Day 5 – What I learned …

[Nora B Anderson]

Insight: Just for a second, Will lets his guard down, but Skylar's "wants" are demands to him. He tries second guessing her wants, but it backfires. Then her defensiveness and what he sees as pity echoes all the categorization and "therapy" that all therapists have tried, and his fight or flight kicks in – he does both. Do not box him in.
Possible breakthrough: This scene is a microcosm of Will's behavior on all the therapists' couches, just in a personal, romantic setting. He has learned to manipulate his way out of any 'treatment', and he doesn't know how to do anything but that manipulation, react the same way – get out, save yourself. His initial "Really?" to her is a glimmer that he could change but it gets shut down by his learned behavior/action.
So, I see how this microcosm within microcosm scene building starts with the character having consistency in their traits, but small changes to their traits makes a more believable character arc.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  Nora B Anderson.

[Judith Watson]

Would you like to exchange scenes to review with me?

[Nora B Anderson]

Hi, Judith: Thank you for asking about exchanging scenes. I’m actually not working on my script right now, and just concentrating on the lessons, even though that’s currently a part of the class. I don’t have the bandwidth right now to study scenes and write my script right now. Long story. I apologize but I appreciate the offer. Nora

[Judith Watson]

thanks for the information, Nora. best to you in your writing.

[Judith Watson]

Week 1 – Lesson 5 – Wounds – Good Wil Hunting

I think I had a breakthrough in hearing how the right dialogue created the conflict/drama in this scene. Skylar asks Will to go to California with her. This sets him off because he feels more secure where he is. Will’s fear becomes clear when he accuses Skylar of dumping him for the other rich friends she will meet. His actions are to jump out of bed and head for the door. He is in flight mode. She blocks his way and then his actions are aggressive. In order not to hit her he hits the door with his fist. Her fear of not being loved is shown when she asks him to tell her if he doesn’t love her, to say so. He does, even though it’s not true, but he says it because he fears being abandoned by her.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  Judith Watson.