Day 16 Assignments

[Laura Hyler]

Laura Hyler Profound Map Version 1 Day 16

What I learned doing this assignment is that this process gives you a guide that can be changed

when necessary, but it really shows you your path and where you are heading.

1) My profound truth is that interracial couples can survive/thrive despite racism as long as they find a means to deal with it.

2) The transformational journey is:

Old Ways: Naomi initially settles for people and situations that she does not have to. She tends to be reserved, is afraid of relationships and is affected by other’s actions/words. She also has a tendency to avoid difficult matters by not discussing them.

Journey: Naomi meets Kofi who she falls for and is soon faced with how to handle others who have less than positive attitudes toward interracial couples, including family and friends from both sides.

New Ways: Naomi gets her confidence back and learns to assert herself. She goes out of her way to keep Kofi in her life.

Transformational Logline: Naive woman who believes that we live in a post racial America learns differently when she falls in love with an African and has to learn how to handle challenging situations in order to keep her relationship.

3) My lead characters are:

· Change agent: Tommy and Tripp

· Transformable character: Naomi

· Oppression: Racism

4) How I connect with my audience in the beginning of the movie:

A. Relatability- universal experiences: Naomi, a widow, has had a bad relationship after the death of her husband. She is a single mom, has a stressful job, a boss that threatens the security of her job when he sees who she is dating, stress from family and friends, especially her sister, and does not assert herself well under contentious situations.

Kofi- has secret past relationship with a white woman that did not work out. Receives pressure from friends to not date outside his race. Is kind to his patients, has a fire destroy his apartment and important documents. Has an employer who mishandles his HB-1 immigration papers, faces deportation, and is also unassertive in contentious situations.

B. Intrigue- Naomi is not sure about embarking on any new relationships. Initially denies feelings for Kofi. She is not always forthcoming in expressing her feelings.

Kofi- hides past failed relationship, but results of it show in new relationship with Naomi when tensions become apparent.

C. Empathy- When Naomi and Kofi split. When Kofi’s apartment burns down. When Naomi mysteriously gets turned down for a job that she was in line for, for a guy that has been watching her for years. When their friends discourage them from pursuing their relationship. When people they do not know look at them funny or make comments.

D. Likability- Naomi is an easy-going person most of the time, she isn’t judgmental, often too nice for her own good.

Kofi- helpful to his patients, kind to others, also tends to be too good for his own good.

5) What is the gradient of change?

Desired Change

Emotional Gradient:

Excitement: Naomi is excited to meet someone she is compatible with.

Doubt: Naomi is fearful of new relationships and is unsure of dating outside her race.

Hope: Naomi is hopeful about her new relationship and people’s attitudes.

Discouragement: Comes from family and friends on both sides, her employer.

Courage: Naomi decides to do what is in her best interest and Kofi’s.

Action Gradient

Setup

Naomi meets Kofi at a charitable fundraiser. After the charity fundraiser they have a “real date.”

Journey

· She is unsure of having any relationship. Naomi is not comfortable putting people in their place, even when she is angry-she is inconsistent

· Naomi continues to date Kofi in spite of disguised prejudices of others. She begins to see him as “the one.”

· When Kofi realizes that Naomi did not tell him that he was invited to her sister’s wedding. It is further complicated when Naomi discovers that Kofi did not tell her that she was left out of Isaac’s wedding. Kofi moves out.

· Naomi stands up to the people in her life. She decides that she’d rather risk losing some relationships than losing the love of her life.

Payoff

· Naomi reconciles with Kofi. She puts people in their place. Tells people that her relationship is not negotiable.

· Naomi and Kofi get married

Challenge/Weakness Gradient:

Challenge: Naomi just came out of a bad relationship. Prior to that she was widowed.

Weakness: She is unsure about a new relationship, and the fact that he is from another race/culture.

Challenge. Naomi must overcome the fear of rejection by family and how to handle racism.

Weakness: Naomi is used to being “nice” even to her own detriment.

Challenge: People’s attitudes, overt and subtle. Workplace tension.

Weakness: Knowing how to respond appropriately and be candid with Kofi.

Challenge: How to get back together with Kofi. How to handle her family and other’s viewpoints and actions.

Weakness: Doesn’t want to lose family connections or disrupt her employment.

Challenge: Putting people in their place, with tact. Reconciling with Kofi.

Weakness: Naomi has difficulty articulating her feelings to all parties.

Challenge: Mustering up the courage to tell people off. Knowing what to say to Kofi.

Weakness: Fear of the unknown, what will happen next?

6. The Transformational Structure of my story is:

MM #1

Hero’s Status Quo, ordinary world ends (pgs. 1-15)

Naomi, widow, 38 (Caucasian), has recently split from a man, Greg (Caucasian), late thirties, who she has been dating for ten years. She has two teenage children. Her employer, a charity decides to hold a dinner date “auction.” Her friend and coworker, Jeanine throws her name and another coworker’s name in the pool of potential “dates.

Tommy, a guy who has reputation, and Naomi detests, puts in a bid for a dinner date with her.

Kofi, a medical doctor, who recognizes Naomi from an incident in a bar, puts in his bid and outbids Tommy.

Hope: Naomi decides to go along with the dinner date fundraiser despite her reticence.

Challenge: Naomi is still angry at Greg. She finds herself missing her deceased husband, especially when other relationships fail.

Weakness: Fear of the unknown

MM # 2 (pgs. 15-30)

Turning Point: Call to Adventure

Naomi runs into Tommy at the dinner, and also, Cal, her good friend (Letitia’s) brother. Tommy makes and embarrassing comment to Kofi. Cal makes a snide remark to Naomi. She and Kofi have an enjoyable evening.

Kofi asks Naomi for a “real date.” Naomi accepts.

Excitement: Meeting a new person and having a good time despite her doubts.

Doubt: trying to learn ways of coping with people’s opinions, prejudices

MM # 3 (pgs. 30-45)

Turning Point: Locked In

Naomi and Kofi go out to dinner. They discover that they have more in common than they thought.

A week later, they go on a hiking date. During the hike, Naomi overhears a conversation between other hikers. Subconsciously, she knows that comments made were directed at her and Kofi. Kofi pretends not to have heard.

Greg calls Naomi and asks her to lunch. She reluctantly agrees. Greg tries to get Naomi back. He makes biased comments and Naomi leaves.

Discouragement: Naomi would like to keep seeing Kofi, but she unsure how to handle people around her.

MM # 4 (pgs. 45-60)

Turning Point: Standard Ways Fail

Kofi receives invitation to his friend, Isaac’s wedding. Naomi is not included. Kofi says nothing to Naomi and attends the wedding.

Naomi and Kofi attend a concert with Letitia. Naomi notices the reaction of a couple of white guys when they realize Kofi is her date.

When Kofi’s apartment catches fire, Naomi offers him the guestroom.

Naomi receives a wedding invitation from her sister. Kofi is not included. Naomi does not know how to handle it. She confronts her sister, and declines being the Maid of Honor. Her sister advises her that she will not be able to ride in the limousine with her children to the wedding.

Letitia and Cal have an unpleasant conversation with Naomi about why she shouldn’t date a black man.

Tommy is promoted to a position in Naomi’s organization that she was well qualified for.

Discouragement: Naomi’s non-confrontational style is becoming a problem. She feels deflated.

MM # 5 (pgs. 60-75)

Turning Point: Plan backfires

En route to her sister’s wedding, Naomi gets a flat tire.

She meets an older man, Richard, who helps her with the tire. In the brief time she knows him, he serves as a mentor.

Kofi gets off work early and shows up at Charlie (Naomi’s sister’s) wedding. Kofi overhears a conversation between town wedding guests and becomes angry. Naomi asks him what is wrong, and he tells her that he is angry that she did not tell him that he was not invited. He leaves abruptly.

Doubt: Naomi fears losing the relationship

Discouragement: the culmination of friend’s, family and society’s opinions

MM # 6 (pgs. 75-90)

Turning Point: The Decision to Change

Naomi returns home to find no trace of Kofi. Over the next two weeks, she tries to make contact. Out of desperation, she goes to Kofi’s office. She is told that he is off that day.

She bumps into Isaac, who tells her that their employer screwed up Kofi’s HB-1 renewal paperwork, and that he is going to be deported.

Naomi goes to immigration and asks if there is anything she could do to prevent Kofi’s deportation. A clerk advises her that she can act as a sponsor until the employer, County Medical, gets their paperwork in.

Doubt: Naomi doesn’t know if she will stop Kofi in time, or if she will ever see him again.

Courage: Naomi decides to prevent the deportation and find Kofi.

MM # 7

Turning Point: The ultimate failure (pgs. 90-105)

Naomi gets stuck in traffic going to the airport. There is an accident and construction. Cars are backed up for miles. Naomi calls Isaac on her cell phone. She pleads with Isaac to call immigration and stop Kofi from leaving.

Naomi finally arrives at the airport. She bargains with security to let her get through the gates.

She runs through the airport. She arrives at the terminal just in time to see the plane take off.

Doubt: Naomi fears never seeing Kofi again. She experiences despair.

MM # 8

Turning Point: Apparent Victory (pgs. 105-120)

Naomi hears a familiar voice behind her. It is Kofi. Immigration stopped his departure just in time.

Naomi is empowered to stand up to her friends, family, coworkers and boss. She now puts people in their place (appropriately).

Some people have come forward to apologize for their own attitudes and behavior.

Turning Point: New Status quo

Naomi and Kofi get married. Their lives settle down.

7. How are the old ways challenged?

Challenge by “Should Work, But Doesn’t

Naomi is not that assertive. She gives in to others wishes often, basically because she wants to avoid confrontation.

Why it doesn’t work: By the nature of giving in to other’s wishes, she risks not being happy and losing the love of her life-Kofi. It also costs her a promotion.

Naomi’s fear of commitment prevents her from re-experiencing past hurts.

Why it doesn’t work: Naomi gets hurt from people who are unable to commit. She doesn’t make Kofi feel as secure as he would like-a potential way of losing him.

Afraid to challenge people’s unsolicited opinions, in an effort to be liked.

Why it doesn’t work: the people who aren’t going to like her, are not going to like her, regardless of what she does or doesn’t do. As soon as she makes choices that she is happy with, those same people are going to be a problem-like her sister, Charlene.

Naomi omits important information from Kofi about her sister’s wedding, because she is unsure of how to handle it.

Why it doesn’t work: Instead of avoiding conflict, Naomi finds herself right in the middle of conflict with the most important person in her life.

Avoidant behavior- because Naomi avoids uncomfortable situations, she ends up in bad predicaments.

Because Naomi is not comfortable talking to Jeanine about her relationship, she misses out on valuable advice.

Challenge by Living Metaphor:

· Lack of Assertiveness: Living Metaphor: Seeing Tommy’s name in the

· company newsletter, as getting the job she was qualified for.

· Fear of Commitment: Living Metaphor: the wedding invitation, her friend’s engagement

· Not challenging unsolicited opinions: Living Metaphor: Her ex-boyfriend, Greg

· Acts of omission to avoid conflict: Living Metaphor: The empty guest room when Kofi leaves

· Avoidant behavior: Living Metaphor: She is alone when everyone else is with their special someone

8. I am presenting Insights Through Profound Moments by:

a. New Way and Insight:

Naomi learns not to be manipulated by Greg. She sees how he used to manipulate her in the past.

Action:

She refuses to continue a discussion that she believes is unreasonable. She cuts Greg off.

b. New Way and Insight:

Naomi is faced with doing something for her company that she doesn’t want to do. She gains insight from Jeanine’s reaction. She realizes this is something she should do for the good of the charity.

Action:

She learns how to be a good sport about it anyway and participates in the auction.

c. New Way and Insight:

Naomi works through her fear of relationships. She starts to see that she has something in common with Kofi.

Action:

Naomi goes out on a date in spite of her reticence.

d. New Way and Insight:

Naomi starts to stand up for herself. Her sister cannot affect her choices by being manipulative.

Action:

Naomi makes the best decision for herself.

e. New Way and Insight:

Naomi is not interested in other’s opinions.

Action:

She is no longer willing to allow others to force their opinions on her and speaks up. The consequences of other’s opinions do not influence her.

f. New Way and Insight

Naomi sees firsthand that we are NOT living in a post racial America.

Action: Naomi is no longer willing to remain silent about things that matter.

Conflict Delivers Insight

Conflict: Naomi’s sister does not invite Kofi to her wedding.

Insight: Naomi is beginning to see things from a different perspective.

Conflict: Kofi’s best friend leaves Naomi out of his wedding guest list.

Insight: Kofi cannot be mad at Naomi for the same thing that he did.

Irony Delivers Insight

Irony: Letitia, Naomi’s African American friend discourages Naomi’s relationship with Kofi.

Insight: Racism on either side is silly.

Irony: Naomi is reluctant to enter a new relationship, in spite of the fact that she really likes Kofi.

Insight: Fear can make you miss out on the best things life has to offer.

What are the most profound lines of the movie?

1) Pg. 3 Anger and hurt feelings not only over break up, but also Greg has a new woman only one week later.

“Relationships are not Happy Meals, Greg” -Naomi (referencing the speed at which he is with someone else).

2) Pg. 42 Kofi is angry with Isaac for leaving Naomi out of his wedding invitations.

“I don’t look for racism, but I expect it. But I didn’t expect it from you!”- Kofi

3) Pg. 45 Naomi is annoyed with Letitia because she is not ready, and she’s wasting time.

“There’s nothing old about you, I just saw you on Tik Tok!” Naomi

4) Pg. 68 Kofi is angry with Naomi after he discovers that he wasn’t invited to her sister’s wedding. Naomi says that her sister is misguided.

“And you think that you’re not misguided by not telling me? That’s like sending someone into enemy territory with no armor. Seriously, Naomi, just ignore problems and maybe they’ll just go away?”

5) Pg. 68 Naomi’s response to Kofi

“What did you want me to say? That I may have some closet racist relatives, but I don’t know who they are?”

How Do I Leave the Audience with a Profound Ending?

