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Day 4 Assignment
Post your Day 4 assignment here.
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Day 4 Assignment
Joshua Doerksen’s Lead Characters
WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT:
I learned that my Main Character does not have to shoulder the responsibility of ALL change in the story and that Supporting Characters can affect the change and drive the story forward in several different ways.
LOGLINE: An aging, wealthy industrialist must fight the Board of his own company to prove his sanity until he learns that true legacy cannot be purchased.
CHANGE AGENT: Dr. Cynthia Pratt
– A brilliant, young psychiatrist, vibrant and beautiful, who seeks to defy the conformity of her own profession, especially in the misogynistic stereotypes perpetuated in the teachings of the day.
– She reaches Bill in a way that no man ever could, and she disarms him with her femininity and compassion first but endears to him with her strength and her drive.
TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER(S): Bill Bishop, Psychiatrists
– A self-made billionaire and genius who built and empire in the rise of early industry of the USA. Bill ran-away from a farm in the mid-west at an early age and put himself through school to become a chemical engineer. A number of products he invented revolutionized industry in the 1920-30’s and he amassed a vast fortune.
– Bill gained political influence working on the Manhattan Project after volunteering his services for the CSS in WWII.
– The dropping of the Atomic Bomb would haunt Bill the rest of his life and he moved to “re-invent” his corporation on the rise of computer technology.
– Bill fought to keep his advanced designs from political or military control and this caused him to become extremely involved in the legal arena, of which he valued as an integral part of democracy and strengthened his belief in the rule of law.
– Bill put his career and business before all else, including family, and he lost sight of all that was truly important despite fighting for causes that he believed would solidify a lasting legacy for the Bishop name.
OPPRESSION: The Board of Directors – Bishop Enterprises
– The BoD are moving to remove Bill as CEO of his own company due to his stalwart resolve to resist change of business practice that the Board deems necessary for survival in the new age of technology.
– The BoD have become increasingly threatening to Bill under the pressure to produce for stakeholders and “insider” pressure from government to allow collaboration for military and security purposes.
– The BoD have attacked Bill’s state of mind and capacity to run Bishop Enterprises and have used the example of a sudden heart-attack to prove Bill’s lack of fitness and inability to lead the corporation forward.
BETRAYING CHARACTER: Dr. Willhelm
– The Director of Psychiatry at the Observation Hospital Bill Bishop is undergoing evaluation.
– Dr. Willhelm “butts” heads with Dr. Pratt frequently and resents her being assigned under his tutelage. He has begrudgingly taken her on internship due to pressure from the Medical Board. They do not share the same ideology.
– Dr. Willhelm quite likes Bill and if not for the “new-age” therapy that he is responding to with Dr. Pratt, he would be very much involved with him.
– Dr. Willhelm is starting to see the merits of Dr. Pratt and her new ideologies when he bows to the pressure of the “old-school”.
– Dr. Willhelm reverses his recommendations of Bill’s psychiatric assessment from an earlier breakthrough acknowledgment with Dr. Pratt and subsequently, a high court finds the Board of Directors to be victorious in their Corporate Take-over of Bishop Enterprises.
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Joseph Savage’s Lead Characters
I learned that “The Oppression” works better as an impersonal institution or concept. This forces the protagonist to deal with a limitless, (mostly) faceless opposition. This is true with The Matrix, Groundhog Day, and Dead Poet’s Society. It’s important for two reasons. By declaring early on that the protagonist cannot directly destroy it, she comes to realize the only way to win is through the journey of internal change. Second, by keeping the opposition impersonal, it makes the conflict with the betrayer clear, focused, and importantly, painfully personal.
Logline: A nit-picking and entitled medical student finds meaning in life when he must learn how to sew from a nursing home resident in order to pursue a career in surgery.
Transformable Character: Medical Student, Alex Arragon
Change Agent: Nursing Home Resident: Jackie Washington, nursing home resident (and secretly, a retired pioneering surgeon).
