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Day 12 Assignment
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7 Replies
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What I learned doing this assignment is that I need to alter some parts of my screenplay with action not dialogue.
I also see that sometimes there can be pivotal things that are left unanswered eg The story takes place over many years. Did Red ever see his parents again? Where did they go? Doesn’t he look towards his siblings? Don’t his parents come back to find him years later?
The dead child’s mother leaves but there’s not enough background to this conclusion to her grieving eg does she blame her husband for the death of their son?
Did Red spend and repay the money he borrowed from Mr Bridges?
Seabiscuit -profound moments
Life can change in the twinkling of an eye. Watching families with a daily banquet losing everything in the Depression. The huge change in material comfort is about as far apart on a continuum as you could get.
People are not what they may seem on the surface. Red’s parents leave him, but have found him work in a safe and secure environment. His father hands him just his books -he has had a love of the classics instilled in him. It is meaningful that the books are what the father chose for Red to take with him, and they are his comfort, his solace in his loneliness.
The manifestation of grief -feelings are not uniform. Mr Bridges’ child dying – doing what his father had pushed him to do -leaving his (preferred) reading and going outside into the fresh air. The mother handled her grief by furiously scrubbing the deck, although this wasn’t something that she would normally do in her genteel life. She can’t cope and leaves permanently.
Be open to checking possibilities out. Mr Bridges meets his future trainer -getting to his ‘level’ by sitting on the ground and drinking his awful coffee, asking him about his methods and impressed by Tom being so frank.
Consider things from a different perspective. The moment when Tom sees the frantic horse on one side with three men trying to hold him, and Red trying to fight a group of attackers on the other, he makes the connection that these two might possibly fit well together.
Trust someone until they let you down. Red asks Mr Bridges for money and is given it, showing that the Boss is willing to trust that Red wouldn’t have asked him if he didn’t need it.
No man is an island. The change in Seabiscuit’s demeanor when a companion horse arrives to share his stall.
Handicaps aren’t necessarily a determining factor. The fact that Red is blind in one eye is discovered/revealed. He has managed to keep this secret -one wonders how over all that time.
My script.
Insight – Life goes on. (Flatmate) Margie’s dead fiancé’s family members are upset that she has moved her engagement ring to her right hand, a year after his death. She needs them to understand that she will never forget Pete but needs to have a social life.
Insight – Their marriage wasn’t worth enough to Dave to even ask Ros if a rumor was true, instead he reacted in anger and violence. She collects necessary documents and photos and hides them in her car.
Insight- Sometimes your best will never be good enough when prejudices are leading. Matt begins an independent life at 18, but over a decade later he’s still trying to gain acceptance from his adoptive parents. (Unresolved at the moment in my script. Not sure what I’ll do, but not everything in life has a happy ending.)
Insight – the fear (1970s, 80s ) of a gay son being ‘outed’ and the deceit needed to keep up a facade. Rory’s parents are still waiting for him to meet the ‘right’ girl, accepting Rory’s partner as his friend. Matt spends time with both his brothers and supports Rory one hundred per cent, but the adoptive parents don’t know that the three boys spend so much time together. (At the moment this isn’t resolved with an action that reunites the adoptive parents with Matt and his children -nor Rory’s sexuality. I had planned to leave it unresolved but will think if it needs a happy ending.)
Insight – Do not presume, judge, put people into boxes. Dave discovers his parents also lost a child to adoption before they married. Dave does end up ‘getting it,’ talks with his mother, meets and begins an ongoing relationship with his elder sister, and seeks out Ros (still in the same city -just a few suburbs away) to try and make amends for his cruel and judgmental ending of their marriage.
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Lori’s Analysis of Seabiscuit
What I learned from this assignment is to think of my character’s new ways as actions that can and need to take place.
Assignment 1
Profound Moments in Seabiscuit:
Intrigue: Before the Great Depression, if someone had a big dream and the guts to follow it, there was a fortune to be made.
“Where can’t we go? The sky is literally the limit.”
In a single moment, all dreams can be bashed.
It was interesting to see the effects of the Great Depression on different characters, and the use of actual photographs from that time was intriguing.
Profound Truths:
Quote from Dickinson, “We never know how high we are till we are called to rise.”
“Sometimes, all you have is your dreams.”
“A dream is a chance to turn a life around.”