A. Express the profound truth: That interracial relationships can survive/thrive.

B. Naomi will come to terms with the fact that she is not living in a “post racial” America.

C. The Change-She learns how to deal with others and be more transparent with Kofi. She decides to stand up to people, because she does not want to lose the love of her life.

D. The payoffs- Naomi and Kofi reunite after coming close to never being able to see one another again. Naomi stops Kofi’s deportation when she realizes that she cannot live without him.

E. Surprising- At the very last moment, she sees the plane take off, it appears that all is lost. Kofi is not on the plane.

F. Parting image- Naomi and Kofi’s wedding

[Sherwen Moore]

You be available to talk about our works?

[Laura Hyler]

I think we’re supposed to make suggestions in the comments. I read yours, but I would like to take a look again and see if there are any comments that would be helpful. I probably won’t be back on here until late Saturday, but if I get a chance before that, I will definitely comment.

Feel free to comment on mine too.

Thanks!

[Sherri Coffee]

Sherri D. Coffee – Profound Map Version 1

What I learned doing this assignment was that I need to brainstorm my story more with the elements.

1. What is your Profound Truth? You have the choice to make a difference.

2. What is the Transformational Journey?

a. Old Ways: naïve, idealistic, book smart. Graduates law degree and wants to “change the world”.

b. Journey: Kathryn begins a new position at a very prestigious lobby firm. Her boss George brings her on board to manage a women’s health client issue. She wants to mix up the advocacy approach and George wants her to “play by the good ole boy rules”. Kathryn must learn the political system and players to passing lifesaving legislation.

c. New Ways: Kathryn develops relationships and forms a coalition of advocates committed to passing legislation. She applies her skills to guide the cause.

d. Transformational Logline: A naïve idealistic recent law graduate accepts a position to “change the world”. She finds her firm resistant to change, and a political system closed to outsiders. To survive, she builds a network of unlikely allies to change the world one step at a time.

3. Who are your Lead Characters?

a. Change Agent: George, Ford Smith

b. Transformational Character: Kathryn

c. Oppression: the firm, political environment

4. How do you connect with your audience in the beginning of the Movie?

a. Relatability: Recent law graduate, new position, excited but unsure of her role.

b. Intrigue: Kathryn maintains a distance from members in the firm. She observes the legislative process and notes key interactions.

c. Empathy: Kathryn fails to establish a coalition focused on the legislation by Christmas. She is given a deadline.

d. Likeability: Hard worker, does not give up when she fails. She is genuine in her relationships.

5. What is the Gradient of the Change?

a. EMOTIONAL GRADIENT: Desire for change. Kathryn wants to be able to influence policy. But she must develop new skills to be able to achieve her goals.

i. Excitement –

ii. Doubt

iii. Discouragement

iv. Hope

v. Discouragement

vi. Hope

vii. Courage

viii. Triumph

b. ACTION GRADIENT:

i. Set up: Kathryn wants to “change the world”. She states, “we cannot wait for progress we have to make progress.”

Payoff: Kathryn sees the end game will not be accomplished without small incremental successes and lots of tenacity. Steep learning curve.

Journey:

Kathryn tries to form a coalition but fails.

She finds someone to lead and establish social media campaign.

She presents facts to politicians with little no impact.

She changes approach and does research to use for influence.

She discovers her friend is not a serious lobbyist. Must separate.

Legislation is being blocked by large contributor. Fails.

Finds ethical mentor to guide her.

Changes approach again and has some impact.

Tenacity and due diligence succeed.

Payoff:

Establishes relationships with shared goal.

Learns how to influence the system.

Understands the game.

Challenge/Weakness Gradient:

Challenge: Kathryn told that “now you have a law degree” I will teach you to lobby.

Weakness: Education arrogance

Challenge: Instructed to focus on politicians.

Weakness: Lack of political knowledge.

Challenge: Advocates question her motive.

Weakness: Assumptions. Conflicting interests and goals.

Challenge: Hire a lobby firm for PR and media.

Weakness: Disbelief of media influencers. Shocked to discover power.

6. What is the Transformational Structure of Your Story?

MM1: Status Quo and Call to Adventure – First day on the joy is a disappointment as she meets each member of the lobby firm. She is given the task to develop a coalition of advocates to influence legislation.

MM2: Locked into Conflict – She begins to search for likely allies and contact them. She discovers that the advocates have an array of competing interests, and they don’t all like each other.

MM3: Hero tries to solve the problem but fails – Kathryn tries to convince the advocates to rally around the legislative cause and the gathering breaks into chaos. Ford attends and has serious doubts about her ability to do the job.

MM4: Hero forms new plan – Kathryn befriends one of the advocates who will support the legislation. She partners with her to increase reach and support.

MM5: Hero retreats and the antagonism prevails – Ford loses patience and informs her that she has 30 days to have the coalition support secured. Kathryn is under pressure.

MM6: Hero’s bigger, better plan – Kathryn looks at her options and realizes she has been trying to form a coalition the networking way. She decides to add in social media and reaches support across the state and the country. She elevates the issue!

MM7: Crisis and Climax – Kathryn reports to Ford all the progress that she has made. She is proud to secure advocates across the state. Ford is horrified that she has used social media. He states that she better have real people show up at the committee hearing – not emails!

MM8: New Status Quo – There are over 50 advocates sitting in the committee hearing room and have signed up to testify. The legislation passes out of committee and the coalition plans for the next hearing.

7. How are the “Old Ways” Challenged?

a. Challenge to educational arrogance: (Questioning) building a coalition has nothing to do with her law degree.

b. Challenge to naïve political beliefs: (Should work but doesn’t) how to conduct business in the political world has a lot to do with the collective party positions and individual legislator motivation.

c. Challenge to coalition member needs: (Questioning and Conflict) Coalition members question her motives.

d. Challenge to pure intentions: (Conflict) She employs a PR firm to help coalition with campaign.

e. Challenge to innocence: (Metaphor, PR firm represents power) Kathryn learns that press releases are published word for word and questions how much media is really just press releases from PR firms.

f. Challenge to innocence: (Metaphor, owner of her firm represents power through political contributions) Owner speaks about “watering the grass to get you on the field” “without this firm, you are nothing” “who are you to question me?” Kathryn discovers contributions that don’t make sense.

g. Challenge: Deception (Metaphor for who you do not want to be) Kathryn meets lobbyist with no morals or ethics.

h. Challenge: Credibility (Metaphor for who you do want to be) Kathryn meets an older lobbyist who has boundaries and ethics.

8. How are you presenting insights through profound moments?

a. Action: She attends morning boot camp and can never complete until the end. Insight: persistence pays off.

b. Action: Doubles tennis match. Insight: strategic thinking pays off.

c. Action: She researches politicians and uncovers some key donors. Insights: knowledge is power.

d. Action: She finds a funding pattern that cannot be explained. Insights: question everything, pay attention, and follow the money.

e. Action: She calls Liz out. Insight: maintain self-respect.

9. What are the Most Profound Lines of the Movie?

Height of emotion: “All of the issues we have discussed are very important to all of us. And all the issues we have discussed impact the people we care about. But if we try to work on all the issues at once, we will lose our power to make an impact. So, for this session, can we try to work on this once issue to see if we as a collective force can make a difference? Because if we can make a difference on this one, then we can grow our collective power to make a difference on all the issues. “

Height of emotion: To a lobbyist. “Don’t you care about your client’s cause?”

Build meaning over multiple scenes: To Liz, “you know Scarlett, tomorrow IS always another day”.

Height of emotion: Kathryn confronts Liz. “Look, you may be interested in dating married politicians, I am not. I did not bust my ass to get through law school to be someone’s “fuck for a session.”

Build meaning over multiple scenes: Names to describe other lobbyists: “FFS – fuck for session” “Biggest baddest” “Useful” “above board” “secret agenda man” “closers” “rainmaker”

Build meaning over multiple scenes: “Game face, show time” – before entering the political arena.

10. How Do You Leave Us with a Profound ending?

A. Profound Truth and Ending: Kathryn’s goal is to “change the world”. When she embarks upon her first coalition building assignment for the firm, she uncovers the truth of the political system. In her quest to gain support for legislation, she uncovers more layers that prevent her success. As she navigates the internal and external politics, she discovers a path forward and realizes that she can make a difference. And small incremental successes make a difference.

B. Lead characters ending represents the change:

Change agent Ford guides Kathryn through the coalition process and educates her on the political process. Feeling the heat from his boss, Ford tries to control her actions. She rebels. He accepts that he cannot control her.

Transformable character Kathryn meets obstacles both inside her firm and outside in the political landscape. She fails but finds a way to succeed by accepting small incremental successes that contribute to her overall plan to “change the world”.

C. Payoff Key Setups:

Setup: Kathryn states that the issue is bigger than this legislation.

Payoff: Kathryn sees the end game will not be accomplished without small incremental success and tenacity.

Setup: Kathryn states we cannot wait for progress, we must make progress.

Payoff: She takes a leadership role and gets the legislation passed.

Setup: Kathryn learns to chip away slowly and apply methodical leverage to inspire change.

Payoff: She can make a difference.

D. Surprising but inevitable. After a heated exchange with the firm’s owner, Kathryn walks out.

E. Leave Us with a Profound Parting Image/Line: Kathryn stands on the capitol steps and hesitates to enter. She observes the other people enter the capitol. She takes a deep breath and walks towards the door, “Scarlett, today IS another day. Game face, show time.”

[Edward Brown]

would you please at this late date look at mine

Edward Brown

[Laura Hyler]

Hi Sherri,

I like your concept. If you can, I would suggest getting your gradients filled out. I find that helps a lot with my story.

Also, under 2a. Transformational logline-you might want to consider condensing naive/idealistic to a single word, like “ambitious.” You also mention that Kathryn takes a position to “change the world,” but it is not clear how she wishes to change the world. What are the “good old boys” doing to thwart her efforts?

I hope this is helpful to you.

Laura H

[Brenda Riolo]

Brenda’s Profound Map Version 1

What I learned doing this assignment is I think I have the basic structure of my story laid out to do a detailed outline, but the Action Gradient needs to be filled out with more detail. This class added important structure to my story that I feel will deliver the ending, and now I need to fill in all the details.

TITLE: HOSPITAL TREASURE HUNT

WRITTEN BY: Brenda Riolo

1. What is Your Profound Truth? Love can heal all hurts.

2. What is the Transformational Journey?

Old Ways: The young girl is lonely and depressed. She doesn’t think her single mother loves her because he’s sick and because she’s always away on treasure hunting gigs. She feels damaged and broken inside and out and not a part of her mother’s life because of her illness. She acts out and treats her mother cruelly sometimes because she knows she’s supposed to love her but she can’t right now.

Journey: A depressed and lonely dying child begs his professional treasure hunter mother to take him on a treasure hunt, and they both discover that treasure and love can be found even in a hospital.

New Ways: The young girl begins to treat her mother with kindness. She begins to understand her as a person, and why she keeps so busy. She learns that there isn’t anything wrong with her other than her illness. The child and mother learn to love each other.

Transformational Logline: A depressed and lonely dying child begs his professional treasure hunter mother to take him on a treasure hunt, and they both discover that treasure and love can be found even in a hospital.

3. Who are Your Lead Characters?

Change Agent (the one causing the change): The Change Agent is the mother. Since it’s her child she feels guilty that her child is depressed and lonely, and she feels obligated to make the child’s final days happy ones. Her vision is life is a miracle and a joy, and before the child became ill she knew her child thought of life that way. Her goal in the story is to bring the child back to the way she was.

Transformable Character(s) (the one who makes the change): The Transformable Character is the child. The story is told from the female child’s point of view. There is dramatic conflict for a girl child such as mother/daughter jealousy, seeing yourself in your own child, as a mother you’re supposed to creating a better generation of female in your child and you haven’t so there is guilt because you’ve passed down your neuroses and other bad habits, etc. It’s the child who has to transform to face their last days in peace.

Betraying Character (if you have one): The Betraying Character is the nurse who takes care of the child and has in effect become the substitute parent. I think there will be some jealousy when the mother comes up with the hospital treasure hunt, and the nurse will sabotage the mother’s efforts. The child will feel betrayed because the nurse was the substitute parent, and has now become the enemy of sorts. It’s not that the nurse doesn’t see life is a miracle and joy, but in her line of work she has become jaded and wants her patients to face death with realistic eyes. The mother character has a more optimistic point of view, and believes one should face death thinking every waking moment is a miracle.

Oppression: The oppression is disease the child is dying from, and society’s view of death and how it should be treated.

4. How Do You Connect With Your Audience in the Beginning of the Movie?

The Child

a. Relatability – The child is in the hospital and is sick and doesn’t like it. The child is us.

b. Intrigue – We know the child is sick, but we don’t know if the child’s illness is fatal. There is some intrigue about why the child wants a treasure hunt, which will be paid off later when we find out the mother is a professional treasure hunter.

c. Empathy – There is empathy for the child character because the child is an unfortunate situation. No young child should be spending long periods of time in a hospital.

d. Likability – The child is liked by her nurse.

