Day 4 Assignments

[Terrell Harris]

Terrell’s Lead Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is that my screenplay had some of these elements but lacked many others exposing the gaps. It makes the feedback I received really make sense

John grew up extremely privileged in high society. He’s used to getting his way.

Pressured into an arranged marriage for a corporate merger, he is cool with it until begins to fall for an underground fighter as his company prepares to makes moves that will to destroy her home and kill her friends.

The oppression is his company’s Modus operandi of stepping on anyone but especially the lower class to get thing done, his mother in-law currently runs the company.

Perhaps Joyce, John fiance could be the betraying character, she’s just wants John and the comfort of the lifestyle that affords her, so she could go along with that understanding, until she finds out about the other woman.

[andrea cabanas]

Andrea Cabañas, Lead Characters

In each assignment, I learn more layers of my characters. This class, in particular, made me see things I hadn’t seen before, which gave more depth to the relationship between my main character and antagonist.

1. Logline: A talented but insecure woman faces her prejudices and controlling mother to achieve the freedom she needs to be her true self.

2. Change Agent: Georgia Miranda, Zoe/main character’s best friend. <i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Her vision: as a free-spirited trans woman, she belies everyone’s free to love whoever they want regardless of gender. Georgia’s a former partner of Zoe’s uncle; they were together in difficult times, especially when he was banned from his family because of his homosexuality, something it’s currently happening with Zoe. Although he was an LGBTQI activist and supported her in her gender-affirming surgery, he missed the family’s lack of love and understanding and killed himself. Georgia will do anything to make her friend accept her sexuality and not suffer as her uncle did in the past.

3. Transformable Character: Zoe Muller. She leaves home at seventeen and lives in another city with her uncle, who is gay. It took a while for her to get used to her new life and her uncle’s friends. Curiosity arises in relating to other women, but she never allowed herself out of prejudice, despite understanding and loving her uncle. As an adult, she falls in love with a woman, but something in her prevents her from giving herself to the relationship and accepting that she is bisexual.

4. The Oppression: religious beliefs. Zoe had a restricted upbringing, and her family was fundamentalist Christian. Even though she left the church and her family as a teenager, she still holds certain prejudices, such as abortion legalization and homosexuality, even though her dear uncle is gay (the irony).

5. Betraying Character: Zoe’s mother, Katrina Muller. She left the same church and escaped her violent husband, but she is still a genuine Christian. Katrina controls her daughter in adulthood, making Zoe feel guilty for having desires for another woman. She manipulates her daughter and has an abnormal power of control over her daughter, even though Zoe is a thirty-five-year-old woman. Katrina investigates her daughter to ensure she isn’t doing wrong and goes so far as to say that she loves Zoe but will never accept her the way she is.

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[Maria Helena Nascimento]

MARIA HELENA NASCIMENTO – Day 4 – ASSIGNMENT 1:

“What I learned doing this assignment is…?”

I haven’t thought of any character in my story as a betraying character, so this is really going to be a guess, as Hal suggests.

I have another question: is there always a betraying character? Who would be this character in Groundhog Day?

Tell us your transformational journey
logline.

A naïve, fragile young woman is thrown in a wild hippie community led by her estranged father and has to tap her inner strength in order to survive.

Tell us who you think might be your
Change Agent and give a few sentences about how that character fits the
role.

I guess my Change Agent is the hippie father. Although his rejection of his family and his lack of limits deeply disturb Malu (the main character) he has something that she envies: his freedom. She will never live exactly as he does, but she can learn something from his approach to life.

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.

Malu is the transformable Character. At first, she happily fits the role of the good family girl of the early 60’s, but a traumatic experience will show her that real life is much more complex and demanding and she won’t be able to cope with it just playing a role.

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 oppression is the 60’s society values and the environment in Brazil during the military dictatorship. It works… well, really oppressing everybody, creating an atmosphere of fear and paranoia.

Tell us who you think might be your
Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits
the role.

As I said, I have never thought of a betraying character before. Probably is Malu’s bipolar mother, who won’t let her break their mutual dependency so easily.

[Terrell Harris]

Terrell’s Analysis of Dead Poet Society – assignment 4B

What is the change this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?