“You don’t throw a whole life away just because it’s banged up a little.” This statement proved true for two lame horses that were rescued and went on to have a purpose, as well as Red, who, even though he was blind in one eye and had a crushed leg, went on to not only walk again but race again. This was also true for Smith and Howard.
“Sometimes the little guy doesn’t know he’s little, and he can do some amazing things.”
Change Agents:
I found Smith an intriguing man because even though he had lost almost everything, he showed up with what little he had and made the most of it with integrity. He was the change agent for the lame horse about to be shot, Seabiscuit, and Red.
The jocky Red was like Seabiscuit, beaten down and forgotten. They were the perfect change agent for one another.
For the first time in a long time, someone (the Howards) cared about Red. He was no longer alone. This allowed for some healing in his heart, and he was able to move forward with his life.
Assignment 2
Lori Turns Insights Into Action
New Way – Action:
Thomas finds joy in simple things. – Thomas offers Miriam a piece of pie at a church social. They have a good laugh.
Thomas allows others to help him.- Thomas accepts the congregation’s help.
Thomas gets past his writer’s block, and hope for the future is restored. – Thomas gives the perfect Christmas sermon about renewed hope.
Thomas becomes aware of boundaries. – Thomas reaches out to the family he offended and apologizes. The family shows up at church on Christmas morning.
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Jeff’s analysis of Seabisquit
What I learned is action can play a huge part in a profound moment of a movie. I love this movie and have it in my top 10. I’ve seen it probably 20 times.
Reds life changed when his father passed him off to the trainer. He loved his dad and family and was destroyed and became angry at everyone.
Coming in second by a nose and getting beat and punished.
Breaking his leg helping his first trainer took away the match race from him but what they didn’t say in the movie is he met his wife in the hospital. She was his nurse.
Jeff bridges when he lost his boy was very profound then his wife left him.
Jeff when he meets his trainer -Tom Smith you don’t go throwing something away cause it’s broken down a little bit. Still good for something.
Tom when he sees Seabisquit for the first time – looked right through me
The match race was profound the whole country got behind this exciting event Millions of people watched and biscuit was the underground
The ending was profound that horse won again and in reds words brought all three men together
These moments in the movie are life changing events and many are heart wrenching and the story is true. all four of the main characters were broken down but were all fighters and some miracle brought them all together for some magic profound life moments I always wanted Red to see his dad again in the movie
Assignment 2 Jeff turn insights into action
New ways
3 weirdos change the world
3 unlikely people come together to be each other’s hero
3angry individuals find life’s magic in one another
Action scenes -batting practice at petco
Homeless perspective from a young homeless man
Old western bar fight in a old hotel
A community game where everyone gets involved
I learned that action is a better way to add profound moments in my movies.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Jeff Reynolds.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by
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Amanda’s Seabiscuit Analysis
What I learned doing this assignment is profound moments don’t need dialogue, they can be shown.
Profound moments:
a) Red’s dad gives him his books as he’s left at the stables.
b) Seabiscuit and Red meet again, both have hurt their legs and can barely walk.
c) Red rides Seabiscuit and they both win even though they were not supposed to ride or run again.
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Dale’s Turns Insights into Action
What I learned doing this assignment is to think about showing an insight via action rather than dialogue
New Ways and Insights I’d like audiences to experience when they watch my movie:
1. Antonia stands up for herself with Pickering
2. Antonia stands up for herself with her aunt
3. Antonia puts forth her classification system for consideration
4. Antonia pours herself into a new passion
5. Antonia receives proper recognition
Ways to turn the New Ways/Insights into Action:
1. Antonia leaves the observatory and takes her data with her – writing him that she has no intention of handing that data to anyone else.
2. Despite her aunt telling her she must appear at dinner in “proper attire,” she comes to dinner wearing her usual drab clothing.
3. Antonia, though nervous, stands up in front of the Solar Union and makes an impassioned plea for her classification system. Only one person stands up and claps, that is Danish astronomer Hertzsprung.
4. Antonia returns to HCO and we see her, analyzing data of the binary star, Beta Lyrae, late into the night.
5. Antonia receives the Annie Jump Cannon award, and walks to the stage amidst enthusiastic applause.
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Karen Tolliver Seabiscuit Analysis
What I learned doing this assignment is finding the Profound moments in this film connected the dots about the insightful ending. I’ve watched this movie before and to be honest it was boring to me. This time I could see the impact and felt it, which gave the ending much more meaning.