The Mother

a. Relatability – The Mother is a parent to a sick child. The Mother is also us if the audience member is a parent or knows someone in a similar situation.

b. Intrigue – We don’t know why the mother is away from the child, and we’ll find that out in the script. We are also interested in how the mother intends to have a treasure hunt in a hospital.

c. Empathy – There is empathy for the Mother character because she is in a difficult situation – she’s a single working mother with a very sick child.

d. Likability – The Mother is liked by the Doctor

5. What is the Gradient of the Change? Desired change – the mother character wants to take her child’s request for a treasure hunt and use it so she can help the child rediscover happiness so they can face death together as a family.

a. Emotion: Excitement

b. Action: The child’s mother arrives to visit her in the hospital. She agrees to take the child on a treasure hunt.

c. Challenge – The treasure hunt has to take place in the hospital / Weakness – the child is too sick to travel but doesn’t know it.

a. Emotion: Doubt

b. Action: The child is upset by not being able to leave the hospital, throws a fit, and experiences a health downturn.

c. Challenge – The child thinks her mother is too embarrassed by her / Weakness – the child believes her illness has made her mother not love her and that’s why she’s been away a lot.

a. Emotion: Hope

b. Action: The treasure hunt her mother devised feels like a real hunt, and the whole hospital is involved. The child starts to respond more positively with her mother.

c. Challenge – the child still thinks that they will leave the hospital at some point in the treasure hunt / Weakness – the child still believes that she will be well enough to leave the hospital

a. Emotion: Discouragement

b. Action: the nurse makes disparaging comments about the treasure hunt and tells the child she’ll never leave the hospital. The nurse is like a second mother to the child.

c. Challenge – the child begins to doubt that treasure can be found in a hospital and she’ ll never leave there / Weakness – the child feels depression coming on and feelings of not being worth anything.

a. Emotion: Courage

b. Action: Despite her illness, the child fully participates in the treasure hunt her mother created and discovers there are real treasures in the hospital after all.

c. Challenge – doing the treasure hunt with an open mind so she can spend as much time with her mother as possible / Weakness – the child begins to think that she will get better and conquer her illness

a. Emotion: Triumph / Loss

b. Action: The child has another relapse and grows weaker. She and her mother have a heart to heart chat with what’s really going on with her health. The child realizes that she wants to spend the rest of her trying to find the treasure and happiness every day.

c. Challenge – The child realizes they might be sicker than they thought / Weakness – Relapse from the illness

6. What is the Transformational Structure of Your Story?

MM #1 – Status Quo and Call to Adventure

The child is in the hospital, it’s an ordinary day with medical tests and playing with other children in the hospital. The mother receives a call from the hospital and the tests show the child’s condition is worsening. The mother flies home to visit the child and the child begs the mother to take her on a treasure hunt. The mother meets with the hospital staff about the child’s request. The mother tells the child they are going on a treasure hunt in the hospital.

The Emotion is Excitement for the child, the transformable character.

The Change Agent is the mother.

The old ways is the child is depressed and lonely.

The Vision is the child will be happy and not feel alone.

Challenge: The treasure hunt has to take place in the hospital

Weakness: the child is too sick to travel but doesn’t know it.

MM #2 – Locked into Conflict

The child is upset by not being able to leave the hospital, throws a fit, and experiences a health downturn. The child recovers. The mother tells the child that while she was ill, the hospital staff helped her to create the treasure hunt. The child at first resists but decides to participate since the staff and her mother spent so much time on it.

The Emotion is Doubt.

Old ways: Being sick and distrustful of the mother.

Challenge: The child thinks her mother is too embarrassed by her:

Weakness: the child believes her illness has made her mother not love her and that’s why she’s been away a lot.

MM #3 – Hero tries to solve the problem but fail.

The treasure hunt her mother devised feels like a real hunt, and the whole hospital is involved. The child starts to respond more positively with her mother. The child asks her mother if they’ll leave the hospital at some point, and the mother doesn’t respond, and the child shuts down again.

The Emotion is hope.

New ways- the child appears happy and less morose, and gets along better with her mother.

Challenge: the child still thinks that they will leave the hospital at some point in the treasure hunt

Weakness: the child still believes that she will be well enough to leave the hospital

MM #4 – Hero forms a new plan. Turning Point: Plan backfires.

The child decides to be more open to the treasure hunt after discussion with her mother. The child asks if her uncle can participate. The mother calls her brother and tells him what’s going on. The brother shows up and the child is pleased. They find the first treasure and the mother decides to have a party. The mother and her brother argue about telling the child the truth about her condition, and the mother refuses. The nurse makes disparaging comments about the treasure hunt and tells the child she’ll never leave the hospital.

The Emotion is Discouragement.

Challenge: the child begins to doubt that treasure can be found in a hospital and she’ll never leave there

Weakness: the child feels depression coming on and feelings of not being worth anything.

MM #5 – Hero Retreats and Turning Point: The decision to change.

The child reaches out to her uncle and has a talk with her doctor and other staff. After these discussion the child decides to keep going with the treasure hunt with an open mind and to figure out what her mother wanted her to experience. The child tells the nurse that she’ll leave the hospital one day soon.

The emotion is courage.

Challenge: doing the treasure hunt with an open mind so she can spend as much time with her mother as possible Weakness – the child begins to think that she will get better and conquer her illness

MM #6 – The hero’s bigger, better plan and Turning Point: The ultimate failure.

The child fully participates in the treasure hunt her mother created and discovers there are real treasures in the hospital after all. The child realizes she is not getting better and starts to feel weaker every day. She wonders if there is something her mother isn’t telling her.

Challenge: Keeps enthusiasm up and ignores her body.

Weakness: Feeling tired from the treasure hunt.

MM #7 – Crisis and Climax and Turning Point: Apparent victory.

The child asks the mother to tell her the truth, and talks about what she’s been experiencing health-wise. In the middle of this discussion, the child experiences a relapse and is unconscious for a day. The child recovers and She and her mother have a heart to heart chat with what’s really going on with her health. The child realizes that she wants to spend the rest of her trying to find the treasure and happiness every day.

The emotion is Triumph.

Challenge: The child realizes they might be sicker than they thought

Weakness: Relapse from the illness

MM #8 – New Status Quo

The child and her mother create another treasure hunt for the other children in the hospital. The child is happier and is bonding more with the other sick children. The mother gives her child a diary so she can record all the good things she is experiencing. The mother and child are closer than ever.

Montage of the child’s life after this experience. The child is able to go to school. She volunteers at the hospital where she was staying and creates treasure hunts for the children when she is in high school. The child writes a book about her treasure hunt experience with her mother. The child goes on a book signing tour. The child wins an inspiration award. Final scene – funeral for the child who lived much longer than anyone expected and was an inspiration to many sick children around the world.

7. How are the “Old Ways” Challenged?

Five Question Challenges to an Old Way

1. The child tells the mother that she’s broken like her doll.

a. The mother takes the doll and fixes it. Then she takes the child to visit the other children in hospital, and asks the child if they’re broken too.

2. The child tells the mother she’s always unhappy.

a. The mother accompanies the child to the playground and they play like old times and have a good time. The mother asks the child if she’s happy now.

3. The child accuses the mother of not loving her because she stayed away.

a. The mother tells the child that her work trips paid for her hospital stay and however long she’ll need to be in the hospital. She also has enough money to stop if she needed to, which is what she is doing now. The mother asks the child if she still thinks the mother doesn’t love her.

4. The child treats her mother cruelly sometimes.

a. The doctor and uncle ask the child if she’s having a good time with her mother? The child answers yes, and they ask her separately why she feels the need to challenge her mother and is always sarcastic with her.

5. The child does not have long to live.

a. The mother talks to the child and tells her beliefs about one’s health affects her physically. The mother asks the child how has she been feeling since the treasure hunt, and the child says she feels great.

Five Counterexamples to an Old Way

1. The child accuses the mother of not loving her because she stayed away.

a. The child talks to another child about their mothers, and hears how her friend’s mother is always around but the friend doesn’t think her mother loves her because she keeps telling the child what to do.

2. The child feels lonely.

a. The child tells another child she always feels lonely, and the other child says she doesn’t feel lonely because of her friendship with her.

3. The mother doesn’t love the child and know anything about her

a. The child realizes that the mother designed the treasure hunt so she could do things she’s always wanted to do.

4. The child doesn’t have long to live.

a. The child meets another child on the treasure hunt, who tells her everyone expected her to die two years ago. When she asks the child why she didn’t die, the other child said she was too happy to die and didn’t want to leave her parents.

5. A treasure hunt in the hospital is stupid.

a. The Hospital treasure hunt turns out to be more than the child expected when she discovers things she didn’t know about or were there.

Should work, But Doesn’t Challenges

1. The Child Throws a fit, this is their old way to get what they want. But instead of getting what they want, the fit causes the child’s condition to worsen instead.

2. The Child resists the mother’s efforts to participate in the Treasure Hunt. This is their old way to get the mother to change her mind. But when the child finds out the staff at the hospital helped the mother create the treasure hunt, the Child reconsiders her decision.

3. The Child requests that her uncle join the treasure hunt. The Child often used the Uncle to take her side when she wanted the mother to change her mind about something. The Uncle doesn’t take the Child’s side so she is forced to keep going with the treasure hunt.

4. The Child’s old way is to ignore her body and pay attention to her health. During the Treasure Hunt, the Child feels weak and tired but doesn’t tell her mother or the staff. The Child is forced to acknowledge finally that there might be something more wrong with her.

5. The Child’s old way is to say or do mean things to her mother to express her hidden anger to her mother. When the mother doesn’t get upset at the mean things she does or says, the child is forced to confront her mother directly about any anger she is having.

Living Metaphor Challenges

1. The Child’s old way is to feel broken and her broken doll is living metaphor of how she feels. The mother fixes the broken doll to challenge the child’s old way.

2. The Child’s old way is to leave the hospital signifying that she is better health-wise. The mother uses the living metaphor of treasure hunt in the hospital to challenge the child’s ways of thinking about her health.

3. The Child’s old way is to think her mother doesn’t love her. The treasure hunt becomes a living metaphor because the treasure hunt shows the child how much the mother loves her and knows everything about her since it was designed to take into account all of the child’s favorite things.

4. The Child’s old way is to keep to herself which reinforces all the bad things she feels. Her friendship with the other children in the hospital become a living metaphor for the child to challenge everything she thinks because her conversations with the other children force her to compare her situation to theirs.

5. The Child’s nurse is a living metaphor to represent the old ways of coping with death. When the child rejects the ways of the nurse, it will represent the child giving up the old ways of thinking.

8. How are You Presenting Insights through Profound Moments?

A. Action delivers insight

New Ways and the Actions that will Express Them

1. The New Way – The Child talks to the Mother character in a way that is more respectful and kind. For example, the Mother would make a suggestion to the Child and the Child would answer the mother with a sarcastic comment in her old way. When the Mother suggests something to the Child, the new action would be the Child would say “Good idea” or “Thank you.”

2. The New Way – The Child is more open to being friends with the other children in the hospital. In the opening scenes we the Child in the recreation area with the other children and keeping to herself, and not being very friendly when other children spoke to her which is her old way. In the New Way Action, we now see the Child trying to be more friendly with the other children and when she sees a new kid in the recreation room she will welcome her to the group.

3. The New Way – Instead of waking up and dreading the day, we will see the child wake up with a smile and seem very excited to start the day. In her old way, the Child is depressed in the opening scene and is sullen and angry which is her old way. Throughout the movie, we will see the child’s attitude about waking up changing.

4. The New Way – The child doesn’t have a fit anymore when she doesn’t get her way. We see that whenever the child doesn’t get her way, she has a tantrum. We will see the child experiencing setbacks and her attitude towards them will change to where she doesn’t throw a tantrum, and will instead brainstorm ideas on how to solve the problem.

5. The New Way – after the Treasure Hunt, the child tells the mother that she wants to create a new treasure hunt for the children in the hospital so they could have fun. In her old way, the Child couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital. Her New way will show the child wanting to stay in the hospital and bringing the same kind of joy she experienced from the Treasure hunt to other children.

B. Conflict delivers insight

1. The Mother Character and her brother argue about whether to tell the Child the truth about her illness. The mother refuses and the conflict uncovers the secret that the mother is afraid that if the Child knew she was dying she would give up on living. The insight is you have to face the truth about death.

2. The Mother Character and the Nurse are in competition for the Child’s affection. The conflict uncovers the truth that both women have a different view of how to face death. The Mother thinks a person needs to cherish every moment before death because death is not certain, while the Nurse feels that death is something to be prepared for as an eventuality. The insight is there is more than one way to face death.

3. The Child and Mother are in conflict in the beginning of the story through the Child’s verbal abuse with her mother with her constant sarcastic comments. The conflict uncovers the issue that the Child thinks the mother is ashamed of her for being ill and doesn’t want to see her which explains the mother’s absence from her life. The insight is the mother needed to tell the truth to the child about her situation instead of trying to hide it all.

4. The Mother is in a constant dilemma throughout the story about how to talk to her daughter about her illness. This conflict delivers the insight that death can be faced with truth and love.

5. The Child gets into arguments with the other Children in the recreation room as a way to keep herself apart from other children. The conflict uncovers the emotional issue that the child doesn’t want to think she’s like other children in the hospital and that she’s not as sick as they are, and she has nothing to learn from them. The conflict delivers the insight that when we reach out to others we learn from their experiences.

C. Irony delivers insight

1. The Insight is you need to tell the truth about your situation instead of trying to hide it. This irony was already built into my story because the mother hid the truth of why she was away from her daughter who is in the hospital. The mother felt that she didn’t want to burden the child with their financial situation, which she thought would prevent the child from getting better. Her plan had the opposite effect since the child assumed her mother didn’t love her which resulted in depression for the child and worsened her condition.

2. The Insight is the you can find treasure anywhere even in a hospital. This irony was already built into the story. The mother agreed to create the treasure hunt for the child thinking it would be an activity would be the last thing she ever did with her daughter. But at the end of the story, the treasure hunt becomes the activity that prolongs the child’s life.

3. The Insight is when you reach out to others, you learn that they can help you feel that you’re not alone. The child kept to herself and thought she wasn’t like other sick children, and if she was friends with them she would be more depressed. The irony, which was in the story, is that when the child reached out to the other children and started to make friends she realized that she was becoming happier. Being friends with the other children lifted her depression.

4. The Insight is Not getting what you want can be a good thing. The child asked the mother to invite her uncle, the mother’s brother, to participate in the treasure hunt. The child thought the uncle would take her side, as he often did in the past, and manipulate the mother. The irony is the child’s action had the opposite effect. The uncle did not take her side and encouraged the child to continue the treasure hunt. This irony needs to have more emphasis, since it was already built into the story. This child’s action can be used to create backstory for the child into the relationship dynamics between the mother, the uncle, and the child. The uncle saying NO then will end up becoming a bigger deal in the story when the child realizes she is on her own with her mother.