The Oppression: The brutally competitive residency match process
The Betraying Character: David Butoni, a ruthless medical student who undermines the protagonist
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Frank Jordan’s Day 4A Assignment (Change Agent and Transformable Character)
What I learned in this assignment is that the profound model includes three characters (Change Agent, Transformable, and Betraying) and an unrelenting force (Oppression) that weighs heavy on the characters throughout the story.
1. Transformational Logline: Drafted into World War I, a humble black farmhand struggles to reconcile his life in the Jim Crow south with his “duty to country,” before leading his regiment in the bloody capture of a German stronghold.
2. Change Agent: Sgt. Luke Heller. He is a tough, gruff, southern white who was beaten by his father as a child for having a “colored” friend. His vision is to get his black recruits to conform to the military way of doing things and, at the same time, build a cohesive unit that has each others back. He leads by example.
3. Transformable Character: Freddie Stowers. He has a difficult time adjusting to the military life and is often the recipient of tough love. He doesn’t feel he has a duty to serve, or owe anything to anybody.
4. The Oppression is the racism Freddie faces pre and post draft, then the war itself. The oppression is compounded when Freddie’s regiment learn, upon arriving in France, they have been loaned to the French army because they are “better suited” fighting with the French, and can’t fight under their own flag.
5. Betraying Character: Cpl. William Thomas. He is a dour, southern white racist. He often subjects his men to verbal and physical abuse, as well as impede the progress Sgt. Heller is trying to make with his platoon.
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Birgit Myaard’s Lead Characters.
What I learned doing this assignment is that the game of football can be a “transformable character.” I had not thought of an institution being a “character” in a film. I also learned that Walter Camp might be not only the Change Agent, but, because of his odd antagonism toward the forward pass, could also be the Betraying Character at the end. Only when forced, did he accept the forward pass as an element of the game, but in typical fashion “perfected” its use so Yale used it most successfully in the season following its adoption.
1. Tell us your transformational journey logline.
From his introduction to the fledgling game as a teen until his death, Walter Chauncey Camp, dubbed the “Father of American Football” by his peers, faced opposition to his vision for the game’s future and, on occasion, had to fight for its existence.
2. Tell us who you think might be your Change Agent and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.
Walter Camp “The Father of American Football” is the Change Agent for my limited series.
It was Camp’s vision for eleven players a side, the scrimmage line, downs, line markings, the safety, and numerous other rule changes that transformed rugby football into the uniquely American game we know today.
After seeing an 1873 soccer-style football game between Yale and Eton alumni, in which both teams fielded only eleven, instead of 20 players per side, Camp became hooked on the idea that fewer players on the field made for a more open and livelier game. When rugby football was introduced to Yale, he saw the same benefits to having fewer players and, after analysis saw other potential changes designed to fulfill the desire for open, lively game play.
3. Tell us who you think might be your Transformable Character(s) and give a few sentences about how that character or characters fit the role.
The game of football. Camp’s vision changes it throughout the series.
Members of the Intercollegiate Football Association.
Later in the series, the Harvard and Columbia University presidents, who wish to ban the game.
4. Tell us who or what you think might be The Oppression and give a few sentences about how The Oppression works in your story.
The violence/injuries/deaths in the game that cause public sentiment to stack up against the game and call for it to be banned.
5. Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.
Walter Camp (see comments in “what I learned.”)
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Joseph Savage’s Dead Poet Society Analysis
Analysis of Dead Poet’s Society
The Change
It is mentioned by Gale Nolan, the Head Master and Cameron in their exchange at the end: “We read mostly the Romantics and some post Civil War stuff.”
“What about the Realists?”
“We skipped them.”
What is called “Old Ways” and “New Ways” in this course is to my mind better thought of as two themes at war. That way, as I write the script, I am never sure who will win. In the Dead Poet’s Society, the war between the rationalists and the romantics is unfinished. Sure, there is the dramatic moment at the end, but remember they all signed the document condemning Keating.
The Change Agent
Keating, who was a graduate of Hell-ton and the yearbooks “Man most likely to do anything.”
The Transformable Characters
Todd is the most transformed, as he goes from an extremely introverted and compliant person to being bold enough to be the first to stand on his desk. He also has his moment of transformation when he says he didn’t write a poem to spontaneously delivering a deeply dramatic stanza.
