Day 8 Assignments

[Marie Wilson]

Marie’s Profound Ending

What I learned doing this assignment is that the more brainstorming I do, the more material I have to work/play with, catapulting me out of the stuck-in-my-brain ideas of how the story should go. I learned that this kind of devoted brainstorming gives my story and characters depth and I can’t wait to do more of it.

1. What is your Profound Truth and how will it be delivered powerfully in your ending?

It’s not enough to say you care or give lip service to a cause, you must act.

2. How do your lead characters (Change Agent and Transformable Characters) come to an end in a way that represents the completed change?

Kay has seen her entitlement and moved to change it with support of others who do not share her privileges.

Emoke sees that others who say they care will go out of their way to support her.

Eunice is letting go old beliefs but has yet to embrace new.

3. What are the setup/payoffs that complete in the end of this movie, giving it deep meaning?

The set up has been the difficulty mounting a play in a small town that is set in its traditional ways; the pay off is that they succeed in putting the play on in a new way and that it is accepted by a huge portion of the town. And that accomplishment reps a new way of thinking, a more inclusive bunch of people, putting care of neighbours above nice decor, putting action where there was just lip service

4. How are you designing it to have us see an inevitable ending and then making it surprising when it happens?

I’m designing it to show the resilience of the people who are trying to break new ground with the Christmas play. They come up against formidable opposition but we see them spring back each time, such that it will seem inevitable that the play will not only open but be a success. Surprising? Hecklers show up with tomatoes and eggs to throw at the performers on stage. Others in attendance, fans of Eunice, are there to see the play fail or see various actors humiliated.The big surprise will be that Eunice will be the one to step up and tell the hecklers to stop it, while handing her handkerchief to Emoke to wipe egg off her dress. The play continues and the last big reveal is MJ Rodriguez playing the part of the angel.

5. What is the Parting Image/Line that leaves us with the Profound Truth in our minds?

Image: Kay and MJ come out for curtain call – they part a path for Emoke who gets a standing O. The joyous look on her face casts us back through the journey to the guarded Emoke we first met and her struggle to arrive at this place.

Line: So far, I have Eunice tell one of her posse just outside the theatre, as she takes the protest sign out of her hand and throws it down: “Go home and hug your grandchildren.” I can do better.

[Kathleen Gamble]

Kathleen’s Profound Ending

1. Profound Truth – Accepted or not you can still make a profound impact. Cassie’s business savvy will cause her to be instrumental in saving the family business.

2. Cassie will be confident; no more stage fright because she has the support of her new family and colleagues. The entire firm and Board of Directors support her. Though Rhonda hasn’t changed, she accepts the fact that Cassie knows business.

3. Those workers who were against her is now on her side. rose thanks her. She tells Cassie that what her father and mother did was not her fault. They invite her to the West Family Reunion. Rhonda still won’t accept her as her sister and sulks alone.

4. There was NO hostile take over. It was a ploy to get the siblings together. The Lawyer looks guilty, the Board Chairman looks guilty, but they were in on it.

5. At the family reunion, the song “We are Family” is playing in the background.

6. What I have learned: To think of a variety of endings to make my play profound

[William Peed]

1. What is your profound truth and how will it be delivered powerfully in your ending?

We need to value other’s lives over our own freedom. Miguel will give sacrifice himself so that Dulcinea and Hamad can escape.

2. How do your lead characters come to and end in a way that represents the completed change?

Miguel is back in captivity, planning another escape.

Dulcinea escapes.

Hamad turns his back on duty to help Miguel and Dulcinea and his girlfriend escape.

3. What are the setups/payoffs that complete in the end of the movie, giving it deep meaning?

Miguel’s first escape is paid off when one of his contacts helps with the second escape.

Dulcinea’s line about Miguel caring more about his freedom than other people’s lives is paid off when he gives up his freedom for her to escape.

4. How are you designing it to have us see an inevitable ending and then making it surprising when it happens?

Is Miguel using Dulcinea to help himself escape? Dulcinea is going to go with him, but decides to stay with Hassan when he proposes. Does Hassan decide to kill her? After they’ve had sex? Does he tell Miguel his plan?

5. What is the parting image/line that leaves us with the profound truth in mind?

Miguel in the harem. A new concubine comes in. He comforts her using the words that Dulcinea had comforted a new concubine earlier.

[Maria Collis]

Maria’s profound ending

I learned that I can’t just rush through these assignments. I need to give them time and space. I’m missing a lot of details. I need to spend some time on developing them.

Profound ending: Janet lets her daughter go and opens up to a relationship with Mike. Angela gets the courage to strike off on her own.

The Change: Janet learns she is not in control of everything; nor is everything her fault. A certain amount of serendipity plays a role in life. Mike learns he is not a robot.

Payoffs: The guy with the less-than-perfect body falls in love with the older woman. Janet not only lets Angela go, but encourages her to go. Angela gains courage.

Surprises: Janet makes the first move. Mike walks away. Angela stands up to her mother.

Parting image/line: Mike: I was a robot. I’m not anymore. Angela: I haven’t changed, I’ve just come into who I am. Janet: Everything has changed. Nothing has changed.