5. The Insight is A challenge / competition can be a good thing. I had the nurse in competition with the mother for the child’s affection. I think I need to have a scene where the mother and nurse get into an argument, with the mother realizing on a deeper level that she needs to be more honest with her daughter. The nurse’s action was trying to separate the mother from the child, but it will have the opposite effect of bringing the two closer together since the mother will be inspired by the nurse trying to tell the truth, and realizing she needs to the same with her daughter but in a different way.

9. What are the Most Profound Lines of the Movie?

Pattern A: Height of the Emotion

1. When the daughter tells the mother the broken doll is me – the emotion in the scene is the daughter is angry at the mother. The essence of the scene is the child feels broken.

i. I’m like this doll – she doesn’t work right.

2. When the uncle/brother talks to the child and tells her to do the treasure hunt with her mother – The child is desperate to leave the hospital and wants the uncle to talk to the mother. The essence of the scene is the uncle wants to tell the child but can’t.

i. Sometimes the best thing in life is too just follow the plan.

3. When the nurse and the mother talk about the child – the women are in competition for the child’s affection. The essence of the scene is the mother tells the nurse to leave her child alone.

i. I’m her mother. I birthed her and I’m the one who will bury her.

4. When the brother confronts his sister about the child – the brother wants his sister to tell the daughter the truth about what’s going on with her, the emotion is love the brother feels for his sister and his niece.

i. She needs to hear the truth so she can decide her own future.

5. When the child tells the mother to admit she stayed away because you were ashamed of me – the emotion is shame.

i. You stayed away because I’m not your perfect little girl anymore.

Pattern B: Build Meaning Over Multiple Scenes

1. “The Truth doesn’t have to hurt.” The arc for this line is showing the Mother’s arc. She’s afraid to tell her Child the truth about her condition thinking it will make things worse for the child, but at the end the Mother repeats the line so the child can face her death with a new attitude.

i. In MM # 1, the doctor will say this line to the Mother when he finishes telling her the results of the Child’s tests.

ii. In MM # 4, the brother says this line to the mother when he tries to convince to tell her the daughter the truth about what’s going on with her health.

iii. In MM # 7, the Mother will repeat this line to the Child when she tells her the truth about her health.

2. “Treasure can be found anywhere.” The arc for this line reflects how the mother wants the child to feel about life.

i. In MM#1, we hear the mother say this line to the doctor when he asks her what she does for a living and she tells him she’s a treasure hunter.

ii. In MM#2, the Mother will repeat this line to the Child about the treasure hunt.

iii. In MM#6, the Child will repeat this line to the mother when she realizes they did find a real treasure in the hospital.

iv. In MM#8, the Child will repeat this line when she’s explaining the new Treasure Hunt to the other kids in the hospital.

3. “Each day is a new day to decide how you want to feel.” The arc of this line will reflect the changing attitude of the Child who we see at the start of the story is unhappy and depressed.

i. In MM # 2 when the Mother and Child are arguing about doing the treasure hunt, the mother will say this line to the child.

ii. In MM # 6 the Child will repeat this line to herself when she feels weak, and we will see she starts each day saying it. But by Day 4, she starts to doubt it since she’s not feeling better.

iii. In MM #7 the Child will repeat this line to her Mother even after she finds out the truth about her health. She will say it with determination in her eyes, like she really believes it.

10. How Do You Leave Us With A Profound Ending?

A. Deliver The Profound Truth Profoundly – Profound Truth – Love Heal All Hurts

Ending – The mother and child create a treasure hunt for the other children in the hospital, the child lives much longer than expected and is shown a volunteer in the same hospital. She also writes a book about her Treasure Hunt experience with her mother.

B. Lead Characters Ending Represents The Change – The Child, the Transformable Character, is shown as someone who is happy and lives much longer than expected. She works as a volunteer in the same hospital to help other children the way her mother helped her deal with her illness. The child’s old ways were that she was unhappy and very lonely.

The mother, the Change Agent, writes books about her adventures so she can spend more time with her daughter and supports in all her activities. The mother’s old ways were that she was always away on trips and didn’t want to spend much time with her daughter.

C. Payoff Key Setups – Questions that are answered: Why the mother is always away which only started when the child got sick, what’s going on health-wise for the child, why the nurse made disparaging comments about the treasure hunt, why the mother picked a treasure hunt,

Need to add to opening a little more intrigue using interest techniques.

D. Surprising, But Inevitable – We think the child is going to die, but she lives much longer than expected because her change in attitude has made her stronger and happier. The child as she grows up becomes an inspiration for other children dealing with illness and she writes a book about her own experience that becomes a bestseller among terminally ill patients young and old.

E. Leave Us with a Profound Parting Image/Line – The parting image is going to be the funeral for the child. We’re going to see her best friend talking about the child and what she learned with reference to how life is a treasure hunt, and riches can be found anywhere even in death.

[Sherwen Moore]

Assignment 16: Profound Map Version 3

What I learned from this assignment is you can go on and on making corrections and changes. Also, I see the method in the things we did to try and make our scripts move forward with some type of depth.

TITLE: Badge Without A Gun
WRITTEN BY: Sherwen Moore

1. What is Your Profound Truth?
Equal Justice for All

The law needs to be just for all!!

2. What is the Transformational Journey?
Old Ways: Fed up with law enforcement. Cynical about how the justice system operates. Thought the FBI was racist, unfair and corrupt. No tolerance with local police.
Journey: By chance, Mark comes into Al’s life by disrupting a dinner date. Al is visiting a student who gets shot by the police while they’re having dinner and Al’s life changes.
New Ways: Al worked with a rookie policeman (Mark) to resolve and learn from an intricate and complex crime. He became more tolerant, less critical, empathetic and willing to share skills he perfected in the Agency.

Transformational Logline:

A disenchanted former FBI agent finds he is still needed in law enforcement. A dinner engagement inadvertently entangles him with a rookie cop and everything changes.

Change Agent (the one causing the change): Mark, Charles
Transformable Character(s) (the one who makes the change): Al
Betraying Character (if you have one): Tom. Tyrone
Oppression: Local Police Department, FBI

A. Relatability – They Are Us!

It’s 2010!! We start with Mark and his wife, daughter, family and friends at a police graduation. The speeches are great and everyone in attendance is proud the cadets are now policemen. Al has just quit his job as a FBI agent citing racism and discrimination. He decides to write a grant working with students in the inner city.

B. Intrigue

People that don’t think they know each other are intricately woven into a unique crime that connects them all together.

C. Empathy

Mark is somewhat naïve about big city streets and policing. Al has problems trying to teach young students.

D. Likability

Mark has good intentions about upholding the law and justice. Everybody thinks his boy-next-door personality is wonderful and forthright. People admire the way Al challenges America to live up to its potential; be fair and just for all. A student makes him their mentor.

A. The “Forced Change” Emotional Gradient

A. Emotion: Denial
B. Action: Al quits his job with the FBI. He lost confidence in law enforcement. Looking at reasons why his job is no longer good for him.

A. Emotion: Anger
B. Action: Al complained about staff and how the system treats white criminals different from black criminals- mad and frustrated about the different standards.
A. Emotion: Bargaining
B. Action: Al writes a grant and gets money to work with inner city youth. Al wants to teach young boys about the unjust legal system and how stay out of trouble.

A. Emotion: Depression
B. Action: After several invitations by Charles (one of his students), Al finally agrees to come over for a family dinner. Charles mother owns a catering business while his oldest brother, Tyrone, is selling drugs.

A. Emotion: Acceptance

B. Action: During dinner Tyrone runs into the house trying to escape Mark (the policeman) and his partner Tom. Mark is blamed for shooting Charles, in the hallway, and all hell breaks out in the house. Al is there and his law enforcement skills surge to the forefront as he learns more about himself and the law.

Gradient 2. The Action Gradient
Setup: Despite the fact that top brass makes a pitch to keep him and address some of his issues, Al feels the racism is too deep and he’s got to try something different.

Journey: He packs up and moves closer to his fiancée who is a tv journalist. He wants to do outreach work in the inner city.
Payoff: Al gets a grant and the students like him despite the fact that he lacks some teaching skills. One student, Charles, has adopted him as a mentor. He likes Al so much; he invites him to dinner for the 4th of July.

Gradient 3. The Challenge / Weakness Gradient

Challenge: Al wants to start a career change working with young people.
Weakness: – Unsure how to prepare young people for life choices and racism.
Challenge: Needs to adequately interpret white privilege; feels it’s unfair. Weakness: He was unable to effectively address institutional racism with the FBI.

Challenge: Inexperience working with young boys in a classroom.

Weakness: Al lacks classroom management skills. Challenge: Can he save both brothers for different reasons or just focus on Charles? Weakness: Unsure how to reach out to Tyrone, because he makes more money than Al.

Challenge: Al adapting to a sudden change from a peaceful dinner to Charles getting shot. Weakness: Al tries to hold on to his old ways of thinking as the situation heightens.

Mini Movie 1

Status Quo and Call to Adventure

The year is 2010. Fresh out of the police academy Mark’s vision was to be a great policeman. Al quits his job with the FBI to pursue a career in education/outreach. Emotional Gradient: Excitement

Mini Movie 2

Locked Into Conflict

Mark has no experience but his partner is a seasoned veteran named Tom McMillian. Tom, who makes no bones about being proud of his white heritage, uses his badge to do as he pleases in the black community. Mark knows he didn’t sign up for this.

Emotional Gradient: Doubt

Mini Movie 3 Hero Tries to Solve the Problem

Tom offers Mark a chance to make extra money. Mark is skeptical, but agrees. Tom gets money from medical doctors to sell medicinal marijuana. Tom introduces Mark to Tyrone. Tyrone is a bag man who gets the money from them and drops it off at a site. Tyrone, tired of Tom, decides to keep the money ($750,000). They find Tyrone. Mark tries to talk to Tyrone. Tyrone shoots in the air to discourage Mark but Mark follows him into his apartment anyway.

Emotional Gradient: Hope

Mini Movie 4- Hero Forms a New plan

Charles, Tyrone’s younger brother is having dinner with his mentor, Al, and his mother. Charles hears his brother running up the stairs and leaves the table with a spoon in his hand. Mark and Tom are chasing Tyrone; they think Charles has a gun too and shots are fired in the stairway leading up to the 2nd floor. Tyrone escapes out the window of his bedroom using a bungee rope. Tom banged his knee leading up to the front entrance and in pain. Mark panics as Al and Lily come to Charles. Mark still has his gun drawn and breathing heavy. Al uses his FBI skills and physically disarms Mark as they call for an ambulance and sort things out.

Emotional Gradient: Discouragement

Mini Movie 5

Hero Retreats and the Antagonism Prevails

Al tells Lily to wait in the hallway for the ambulance and leads Mark into the apartment to figure things out. Al makes sure all doors are locked. Mark advises Al if he returns the gun he will not serve too much time in jail for taking the gun. Al chose a different plan and decides to hold him captive. Mark now has to tell Al what really happened.

Emotional Gradient: Courage

Mini Movie 6 -Hero’s Bigger Better Plan

Tom has to call for back up because shots were fired and he’s hurt. Al realizes the police will be coming and handcuffs Mark to the radiator. They talk about the botched plan and how Mark really feels about police work, racism, trust, law enforcement and family. Ambulance picks up Charles and Lily and police surround the house. Al begins to trust Mark and thinks of a plan for his escape leaving Mark unharmed.

Emotional Gradient: Courage 2

Mini Movie 7

Crisis and Climax

Police calls the house to negotiate Mark’s release. Al knows this will not end well for him. Al remembers when Charles showed him his bedroom, Tyrone had built a trap door in case there was a shooting or to store drugs. Police decided to rush the apartment on all sides. They used tear gas and busted in the front door and the back door. They only found Mark handcuffed to the radiator but found Tyrone (without the money) hiding outside in a basement next door. They arrested him.

Emotional Gradient: Courage 3

Mini Movie 8

New Status Quo

Tyrone took the blame for holding Mark captive. He got instant ‘cred’ in the neighborhood and in jail. Mark would not cooperate with police about his kidnapping. Tom confessed to part of the clandestine operation but left out enough information to cast doubt on Mark as a corrupt cop. Who was financing the whole operation beyond the doctors? FBI was called in because one of their own was last seen at the house. They decided to ask for Al’s help rather than confused the case. Al did his investigation and learned that Mark’s father (Hedge Fund Manager) was the lead in this crime. Mark didn’t know. But Mark’s dad didn’t know his son was part of the money movement. Al discovered that Tom really shot Charles but was exonerated by the state’s attorney office. Mark took the fall for his dad as lead source of financing, illegal drug sales, distribution and weapons. This affected Al and how he viewed law enforcement, race relations, family loyalty and interpreting justice in America.

‘Emotional Gradient: Triumph

A. Challenge through Questioning

Must a first year officer be guided in how to handle people when policing the streets?

Could mistakes by a rookie get a veteran officer killed?

Is it true most young black students don’t do well in school because they’re not interested and full of sport and play?

What are the law enforcement stereotypes?

Are most police shootings in the black community justifiable?

Is the first option to cover up a police shooting?

How do you make the best out of a first reaction gone badly?

B. Challenge by Counterexample

Mark must understand how he fits in enforcing the law.

If Tom cannot be trusted, Mark needs a plan B.

After Mark is rescued from being held captive, he will not identify any suspects or corroborate with police.

Mark reacting to his captive situation had a domino effect on Al.

Al’s conversion was his ability to actively listen to Mark, then reach back and help.

When Al changed some of his old thoughts, releasing the ego was key.

Al encouraging creative thinking was a resource for positive outcomes for youth.

C. Challenge by “Should Work, But Doesn’t”

Tom and Mark are supposed to meet Tyrone at 3:30 for a money drop. Tyrone purposely delays the pickup and arrives at 4pm. After he gets the money, he decides to keep it.

Al tells his students, “When you are out in the world, question everything…don’t hold back if you really want to know something.” A student says, ”Mr. Allen why do white people hate us so much?” The bell rings and Al was left to ponder.