Old Ways
Tradition, Honor, Discipline, Excellence: Supremacy of Society
New Ways
Breaking tradition, experimenting, experiencing, creativity, non-conformity: Supremacy of the Individual
The Gradient
It is complex and runs differently for each character. For Knox, it is the B plot of daring to show his feeling to Chris. For Todd, it is standing up for himself and the truth. For Neil, it was finding his passion and confronting his father (and he failed at the later). For Charlie, it was open defiance to the pressure to conform.
Profound Moments
The first lecture, where Keating says “Carpe Diem.” Todd creating a poetic stanza with Keating, Neil’s acting and then death, Knox’s professing his love and ultimately forming a relationship with Chris Noel. The final scene with the boys standing on their desks.
Profound Lines
Nearly every line of poetry quoted. When Keating says “ law, science, and engineering-–these are noble pursuits; but romance, art, and adventure—these are the things we live for.” When Neil tells his father “Nothing.”
To truly live requires calculated risks and allowing for unpredictability. Society keeps us comfortable and conforming, but it requires predictability.
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Frank Jordan’s Day 4B Assignment (Analysis of Dead Poets Society)
1. The Transformational Journey is that some people can change from conformity to free thinkers.
2a. The Change Agent is Jack Keating, the teacher. He has the background (went to same school), taught at a different school for two years (different perspective), and platform (entire campus) to effect change.
2b. The Transformable Character(s) are the students, whose journey’s we follow. Their various backgrounds and pressures make them ripe for change (or not).
2c. The Oppression is the school administration and other teachers who are stuck in the old ways of applying pressure to conform.
3. I think we are lured into this profound journey because most of us have dealt with pressures to conform at some point in our lives, whether at school, with parents, at work, etc.
4. All of the main characters change except for Richard, who can’t stand with his buddies in class at the end. Neil has a dramatic change, claiming “For the first time in my whole life I know what I want to do.” Of course, it’s devastating when we find out the end result. Todd’s change is super profound, going from total fear in the beginning to total free thinker at the end, standing on his desk and leading his classmates in the conformity revolt.
5. The Gradient Change: Taking Todd, he starts off terrified – then writes a poem, but can’t read it – he crumbles it in front of the class – to creating a poem in front of the class – total fear to total freedom. Defends Keating’s new ways.
6. The old way is challenged by Keating, taking the students out of their normal routine, both physically and mentally (see profound moments and lines below).
7. Some Profound Moments: Keating has students tear introduction out of text book. Viewing of old class photos on the wall in hallway – “They’re all dead!” Keating conducting class in the courtyard and ball fields. Keating standing on his desk and having each student come up, one at a time, to stand on his desk to get a new perspective.
8. Some Profound Lines: You will learn to think for yourself. Poetry is about life – you may contribute a verse. Do something incredible with your life. Strive to find your own voice. Oh, captain, my captain! The dead poets were dedicated to sucking the marrow out of life. Medicine, the law, business, engineering – these are all noble pursuits – poetry, romance, love – these are what we live for. Carpe Diem – Seize the Day!
9. The payoffs in the final scene are numerous. The head master asks Richard to read from the introduction. “It doesn’t exist.” Richard then reads the Pritchard scale. Richard doesn’t change. He is stuck in the old way. Todd loathes the head master. He sees Keating enter the classroom. “It wasn’t my fault.” Todd then stands on his desk. “Oh, captain, my captain!” The head master demands Todd sit down, or get expelled. Half the class stands on their desks.
10. Profound Truth: We can all be free thinkers if we so choose.
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Suzanne Kelman – Lead Characters
What I learned doing this assignment is, to be honest, I am still trying to get my head around identifying some of these models though I do feel I am learning.
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</div>Transformational journey logline. – After losing her beauty as she ages and reassessing her life when her first husband’s words come back to haunt her. An aging actress takes the chance on a real and authentic relationship she had spurred many years before.
The change agent is the actress’s best friend who has loved her for many years just for who she is. After having trouble making friends as a female scientist, she finds camaraderie with film legand Hedy Lamarr who is also an inventor. Though she doesn’t fit in Hedy’s unauthentic world they form a bond because of science.
