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Day 3 Assignments
Reply to post your assignment.
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9 Replies
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Maria’s Transformational Journey
What I learned from this assignment: The more I look for the “profound truth” of my story, the more I realize that my characters emerge from my own preconceptions and biases, and that I need to respect and identify with the “old ways” in order to create a believable character to journey from the old ways to the new.
Logline: A woman who feels she’s lost her purpose in life when her only child leaves for college falls in love with a a man she believes to be a robot and learns to live for herself.
Old ways: Janet defines herself as the mother in all her relationships.
New ways: Janet learns to live many different roles as a lover, a child, and an adventurer.
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Subject line: Marie’s Transformational Journey
What I learned doing this assignment is that more than one person is transforming in my screenplay; I was confused by this at first but in answering the questions below, I believe it’s starting to make sense – puzzle pieces falling into place.
1. Tell us your logline for the transformational journey.
A Hollywood actress’ sentence for disorderly conduct is to help an amateur theatre group put on their Christmas play but she throws the whole town into an uproar when she casts a young trans woman in the lead female role.
2. Tell us what you see as the Old Ways.
Practically the whole town is stuck in the Old Ways of life but they are most clearly represented by a posse of drama club members. These folks believe in a binary of all things: good/bad, black/white, man/woman. Their rule of do unto your neighbour and “be kind” is shallow. Their kindness is something they practice by rote, not by understanding and accepting people different from themselves, therefore it is insincere and hypocritical. The lead character, while not of this small town mentality discovers her own superficial ways while trying to bring her hometown into the 21st century.
3. Tell us what you see as the New Ways.
Going through the process of putting on the play and getting to know the cast, the townsfolk realize that there is nothing wrong with being gender fluid or transgender. Their minds are opened up to the possibilities beyond a binary definition of everything. They develop paths of true understanding (not just lip service) so they can truly accept the trans character as well as others who are different from themselves. The lead character has also come to accept the townsfolk in all their imperfection, although not going so far as to tolerate their bigotry – she feels a love for them as they take baby steps into a more enlightened future, and this love has replaced her previous disdain.
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Cool story idea, Marie.
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Thanks, Maria!
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Subject Line: Kathleen’s Transformational Journey
What I learned doing this assignment is how to define my characters and to develop clear cut personalities for them.
Logline: The insecure daughter of the mistress, upon her father’s death, is bequeathed partnership in the family business if she joins forces with her unscrupulous siblings to save the firm.
Old Ways: Cassie is an insecure, recent valedictorian of her college. She has acute business savvy that is unsurpassed, but her social skills are lacking because of her appearance (thin almost “Twiggy” like); therefor she struggles with public speaking and selling herself to be successful.
New Ways: Though still a bit nervous, she presses forward and becomes the dynamic force in the business world that at one time only been a dream.
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Trosky’s Transformational Journey
“What I learned doing this assignment is…?” From beginning to end the best characters will/should evolve as people.
1. Logline: Job during his senior year of high school realizes he’s gay and while trying to hide his secret, through assorted friends sees that you can only be happy when you are happy with yourself.
2. Old ways – Job will do whatever it takes to hide his secret about his sexuality.
3. New ways – Comes to a realization that as long as he continues to live a lie he will never be truly happy.
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Paul Badu’s Transformational Journey
What I learned doing this assignment is creating anchor points at either end of the story arc has the potential for making mapping the transformation (the gradient) easier and more effective. Also, creating the logline isn’t as easy as it first seemed.
1. My logline for the transformational journey.
A young man, who abandoned his childhood dream believing he could never attain it, discovers the alternative path he had chosen in life has put that dream within his reach and prepared him to seize it.
2. What I see as the Old Ways.
Has little confidence in himself and his abilities
Focuses on his limitations
See obstacles as road blocks
Only sees his past failures
Sees himself as a victim of circumstances
Listens to and believes those who would say he’s a loser
Aims low expecting to fail
3. What I see as the New Ways.
Has developed confidence in himself and his abilities
Focuses on his strengths
Sees obstacles as stepping stones to achieving his goals.
Recognizes and appreciates his successes
Sees himself as capable of choosing his own future
Listens to and believes those who would say he’s a winner
Aims high so that even falling short would be success
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What I learned doing this assignment:
My character isn’t who he tells everyone he is.
Logline:
A Spanish War hero plotting his escape from an Ottoman captivity must chose between his freedom and the love of his life.
Old Ways:
Is willing to risk the lives of his comrade for his own freedom.
New Ways:
Risks his life for the freedom of the woman he loves.
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Also, I’ve been thinking a lot about the gradient change and how it lends believability to the journey. I can see how in past scripts I’ve made those changes too quickly and it leaves plot holes.
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