Day 14 Assignments

[Joshua Doerksen]

DAY 14 ASSIGNMENT – PROFOUND MOMENTS – IRONY DELIVERS INSIGHT

Joshua Doerksen Delivers Irony!

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT:

I found opportunities for developing irony within my screenplay that existed in many of the identified conflicts. By accentuating these ironies, the audience is engaged in a subliminal deciphering of them which essentially lends to developing the profound truth of the movie.

IRONIES:

1.) Bill fights to keep the Board of Directors from developing a program that could save his own company from a terrible fate yet losing his own company restores his true legacy and saves Bill from a fate he personally considered worse than death.

2.) Bill can see in Dr. Pratt both the traits of the person he considers himself to be and the traits of the person that he wants to become.

3.) Edward’s loyalty to Bill is evident in a friendship that Bill values for being one of few in his life that were truly non-transactional, although actually is.

4.) Bill’s great successes in life are built on a perseverance through loss. Bill’s redemption of soul and spiritual growth will come through embracing that loss.

5.) Bill will realize true victory through defeat.

[Robert Smith]

Robert R. Smith Day 14 Delivers Irony

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS to be vigiliant in adding irony which adds humor and insight.

1. Step 1: Where could you build opposite experiences into your screenplay?

1. Oleg the Russian Mafia kingpin appears to help Boss Tony Rizzo plan to kill Carlo and Sam, but he is actually an FBI informant who tries to save their lives.

2. Lou and Solomon initially don’t like Psychic Stripper, Zoey Platt. But unexpectedly her Séance reinforces Lou’s mission to get Carlo and Sam to quit the mob. They call her an angel.

3. In a flashback about Rabbi Solomon’s earlier life as an accountant in the crime-ridden Garment District. Solomon witnesses the stabbing of another employee in a mob hit. He runs to his side calling for an ambulance for the dying man. The man says, “I don’t need no ambulance. I need a priest.” Solomon says, “Well, I’m a Rabbi and I”ve studied your religion.” The dying man says, “It’s okay. Go ahead. Say some prayers.” Solomon proceeds to say a string of randomLatin phrases, e.g., “E pluribus unum. Gluteus Maximus. Tempus Fugit, Carpe diem, De facto. Ay-men.” The man says, “Thank you Rabbi. A priest couldn’t have done it better.” He dies. Solomon looks heaven-ward and prays, “Forgive me, Lord of the Universe. I was just trying to do good for a dying man.”

4. Sam (Solomon’son who joins the mob), defends himself, saying. “So what, you used to tell me that your uncle Abe was an enforcer for Meyer Lansky. But wouldn’t rough up anyone on Shabbos.” Solomon: “I never said it was right for a Jew to be a gangster.”

5. Tony Rizzo is about to kill Carlo, Sherrie, Sam, and Oleg when they try to talk him into turning state’s evidence also. The FBI arrives and encourages him to do likewise. Finally, Tony’s wife (Lisa) arrives and said it’s okay to be rat and join Witness protection because in the end it will help their family and marriage..

2. Step 2: What is the New Way/Insight you want to deliver through ‘the above’?

1. INSIGHT of #1 (above): Expect the unexpected good.

2. INSIGHT “ #2 (above): The people you don’t like could end up doing good for you and you’ll like them..

3. INSIGHT of #3 (above): All religions do good and produce good.

4. INSIGHT of #4 (above): There are competing values, but a commitment to the best values is always paramount.

5. INSIGHT: It is okay to not do bad by criminal values in order to do good by moral values and the law.

2 Come up with at least five (5) different ways you can create IRONY in your screenplay and deliver an insight.

1. God ordered Solomon to serve as a spirit guide and coach for Lou and to stay out of the game. But when Solomon learns from overhearing Oleg that Boss Tony Rizzo has dispatched a hitman to kill Carlo and Sam, Solomon begs God to allow him back into the game as to warn Carlo and his son (Sam) to surrender to the FBI. In an Epiphany of music like the bombastic score of a Hollywood Biblical Epic, God allows it. Solomon says to God: “I never expected your voice from heaven to be a sound from Hollywood. But thank you.” INSIGHT: Even God can change his mind.