The oppression is Hollywood and the constant need for actresses to be beautiful
The Betraying Character is her ex-husbands that only re-forces the oppression, proving that beauty is what is most important.
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Mark Smith/ Day 4B
1. Tell us your transformational journey logline. From old ways of a corrupt, unfair and shoddy academic school where cheating to gain sports championships is applauded, to a fair and focused academic school where actual grades are earned and academic excellence is prized for all students.
2. Tell us who you think might be your Change Agent and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role. Counselor Frank Hammond Also, include:
– Their vision: Grades need to be earned and academic performance needs to be prized to prepare students for their adult life.
– Their past experience that fits that vision: Having experienced an oppressive environment at his prior job where mediocrity was accepted.
3. Tell us who you think might be your Transformable Character(s) and give a few sentences about how that character or characters fit the role. Various students whose voices were overlooked, even oppressed in a school concerned and rewarded for athletic success rather than preparing students with academic skill sets to succeed as adults.
4. Tell us who or what you think might be The Oppression and give a few sentences about how The Oppression works in your story. A school principal and school district administration that tries to thwart any attempt to change the culture of a school that has gained success through basketball championships while relegating the rest of the student body to academic mediocrity.
5. Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role. Head of Student Affairs for school district gives lip service to changing the culture of the school and the fraudulent grade transcript changes, but ultimately turns the tables and claims counselor Frank Hammond changed grade transcripts.
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Mark Smith/ 4B Assignment (Analyze Dead Poets Society)
1) is the change this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?
The transformational journey is where the students are exposed to the philosophy/vision of “carpe diem,” or seize the day. Keating explains that it means the students may find their own voice and may, if desire, live extraordinary lives.
2) Lead characters:
Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change? English Teacher John Keating who has unique lectures and teaching style to help drive home his lesson.
Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey? In Dead Poets Society.
Todd is quiet, lacks confidence, a conformer, who fears to speak – only, for example, agreeing to go to the Dead Poets function if he doesn’t have to talk.
What is the Oppression? The school administration that relies on a time-honored culture of conformity, and suppressing and punishing students who don’t bow down to the rigid rules and standards of the school.
3) How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story? The energetic and vibrant appeal of Keating’s teaching techniques, and the excitement of the students as they begin their journey in forming the Dead Poet’s Society and being respective journeys using their free thinking to take risks and new experiences.
4) Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.” Identify their old way: Identify their new way at the conclusion:
Todd is probably the student who changes the most profoundly, from conformity to a character willing to be a free thinker.
5) What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
Todd makes a series of breakthroughs from a quiet student who tries to conform, unwilling to even speak at the first Dead Poet’s Society meeting, to being devastated by the suicide of Neil, to ultimately having the courage to stand on his desk and yell “O Captain, My Captain,” despite threats from the Headmaster.
6) How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
The “old way” of strict adherence to the rules and conformity is challenged by the daily teachings of Keating, who stresses the importance that each of his students think and feel for themselves. The teachings are then translated into the individual storylines of the characters, including Todd and Neil.
7) What are the most profound moments of the movie?
Keating ordering students to rip out the Pritchard Scale of Poetry pages from their books
Keating initially exposing the students to “carpe diem” and its importance.
Neil going against father’s strict orders to follow his dream of acting
Neil’s suicide
Administration putting blame of Neil’s death on Keating and firing him.
Todd and students standing on desks and saying: O Captain, My Captain.
What are the most profound lines of the movie?
(Above)
8) How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
Even after Keating is fired, the students carry on his insightful lessons.
9) What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Have the courage and confidence to live and think freely
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Brenda Lynn’s Lead Characters
What I learned doing this assignment is that fleshing out these 3 characters and the Oppression element will help to flesh out the story and the journey.
1. Tell us your transformational journey logline.
An ego-centric anthropology student hides behind technology and artificial self-imposed goals, at the top of his class, his Celtiberian professor sends him to his last choice on the list, where he learns how to live a spiritual life as opposed to a superficial one.
