Day 2: Mismatched Allies – GREEN BOOK

[Jim]

When I rewrote a scene changing the characters’ relationship from Allies to Mismatched Allies it became much more interesting by heightening a future tension between them which did not exist before.

[Sandeep Gupta]

Actually, these characters are not mismatched at all. Both are accomplished virtuosos, on top of their games. One in music and the other of brawn. Connoisseur smooth aesthetes — one in arts one in blue collar survival and pride. Both immensely proud men, likely independent and both ambitious to stay on top of their world. Carnegie Hall, or bouncing and hot dogs. Both are sensitive and loyal to the essence of family. Both think certain work is beneath them.

Haha, all they have to do now is to cross that five-dimensional chasm of erudition, class, interdependence, humility, and virtue of all work.

At this point in the script, we haven’t learnt much about DR SHIRLEY. We have hints of TONY’s discomfort, but I haven’t seen the movie. Both are going to adjust — it’s eight weeks of symbiotic survival — it is clear it will be a relationship based on immense trust given by one guy and reciprocated loyalty by other, probably glued together initially only by the large paycheck and with how they are towards DOLORES. One is sensitive and loyal to her, and the other is preemptively sensitive to the demand put on her. In the audiences mind, as of now differences shimmer in all five dimensions and up until now, I among them wouldn’t have counted them. Darn. Wow Nick, et al. Does everyone know Nick is Tony’s real-life son?

[David Moe]

Insights/breakthroughs – I love mismatched allies! The contrast couldn’t be greater here. It’s fun to see the differences here and there is irony built in. The racial contrasts and the time period add depth to the Felix Unger and Oscar Madison types.

[Deb Johnson]

Another incredible scene displays two mismatched allies. The writers and the actors just nail it. After this scene – you wonder how in the world could these two ever get along. It provides wonderful suspense.

They both have relevant secrets:

You can’t tell from this scene – but Don is gay.

Also – we know – not from this scene – that though Tony did have two black men over to his house, it was to do work – and he was so disgusted that they drank from his glasses that he threw them away. Tony’s relevant secret is that he does have disdain for black people.

These secrets later get them both in trouble.

The drama that this scene is built around is Tony’s desperate need for a job and Don’s desperate need for someone to look out for his well-being. The scene is set in Don’s “office” which looks more like a museum. Tony is walking in blind – doesn’t understand who Don is or what he needs.

How are they living in their future?

Notice how Don steps down from his “throne”. This is his future. He gets off his isolated high horse (so to speak).

Notice how Tony refuses the job because he knows his limits – it shows that he’s not all about money… that he’s willing to walk away if the situation isn’t right. (This is also his future.)

Finally – they are perfectly mismatched:

Tony – blue collar, unfiltered, lippy (a good bullshitter)

Don – highbrow, honest (straight shooter), carefully worded

[Karyn Laitis]

Character Mastery: Week 2, Day 2 The Green Book

Karyn Laitis

Mismatched Allies

How mismatched are these two? — They are almost at the opposite ends of the continuum, which leaves a lot of room for their journey together and separately. What brings them together is Don’s need for protection and Tony’s need for compensation. $100 a week will easily pay the rent (or mortgage) in 1962. You see the excesses of Don’s flat, and his attire compared to the dress and demeanor of Tony. Based on a true story, the characters are Art imitating life.

What do they have to get over to be able to work together and become friends? – The one thing going for them is that they have a shared purpose—safely have Don complete his concert tour through the deep south. Beyond common purpose, they need to work through their internal preconceptions and external barriers (culture and laws) that limit building a relationship.

Knowing that Tony gets the job, how does this mismatch create a future for both characters? – They each have a journey to discover each other and the self. As challenges are presented, Don retreats because of concern about racism and sexual preference. Don’s talent is what is applauded, but not the man. Tony is “what you see is what you get”-somewhat thuggish but with a willingness to reserve judgements. He lives by a family code. It seems Don admires this and Tony admires Don’s talent and refinement.

What drama is this scene built around? — There is internal tension because of their differences and there is an externally imposed tension from culture and prejudices. For Don and Tony, there is still a respect and curiosity about each other’s life that opens a window for mutual understanding.

What profile items showed up in these two characters words and actions? — Traits:

Tony Don

Gruff Refined

Realist Talented

Protective Shame

Family values Contained

[Trish Carothers]

What a great movie and great acting. Two seemingly very different men about to go on a journey together, if they can agree on Terms, Don – wealthy snobbish piano virtuoso singularly alone except for the “help,” and Tony the typical stereotypical Italian bronx character, rough, togh, very little education, street fighter- a survivalist who doesn’t take ant putdowns. The money is fair,but Tony sees an apportunity – based on Don’s clothes and appartment and address to up it a bit. But he won’t be any man’s stooge, valet, butler or dogsbody. That’s the clincher for him – not the money.