2. Zoey the Psychic Stripper recounts her experience in Taiwan with Funeral Strippers: She says they bring comfort to those who mourn and bring peace to the deceased. INSIGHT: Strange customs can do good. Another INSIGHT: While Zoey is involved in a carnal profession and is the mistress of Boss Tony Rizzo, there is an innocence and goodness about her.

3. Zoey the Psychic Stripper learned both belly dancing and spirit mediumship in Egypt and she leads a Séance in which King Tutankhamun and his discoverer (Howard Carter) appear to explain that the story of a curse on the King’s tomb was a creation of newspapers in order to sell newspapers. There is no curse on the tomb but there is on the $200K for which Tony ordered Carlo to kill Lou because it was Tony’s gambling debt to Lou that he didn’t want to pay. INSIGHT: Zoey demonstrates you can be both carnal and spiritual without contradiction. Moreover, there is a world beyond this world, which reinforces the mission of Lou Tasca, who to get Carlo to leave the mob has possessed him.

4. Sherrie, Carlo’s fiancé, is also a stripper but wants Carlo to surrender to Witness Protection. INSIGHT: Ironically, she has values that perhaps society would not expect of a sex-worker.

5. Contrary to every value taught to him by his father, Sam follows Tony’s order and is the hitman dispatched to kill Carlo, no knowing that after killing Carlo, Tony will kill him. INSIGHT: Doing evil leads to more evil which eventually leads to consequences. . Once caught up in a criminal enterprise, it is easy to get stuck doing more crimes.

[Christine Cornelius]

Chris Cornelius Delivers Irony!

What I learned doing this assignment is: contrasting scenes create more impact and show rather than tell the story.

Trish rejects all of the undertaker’s proposals to get her to stay in Nashville, because it would mean leaving all the things she enjoys behind in Cambridge.

Then, shortly after, Trish falls in love with Tom and his Natchez world and doesn’t want to leave.

Trish evades a direct answer to James’ question about whether or not she could be more than just a travel companion with him. Her answer, ‘Things like that take time with me.’

The next day Trish and, love-at-first-sight, Tom are posing for a picture. James is having some trouble operating Tom’s camera and says, ‘Things like this take time with me.’

Trish is questioning the Vietnam vets about her quandary of wanting to be with Tom… ‘But he’s a bit of an outlaw.’

One of the vets retorts, ‘You just wet-backed it to the US from Mexico. That makes you a bit of an outlaw.’

Trish wanted to ride alone so, she and James went separate ways in Southern Texas. Trish is grossed out by a trash truck driver at a rest area. ‘Hey there biker chick… Hows ‘ bout you an’ me go out for a beer and some fun?’

Trish’s thinking voice over, ‘ So’s this what I’m in for now that James is gone.

TRUCKER—That’s whachu been doin’ain’t it? Ridin’ ‘round, campin’ out, makin’ a little love…

TRISH’s VO thoughts, ‘Have to hand it to him. That just about summed it up.’

In D.C . Trish is visiting with her Afro-American undergraduate roommate Sandy. They sit at a table eating her mother’s cookies and talking about what to keep from their upbringing. Trish holds up a cookie and says, ‘I’ll keep these.’

In Mississippi, Trish and Tom are sitting at a table in a restaurant when Trish discovers that blacks eat in the back of the building.

TOM – It’s understood this place serves whites only.

TRISH – You mean my own best friend Sandy wouldn’t be able to come here with me because she’s black?

TOM – Guess not.

On boring Highway 90 Trish is entertained by a biker, Pete, doing stunts on his bike alongside her. They carry on this dance/romance for many miles.

TRISH VO –Something about this felt right to me—two people riding, available to but independent of each other, sharing a wonderful time down a highway heading in the same direction—a recipe for life—intoxicating, seductive. I want it to last longer.

