Day 3: Power Struggle – REMEMBER THE TITANS

[Judith Watson]

REMEMBER THE TITANS…hmwk. Wk. 2 Lesson 3 – Lesson power struggle
Watch 1st time for:
· How is this power struggle created? The Titan team has a new coach. He makes
sure the players know that he is in charge, by putting them in their place. They are the
players, he is the coach, their daddy.

· What is it about these characters that demand this power struggle? Gary, the all-
American player on the team seems to have had power, but when the new coach comes
onto the team, he makes sure the boys know that he is in charge. The black coach
knows that this team, all white, is going to be a big challenge and he sets his authority
right away. He puts down the all-American, Gary, by calling him Jerry and his friend,
Dean, implying they are a comedy team.
· How does each character’s audience influence and depend upon this power
struggle? The boys have their white influential parents. The black coach is dropped into
the middle of this community where there are no blacks and he is setting up his
authority along with a busload of black players who will be vying for playing in coveted
positions.
Watch 2nd time for:
· What drama is this scene built around? The drama this scene is built around is the
integration of black players onto an all-white team and the new black coach who makes
sure the white hot-shot players know that he is in charge. His way or the highway.
· How are they expressing their Profile (right character, traits, secret, wound, future)
through their words and actions?
Black coach, traits: he’s perfectionistic, strong,
The All-American: confident, assertive,
Future: this coach and kid are going to have to learn to get along

Just had an insight: these are the right characters for this story. Denzel, wanting to do the right thing and have everyone get along, and the challenging All-AMerican who will have to change his way of acting and beliefs to not only be able to play but grow as a person and expand his beliefs.

• This reply was modified 11 months ago by  Judith Watson.
• This reply was modified 11 months ago by  Judith Watson.

[karl gromelski]

This is a good scene because it has goal, stakes and urgency. This scene turns a mundane task of players saying goodbye to parents and boarding bus for football camp into a stand-off by a couple of white players against a black coach. This is also a set-up of the theme and a subplot that we'll see again & again.
Like the last couple of analyzed scenes – you get more conflict and drama by putting two or more characters from different worlds together… different races, different economic status, different education… this time, different ages (generations).
I liked how the stakes were escalated by having the players try to pressure the coach in front of the parents, other coaches and other students. This was a high-stakes gamble – which the coached handled well (did not back down) and even when as far as to force the player to recognize him as the team leader (in a very intimate face to face exchange.)

• This reply was modified 11 months ago by  karl gromelski.

[Nora B Anderson]

My insight: the backstory/history to these characters is providing a believable power struggle – the backstory to Denzel’s character, the defense coaches, Gary, etc., had to have been researched/explored/worked over to get the most efficient dialogue, terse except for Denzel’s character. A case for creating backstories for my characters – something I really struggle with, get impatient.

[Sherry Miller]

Wow! This movie’s on my list to watch. Racism, segregation, getting along, working toward the same goal together are themes in our society today. A power struggle is created immediately with upbeat music and a black man marching with determination toward two white men. We soon find out that the school has merged black and white into the football program. And the new black coach, Herman Boone, practically struts onto the scene, sure of himself. He’s used to this kind of situation, it seems. His wound? This scene demands these characters have a power struggle: One black coach and two white coaches. Boone’s outnumbered but gets the upper hand right away by acting like he has a job to do and that job is “to win.” Just as the other two want “to win.” A common goal that may bring them together. So, he’s there to coach. Just coach. And shows it by handing them his completed playbook. The white coach, Yoast, states, “It’s awful skinny.” Boom. Return power struggle. Love how Boone ignores that remark. Shows even more power. When two young football players show up for the bus, they start the 2nd power struggle with Boone. Everyone in the crowd pays attention including Bertier’s (player) parents. “How can I help you boys?” asks Boone, putting himself in a position of power, taking no nonsense. Especially poignant since this takes place in 1971 during desegregation of schools. Racial tensions run high. Gary, the kid, immediately states HIS rules. “Don’t need any of your people.” All the players will be from their school, it seems. Love how this scene has personality breakthroughs through dialogue. Boone doesn’t argue or defend himself. He’s prepared once again. He asks questions, uses mocking humor. What did you say your name was? Jerry? Jerry Lewis? Dean Martin? He establishes he’s boss first by comedy, 2nd by humiliating the two boys in front of the crowd, and then 3rd by etablishing he’s their parent when they play football. All with a calm steady voice. “Who’s your Daddy?” he asks over and over again, until Gary, embarrassed, says in a low voice, “You.” Powerful. To show he’s reasonable, caring, Boone adds, “Get on the bus. Put your jacket on first.” Put on the jacket…it may be cold, I will take care of you, implied. And then Boone says to the second kid, “Fix that tie, son.”
In my novel “Without Whimsey” I wrote a scene where the guide catches up to Mattie, who was continuing her journey alone through Illinois. The guide is mad at the stupid things Mattie does that might give them away. Henrietta, points out to Mattie “You was treated special.” They fight about the beaded mojo bag and the pretty dresses that are ruined from “the dirty ole’ river.” Mattie ends up whining about this when Henrietta grabs the fancy beaded bag/purse and hurls it away. When she realizes Mattie is devastated, she ends up giving Mattie her own worn out bag, a “real mojo bag,” with spices and rabbit’s foot inside. A breakthrough. Old Mattie will be new Mattie.
I also wrote another scene where Mama Polly, Mrs. Hickok, has a power struggle with two men when they question her while she’s hanging laundry. She ends up stating, “Seems to me there’s a law against that, isn’t there?” I will revisit those scenes to improve after this lesson on power struggles.