Tom thinks of the perfect situation is to get rid of Mark; rush the apartment, kill the hostage taker with their guns and kill Mark with his gun, then say the hostage taker killed Mark and they killed him. The plan was set. They rushed the apartment and discovered only Mark handcuffed to the radiator. They had to change their plans but find Tyrone next door in the basement.

D. Challenge through Living Metaphor

Tom is telling Mark how he handles black people. He tells Mark about Tyrone and sees his friends. “Yo bro, have you seen my man Tyrone? One of his friends replies, “Yeah, he said he was going to the store to get you a ham sandwich.” They all started laughing as Tom gave a goofy smirk. Mark didn’t laugh because he knew they were referring to Tom as a pig.

Charles guarantees Al will enjoy his mother’s cooking because it’s the Fourth of July. “I guarantee Mr. Allen, you come to my house for dinner, I bet $5 you’ll get dinner and a show”.

The supervising officer now has a direct dial to the phone in the house where the hostage situation is in progress. The supervisor ask, “…sir what would you like for me to call you?” Al quickly replied, “…I’m so glad you asked. …call me Mr. Wonderful”.

The negotiator says, “Mr. Wonderful, why don’t you consider giving yourself up. We got everybody here…let’s think about everybody in the neighborhood. They want peace, they want to celebrate tonight, they want to enjoy the fireworks, and they don’t want this. …come on, let’s do this okay?” Al quickly responds, “No, sir, as a matter of fact, I’d suggest you get a snickers bar because we’re gonna be here for a while.”

8. How are You Presenting Insights through Profound Moments?

A. Action delivers insight

Mark catches an alderman having sex with an underage teenager. Tom tells him, “We have to let him go.” The politician is well connected and the girl ditched school. Tom tells Mark, “It’s complicated.” Understanding the twists and turns of the law

Al has the students analyzing some brain teasers. In the process of that, the students share some teasing strategies of their own taking the class to a whole new level. Sometimes, the students are the teachers.

Mark’s mother (Penny) learns that her caterer’s son was shot by the police while having dinner. She was appalled to say the least. The police will not release the name of the policeman. Mark normally tells his mother everything about the job, but not this time. Big city/small world

Al escapes but learns that Mark is being set up for the ‘fall’ by Tom. Al decides to reach back and help Mark clear his name. When peeling an onion there’s always another layer

B. Conflict delivers insight

Tom says that a well-connected politician must be let go. Mark disagrees and goes back forth about the law, caught in the act and the best one, ‘no one is above the law’. Tom says, “If you make this collar, you will never make code blue.” (fellow officers will never trust you).

Al confides in his older brother and tells him everything that happened on the 4^th of July. His older brother argues about getting involved after escaping. “Let white privilege set him free, not a black man.” Al disagreed because he knew Mark could not trust CPD.

.

The police department was trying to figure what to say to the press. They had two options before they went into the building. Go with Tom’s story; A) label Mark a corrupt cop or B) Tell the press Tyrone killed Mark before they could save him. The dilemma was if things did not go as planned. There were too many ‘what ifs’ for CPD. Using Mark as a scapegoat.

The press is advocating the freedom of information about who the police arrested in the hostage crisis. Tyrone confessed that he held Mark hostage. Could they trust Tom’s story? Mark wasn’t talking and Tyrone’s story didn’t make sense. Was Tyrone really Mr. Wonderful? Nobody was fully cooperating. When is a story is minus the lies.

C. Irony delivers insight

Insight: When freedom ain’t free, what’s next? Irony: Reasons: doing the wrong thing for the rights reasons. Mark arrest a rapist, but had to let him go because he is a very powerful politician who advocates for the police and could ruin his career.

Insight: A story needs more than a missing clue to make it a news story. Irony: Credit: Getting credit for something you didn’t do. Mark’s mother (Penny) advocates for peace and justice at her women’s club meeting two days before her son is accused of shooting her caterer’s son.

Insight: There’s usually a deeper motive why people do what they do. Irony: Doing something amazing but the credit goes to another and getting credit for something amazing that you didn’t do. Mark is disarmed and held captive (by Al, aka Mr. Wonderful). By the end of the hostage situation Al escapes, Tyrone is arrested nearby, admits to the crime and takes credit for being Mr. Wonderful.

Insight: How do you keep a secret in a big city/small world? Irony: A win that is really a loss. The media is looking all over for unique leads to the hostage story. Al’s fiancée has the story ‘fall into her lap’ with firsthand knowledge of what happened but can’t release it to nobody.

Insight: Tables turned on both sides. Irony: Love/ Hate. Al quits the FBI because he cited racism and white privilege then, with their assistance, helps a rookie white policeman clear his name from corruption.

9. What are the Most Profound Lines of the Movie?

Pattern A: Height of the Emotion

Pattern B: Build Meaning Over Multiple Scenes

Al has taken Mark’s gun and handcuffed him to the radiator. Mark is denying that he shot Charles. Al doesn’t believe him. They go back and forth. Tension is building. Al asks him, “What is this about?” Mark angrily says,

“I’m not your enemy, stop talking to me like I’m white, talk to me like I’m you. Al says, “You’re not me.” Mark shakes his handcuffs defiantly and with pent up rage and humiliation,

“I am you”

Meaning: Mark wants Al to know, in this moment, he is actually experiencing what it feels like to be falsely accused and handcuffed like a black man.

Mark talks to Al about how Tom, disrespects Tyrone. In spite, Tyrone decided to nix the deal and get back at Tom by keeping the money.

Mark says, “A man can just take so much disrespect, badge or no badge.”

Meaning: Disrespect has its limits even with the police.

Al is visiting Charles in the hospital. Charles wants to talk about the white policeman that shot him. He thinks about the question in class that Al never got a chance to answer.

Charles: “Mr. Allen, why do they hate us so much?” Al says, “Racism is like a mustard stain on a white shirt: it’s hard to get it out.”

Meaning: It’s not easy to explain and not easy to eradicate.

Al has done some research and basically has all the facts. Al tells Candice, his journalist fiancée, everything. Al says, Write the story like the naked truth and a lie went on a blind date”

Meaning: Expose everyone by telling the truth.

Mark has reconnected with Al and they both know what really happened and what needs to happen. Al says “karma will be our equal justice”

Meaning: Equal justice will come one way or another.

10. How Do You Leave Us With A Profound Ending?

A. Deliver The Profound Truth Profoundly

Equal Justice is simple to interpret, hard to enforce as long as there is white privilege. Karma fell at the expense of Mark even though he motivated Al by practicing what he preached.

B. Lead Characters Ending Represents The Change

Al was reenergized to solve an intricate case by providing evidence of Mark’s innocence in Charles shooting but exposing Mark’s father. He was also influenced to start a wrongly convicted program in addition to his mentoring program. Mark never implicated Al as ‘Mr. Wonderful’ and took the responsibility for the crime committed by his father.

C. Payoff Key Setups

Answers to: Will we find out who really shot Charles? How did Al escape from the apartment? How did the captive story end? Who was really behind the medicinal drug scheme? How did the scheme get exposed? Mark asked Al to help him free his name and solve the case but at what cost?

D. Surprising, But Inevitable: Mark’s family thought they were living a righteous life, but the father was not and it cost him his son. Al is doing something he loves using all his skills.

E. Leave Us with a Profound Parting Image/Line

Mark is doing time for the love of his father. Al vows to stay in touch and offers Mark a job working with him (when he gets out). Al feels bad but Mark feels resilient. Mark says to Al, “Karma is our equal justice.” They shake and hug. Mark says, “Hey Al” Al turns around, Mark whispers, “ I’m am you” Al leaves the prison.

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Sherwen Moore.
• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Sherwen Moore.
• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Sherwen Moore.

[Laura Hyler]

Laura Hyler Profound Map Version 2 Day 16 4/29/22

What I learned doing this assignment is that this process gives you a guide that can be changed

when necessary, but it really shows you your path and where you are heading.

1) My profound truth is that interracial couples can survive/thrive despite racism as long as they find a means to deal with it.

2) The transformational journey is:

Old Ways: Naomi initially settles for people and situations that she does not have to. She tends to be reserved, is afraid of relationships and is affected by other’s actions/words. She also has a tendency to avoid difficult matters by not discussing them.

Journey: Naomi meets Kofi who she falls for and is soon faced with how to handle others who have less than positive attitudes toward interracial couples, including family and friends from both sides.

New Ways: Naomi gets her confidence back and learns to assert herself. She goes out of her way to keep Kofi in her life.

Transformational Logline: Naive woman who believes that we live in a post racial America learns differently when she falls in love with an African and has to learn how to handle challenging situations in order to keep her relationship.

3) My lead characters are:

· Change agent: Tommy and Tripp

· Transformable character: Naomi

· Oppression: Racism

4) How I connect with my audience in the beginning of the movie:

A. Relatability- universal experiences: Naomi, a widow, has had a bad relationship after the death of her husband. She is a single mom, has a stressful job, a boss that threatens the security of her job when he sees who she is dating, stress from family and friends, especially her sister, and does not assert herself well under contentious situations.

Kofi- has secret past relationship with a white woman that did not work out. Receives pressure from friends to not date outside his race. Is kind to his patients, has a fire destroy his apartment and important documents. Has an employer who mishandles his HB-1 immigration papers, faces deportation, and is also unassertive in contentious situations.

B. Intrigue- Naomi is not sure about embarking on any new relationships. Initially denies feelings for Kofi. She is not always forthcoming in expressing her feelings.

Kofi- hides past failed relationship, but results of it show in new relationship with Naomi when tensions become apparent.

C. Empathy- When Naomi and Kofi split. When Kofi’s apartment burns down. When Naomi mysteriously gets turned down for a job that she was in line for, for a guy that has been watching her for years. When their friends discourage them from pursuing their relationship. When people they do not know look at them funny or make comments.

D. Likability- Naomi is an easy-going person most of the time, she isn’t judgmental, often too nice for her own good.

Kofi- helpful to his patients, kind to others, also tends to be too good for his own good.

5) What is the gradient of change?

Desired Change

Emotional Gradient:

Excitement: Naomi is excited to meet someone she is compatible with.

Doubt: Naomi is fearful of new relationships and is unsure of dating outside her race.

Hope: Naomi is hopeful about her new relationship and people’s attitudes.

Discouragement: Comes from family and friends on both sides, her employer.

Courage: Naomi decides to do what is in her best interest and Kofi’s.

Action Gradient

Setup

Naomi meets Kofi at a charitable fundraiser. After the charity fundraiser they have a “real date.”

Journey

· She is unsure of having any relationship. Naomi is not comfortable putting people in their place, even when she is angry-she is inconsistent

· Naomi continues to date Kofi in spite of disguised prejudices of others. She begins to see him as “the one.”

· When Kofi realizes that Naomi did not tell him that he was invited to her sister’s wedding. It is further complicated when Naomi discovers that Kofi did not tell her that she was left out of Isaac’s wedding. Kofi moves out.

· Naomi stands up to the people in her life. She decides that she’d rather risk losing some relationships than losing the love of her life.

Payoff

· Naomi reconciles with Kofi. She puts people in their place. Tells people that her relationship is not negotiable.

· Naomi and Kofi get married

Challenge/Weakness Gradient:

Challenge: Naomi just came out of a bad relationship. Prior to that she was widowed.

Weakness: She is unsure about a new relationship, and the fact that he is from another race/culture.

Challenge. Naomi must overcome the fear of rejection by family and how to handle racism.

Weakness: Naomi is used to being “nice” even to her own detriment.

Challenge: People’s attitudes, overt and subtle. Workplace tension.

Weakness: Knowing how to respond appropriately and be candid with Kofi.

Challenge: How to get back together with Kofi. How to handle her family and other’s viewpoints and actions.

Weakness: Doesn’t want to lose family connections or disrupt her employment.

Challenge: Putting people in their place, with tact. Reconciling with Kofi.

Weakness: Naomi has difficulty articulating her feelings to all parties.

Challenge: Mustering up the courage to tell people off. Knowing what to say to Kofi.

Weakness: Fear of the unknown, what will happen next?

6. The Transformational Structure of my story is:

MM #1

Hero’s Status Quo, ordinary world ends (pgs. 1-15)

Naomi, widow, 38 (Caucasian), has recently split from a man, Greg (Caucasian), late thirties, who she has been dating for ten years. She has two teenage children. Her employer, a charity decides to hold a dinner date “auction.” Her friend and coworker, Jeanine throws her name and another coworker’s name in the pool of potential “dates.

Tommy, a guy who has reputation, and Naomi detests, puts in a bid for a dinner date with her.

Kofi, a medical doctor, who recognizes Naomi from an incident in a bar, puts in his bid and outbids Tommy.

Hope: Naomi decides to go along with the dinner date fundraiser despite her reticence.

Challenge: Naomi is still angry at Greg. She finds herself missing her deceased husband, especially when other relationships fail.

Weakness: Fear of the unknown

MM # 2 (pgs. 15-30)

Turning Point: Call to Adventure

Naomi runs into Tommy at the dinner, and also, Cal, her good friend (Letitia’s) brother. Tommy makes and embarrassing comment to Kofi. Cal makes a snide remark to Naomi. She and Kofi have an enjoyable evening.

Kofi asks Naomi for a “real date.” Naomi accepts.

Excitement: Meeting a new person and having a good time despite her doubts.

Doubt: trying to learn ways of coping with people’s opinions, prejudices

MM # 3 (pgs. 30-45)

Turning Point: Locked In

Naomi and Kofi go out to dinner. They discover that they have more in common than they thought.

A week later, they go on a hiking date. During the hike, Naomi overhears a conversation between other hikers. Subconsciously, she knows that comments made were directed at her and Kofi. Kofi pretends not to have heard.

Greg calls Naomi and asks her to lunch. She reluctantly agrees. Greg tries to get Naomi back. He makes biased comments and Naomi leaves.

Discouragement: Naomi would like to keep seeing Kofi, but she unsure how to handle people around her.