2. Tell us who you think might be your Change Agent and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role. Also, include:
Aapo, knows that the Maya will need help to share their message. He feels that David is the man to do the job. He has tried to share the message himself but has not been able to go beyond Guate’s borders.
3. Tell us who you think might be your Transformable Character(s) and give a few sentences about how that character or characters fit the role.
David, the tech-dependent, ego-centric student thinks that his work at school is there to help him achieve is artificially imposed goals. He discovers that learning, especially spiritually, is the way to live a fulfilled life.
4. Tell us who or what you think might be The Oppression and give a few sentences about how The Oppression works in your story.
Modern life with its screens and lack of spiritual satisfaction.
5. Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.
Don Pedro, who doesn’t think David is dedicated enough or deep enough to understand the task at hand.
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Chris Cornelius’ Lead Characters.
What I learned doing this assignment is: with three story lines moving along together I may have to focus more on the characters in the trip story line and change my logline.
1. Tell us your transformational journey logline.
A tired, once vibrant, professional woman reconnects with her spirit and sons telling captivating, perilous and humorous stories of her past motorcycle travels.
Born in a factory town with 5 younger brothers and and dealing with sex discrimination and a devastating malady, Trish defies the odds and studies and works her way up to a teaching and designing position at Harvard.
Inspired to travel her first summer off from school and work, Trish meets many challenges in her quest– a 15000 mile cross country motorcycle odyssey.
2. Tell us who you think might be your Change Agent and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.
The change agent is the cast of characters and varied experiences Trish has on her journey
They each profoundly affect her head, heart, body and soul in some way.
Heart: Tom the Natchez, MS marijauna growing mechanic and his children steal Trish’s heart and threaten the enjoyment and continuation of her cross country quest.
Spirit: Wes the Aspen mechanical engineer cocaine dealer who buys a bike and plans to meet her in San Francisco and join her in her travels. He’s lived a lot of life. Considers her some kind of sign that he needs to change his life.
Soul: Joe Bones, designer of stones, a jeweler who lives and works in a converted school bus and shares his art with Trish.
Head: Larry the mortician who specializes in accident victims and makes Trish think about what’s important to her before she enters the other world challenges of her travels.
Possibly also James… her motorcycling companion through the south.
3. Tell us who you think might be your Transformable Character(s) and give a few sentences about how that character or characters fit the role.
The lady is the transformable character.
In addition, some of the people she meets transform—-Wes, Tom
And if this movie is a blockbuster hit it has the potential to unify this nation, improve the world’s view of the USA, and get us all inspired to zoom off into a positive future..
She has some fears about taking the journey / It is an over achievers’ type of vacation / Dangerous.
Will she even survive it?
4. Tell us who or what you think might be The Oppression and give a few sentences about how The Oppression works in your story.
The challenges of the trip, the quest, the unknown, constantly demands a response.
The love interest, Tom, and her own heart that wants to abandon her quest and be with him.
Her own learned upbringing that conflicts with some of her experiences… but also gets her through some.
Divine intervention and Karma help her.
Everything gives her more life experience that help her meet the challenges of and enrichen her life.
5. Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.
Possibly her own head and common sense that wouldn’t let her heart have its way and remain in Mississippi with an outlaw.
Or Wes…who tries to get her to continue adventuring rather than explore the possibilities of settling down.
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Birgit Myaard’s Day 4B Analysis of Dead Poets Society
1. What is the change this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie? Being willing to “seize the day” and defy tradition to live life to its fullest.
2. Lead characters:
Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change? Keating
Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey? The boys. Each has a transformation that is personal to/fitting for each one.
What is the Oppression? Welton School and its strict traditions, especially the headmaster and his traditional/old-school teaching methods.
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
Opening scenes of first day of school, teachers with stuffy classroom manner, and then the fresh way Keating introduces his subject. Who wouldn’t want to tear up their boring poetry book introduction?4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.”
Identify their old way: Following the “rules” of the school, not thinking for oneself, tradition
Identify their new way at the conclusion: Look at things in a different way, find your own voice, think for yourself5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing? Each lesson Keating taught gave the boys more confidence to seize the day/moment in each one’s particular way.