What Does Don see – a tough guy who is no man’s slave or toady – and Don needs that tough guy where he’s going who has no fear, can’t be bought or intimidated.

It’s clear they are mismatched in : clothes, style, language, education, talents, demeanor, attitude towards each other, behaviorist, and place in society.

They both have to get over their own misconceptions and assumptions about each other or this job/relationship won’t work, and it almost doesn’t until Don caves on the money.

From this scene its difficult to see any living into their futures. I liked Deb’s point about Don stepping down “off his throne”, with his flowing white and gold robe, but in this scene is it enough to think that Tony’s stepping into any future for sure? Not really, except for a road trip. Even if you you add Tony getting the job, so what. It’s just a job that ends back at home with his family..But what has he gained? A powerful, famous lifelong friend who finally accepts Tony as he is; Tony’s internal changes are significant, and he broadens his experiences and mind. These paragraphs speak to some of the traits of both men.

I liked and enjoyed Sandeeps analysis of their similarities making them more alike than different.

[Lawrence Fraly]

Week 2 Day 2 Worthy Opponents

GREEN BOOK

FIRST WATCH

How mismatched

Dr Shirley sits on a throne, literally and figuratively looking down on Tony who sits on a simple chair with no table between them.

Dr Shirley looks African, articulates clearly without accent, pompous, pretentious, beautiful, intellectual without emotion, with an agenda. He projects “Black is beautiful.”

Tony looks gnarled and speaks street. Sees only the surface. He’s prejudiced against groups, even treats individuals with prejudiced. He has no idea how he comes across, and doesn’t give a shit either, except he expects respect.

Whereas Dr Shirley says “valet”, Tony says “butler”.

Even their clothes are mismatched—Tony in dark, Dr Shirley in whitish.

What do they have to get over to be able to work together and become friends.?

Each has to see the other as an individual, clearing them of stereotypes, and discover what they have in common.

How does this mismatch create a future?

They’re extremely opposite. But underneath, there’s that need for respect, and their fears of moving outside the familiar. In this case, it really is dangerous for both of them.

They’ll have to work on each other. Get inside the other’s head, by showing what’s in their own. Both appear dangerous. You can see they’ve got a lot to learn about each other. I suspect they’ll have to rely on each other as the movie progresses.

SECOND WATCH

Drama They’re feeling each other out. Tony wears his prejudice on the surface. Dr Shirley wears his “superiority” on his surface. Both have powerful subtexts that barely come to the surface, but are implied. Tony uses prejudiced language as he says he had “colored” people over for dinner, an oblique reference to Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, but without the guess and without the dinner. Dinner is a fairly intimate meal, especially when you have kids.

Dr Shirley says it’s not a job for a married man.

Tony says it depends on how much money the job pays.

Profiles

All of the above. Plus: Dr Shirley must have a wound strong enough for him to have created this surface traits.

Tony comes from a rough life.

Both pretend to be something they’re not.

Tony’s secret is obvious to us that he’s connected to the mob.

Dr Shirley’s secret is obvious to us that he’s a rapper – his “Dr” a front name, like many other rappers who project faux white respectability, while rapping about hate and violence.

My breakthroughs/insights into what makes these characters great from a writing perspective?

Being so extreme and opposite in their arcs toward a common closure, these characters give the writer many incredible scenes to bring them together.

Breakthrough from other writers:

I learned that the “dinner” was just something to drink for the workmen. Not particularly an insight, but a new fact added to the equation.

And that their opposites is also their commonality.

What I learned rewriting my scene/character:

Still working on the outline and notes for my family feud script, I can work mismatched characters into all three of the children and, in turn, each with the mother.

[J.R Riddle]

No wonder the Academy Awards awarded this “Best Original Screenplay” – I thought the same and didn’t know it was the actual winner at first, and will always be one of my favorites!

These two men are mismatched on many physical dimension levels: race, culture, education, gay/straight, honest vs bends truth, ethnicity, manners. However, where they are alike is on the inner dimension: both have wounds, both are determined fighters, both have a big heart, both hide behind their pride, both will negotiate to get what the want, both need a job to be successful.

While I do have more than one mismatched pair in my script, my breakthrough rolls around making them even more mismatched through actions and words, but making some more alike internally.