MM # 4 (pgs. 45-60)

Turning Point: Standard Ways Fail

Kofi receives invitation to his friend, Isaac’s wedding. Naomi is not included. Kofi says nothing to Naomi and attends the wedding.

Naomi and Kofi attend a concert with Letitia. Naomi notices the reaction of a couple of white guys when they realize Kofi is her date.

When Kofi’s apartment catches fire, Naomi offers him the guestroom.

Naomi receives a wedding invitation from her sister. Kofi is not included. Naomi does not know how to handle it. She confronts her sister, and declines being the Maid of Honor. Her sister advises her that she will not be able to ride in the limousine with her children to the wedding.

Letitia and Cal have an unpleasant conversation with Naomi about why she shouldn’t date a black man.

Tommy is promoted to a position in Naomi’s organization that she was well qualified for.

Discouragement: Naomi’s non-confrontational style is becoming a problem. She feels deflated.

MM # 5 (pgs. 60-75)

Turning Point: Plan backfires

En route to her sister’s wedding, Naomi gets a flat tire.

She meets an older man, Richard, who helps her with the tire. In the brief time she knows him, he serves as a mentor.

Kofi gets off work early and shows up at Charlie (Naomi’s sister’s) wedding. Kofi overhears a conversation between town wedding guests and becomes angry. Naomi asks him what is wrong, and he tells her that he is angry that she did not tell him that he was not invited. He leaves abruptly.

Doubt: Naomi fears losing the relationship

Discouragement: the culmination of friend’s, family and society’s opinions

MM # 6 (pgs. 75-90)

Turning Point: The Decision to Change

Naomi returns home to find no trace of Kofi. Over the next two weeks, she tries to make contact. Out of desperation, she goes to Kofi’s office. She is told that he is off that day.

She bumps into Isaac, who tells her that their employer screwed up Kofi’s HB-1 renewal paperwork, and that he is going to be deported.

Naomi goes to immigration and asks if there is anything she could do to prevent Kofi’s deportation. A clerk advises her that she can act as a sponsor until the employer, County Medical, gets their paperwork in.

Doubt: Naomi doesn’t know if she will stop Kofi in time, or if she will ever see him again.

Courage: Naomi decides to prevent the deportation and find Kofi.

MM # 7

Turning Point: The ultimate failure (pgs. 90-105)

Naomi gets stuck in traffic going to the airport. There is an accident and construction. Cars are backed up for miles. Naomi calls Isaac on her cell phone. She pleads with Isaac to call immigration and stop Kofi from leaving.

Naomi finally arrives at the airport. She bargains with security to let her get through the gates.

She runs through the airport. She arrives at the terminal just in time to see the plane take off.

Doubt: Naomi fears never seeing Kofi again. She experiences despair.

MM # 8

Turning Point: Apparent Victory (pgs. 105-120)

Naomi hears a familiar voice behind her. It is Kofi. Immigration stopped his departure just in time.

Naomi is empowered to stand up to her friends, family, coworkers and boss. She now puts people in their place (appropriately).

Some people have come forward to apologize for their own attitudes and behavior.

Turning Point: New Status quo

Naomi and Kofi get married. Their lives settle down.

7. How are the old ways challenged?

Challenge by “Should Work, But Doesn’t

Naomi is not that assertive. She gives in to others wishes often, basically because she wants to avoid confrontation.

Why it doesn’t work: By the nature of giving in to other’s wishes, she risks not being happy and losing the love of her life-Kofi. It also costs her a promotion.

Naomi’s fear of commitment prevents her from re-experiencing past hurts.

Why it doesn’t work: Naomi gets hurt from people who are unable to commit. She doesn’t make Kofi feel as secure as he would like-a potential way of losing him.

Afraid to challenge people’s unsolicited opinions, in an effort to be liked.

Why it doesn’t work: the people who aren’t going to like her, are not going to like her, regardless of what she does or doesn’t do. As soon as she makes choices that she is happy with, those same people are going to be a problem-like her sister, Charlene.

Naomi omits important information from Kofi about her sister’s wedding, because she is unsure of how to handle it.

Why it doesn’t work: Instead of avoiding conflict, Naomi finds herself right in the middle of conflict with the most important person in her life.

Avoidant behavior- because Naomi avoids uncomfortable situations, she ends up in bad predicaments.

Because Naomi is not comfortable talking to Jeanine about her relationship, she misses out on valuable advice.

Challenge by Living Metaphor:

· Lack of Assertiveness: Living Metaphor: Seeing Tommy’s name in the

· company newsletter, as getting the job she was qualified for.

· Fear of Commitment: Living Metaphor: the wedding invitation, her friend’s engagement

· Not challenging unsolicited opinions: Living Metaphor: Her ex-boyfriend, Greg

· Acts of omission to avoid conflict: Living Metaphor: The empty guest room when Kofi leaves

· Avoidant behavior: Living Metaphor: She is alone when everyone else is with their special someone

8. I am presenting Insights Through Profound Moments by:

a. New Way and Insight:

Naomi learns not to be manipulated by Greg. She sees how he used to manipulate her in the past.

Action:

She refuses to continue a discussion that she believes is unreasonable. She cuts Greg off.

b. New Way and Insight:

Naomi is faced with doing something for her company that she doesn’t want to do. She gains insight from Jeanine’s reaction. She realizes this is something she should do for the good of the charity.

Action:

She learns how to be a good sport about it anyway and participates in the auction.

c. New Way and Insight:

Naomi works through her fear of relationships. She starts to see that she has something in common with Kofi.

Action:

Naomi goes out on a date in spite of her reticence.

d. New Way and Insight:

Naomi starts to stand up for herself. Her sister cannot affect her choices by being manipulative.

Action:

Naomi makes the best decision for herself.

e. New Way and Insight:

Naomi is not interested in other’s opinions.

Action:

She is no longer willing to allow others to force their opinions on her and speaks up. The consequences of other’s opinions do not influence her.

f. New Way and Insight

Naomi sees firsthand that we are NOT living in a post racial America.

Action: Naomi is no longer willing to remain silent about things that matter.

Conflict Delivers Insight

Conflict: Naomi’s sister does not invite Kofi to her wedding.

Insight: Naomi is beginning to see things from a different perspective.

Conflict: Kofi’s best friend leaves Naomi out of his wedding guest list.

Insight: Kofi cannot be mad at Naomi for the same thing that he did.

Irony Delivers Insight

Irony: Letitia, Naomi’s African American friend discourages Naomi’s relationship with Kofi.

Insight: Racism on either side is silly.

Irony: Naomi is reluctant to enter a new relationship, in spite of the fact that she really likes Kofi.

Insight: Fear can make you miss out on the best things life has to offer.

What are the most profound lines of the movie?

1) Pg. 3 Anger and hurt feelings not only over break up, but also Greg has a new woman only one week later.

“Relationships are not Happy Meals, Greg” -Naomi (referencing the speed at which he is with someone else).

2) Pg. 42 Kofi is angry with Isaac for leaving Naomi out of his wedding invitations.

“I don’t look for racism, but I expect it. But I didn’t expect it from you!”- Kofi

3) Pg. 45 Naomi is annoyed with Letitia because she is not ready, and she’s wasting time.

“There’s nothing old about you, I just saw you on Tik Tok!” Naomi

4) Pg. 68 Kofi is angry with Naomi after he discovers that he wasn’t invited to her sister’s wedding. Naomi says that her sister is misguided.

“And you think that you’re not misguided by not telling me? That’s like sending someone into enemy territory with no armor. Seriously, Naomi, just ignore problems and maybe they’ll just go away?”

5) Pg. 68 Naomi’s response to Kofi

“What did you want me to say? That I may have some closet racist relatives, but I don’t know who they are?”

How Do I Leave the Audience with a Profound Ending?

A. Express the profound truth: That interracial relationships can survive/thrive.

B. Naomi will come to terms with the fact that she is not living in a “post racial” America.

C. The Change-She learns how to deal with others and be more transparent with Kofi. She decides to stand up to people, because she does not want to lose the love of her life.

D. The payoffs- Naomi and Kofi reunite after coming close to never being able to see one another again. Naomi stops Kofi’s deportation when she realizes that she cannot live without him.

E. Surprising- At the very last moment, she sees the plane take off, it appears that all is lost. Kofi is not on the plane.

F. Parting image- Naomi and Kofi’s wedding

[Edward Brown]

Edward Brown profound map

I learned I had intututively had most element but this put things in focus. And more rethinking.’

Title: Blue Planet Romance & Life Forever?

Screenplay by Edward Kilkenny Brown

(this is pilot for BW series)

1. Profound Truth: Creator’s cosmos has two rules for life: Self Preservation and Preservation of Species

Blue Planet prophet, Jesus, translated this to “Love Your neighbor as yourself”

There is an implied third rule: prospective lovers adapt for romance forever. AND Ukraine nuclear powers adapt for peace or Blue Planet becomes extinct Red Mars.

2. Transformable Journey

Faced that Jesus’s parables are increasingly considered mythical tales, Creator adapts to create a parable binge television series of two total opposite uber romantics, prissy structured Siberian professor, Tatianna, and slot chaotic Detroit roofer, George.

Thus, this pilot is about total opposites: Siberian Tanya and Detroit George adapting/transforming enough “to meet face to pretty face” to explore being forever romantic partners.

This romantic comedy is in intrigue background of Tanya’s father secretly for Putin developing unstoppable hypersonic missile and FSB, new name for KGB, tactical killings.

Tanya’s Old Ways

Tanya vamps for short term five-abortion fun living off her husband’s alimony

George’s Old Ways

While slob, messy, and disorganized, George shapes up enough to weekend party with classy sexy dame

Creator’s Old Ways

While answers prayers sometimes, Creator basically likes his game of Evolution where he “lets it play” for to save Sapiens’ from their bad behavior consequences would make him an enabler.

JOURNEY

Romantic courtship transforms totally opposite prospective lovers to power sharing roles of playful partnership
New Ways:

George goes from being “pussy whipped” to being self assertive for his key values of playful and sailing for long term relation.

However, to shape up enough for Tanya, “World Class Woman,” George cleans up his act by daily grooming, walking, eating smart, walking, taking meds, brushing teeth, and goes from disorganized slob to driving around to see bad roofs and mailing letters to digitally marketing.

Plus, courts and City inspectors force George to meet deadlines, keep shop clean, and no loose food for rats.

And while still vampable, George nixes non-sailing or unplayful women no matter how desirable.

Tanya goes from vamping to get her ways to being a compromising go-giver to George’s wants.

Plus, to qualify George as valid romantic prospect Tanya researches George’s finances, past romances, how good a father, AND qualifying tests, “Men will say anything and do a lot to go to bed with me, but how they act is the real test.”

Creator: To discover what it takes to stay romantically bonded, Creator increasingly lets Tanya’s case worker saints to play cupid to at least get George and Tanya together. Plus, Creator allows Blue Planet Sapiens to discover more on Mars so they will credibly believe intelligent beings killed themselves and all Red planet life.

Transformational Logline

While Tanya rejects billionaire’s marriage proposal and George rejects life of great weekend sex and cultured fun, both recognize the other as a playful romantic match, but must transform into go givers for Detroit roofer’s face meet Siberian professor’s pretty face to even explore future romantic life together.

3. Lead Characters: Tanya, George, Creator

Change agent is romantic prospect’s desire for romance, and Creator’s desire to parable teach with romantic adventure without preaching so Blue planet bipeds learn to negotiate to live.

Betraying Character: Maybe Tanya’s father who develops hypersonic missiles, and Tanya’s ex husband who wants to kill Tanya’s father, and later Tanya and George

Oppression: boredom, lack of life having meaning, bureaucracy as monster feeding of individuals whose roles limited be born, breed work die

4. Connect with audience at movie beginning

A. Relatability: maybe George’s problems of being disorganized and messy

Women desire to be more than ornaments but have sparkle of romance

Men want more than party partner but play partner with shared LIFE goals

B. Intrigue: secret development of hypersonic missiles and 200 mph torpedos

Tanya’s ghost grandfather who her ex-husband, Ivan, wants to kill and then Tanya

How will Creator transform Tanya and George be Russian vs United States peacemakers

How will Creator persuade bipeds not to nuke Blue Planet into extinct Mars

C. Empathy: Tanya’s search for a romantic lifetime lover

George’s search for life partner not just party girl

Tough romantic negotiations to meet

God’s trying to let Sapiens have free will but guide them

Tolya’s trying to mature with crazy adult examples

D. Likability

Tanya being gutty at Kremlin New Year’s Eve Ball by rejecting Billionaire’s diamond necklace and huge engagement ring and being stranded on dance floor and still getting a military jet escort home to Siberia.

George suffering personal defects and changing to be a strong better person.

Also George secretly tests Tanya the secret tester and convinces her to go from ruling Czarina to romantic partner

Saints relatable passionate advocates whose rock and roll gets fiddling George to “be a man and kiss the damn phone” before planet’s NYE time zone.

Jesus and Spirit ROLES

Creator’s SENSE OF HUMOR

Tanya’s ghost grandfather

E. Empathy: Tanya’s search for a romantic live lover

George’s search for life partner not just party girl

God’s trying to let Sapiens have free will but guide them

Tolya’s trying to mature with crazy adult examples

F. Likability

Tanya being gutsy at NYE Ball and adaptive

George suffering personal defects and changing

Also creative adapter, problem solver

Saints relatable passionate advocates

Jesus and Spirit ROLES

God SENSE OF HUMOR

5. GRADIENT OF CHANGE

Prospective Lovers adapt to connect

God adapts to save Earth by exploring romantic dynamics

Emotional Gradient

TANYA forced change from Kremlin New Year Eve Ball goes thru this on military jet home to Siberia

Denial: can’t believe Billionaire would not dance WITH HER

Angry: at not realizing her international library search found rich powerful men want an ornament

Bargaining: Saints and Divine forces owe her help as her family defended the faith against Bolsheviks and atheists

Depression: never find forever romantic lover as traditional prospects nyet

Acceptance: old ways failed, must be open to new

TANYA Desired Change

Excitement: God arranged phone call from George who describes such a potential romantic evening with dining, bubbly, dancing and her body covered with rose petals so when their bodies press together they make rose perfume. So excited living this in her imagination, she squirts her underpants.