This is a good-bye to her single life’

Before they part Trish says, ‘Hey let me feel your throttle hand.’ And ‘I’ll never forget you.’

And she’s off to Mississippi-and family life.

[Frank Jordan]

Frank Jordan’s Day 14 Assignment (Delivers Irony)

What I learned doing this assignment is that adding irony to a screenplay can add profound insight. Irony is a powerful tool.

1. In 1917, Freddie Stowers is drafted and mandated to risk his life for a country that suppresses his life. (Insight: Do your duty or face prosecution)

2. After slugging an MP for beating Freddie and his men with a club, Sgt. Heller is hauled away. One week later, Sgt. Heller returns to the platoon after being promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. (Insight: Virtue is its own reward)

3. On the eve of battle, Lt. Heller tells Freddie, “It’s all right to be scared.” After the horrors of life in the Jim Crow south and three months in the trenches on the Western Front, Freddie responds, “I never been more at peace.” (Insight: Finding inner peace in the face of mortality)

4. Freddie’s selfless acts of courage results in victory for his regiment and his country, but costs him his life. (Insight: Liberty comes at a price)

5. Following Freddie’s heroism on Hill 188, on September 28, 1918, he is recommended for the Medal of Honor by two white officers. Not until his “misplaced” file is discovered in the late 1980’s is his sacrifice rewarded. On April 24, 1991, nearly 73 years later, President George H.W. Bush awards the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to Freddie’s two surviving sisters (ages 96 and 91 at the time). Freddie Stowers is the first black soldier from either World War I or World War II to be awarded the Medal of Honor. (Insight: Systemic racism in the government and military)

[Scott Richards]

Scott Richards Delivers Irony!

What I learned doing this assignment is that taking myself out of my comfort zone to brainstorm irony, I become more comfortable with the idea, and I find new ways to add depth to my story.

1 – New way: Addiction is destructive – In trying to save a dying plant, overwaters it and ends up killing it.

2 – new way: Independence, thinking for herself – By trapping her in the apartment, the antag inadvertently shows her that she can think for herself and learn to deal with issues without the help of others.

3 – new way: knows her self worth – by fighting with the antag, telling him that she has no worth, she finds arguments that counters her own words.

[Birgit Myaard]

Birgit Myaard Delivers Irony

What I learned doing this assignment is building in opposites can create irony that will allow the audience to gain new insights. For example, a character can win by losing, or do the right thing for the wrong reason, or do something amazing but then see the credit being given to someone else. All of these situations highlight the new insight.

Once again, my project is too much in its infant stages to get to this point yet, but I can envision a scene like when Harvard lost because even though they got touchdowns, they did not get a goal on their tries, which made them see the need for reform of the scoring rules.

[Brenda Bynum]

Brenda Lynn Delivers Irony

What I learned doing this assignment is that finding the opposite experience for insight helps to add the layer of irony. Gives the story more depth and potential for humor and opening the possibility to change. Amazingly, I had irony already incorporated into the script, but now I can do it consciously, utilizing this tool. Yay!

Step 1. What is the New Way / Insight you want to deliver?

Life is what happens when you are making other plans.

Technology is not all that it is cracked up to be.

To learn from experience and not the documentation of the experience.

Living in harmony with the elements.

Step 2. How could you deliver that insight through opposite experiences?

David plans to the youngest Ph.D candidate and ends up studying to be a Maya priest.

David has been deprived of Internet access for a month. When he gets back on, he discovers that the Internet is more frightening than spending one night alone in the jungle.

When David’s tech gadgets disappear one by one, he has to learn to actual be in life, not just take pictures of it.

He times the fire ceremony only to become entranced by the experience. He eventually sacrifices his last gadget—his FitBit watch. He begins to be “in” his life, instead of watching it from the sidelines. He gives up the counting of time in order to actually exist in time.

David is forced to spend one night alone in the jungle. Once he learns how to live in nature, he can relax and enjoy the experience.