Profound Moments:
1. Seeing Seabiscuit fighting three men and then Smith, the trainer looks over and sees Red, a jockey fighting four men. That was profound to me because it was a direct correlation the two are Destin for each other.
2. When Charles Howard ask Red “Son, what are you so mad at?” That was profound to me because it explains why Red always got into fights and lost everyone of them, yet something kept driving him to keep going. It was the same for Seabiscuit, all the abuse he took, yet he kept going and going.
3. The quotes, “Though he be little, he’s fierce” (Shakespeare), “Sometimes, someone needs a second chance”, “It’s not in his feet, it’s in his heart” are all testament to how strong Seabiscuit’s heart was. Although he was a little horse he could out run the biggest and the best because of how much heart he had.
4. Both Red and Seabiscuit have broken legs, yet they pushed each other to regain their strength and race again makes it a profound moment to me.
5. The last profound dialogue in the film “Everyone thinks we found this broken down horse and fixed him, but he fixed us, everyone of us.” This is a profound moment because it sums up the whole story just incase you missed it.
Assignment 2
Karen Tolliver Turns Insights Into Action
What I learned doing this assignment is how to turn a movie into a great film. I’ve always had a list of insights I wanted my films to have, but I didn’t know how to incorporate them into the film and now I do. Thanks again ScreenwritingU.
1. New Ways/Insights: Live life for yourself, not for the pleasing of others.
Action: Sharon realizes she’s been living her life for others and takes a chance on a younger man and goes on a date with him.
2. New Ways/Insights: Look inside yourself, find your inner-being and allow it to guide you through all things.
Action: Sharon learns the art of Meditating, and begins to meditate ritually.
3. New Ways/Insights: Know how valuable you are and know your worth.
Action: Sharon gets up every morning, looks in the mirror and tells her self “I am beautiful, no matter what” then she listens to Mary J Blige song “Good Morning Gorgeous”.
4. New Ways/Insights: We are vibrational beings first, then we feel. Always strive to feel happy.
Action: Sharon, Carol, Andrea, and Diane go on a horseback riding trip.
5. New Ways/Insights: Trust Yourself.
Action: Sharon makes a list of all the things she likes about herself. Carol, Andrea, and Diane tell her positive things about herself. Sharon visualizes her future in a dream. Sharon makes a list of all her successes. Sharon visualizes things going well when she booby traps the house for the FBI agent and Steven.
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ASSIGNMENT 1
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Lauren’s Seabiscuit AnalysisWhat I learned doing this assignment:
The profound moments which were revealed in action were usually more powerful than when delivered in dialogue. This was especially the case when the setups were created well.1. Watch the movie SEABISCUIT. As you do, look for the Profound Moments (any moment in the story that seems profound to you).
2. List the Profound Moments, then tell briefly what made them profound for you.
Trainer Tom Smith: “Every horse is good for something… You don’t throw a whole life away just ‘cause he’s banged up a little.”
Profound: This mirrors the jockey’s life. As well as every human being deserves a second chance and to be treated kindly.Seabiscuit is considered no good and taken from his mother.
Profound: Just as Jockey Red Pollard was forced to leave his parents at a young age, so was Seabiscuit. Their lives mirror one another’s.
Jockey Red Pollard and Seabiscuit are both beaten down at every turn by life.
Profound: They represent the underdog. They mirror each other in many ways.
Trainer Tom Smith sees into horses hearts, beyond the outer appearance. He can see their worth.
Profound: He sees the worth in human beings as well and finds two kindred spirits in Seabiscuit and the Jockey.
Trainer Tom Smith asks Jockey Red to run Seabiscuit until he stops.
Profound: Both Horse and Rider rediscover the freedom and joy in life again.
Owner Charles Howard: “Sometimes when the little guy doesn’t know he’s a little guy, he can do great, big things.”
Profound: Perspective is more powerful than anyone can imagine.
After Seabiscuit’s first win, people from lower income levels attend the next race. Everyone loves an underdog.
Profound: Seabiscuit brings people together, lifts a despondent nation, at a time when everyone needed to believe in something more than ever.Owner Charles Howard: “Sometimes all someone needs is a second chance.”
Profound: This is true for anyone, human beings and animals.