DOUBT after they skype kiss last planet’s time zone NYE at Bora Bora, Tanya begins to have doubts if George really is smitten by her. So sends him Valentine present of red undies with rose petals. And waits to see if George has sent her any Valentine’s Day gift.

HOPE of qualifying George as future romantic. Tanya has hope when George sends to her care of University a video of a double gable building chain sawed into crude heart painted red with their initials and then blown up which gets giggly approval by female ballet and university staff.

Also, her research shows that George history of being great dad, romantic enough to challenge Torero to sword fight for hand of Senorita. Rejected non-sailor, Ex-girl friend Anna, is learning to jibe spinnaker. Da da.

IRONY DISCOURAGEMENT with George now fit, lean, well dressed and groomed, and guest strategist of winning mackinaw sailboat race, there is Awards Ceremony beer blast of 1000 happy souls. There, Tanya skypes sees George surrounded with many admiring busty women. Tanya really gets discouraged when George says he might not come to Moscow face to pretty face meet that now that she’s helped his marketing, George has of business to attend to.

COURAGE: since George is coming to Red Square, Tanya bravely plans to vamp George to come to Siberia

TRIUMPH: TANYA fails to vamp George as he fiddles with his dragon kite and dismisses him. Then Tanya realizes she failed George’s secret test. After play acting as playful birds, Tanya vows not to act like ruling Czarina but romantic partner. See ending where they agree to go to Novosibirsk Siberia to explore being life romantic lovers.

Gradiant 2 action

Set up New Years Eve Midnight Kiss

· January 1^st, flown in by military jet to Moscow, Tanya’s father Dr. Victor Koslov , is ordered to watch “educational lesson” before he can get funding for his low drag research,

· Dr. Koslov wonders what his vampish daughter Tanya did the night before at Kremlin NYE ball. Did she dance with billionaire Boris who invited her. Months earlier, Boris was wowed at Russia’s annual talent competition where Tanya’s ballet class won.

· FSB agent laughs and orders Dr. Koslov’s neighboring nuclear project director cremated live as lesson to keep secrets — secret — for Dr. Koslov’s neighbor planned to sell secrets.

· Red Square NYE rowdy crowd out side palace. Inside Tanya enters Ball room. Voice overs say person you kiss at midnight NYE will affect your life rest of the year. Will Tanya and Boris kiss? If so, will oligarch Boris arrange for Tanya’s son, Tolya, get draft deferment and her father Victor get research funding?

· At NYE Kremlin Ball, Tanya rejects Boris’s diamond necklace and huge engagement ring because Tanya is not an ornament. Instead, she vamps Putin saying her father, Dr. Victor Koslov is researching drastic drag reduction. Putin orders General to fly Tanya home to Novosibirsk Siberia.

· On jet flight home, Tanya pleads for help finding romantic lover. So, her case worker Saints call in Jesus who calls in Spirit. Then all call in Creator to help Tanya find a forever romantic lover.

· Creator mocks “Blue Planet bipeds” for ignoring Evolution’s natural selection of sexual bonding to raise kids.

· Saints point out that Tanya’s impregnators split at prospect of being fathers, so, Tanya had five abortions. This fatherless raising of kids is common, growing, and causing young boys turning to crime or wasted lives.

· After Creator threatens Saints and demonstrates his power, Saints suggest Romantic Bonding. Saints and Jesus agree romance is most challenging form of Go-Giving. Jesus adds his “love your neighbor as yourself” parables are considered mythical stories.

· Creator counters that Green planet he just came from in another Galaxy, the competing bipeds nuked the electrical system so everything electrical fired: no transformers, no computers, no vehicles — so in short time all died except horse farmers, hunters and green tigers.

· Saints are shocked. Creator waves hand and former CIA director in video say it could happen on earth with 90% dead in a year. Saints shocked.

· Creator says could get worse, competing nuclear forces on Mars weakened the protective ionosphere so UV rays killed plants and small animals. Then the animals who ate them died. And with weaker ionosphere not holding in air, solar winds blew away a lot of air so water dried up. Red Planet became extinct dust and rock.

· If Russia and United States or China start nuking, earth’s protective ionosphere could be destroyed enough so life on Blue Planet becomes extinct.

· Then patron saint of lovers and sailors, Nicholas says, “well, let’s DO SIMPLE: find Tanya a romantic lover.”

· First, Creator frowns, then smiles, and asks “What do you bipeds do when you celebrate other than drink and eat?

· Saints, Jesus, and Creator hold hands and dance around alter. Creator changes into different alien forms. Suddenly lightening and thunder inside Cathedral with Creator back to traditional Father form.

· Creator proposes: “since romance is most challenging of Go Giving, let’s do an experiment of connecting two uber romantics, but totally opposites, to discover dynamics of negotiations, compromise and helping each other.

Then maybe those lessons can be used to defuse nuclear war and create prosperity.

And to engage you bipeds, let’s make this real life binge worthy parable TV series. And you saints can be shape shifter cupids. And sometime fixers.

· Saints wildly celebrate. Then patron saint of Divine Wisdom, Sophia asks “where can we find a romantic so foolish to put up with self-centered Tanya?”

· Creator: soon may be available a slob roofer from Detroit

JOURNEY Tanya and George negotiate to meet face to pretty face

· at new year’s eave midnights around globe’s time zones, Tanya and George negotiate how and when to meet “face to pretty face”

· at last romantic global spot, Bora Bora, they just kiss to seal deal of meeting after Mackinaw Sailboat race in July at Red Square.

· Before meeting, both have doubts. Tanya does more research on George. While Tanya prompts George to shape up before meeting, George ironically finds himself leaner, more handsome, better organized and making more roofing business money.

· Thus, George questions” why go to Moscow when I got things going good here.

· But skipper, who knowingly had heart problems, dies on winner stage and tells GEORGE,

“be a bold fool and don’t later regret not going

Pay Off at Red Square confrontation

· George and Tanya meet finally “face to pretty face.”

· Tanya tries to vamp George under her power

· And more specifically for George to go to Siberia.

· George tests her by flying kite to see if she is playful, for George believes playfulness wears better than aging beauty

· Tanya fails and George is ready to return to Detroit

· Then Tanya joins George play acting like bird couple

· They agree to be romantic synergy partners and go to Novosibirsk Siberia to explore more being romantic lovers forever

. How are the “Old Ways” Challenged?

A. Challenge through Questioning:

· Boris asks Tanya to marry but Tanya refuses because values romantic relationship vs being an ornament

· Tanya asks Saints for help and then transforms to realizing she must change herself to be more open getting a romantic mate

· Tanya challenges George to better groom, dress, eat, exercise, market

B. Challenge thru Counter Example

· George challenges Tanya to be playful like birds

· George challenges Tanya being sexy after beauty fades vs old charming playful woman who gets male attention

· FSB challenges Dr. Koslov to keep project secrets by cremating alive his neighboring project director who tries to sell nuke tech secrets

C. Challenge thru “Should World but Doesn’t”

· Saints challenge Creator that sex is no longer bonding parents

· Saints challenge Creator that the “BOOK” and Jesus’ parables are today still effective

D. Challenge through Living Metaphor

· New Year = new beginings

· NYE midnight kiss = attachment for coming year

· George mess disorganized life

· Building trimaran = freedom

· Valentine gift = cares for proswpect

· Skipper dying with Blue Flag first award = life is short , live fully, have no reqrets

· Tanya’s waltzing = romance participation

· Boris’ diamonds = wealth comfortable cage

· Birds and kite challenge = playfulness together in life

· Fingers interlocked = synergy joining of lives for more happiness

· Walking arm in arm vs holding hands = classy way to walk together affectionately but properly

8. How are You Presenting Insights through Profound Moments?

CONFLICT

· Tanya refuses diamonds and marriage to Billionaire for romance

· George refuses around global sex for new life partner

· Saints refuse to buckle to Creator because they champion real life results vs comfortable compliance

· Tanya and George always negotiate and compromise because insight they want same thing – romance partner

ACTION

· FSB cremates taletell project head as lesson keep secrets

· FSB Ivan kills moonshiner revealing insight he’s calmly a killer

· George changes course in mackinaw race as insight he is adaptable

· Tanya vamps as insight that’s her power game

· George tests Tanya with kite and bird dance as insight he values demonstratable action proofs vs verbal jabber

Irony

· Creator who believes let natural selection evolution pick winners decides to have parable TV series by connecting total opposites, Tanya and George

· While nations develop increasingly more deadly weapons for self defense, these same weapons can nuke the planet’s protective ionosphere so UV rays start domino extinction of all Earth’s life forms.

· Tanya’s shaping up George causes him to be desirable to competing women

· While ancients preached moral wisdom, to convert misbehavers, it takes modern media TV parable show.

9. What are the Most Profound Lines of the Movie?

· FSB after live cremation: “Secrets be Secret?”

VICTOR KOSLOV

· Welll, ah, ­Tolya –your Mom’s a vamp

TANYA

But, I’m not an economic cipher. This I know. This stone came from the earth. In fleeting decades, we’ll all return to earth.

TANYA throws back her hair, hands on hips:

TANYA PROUD VOICE

· Meantime — to live — Tolya’s mother must have romance of dance.

TANYA

· Saints help me. I want lifetime romantic lover. Not roommate waiting to bury the other.

TANYA LITTLE VOICE

· Hmmm –As I fly over petty quarrels below, I realize: I need not a sex mechanic, nor ritual wine nor ritual roses –instead I need a creative romantic!

GOD

· Well, my blue planet BIPEDS. I see you conned the Spirit and the KID

SAINT SOPHIA

· Hey, news flash, fossils show Sapiens beat monkeys eons ago But there’s trouble in paradise, blessed climaxes are with someone else’s exes

SAINT GEORGE

But many boys, like too short Vincent, can’t play round ball. So they’re easily recruited to sell drugs.

(beat)

Then to pay for drugs, their drug customers mug ‘n’ rob!

(beat)

And when the New Drug Sellers get busted, these New felons can’t get legitimate jobs. Good Jobs.

GOD

Okay crew, ­lets define the problem. Often Dads out door before Babes out of mom.

(beat)

Worse,40 per cent of your marriages bomb

TANYA

O Saints, can romance bloom forever? ..Or Fated to wilt like cut roses? ..O Saints, find me a suitor so clever .­So Our Love will bloom forever!

ANNA

Remember? Sometimes we don’t get in bed in time — to celebrate — to come — together —“to dine to intertwine” — at Chicago’s New Year’s Eve Midnight.

(BEAMING)

So now we can “celebrate” Midnight across global time zones: Denver, Mexico City, San Diego, Maui, Tahiti —

GEORGE

Make it ­Bora Bora. Tahiti’s infested with tourists.

ANNA

And 7 AM our time, finish at Bora Bora!

ANNA VO(mocking)

You’ll be concocting your trimaran. Will be tap tap tap on your garage door window. Peering in will be a sweet girlish face.

(falsetto)

A pretty face gushing: “Is that a trimaran? I JUST LOVE TRIMARANS!”

GEORGE

Yes! And she’ll help build it. We sail. Sail in moonlight. No starlight. Dark, but so calm ..the stars will reflect off the mirror water. Galaxies of stars. Sail among cosmos of stars. Above. Below. Through Surrounding Stars.

ANNA

And you’ll make love on the deck.

GEORGE

Yes! Breeze sleeps. Boat stops. And we drop clothes, drop to deck. And our love energy creates waves of passion, waves of love, waves rippling through out the starry universe!

Image of bobbing trimaran’s waves transmitting out reflected starlit water

GEORGE VO

AND WE’LL BE ONE WITH THE COSMOS.

GEORGE

AND COSMOS WILL BE ONE WITH US. AN’ WE’LL BE ONE WITH EACH OTHER

GEORGE

We are neither young nor old –

TANYA

We neither young nor old –

GEORGE

And with magic of love and laughter

TANYA

With magic of love an’ laughter

GEORGE

We will fight the dark and cold

TANYA

We fight dark an’ cold

GEORGE

And with magic of love and laughter

TANYA

With magic of love and laughter

GEORGE

We will tap into Cosmic Honey Flow

TANYA

We tap into …Cosmic Honey.. Flow —

GEORGE

And air will be golden and our lives will sweetly flow!

+

10. How Do You Leave Us With A Profound Ending?

A. Express the Profound Truth:

Romance requires first desire for it and then compromise to form partnership of Go-Giving

. B. The Change:

At Tanya’s urging George shaped up. And Tanya transformed from Czarina vamp to caring playful partner

B. Payoffs:

George and Tanya finally meet “ face to pretty face” and agree to further explore being life long romantic lovers

C. Surprising:

Just when it looks like they will part as George goes off to fly kite, Tanya realizes George does have PhD in Romance and runs after him

. E. Parting Image/Line:

TATIANNA embraces and passionately kisses GEORGE. Fervidly they embraces and kiss.

[Sherwen Moore]

For me, this was an interesting…. romantic comedy to say the least with a twist of YOLO (You Only Live Once) type decision making as the story progressed. Creator is always challenging to present on paper for the visual imagination to accept as all encompassing. So, two very unlikely foes coming together for the sake of the type of romance innately needed. I guess this is a story only the universe would figure out why George and Tanya needed to be together.

[Laura Hyler]

Laura Hyler Profound Map Version 3 Day 16 5/6/22

What I learned doing this assignment is that this process gives you a guide that can be changed

when necessary, but it really shows you your path and where you are heading.

1) My profound truth is that interracial couples can survive/thrive despite racism as long as they find a means to deal with it.

2) The transformational journey is:

Old Ways: Naomi initially settles for people and situations that she does not have to. She tends to be reserved, is afraid of relationships and is affected by other’s actions/words. She also has a tendency to avoid difficult matters by not discussing them.

