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Day 5: Character Ending – RUDY
1. Please watch this scene and provide your insights/breakthroughs into what makes this character great from a writing perspective.
2. Read the other writers comments and make notes of any insights/breakthroughs you like.
3. Rethink or create a scene for your script using your new insights and rewrite that scene/character.
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11 Replies
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Arguably this is the simplest of the scenes we studied so far, and yet one of the most emotional ones. Most of the beats leading up to it are purely sequential, and yet somehow very moving already. Then this specific scene is woven with like five story climaxes.
The willingness of his teammates to sacrifice their spot and RUDY’s perseverance finally being requited both contribute to his arrival at the scene. The scene though, is heated on several ambers. (Five by my quick count.)
We’ve learnt FORTUNE, a man pivotal in Rudy’s journey enters the stands to see him, feeling somewhat absolved of the burden he carried for he himself having quit at the bench. The fans have heard his story in the campus newspaper, so the whole town is at the stadium rooting for him, and his own family is here. And to make the suspense stronger, he is sitting on the bench. Because, as told, the coach wouldn’t play him.
The next emotional tug is teammates can’t take him sitting on the bench, and the QB defies the coach and takes a career risk instead of settling for a conservative play to run the clock out, culminating his sacrifice, climaxing in his success as well as getting Rudy into the game. Finally, Rudy quickly makes the critical and decisive tackle to win the game. ¹
¹ I don’t understand Football. I had to go to Wikipedia to figure out this is what happened in the last minute.
Another writing lesson seems the real story behind this story. Coach DEVINE, according to IMDB actually insisted Rudy play in the final game. The truth would have almost killed the climax. Funny.
The win is uniquely his because the boy who could not get even one vote of confidence, including his own, finally rides an exhilarating landslide. He served this school, worked from the floor up, and in spite thinnest odds, he actually succeeds and gets his day like the superstar his efforts earned him. Every auxiliary climax I mentioned above contributes to it by making each one a winner. I’d venture the scene is engaging because of the stakes, that each of these five stories, in spite only one turning in a surprising way last minute, are each — all actually — just as likely to come untied.
My other take, ² and I hope someone brings in a deeper perspective than mine, the depth of this scene is the breadth (#) of climaxes made especially poignant by a peer’s (the QB’s) risky play and success. Overall, there is not one moving part we identify with by that scene that is not a winner.
² With my ignorance of football.
That’s what I think.
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Don’t worry, Sandeep, I am probably more ignorant of American football than you are. I think it’s the anonymity of the players that ruins it for me. How can you relate to players when their faces are all hidden under the same helmet? Give me baseball any day!
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Assignment Week 3 – Day 5 – RUDY
What makes this character great from a writing perspective is that the hero is also the underdog to the very end. His height is against him, his coach is against him. But the writer, in the run-up to this ending, has earned our support for him. He has the audience plugging for Rudy just as much as the thousands of spectators who are shouting his name.
At the same time, the writer keeps us in suspense. Will Rudy get onto the pitch or not? When he finally does run on, even Ruby doesn’t know what to do (we see him pleading for instructions from the guys on the touch-line) and then that other player taps him on his helmet, emphasizing his underdog status.
The insight for me came from Hal’s list of requirements for a character ending. He says the heroine, “wins in her unique way.” In my current draft, my heroine is shot dead by a corrupt DEA agent. Maybe, by re-thinking that ending so that she lives on, I will obtain a breakthrough in my script.
Hal also says “the Antagonist doesn’t just die, he dies a horrific death.” Again, my current draft has the Antagonist survive. Re-thinking my Antagonist’s ending could lead to another breakthrough. (Plus I’d love to see him die!!)
END
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What I learned from “Rudy” – Character Ending
I see four of his character traits to be: Tenacious, Fan, Humble, Hardworking
Great writing included all four of these traits played out in the end:
Tenacious – the fact that he’s still on the team, wearing a uniform, after all he’s been through.
Fan – he cheers for his team from the sidelines, even though he’s not playing
Humble – he asks if he should stay on the field for the second play.
Hardworking – he makes the tackle.