When they discover the Jockey is blind in one eye, Trainer Tom Smith wants to get rid of him. But Owner Charles Howard repeats Trainer’s own words back to him: “You don’t throw a whole life away just because he’s banged up a little bit.”
Profound: This is the Trainer’s philosophy and the Owner now believes it.Owner Charles Howard: “I’d rather have a horse like this than a hundred War Admirals.”
Profound: He has so much faith in Seabiscuit and Jockey Red Pollard, he refuses to give up on them, no matter what anyone says about them.Owner Charles Howard: “ Our horse is too small. Our Jockey is too big. Our Trainer is too old. And I’m too dumb to know the difference.”
Profound: The Owner believes in his team. His faith and upbeat attitude is infectious. He sees passed outward appearances and keeps everyone’s hope alive within the sound of his voice.Seabiscuit and Jockey Red Pollard both acquire severe injuries.
Profound: Both are given the diagnosis that they will never race again.Seabiscuit and Jockey Red Pollard help each other recover from their terrible injuries.
Profound: They are very much individuals yet, they each need the other to overcome their trials.Owner Charles Howard doesn’t want Red Pollard to ride because he may never be able to walk again if he has another injury. Jockey George Woolf tells him: “I think it’s better to break a man’s leg than his heart.”
Profound: Even when one is not able to walk, one is still alive. But a broken spirit is the same as death.
Red Pollard referring to Seabiscuit: “We kind of fixed each other.”
Profound: Horse and Rider needed each other. They were stronger together. They brought the entire nation together. They represented that no matter what one goes through, the future can have moments of brightness and hope.ASSIGNMENT 2
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Lauren’s Turns Insights Into Action
What I learned doing this assignment:
How to present the New Ways through Action.
I need to work on this skill a lot more but I’m really enjoying learning the process of creating profound moments.1. Create a list of the New Ways and Insights you’d like audiences to experience when they watch your movie.
New Ways:
(Solution State:) She forgives herself for her crimes, sacrifices herself, saving the victims of sex slavery and destroys the trafficking group.(Her new way of being can be described as:)
Openhearted
Brokenhearted over her evil deeds
Her freewill has returned
Loves the trafficked children and will sacrifice herself to save them
Dies in the process of destroying the ringInsights:
1 Even after doing horrible things, one can change their life and do something good for others.
2 Looking outside oneself and serving others can be the beginning of a transformation into a higher self.
3 Our life’s purpose is usually right in front of us our entire lives.4 Forgiving ourselves is the first step in healing.
5 Death and sacrifice can bring life and renewal.
6 Sacrificing oneself for others can begin the healing process.
7 Life can change in an instant.
8 Dreams of the one sometimes must be set aside for the dreams of many innocents.
9 Life can be truly unfair. But there’s usually a reason.
2. With that list, brainstorm ways to turn the New Ways / Insights into Action. Come up with at least five (5) New Ways and the Action that will express them.
1 New Way / Insight: Looking outside of oneself and serving others can be the beginning of a transformation into a higher self.
Action: The woman gives her meager portion of food to three starving children within the compound. She stands a little taller afterwards, a small smile breaks across her face.
2 New Way / Insight: Death and sacrifice can bring life and renewal.
Action: The woman leads the rest of the children out of the compound and tells them to run to Asher. She reenters and destroys the compound with members of the organization inside. Asher and the children watch the compound burn.
3 New Way / Insight: Life can be truly unfair. But there’s usually a reason.
Action: The woman wakes in the organ harvesting portion of the compound. She’s in tremendous pain after the surgery. She discovers other children there that she’s never seen before. She makes the decision to help them. She finds the weakness in the organization.
4 New Way / Insight: Life can change in an instant.
Action: The woman meets her brother, Asher. He recounts her life with her real family. She suddenly knows where she comes from and learns she wasn’t thrown away.
5 New Way / Insight: Our life’s purpose is usually right in front of us our entire lives.
Action: The woman comforts a child who’s been recently beaten. She tends to his wounds, helps him eat and drink. She searches the faces of the other children and smiles. She’s determined to change what’s happening.
6 New Way / Insight: Sacrificing oneself for others can begin the healing process.
Action: A child is caught hiding a piece of bread in his pocket and is about to be punished. The woman rushes the guard, knocking him over. She is beaten in the child’s place.
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