Journey: Naomi meets Kofi who she falls for and is soon faced with how to handle others who have less than positive attitudes toward interracial couples, including family and friends from both sides.

New Ways: Naomi gets her confidence back and learns to assert herself. She goes out of her way to keep Kofi in her life.

Transformational Logline: Naive woman who believes that we live in a post racial America learns differently when she falls in love with an African and has to learn how to handle challenging situations in order to keep her relationship.

3) My lead characters are:

· Change agent: Tommy and Tripp

· Transformable character: Naomi

· Oppression: Racism

4) How I connect with my audience in the beginning of the movie:

A. Relatability- universal experiences: Naomi, a widow, has had a bad relationship after the death of her husband. She is a single mom, has a stressful job, a boss that threatens the security of her job when he sees who she is dating, stress from family and friends, especially her sister, and does not assert herself well under contentious situations.

Kofi- has secret past relationship with a white woman that did not work out. Receives pressure from friends to not date outside his race. Is kind to his patients, has a fire destroy his apartment and important documents. Has an employer who mishandles his HB-1 immigration papers, faces deportation, and is also unassertive in contentious situations.

B. Intrigue- Naomi is not sure about embarking on any new relationships. Initially denies feelings for Kofi. She is not always forthcoming in expressing her feelings.

Kofi- hides past failed relationship, but results of it show in new relationship with Naomi when tensions become apparent.

C. Empathy- When Naomi and Kofi split. When Kofi’s apartment burns down. When Naomi mysteriously gets turned down for a job that she was in line for, for a guy that has been watching her for years. When their friends discourage them from pursuing their relationship. When people they do not know look at them funny or make comments.

D. Likability- Naomi is an easy-going person most of the time, she isn’t judgmental, often too nice for her own good.

Kofi- helpful to his patients, kind to others, also tends to be too good for his own good.

5) What is the gradient of change?

Desired Change

Emotional Gradient:

Excitement: Naomi is excited to meet someone she is compatible with.

Doubt: Naomi is fearful of new relationships and is unsure of dating outside her race.

Hope: Naomi is hopeful about her new relationship and people’s attitudes.

Discouragement: Comes from family and friends on both sides, her employer.

Courage: Naomi decides to do what is in her best interest and Kofi’s.

Action Gradient

Setup

Naomi meets Kofi at a charitable fundraiser. After the charity fundraiser they have a “real date.”

Journey

· She is unsure of having any relationship. Naomi is not comfortable putting people in their place, even when she is angry-she is inconsistent

· Naomi continues to date Kofi in spite of disguised prejudices of others. She begins to see him as “the one.”

· When Kofi realizes that Naomi did not tell him that he was invited to her sister’s wedding. It is further complicated when Naomi discovers that Kofi did not tell her that she was left out of Isaac’s wedding. Kofi moves out.

· Naomi stands up to the people in her life. She decides that she’d rather risk losing some relationships than losing the love of her life.

Payoff

· Naomi reconciles with Kofi. She puts people in their place. Tells people that her relationship is not negotiable.

· Naomi and Kofi get married

Challenge/Weakness Gradient:

Challenge: Naomi just came out of a bad relationship. Prior to that she was widowed.

Weakness: She is unsure about a new relationship, and the fact that he is from another race/culture.

Challenge. Naomi must overcome the fear of rejection by family and how to handle racism.

Weakness: Naomi is used to being “nice” even to her own detriment.

Challenge: People’s attitudes, overt and subtle. Workplace tension.

Weakness: Knowing how to respond appropriately and be candid with Kofi.

Challenge: How to get back together with Kofi. How to handle her family and other’s viewpoints and actions.

Weakness: Doesn’t want to lose family connections or disrupt her employment.

Challenge: Putting people in their place, with tact. Reconciling with Kofi.

Weakness: Naomi has difficulty articulating her feelings to all parties.

Challenge: Mustering up the courage to tell people off. Knowing what to say to Kofi.

Weakness: Fear of the unknown, what will happen next?

6. The Transformational Structure of my story is:

MM #1

Hero’s Status Quo, ordinary world ends (pgs. 1-15)

Naomi, widow, 38 (Caucasian), has recently split from a man, Greg (Caucasian), late thirties, who she has been dating for ten years. She has two teenage children. Her employer, a charity decides to hold a dinner date “auction.” Her friend and coworker, Jeanine throws her name and another coworker’s name in the pool of potential “dates.

Tommy, a guy who has reputation, and Naomi detests, puts in a bid for a dinner date with her.

Kofi, a medical doctor, who recognizes Naomi from an incident in a bar, puts in his bid and outbids Tommy.

Hope: Naomi decides to go along with the dinner date fundraiser despite her reticence.

Challenge: Naomi is still angry at Greg. She finds herself missing her deceased husband, especially when other relationships fail.

Weakness: Fear of the unknown

MM # 2 (pgs. 15-30)

Turning Point: Call to Adventure

Naomi runs into Tommy at the dinner, and also, Cal, her good friend (Letitia’s) brother. Tommy makes and embarrassing comment to Kofi. Cal makes a snide remark to Naomi. She and Kofi have an enjoyable evening.

Kofi asks Naomi for a “real date.” Naomi accepts.

Excitement: Meeting a new person and having a good time despite her doubts.

Doubt: trying to learn ways of coping with people’s opinions, prejudices

MM # 3 (pgs. 30-45)

Turning Point: Locked In

Naomi and Kofi go out to dinner. They discover that they have more in common than they thought.

A week later, they go on a hiking date. During the hike, Naomi overhears a conversation between other hikers. Subconsciously, she knows that comments made were directed at her and Kofi. Kofi pretends not to have heard.

Greg calls Naomi and asks her to lunch. She reluctantly agrees. Greg tries to get Naomi back. He makes biased comments and Naomi leaves.

Discouragement: Naomi would like to keep seeing Kofi, but she unsure how to handle people around her.

MM # 4 (pgs. 45-60)

Turning Point: Standard Ways Fail

Kofi receives invitation to his friend, Isaac’s wedding. Naomi is not included. Kofi says nothing to Naomi and attends the wedding.

Naomi and Kofi attend a concert with Letitia. Naomi notices the reaction of a couple of white guys when they realize Kofi is her date.

When Kofi’s apartment catches fire, Naomi offers him the guestroom.

Naomi receives a wedding invitation from her sister. Kofi is not included. Naomi does not know how to handle it. She confronts her sister, and declines being the Maid of Honor. Her sister advises her that she will not be able to ride in the limousine with her children to the wedding.

Letitia and Cal have an unpleasant conversation with Naomi about why she shouldn’t date a black man.

Tommy is promoted to a position in Naomi’s organization that she was well qualified for.

Discouragement: Naomi’s non-confrontational style is becoming a problem. She feels deflated.

MM # 5 (pgs. 60-75)

Turning Point: Plan backfires

En route to her sister’s wedding, Naomi gets a flat tire.

She meets an older man, Richard, who helps her with the tire. In the brief time she knows him, he serves as a mentor.

Kofi gets off work early and shows up at Charlie (Naomi’s sister’s) wedding. Kofi overhears a conversation between town wedding guests and becomes angry. Naomi asks him what is wrong, and he tells her that he is angry that she did not tell him that he was not invited. He leaves abruptly.

Doubt: Naomi fears losing the relationship

Discouragement: the culmination of friend’s, family and society’s opinions

MM # 6 (pgs. 75-90)

Turning Point: The Decision to Change

Naomi returns home to find no trace of Kofi. Over the next two weeks, she tries to make contact. Out of desperation, she goes to Kofi’s office. She is told that he is off that day.

She bumps into Isaac, who tells her that their employer screwed up Kofi’s HB-1 renewal paperwork, and that he is going to be deported.

Naomi goes to immigration and asks if there is anything she could do to prevent Kofi’s deportation. A clerk advises her that she can act as a sponsor until the employer, County Medical, gets their paperwork in.

Doubt: Naomi doesn’t know if she will stop Kofi in time, or if she will ever see him again.

Courage: Naomi decides to prevent the deportation and find Kofi.

MM # 7

Turning Point: The ultimate failure (pgs. 90-105)

Naomi gets stuck in traffic going to the airport. There is an accident and construction. Cars are backed up for miles. Naomi calls Isaac on her cell phone. She pleads with Isaac to call immigration and stop Kofi from leaving.

Naomi finally arrives at the airport. She bargains with security to let her get through the gates.

She runs through the airport. She arrives at the terminal just in time to see the plane take off.

Doubt: Naomi fears never seeing Kofi again. She experiences despair.

MM # 8

Turning Point: Apparent Victory (pgs. 105-120)

Naomi hears a familiar voice behind her. It is Kofi. Immigration stopped his departure just in time.

Naomi is empowered to stand up to her friends, family, coworkers and boss. She now puts people in their place (appropriately).

Some people have come forward to apologize for their own attitudes and behavior.

Turning Point: New Status quo

Naomi and Kofi get married. Their lives settle down.

7. How are the old ways challenged?

Challenge by “Should Work, But Doesn’t

Naomi is not that assertive. She gives in to others wishes often, basically because she wants to avoid confrontation.

Why it doesn’t work: By the nature of giving in to other’s wishes, she risks not being happy and losing the love of her life-Kofi. It also costs her a promotion.

Naomi’s fear of commitment prevents her from re-experiencing past hurts.

Why it doesn’t work: Naomi gets hurt from people who are unable to commit. She doesn’t make Kofi feel as secure as he would like-a potential way of losing him.

Afraid to challenge people’s unsolicited opinions, in an effort to be liked.

Why it doesn’t work: the people who aren’t going to like her, are not going to like her, regardless of what she does or doesn’t do. As soon as she makes choices that she is happy with, those same people are going to be a problem-like her sister, Charlene.

Naomi omits important information from Kofi about her sister’s wedding, because she is unsure of how to handle it.

Why it doesn’t work: Instead of avoiding conflict, Naomi finds herself right in the middle of conflict with the most important person in her life.

Avoidant behavior- because Naomi avoids uncomfortable situations, she ends up in bad predicaments.

Because Naomi is not comfortable talking to Jeanine about her relationship, she misses out on valuable advice.

Challenge by Living Metaphor:

· Lack of Assertiveness: Living Metaphor: Seeing Tommy’s name in the

· company newsletter, as getting the job she was qualified for.

· Fear of Commitment: Living Metaphor: the wedding invitation, her friend’s engagement

· Not challenging unsolicited opinions: Living Metaphor: Her ex-boyfriend, Greg

· Acts of omission to avoid conflict: Living Metaphor: The empty guest room when Kofi leaves

· Avoidant behavior: Living Metaphor: She is alone when everyone else is with their special someone

8. I am presenting Insights Through Profound Moments by:

a. New Way and Insight:

Naomi learns not to be manipulated by Greg. She sees how he used to manipulate her in the past.

Action:

She refuses to continue a discussion that she believes is unreasonable. She cuts Greg off.

b. New Way and Insight:

Naomi is faced with doing something for her company that she doesn’t want to do. She gains insight from Jeanine’s reaction. She realizes this is something she should do for the good of the charity.

Action:

She learns how to be a good sport about it anyway and participates in the auction.

c. New Way and Insight:

Naomi works through her fear of relationships. She starts to see that she has something in common with Kofi.

Action:

Naomi goes out on a date in spite of her reticence.

d. New Way and Insight:

Naomi starts to stand up for herself. Her sister cannot affect her choices by being manipulative.

Action:

Naomi makes the best decision for herself.

e. New Way and Insight:

Naomi is not interested in other’s opinions.

Action:

She is no longer willing to allow others to force their opinions on her and speaks up. The consequences of other’s opinions do not influence her.

f. New Way and Insight

Naomi sees firsthand that we are NOT living in a post racial America.

Action: Naomi is no longer willing to remain silent about things that matter.

Conflict Delivers Insight

Conflict: Naomi’s sister does not invite Kofi to her wedding.

Insight: Naomi is beginning to see things from a different perspective.

Conflict: Kofi’s best friend leaves Naomi out of his wedding guest list.

Insight: Kofi cannot be mad at Naomi for the same thing that he did.

Irony Delivers Insight

Irony: Letitia, Naomi’s African American friend discourages Naomi’s relationship with Kofi.

Insight: Racism on either side is silly.

Irony: Naomi is reluctant to enter a new relationship, in spite of the fact that she really likes Kofi.

Insight: Fear can make you miss out on the best things life has to offer.

What are the most profound lines of the movie?

1) Pg. 3 Anger and hurt feelings not only over break up, but also Greg has a new woman only one week later.

“Relationships are not Happy Meals, Greg” -Naomi (referencing the speed at which he is with someone else).

2) Pg. 42 Kofi is angry with Isaac for leaving Naomi out of his wedding invitations.

“I don’t look for racism, but I expect it. But I didn’t expect it from you!”- Kofi

3) Pg. 45 Naomi is annoyed with Letitia because she is not ready, and she’s wasting time.

“There’s nothing old about you, I just saw you on Tik Tok!” Naomi

4) Pg. 68 Kofi is angry with Naomi after he discovers that he wasn’t invited to her sister’s wedding. Naomi says that her sister is misguided.

“And you think that you’re not misguided by not telling me? That’s like sending someone into enemy territory with no armor. Seriously, Naomi, just ignore problems and maybe they’ll just go away?”

5) Pg. 68 Naomi’s response to Kofi

“What did you want me to say? That I may have some closet racist relatives, but I don’t know who they are?”

How Do I Leave the Audience with a Profound Ending?

A. Express the profound truth: That interracial relationships can survive/thrive.

B. Naomi will come to terms with the fact that she is not living in a “post racial” America.

C. The Change-She learns how to deal with others and be more transparent with Kofi. She decides to stand up to people, because she does not want to lose the love of her life.

D. The payoffs- Naomi and Kofi reunite after coming close to never being able to see one another again. Naomi stops Kofi’s deportation when she realizes that she cannot live without him.

E. Surprising- At the very last moment, she sees the plane take off, it appears that all is lost. Kofi is not on the plane.

F. Parting image- Naomi and Kofi’s wedding