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change? Traditional teaching vs teaching how to think for oneself, daring to speak up/stand up
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie? The walking in the courtyard scene. Standing on the desks. Todd “creating” a poem in front of the class.
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
Keating: Carpe Diem – Seize the day! Make your lives extraordinary.Dalton: “Exercising the option not to walk.’
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie? Carpe Diem – Seize the day! Make your lives extraordinary.
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KZ’s Lead Characters
What I learned doing the assignment is… that there’s value in going with a story solution, even if it changes later on.
Logline: During the pandemic, an out-of-work costume designer must solve a murder to save the man he loves from suffering the same fate.
Transformable character: Oliver, out-of-work costume designer who has lost his sense of identity.
Change Agent: Nolan, the writer next door.
The Oppression: the pandemic, which has isolated everyone
The betraying character: Olga, the superintendent who pretends to be his friend, but really spies on him and gossips to Nolan
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Day 4B Assignment
Joshua Doerksen’s Analysis of Dead Poets Society
1. CHANGE:
Freedom to think for one’s self and follow one’s own dreams without regard for the conformity to societal norms, rules or wishes of others.
TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY:
BOYS ARRIVE – Establish school norms/expectations.
BOYS MEET KEATING – Encouraged/Pushed to think freely.
BOYS REBEL – Resurrect the Dead Poets Society.
BOYS RISK – Confess love, Pursue passions, Dream.
BOYS LOSE – Paddling, Neil’s Suicide, Keating Fired.
BOYS LEARN – Stand up for beliefs “O’ Captain, My
Captain!”
2. CHANGE AGENT:
Most certainly this is Keating. He has relative experience in relating to his class being an alumnus of Welton himself, and he has also seen the world having recently taught in a prestigious school in England. Keating is in a long-distance relationship with a woman (which is merely eluded to), and this offers a parallel emotional experience to the Boys of the “Society” in yearning for love seemingly beyond reach.
TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER:
The Boys of the Dead Poets Society collectively are the Transformable Character(s), although I think that a specific case for Neil as possibly the most singular or pronounced transformation could be made here. The Boys deliver the CHANGE effectively through their rebellion against the directly opposing forces of the academy.
OPPRESSION:
Quite obviously the Academy and Faculty (with the exception of Keating), and the societal norms of the day, especially demonstrated in Neil’s family experience where misogyny ruled the day, that leave little or no room for personal desires or opinion outside the patriarchy.
3. We are lured into the PROFOUND JOURNEY through Keating who reminds us of a simpler time that shares similar challenges to the present and by the tenet “Carpe Diem”, by which the Dead Poets Society is resurrected by the Boys and acts as the vehicle to connect us further to the story of Keating and the journey the Boys press forward with.
4. OLD WAYS: Conformity to the system/patriarchy
NEW WAYS: Confidence to stand-up for beliefs, dreams, desires and freedom of thought.
5. BOYS CONFORM TO SCHOOL RULES
BOYS CHALLENGE NORMS AND CONFORMITY
BOYS LOSE (DISCIPLINE/DEATH/FIRING)
BOYS FORCED TO VIOLATE MORALS – CONFORM TO STANDARDS
BOYS REBEL FROM WELTON IN SALUTE TO KEATING
6. The OLD WAY is challenged by Keating’s push to be authentic to one’s self and think freely.
The CHALLENGED BELIEFS are those of Conformity, Societal Norms, Misogyny, Patriarchy, and the Ability to Follow One’s Passion Despite Pressure to Abide by the Latter.
7. MOST PROFOUND MOMENTS:
– Keating at Dinner with McAllister sharing passages.
– Boys find Keating’s book and resurrect the Dead Poets Society.
– Neil makes the decision to pursue acting dream.
– Knox following his heart and professing love.
– Dalton publishes article and pranks phone call from God at assembly. Does not “squeal” on interrogation and paddling discipline.
– Neil disobeys his father and performs. Returns home, we see Mother’s unhappiness, Father’s OCD controlling behavior and pain, and Neil ends his life with his Father’s gun.