Seizing the day, avoiding the pitfalls of life, thinking for yourself, individualism, finding your passion

Lead characters:

Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change? John Keating, he’s a teacher, that give him influence for teenagers that’s especially empowering because teenagers are full of rebellion

Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey? The English class, in particular Todd Anderson and Neil Perry

What is the Oppression? Primarily the boarding school administration, but also expectations placed upon us by society, parents, teachers all in cahoots together.

How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?

It’s when Keating begins to teach, he’s not an ordinary teacher and is considered unorthodox.

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:

What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?

From kinda fun rebelliousness to throwing off mental shackles, to direct confrontation with status quo then we get a variety change at the end from siding with the status quo to conforming, to dying for your beliefs, truly for your freedom

How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?

Inner demons and fears are ignored, battle with yourself to direct confrontation with the external

What are the most profound moments of the movie?

Keating morbid speech in the hallway

Tearing pages out the text book

Standing on the desk to get a different perspective

Sneaking off campus late at night to reestablishing the Dead Poet Society

When Neil decides to try out for Shakespeare as he rallies against his father’s for the first time wishes even as Todd tries to talk him out of going against his father.

Ball kicking while quoting lines of poetry

When Neil gets the part

The Sweaty-tooth madman

When Knox calls Chris

Flying desk set

when Neil kills himself

when the students stand on their desks

What are the most profound lines of the movie?

Many lines of classic poetry aside…

Practically almost all of Robin William’s dialogue is profound

Carpe diem

O Captain! My Captain!

Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Don’t be resigned to that. Break out!

Free thinkers at 17?

I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.

Because we’re food for worms, lads!

…these boys are now fertilizing daffodils

nothing’s impossible.

Being you mean you gotta do something not just say you’re in

All to struggle against great odds, to be enemies undaunted, etc.

How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?

The ending pays off through the various actions of the students

1. siding with the system, 2.conformity, 3. continued rebellion, and 4. death.

What is the Profound Truth of this movie?

Know thyself and be true to thyself

[Dietrich Oppeln]

Dietrich-Lead Characters

1.Tell us your transformational journey logline.
After the death of the famous violin maker Stradivarius, the Prince of Cremona robs the powerful violin »Delfino« from the master’s protégé Angelo which thrusts the prince into a hell of a life until he learns about the true »Magic of Music« from the bereft and becomes a benign ruler of his country – and an even better musician.

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:
The Change Agent is the one who was robbed of the violin – the fomer protégé Angelo. He teaches the Prince the Integrity of Music and what it means to play a Stradivari Violin. His vision is, that the Prince becomes a benign ruler of his country after having watched how the Prince and his friends oppress and exploit the people in the land. (I need to do more for Angelos Vision)

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 transformable Character ist the Prince, who changes from an cruel despot to a benign leader of his people – and to a much better violinist.

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 Oppression are the nightmare dreams the prince has. He can’t sleep haunted by the sound and visions of the violin in his nights. As he still doesn’t want to change he breaks his spine, which can only be healed by him acknowledging his faults, being humble and change. So, the Oppression is actally the Violin itself. (I could make the nightmares even more oppressive)

5. Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.

The betraying Character is the Chamberlain, who blocks the Prince’s progress by defaming Angelo having bad intentions and taking advantage of the situation. (This I need to expand in my script)

I learned to take closer look on the roles of my characters. Sharpen and hone them.

[Dietrich Oppeln]

Dietrich von Oppeln: On Dead Poets Society
What is the change this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie? A group of young men improsoned in a boardng school and very much oppressed by its system find a way to stand up for their own uniquenes
Lead characters:
Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change? It is the teacher John Keating obviously who through his own rebellion inspres the youndg to rebel against a dead life at a dead school.
Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey? The students are the transformable characers. Most of them willing to experience change in a dull system.
What is the Oppression? The Opression is the Proncipal of the scool, the system there, the opression of emotions and fun in exchange for a future wehre one not can be what they came to be.
How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story? I am lured in, because I myself were years at a similar place and could easily connect. Generally the movie plays on suffocating experiences the most in the audience have suffered – at school, at home. Many know that there was something they actually would like to manifest in their lives and they could not do it.
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: Being timid with not much individuality. Identify their new way at the conclusion: Standing literally up for their identity and uniqueness.
What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing? First more timid and fearful they gained more and more confidence in themselves – from one of Keating’s lessons to the next.
How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change? The belief I need to obey the rules, otherwise … to: I can make my own rules and still survive.
What are the most profound moments of the movie? Ripping off the first pages in the Poetry book. The standing on the table to have a new view on things. The theater play with Neil. The death of Neil. Oh Captain my Captain.
What are the most profound lines of the movie? (I translate from German. These are not necessarity original): Each of us present here will eventually stop breathing, grow cold and die. Question your world, listen to yourself, live your life so that it makes you happy – because you have only the one. “Carpe Diem” – Seize the day! I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life. We didn’t just read poems, we let them melt in our mouths like honey. Oh Captain, my Captain
How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie? At the end all were standing on the table, not only Keating. A metaphor for growth and self conciousness.
What is the Profound Truth of this movie? It might be hard to stand up for your own truth. It can cost you, even your life. But is is more precious than to be safe and survive.

