implement strategy instead of letting brute force and luck determine where the ball goes.
Old Way 5: the team with the ball controls it until it is intercepted by the opposite team
Question Challenge: Camp asks why not implement a system where the team in possession of the ball must advance it a certain distance in a certain number of tries, otherwise the other team gains possession. This leads to the grid lines being chalked on the field.
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Scott Richards’ Counterexamples
What I learned doing this assignment is that by questioning the old ways can amplify the profound change throughout the story.
Questions:
1 – Old Way: Self-loathing – Throughout the story she is constantly questioned by others and also forced to question herself if she really needs alcohol to forget her problems.
2 – Old Way: Alcoholism – “Aren’t your troubles still there when you sober up?” This plays out as a stark reminder again and again that alcohol is never a solution. She must realize a change or be forever stuck in a cycle of self-destruction.
3 – Old Way: Self-loathing – “How can you possibly find love, or give yourself a chance at meaningful friendships if you shut yourself away from everyone?” This plays out as a realization of truth after she is trapped and needs others to help her.
4 – Old Way: Self-loathing – “How can you say you failed at everything, don’t you have two degrees?” This plays out as her past successes are pointed out.
5 – Old Way: – Shuts herself off from others. – “Is hiding from what troubles you helping, or adding to those troubles?” this plays out as the more she hides, the more adversity she must deal with.
Counterexamples:
1 – Old Way: Believes she is unworthy of love – Harry professes his love for her despite her beliefs she is unworthy of love.
2 – Old Way: Shuts herself off from others – Being a prisoner in an apartment reveals that she not only needs, but wants help from others.
3 – Old Way: Self-loathing – Success at finding and figuring out things shows she is not worthless.
4 – Old Way: Self-loathing – She is smart enough to figure out a cryptic message and clues.
5 – Old Way: Self-loathing – old videos of when she was young shows her as the good, fun-loving person she used to be.
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Brenda Lynn’s Counterexamples
What I learned doing this assignment is that the technique of Counter Example is a great way to hone down the changes and the transformational journey. It makes this trip within my control as a write the story, helping me to build to the conclusion is a dramatic, but holistic way. Love this technique. Helps to build in conflict as well.
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>1) Sense of Entitlement
OLD WAYS: David feels that, as the best in his class, he deserves the top prize, a trip to Lascaux, France to study the artwork in the cave. Life owes him.
CHALLENGE: He learns that life doesn’t owe him anything. He must create his own destiny with love and gratitude.
EXPERIENCE: Fire ceremony with Appo.
2) Competition vs. Love and Acceptance
OLD WAYS: David competes with his brother in his pursuit of his PhD.
CHALLENGE: He accepts that his brother’s dreams do not have to be his own. He can love his brother without competing with him.
DIALOGUE: Appo explains through Maya Game that everyone’s role, no matter what it is, plays a part in the balance of the universe.
3) Learning from Screens instead of experiencing life
OLD WAYS: Always with his head buried in his screen, he ignores the beauty of life around him.
CHALLENGE: Screen backfire on him when he is filmed fighting with Frank.
EXPERIENCE: David learns that if he has his face in his experience, life will pass him by. He tries to photograph the monkeys in the jungle instead of just observing them.
4) Plans are more important than being open to the Cosmos
OLD WAYS: David has his life planned to the nth degree.
CHALLENGE: Appo is dying. David must choose between what he had planned for his life and an opportunity of a life time, to study with Appo before he passes.
DIALOGUE: Father Sean wants David to experience life, not just learn about it from a book so he sends him to Tikal. “Pyramids, jungle, Maya—do you good.”
5) No one can be trusted
OLD WAYS: Father Sean tricked David into going to Tikal.
CHALLENGE: This trick turns out to be an experience that David wouldn’t exchange for all the world.
EXPERIENCE: David must choose between his dreams and plans, or sacrifice them so that he can learn from Appo.
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