The cheer of the crowd – and not just a random crowd – we see his friends and family cheering – all that went on the journey with him… including his teammates and coaches… all the people he affected along the way.
The music was the icing on the cake.
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Insights/breakthroughs – In Rudy, the dialogue is fittingly sparse, but I would love to see how much description of the action, as written in the screenplay, depicts how the scene is directed. The drama built by the cut-backs to the head coach speaks volumes. The cuts to the other players and coaches builds and extends the drama. The brief, but important, dialogue by the players on the field tells just enough to show what’s at stake. One of the best, feel-good endings in sports cinema.
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Week 3, Day 5–RUDY–Character Ending
The ending was a “feel good” finish – where someone so driven and committed to manifesting his dream of playing with his “Dream Team”. His play represented more than inclusion in a game; he overcame challenge-after-challenge to reach that one triumphant moment celebrated by the team, coaches, and supporting fans. It took the energy of a stadium to lift Rudy upon the shoulders of his teammates. Each character had their unique ending. It was the culmination of his dream journey.
I see the depth in Rudy to pursue his dream, no matter what the obstacle and Fortune, who sees something in Rudy and supports him in his quest.
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Week 3, Day 5
Don’t we always root for the underdog? Here’s Rudy, with so much against him: a shrimp among giants. How can he overcome this glaring handicap playing for Notre Dame football against guys that weigh more, are taller, are beefier? In practice they cream hom; in the final game everyone cheers him…why? Because he has the most important traits: heart, determination, perseverance, fight, team spirit which he inspires in the team. He is the winner because of those traits even if he had lost the game. Great writing because the writer overcomes our disbelief as we follow Rudy to Success.
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Patricia. I agree about the underdog. The key is to create an underdog who either every roots against or for. If it’s not a genuine underdog, I doubt the audience would cheer that person on.
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What I learned from this assignment is that one of my characters has similar issues and I need to write at least one of his scenes better using Rudy as a somewhat template as far as challenges, character traits like perseverence, facing danger, pain, and possible failures-training experiences. There are many ways to incorporate and imagine the story.
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Week 3 Day 5 Character Ending RUDY
FIRST WATCH
Fitting ending: Rudy is cheered on by the crowd. When he gets into the game. The crowd continues to cheer. The coach is reluctant to put him in (Rudy’s such a little guy). When he does, on the last play of the game, Rudy makes the decisive tackle ending the game in his team’s favor.
The experience at the end is unique Rudy practiced with heart, he breaks through the offensive line with heart to bring down a big running back.
Journey to a conclusion Rudy worked so hard all year, and it pays off when he tackles with skill and courage.
SECOND WATCH
Character engaging The crowd.
Expressing his profile He’s a popular guy because he works so hard, without complaining and without any playing time. But he’s hopeful, optimistic and persistent. Rudy’s no quitter.
Character depth Rudy’s much better athlete than the coach gives him credit for. So you get the feeling that Rudy has much more under the surface than the coach sees. But the whole school and his own team do see.
Character great from writing p.o.v. Rudy’s an underdog. He’s very small compared to every other player on the field. But he’s got heart. Even if he loses in the end, he wins because he faces up to the test.
My writing. I have two under dogs in my story. But one of them has to have a secret that gives her strength (because she endures the secret for so long) and fear (because she’s afraid of the rage and aggression she’s capable of). Given the right subtext, the ending will be unique for her.
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This ending leaves one hopeful and cheering with the audience, yelling, “Rudy, Rudy” over and over. We know more is coming for a grand finish. Little dialogue proves if it’s written and directed to the best situation, “action speaks louder than words.”
Rudy, being the underdog, can’t lose as he’s already a winner with all the cheering. When he makes the tackle the whole audience goes nuts. They knew he could do something good that would lead to an even happier moment for everyone. Humble to the end, Rudy deserved all the recognition because Rudy never gave up – he just kept going at it again.
I learned: My screenplay is getting more character changes based on never giving up – keep being open to change, be patient and surround myself with optimistic, inspiring people who also believe in me and my writing. I love Hal’s idea of “unique” ending and character depth with Rudy being bigger than his size and smarter than his IQ abilities.
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