[Bob Hucul]

I learned by going through the log line it can change or add more profound truths in your story. I discovered the new main profound truth in this process. The one I had originally will still be part of it but is more of a sub or additional profound truth now. Also I learned how useful it was to develop the story and puzzle by going through this model of characters and main pressure and it ultimately helps shape the story.

Logline: A self-centered professional basketball mascot needing to repair his public image is enlisted to lead a city-wide pilot program to retrain the unemployed to become mascots and during the process he learns the value of being part of a team and helping others.

Change Agent: Owner of the professional basketball team. He is a self-taught billionaire that has learned when building his empire that it’s all about serving others through teamwork. He is very old and wants to help the city and basketball team with his wisdom learned. He also wants to pass the empire down to his daughter and uses her to communicate his vision having her oversee the mascot program. She’s an extension of the owner/change agent in this regard. She’s learned his values growing up and is very kind and understanding of these values but lacks a bit of confidence (which she ultimately learns from the main character who is a change agent in this regard for her). The owner/dad has a greater vision of helping both city/team and his daughter in what they need in a selfless way that you don’t really see until the end. In many ways he becomes a mentor of the mascot. Owner ultimately dies at the end passing the torch to his daughter. The mascot program students are a change agent also since they ultimately help the main character in his transformational journey.

Transformable Characters: Professional Mascot, the basketball team, the city politicians, and the mascot program students. The main character / professional mascot is starting with a self-centered view of the world which is self-destructive and needs to make a change to a new view of putting others first and working as a team in order to save his job (and ultimately the city and the team). The basketball team also needs to change since they are working individually and not as a team. The city and politicians are divided and need to change for same reasons if they truly want to help the city they represent. The mascot program students need to change for various different old views but ultimately they need to remove their metaphorical masks to become their authentic self and recognize their self-worth. They are all part of the puzzle in taking the audience through the profound truth(s) that we need to help each other and work together.

The Oppression: The city’s poor economy (partly from everyone ordering online from Amazon, etc. and ultimately hurting small businesses and their local economy) that is causing residents to demand solutions from their politicians (not realizing its themselves not the politicians that can save them). The residents need to shop locally but ultimately focused on the ease and low price for themselves which is ultimately hurting the community. The subset is also the basketball team’s poor performance and low attendance. Ultimately both of these just symptoms of the problem as the underlying cause of the oppression is division that is being rooted in the people throughout the city and basketball team pursuing their own selfish gains and not helping each other. This old view is spreading and unless it changes they can’t turn things around and reduce the pressure on the city, the team and each other.

Betraying Character: The star basketball player that is enlisted (along with his team) to help the main character in the program. Ultimately it becomes too tempting for the main character to bail and look out for his own selfish needs by taking a contract to be the star of a team where he can get more endorsments. The local politician trying to win election (over the current mayor) wants to sabotage the program and the basketball player works with him to do that with the promise that the politician can help the player get what he wants. He wants to make the change but ultimately can’t and reverts to his old ways.

[Diane Lorene Phelps]

Diane Phelps’ Lead Characters

Tell us your transformational journey logline.

Logline: A dance prodigy returns home after a devastating injury that sidelines her dreams, while running her dads coffee shop she has to fight the for the soul of the town and save the towns dance hall from demolition and she falls in love with the antique dealer as she plans the Christmas dance event.

What I learned doing this assignment is the planning of these key figures will develop a solid basis for conflict and generate a believable entertaining story.

1. 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:

The change agent is the historical society (TBD)

2. 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 transformable characters are the bank and property developers.

3. 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 oppression in my story is the need to put on a Christmas show and save the towns’ dancehall from destruction.

4. Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.

The real estate sales people, in it for the money.