– Cameron betrays the Boys and Keating
– Todd must violate his morals and sign letter.
– Boys salute Keating
8. MOST PROFOUND LINES:
– “But only in dreams can men be truly free. ‘Twas always thus, and always thus will be.”
– “I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately.”
– “You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are going to find it at all.”
– “Language was developed for one endeavour, and that is… to woo women.”
– “…Answer. That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”
– “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
9. ENDING/PAYOFF:
– The Boys fight through adversity to realize the truth in Keating’s teaching be it in love, passion, truth, freedom and authenticity to self.
– The Boys show their lessons learned in each their own actions of rebellion (with the exception of Cameron), leading up to the finale where they risk discipline and the threat of expulsion to salute Keating as a send-off Thank You for enlightening them to the possibilities that exist in the world when one thinks for themselves.
10. PROFOUND TRUTH:
– Anything is possible in the world when you open your mind to ideas and change from the conformity of a stagnant society.
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Paul’s Lead Characters
What I learned doing this assignment was that I don’t think my script meets 100% with these assignment, but it could.
1) Tell us your transformational journey logline.
A woman who loses her son makes the journey to meet the boy who received her heart’s son.
2) Tell us who you think might be your Change Agent and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role. Also, include: – Their vision: – Their past experience that fits that vision:
I’m guessing the change agent could be the 2<sup style=”font-family: inherit;”>nd</sup> mother – Linda – who tracks down the first mother and makes contact with her. Linda’s vision is to express her gratitude to Sue and this forces Sue to take steps she never thought she would and meet with the boy who received her son’s heart.
3) Tell us who you think might be your Transformable Character(s) and give a few sentences about how that character or characters fit the role.
I’m guessing there are many transformable characters in my script, but the one who changes the most is Marc as he goes from being healthy to being on the verge of death and receiving a new heart.
4) Tell us who or what you think might be The Oppression and give a few sentences about how The Oppression works in your story.
I think that not being able to save her son’s life is the Oppression.
5) Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.
This is difficult for me to identify, but perhaps it could be a Medical Worker who doesn’t allow the families direct contact, even though both of them had asked for it.
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Suzanne Kelman Day – Analysis of Dead Poets Society
1. The Transformational Journey for the movie – The chance to go from Comformaity to being a free thinker.
2a. The Change Agent in this movie is the teacher Mr. Keating. He is the right person to encourage the change because he is successful and from the same background but somehow has managed to break free.
2b. The Transformable Characters are the school students. They are at a place in the life where a teacher can make a huge impression.
2c. The Oppression is the school conformity. the need to fit in to be successful.
3. We are lured into this profound journey because each of us in our life has felt this kind of pressure in one way or another and this takes us down the path of “what if”.
4. Todd’s change is the most profound he goes form being powerless and voiceless to being the first to stand up for Keating with his voice at the end.
5. The Gradient Change: Todd, starts off as an outsider, unable to fit in, unable to recite in class to being forced to create a poem in front of the class – to Defending Keating.
6. The old way is challenged by the teacher, having them start by tearing pages out of a book. To learn how to walk in their own stride to climbing on a desk.
7. Profound Moments:
Tearing out the pages. Standing in front of the wall of dead students. introduction out of text book. Viewing of the old class photos on the wall in the hallway – standing on a desk.
8. Profound Lines:
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>”No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
“But only in their dreams can man be truly free. ‘Twas always thus, and always thus will be.”<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>
Thoreau said, ‘Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.’ Don’t be resigned to that. Break out!”
Now in this class you can either call me Mr. Keating, or if you’re slightly more daring, O Captain, my Captain.”
“Carpe Diem – Seize the Day!”
9. Set ups and Pay off
Set up The opening with the flags of conformity – Pay off them standing on the desk not conforming
Set up – Tearing out the pages in the book – Pay off not being there at the end.
10. Profound Truth: Only in being brave and stand out are we truly free.
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Yun Suh – Dead Poets Society Analysis
I better understand how to execute set-ups and pay-offs as well as how to deliver the movie’s profound truth and message at the end through very few words and powerful images/actions.
1. What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie? Move from conforming and upholding tradition to become “free thinkers” and seizing the day.
2. Lead characters:
Change Agent – Mr. Keating. He was an ace student at the school, yet broke free, and found a visionary way to teach students to be free thinkers within the system.
Transformable Character – 5 Keating’s students. They are new and open to learning. The lead student, Todd, has trouble expressing himself and is confused about his direction. He moves from feeling worthless, powerless, and voiceless to speaking his truth and standing up for his beliefs.
Oppression – conformity demanded by the headmaster
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
-funny and intriguing unconventional teaching style of Mr. Keating
-empathize with students who are pressured to conform by school and parents
-inspiring ideas like “carpe diem (seize the day)” and suck the marrow of life
-identify with students’ desire to express their true selves
4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.”
Identify their old way: follow rules to succeed, don’t make waves, uphold tradition, the adults know the right decisions not the youth.
Identify their new way at the conclusion: always look at things from a different perspective, make your life extraordinary by seizing the day and suck the marrow of life.
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
Psychological/belief/action change for Todd:
-Trust and know he has something valuable to contribute
-Follow your own beat, not someone else’s
-Stand up on desk to see things from different perspective
-Throws away his desk organizer sent by his parents two years in a row for his birthday
-Stands up for Neil against his father
-Stands up for Mr. Keating against wishes of the headmaster to speak his truth
-Leads the class in honoring Mr. Keating at the risk of expulsion to demonstrate he has gained a new perspective
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
-Keating tells students to rip the page from the book that instructs how to measure poetry
-Friends resurrect the Dead Poets Society and model for Todd how to express themselves and follow their heart rather than move away from fear
-Pressured to compose poem in front of the class, confronting his biggest fear that he has nothing to offer, and gets a positive reception and appreciation from his peers.
-His roommate/best friends committed suicide to opt for a life of his choosing rather than follow his father’s commanded path, which felt like death to him. Reminds Todd the importance of following one’s own path.
-Admin/headmaster and Neil’s father lie about the cause of his suicide and fire the beloved teacher, leading Todd to speak to truth and break away from the old ways.
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
-Keating tells boys to rips page from poetry book that instructs how to measure poetry/life
-Stand on desk to gain different perspective
-Keating shows Todd that he has something valuable in him
-Keating reminds boys to walk in their own pace
-Forming Dead Poets Society
-Defying parents orders (eg. Todd breaks desk organizer, Neil tries out for the play)
-Knox follows his passion and wins over the love of his life
-Neil’s suicide rather than follow his father’s command
-Todd stands up for Mr. Keating in front of the headmaster and leads the class to stand up on their desks in honor of him.
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
-Carpe Diem – seize the day
-Words and ideas can change the world
-Gather ye rosebuds while they may. Make your lives extraordinary
-life is a powerful play and you may contribute a vers
-suck the marrow of life
-stand up on the desk to remind yourself that we must look at things in a different way
-”I think you have something inside you that’s worth a great deal” Keating to Todd
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
Set up – tear pages of the book that instructs how to measure poetry/life
Pay off – students not being able to read from it when headmaster tries to go back to old ways
Set up – Keating teaching boys to stand on the desk to look at things from a different perspective.
Pay off – Todd, the most fearful and powerless student, defying the compliance orders of the headmaster and speaking his truth in defense of Keating despite risking expulsion. He inspires other students to stand on their desks too to honor their teacher, who has been fired but not defeated, and demonstrate to Keating that he has fulfilled his vision of his students to stand on their own feet and be free thinkers.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
-Seize the day. Find your voice. Be free thinkers.
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Scott Richards’ Lead Characters
Transformational Journey Logline: Vikki is a self-loathing alcoholic who must escape form the coercive control of an ex-boyfriend to find the self-worth to break a life-long chain of addiction.
Change Agent: Dan, the ex-boyfriend who forces Vikki to challenge herself and her destructive ways.
Transformable Character: Vikki. She hates herself and the things she has done in her past. She runs away to hide in a bottle, which makes her hate herself more.
The Oppression: Locked in a smart tech apartment controlled by Dan.
Betraying Character: Vikki’s past.
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