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Lesson 1 Assignments
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KZ’s Actor Attractors for PRIVATE BENJAMIN
Vision: To master screenwriting so that I can turn any of my ideas into a salable script.
What I learned doing this assignment: that when I slowed down to really think about the answers to these questions, I could analyze the script, and not find myself swept up in the story as a member of the audience. Sometimes I think I understand a film, but watching mindfully and critically is quite different from just watching the movie, no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Though I had seen this movie long ago, I didn’t remember anything about it.
LEAD CHARACTER NAME: JUDY BENJAMIN
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
The movie was released two years after (and even references) AN UNMARRIED WOMAN. This is a comedic version of the same journey, the subservient woman who finds her power without relying on men. (Later in the film, Judy cleans up dog pee for her French boyfriend, referencing the moment Jill Clayburgh wiped dog poop off her husband’s shoe.) It fits into the Independent Woman model, along with DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, ALIEN, and THELMA AND LOUISE. It made Goldie Hawn look good.2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Judy Benjamin’s arc promises to be satisfying from the beginning.
All of the men in her life—from her groom requesting a BJ in the parking lot to relieve his headache, to her father ignoring her and not believing in her potential, to the recruiter feeding her lies about what the army will be like—they all treat her terribly… and she takes it.3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Deciding to stick it out in the army, rather than running home to her parents
Leading her squad and making strategic decisions in the war games
Leaving her third groom at the altar and setting out on her own.4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Judy Benjamin is introduced at the altar, embarking on wedlock for the second time, marrying a “professional” which had always been her dream. (The groom is a lawyer who advises clients on pre-nuptial agreements.) She’s totally clueless and subservient. Actually, that wouldn’t sell the actor unless there was the implicit arc of becoming empowered. Most likely, the first scene that sold Goldie Hawn on the part was the hilarious scene with her Captain, when Judy complains about everything, especially how disgusting the toilets are. This scene allowed the actor to play a completely entitled, clueless character to perfection. The Captain asks to see her toothbrush. Next shot is Judy on her knees cleaning the toilets with her fancy electric toothbrush.5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Childish glee to abject grief. Entitlement to rebellion to discipline. Dependent on romantic love to self-sufficiency. From “I tried to take my life into my own hands. It was a mistake” to “Not so fast.”6. What subtext can the actor play?
Disappointment and resignation as she goes along with the humiliations the men in her life dish out.
Saying “I love you” to romantic interests and parents alike with the implicit bargain that she will be taken care of.
Determination as she rejects the discharge from the army offered by her parents and her captain.
Self-realization around the campfire with her platoon as she jokingly reveals her past sex life and that she’s never had an orgasm.
Personal growth as she rejects another marriage with another boy-man intent on subjecting her to his will.7. What are the most interesting relationships this character has?
With her antagonist, Captain Doreen Lewis
With her adversarial bootcamp-mates, Private Gianelli and Private Winter
With her new love interest, Henri. She tells him she can’t sleep with him till she knows him better. He starts to list facts about himself, and gets to “I’m Jewish.” Next shot, they’re in the throes of lovemaking – where she finally gets that orgasm.8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
As a whining, spoiled princess who gradually becomes empowered and learns to take life into her own hands.9. What makes this character special and unique?
Even though Judy Benjamin is morally repulsive at the beginning of the film, she has a certain naive charm as played by Goldie Hawn. We want to see this character learn some lessons, get slapped around by life a bit, have her entitlement stripped away. The incongruity of a pampered princess having to go through bootcamp is full of comic potential.10. In the third act, Judy has slipped back into her ways of old, appeasing the man in her life though he humiliates her. As she stands at the altar, about to tie the knot with Henri, she looks at him and sees the other men in her life: her second groom, Yale, smiling at her smugly; her father lecturing her; the moment when Henri gets her to sign a pre-nup—written in French so she can’t understand it—at a restaurant. When it comes time for her to say “I do,” she says, “Not so fast.” As Henri tries to talk her out of leaving, and then demeans her in front of the assembled wedding guests, she punches him out. She walks outside and flings off her veil, then stalks away down the beautiful arbored path in her wedding dress.
Inciting incident – her parents come to pick her up and treat her like a child. “You are incapable of making your own decisions.” (her father) The Captain is happy to get rid of her. Judy looks from one to the other, (you can see the gears turning) and decides to stick it out.
EILEEN BRENNAN – CAPTAIN DOREEN LEWIS (Antagonist)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Captain Lewis is a strong woman in a job traditionally held by men.2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Even though Captain Lewis is tough, she still makes a fool of herself over a man.3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Happily providing the paperwork that will allow Private Benjamin to leave the army
Smiling at Pvt Benjamin as though she’s going to do something nice – and then giving her the worst assignment.
Smiling in a diabolic way as she draws out Pvt Benjamin’s description of how awful everything is.4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Captain Lewis is reviewing the new crop of trainees in the barracks at bootcamp. As she listens to Private Benjamin listing her objections to the army, Lewis smiles with glee, conveying how much she relishes the punishment she’s going to mete out.5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Snakelike charm to diabolical glee. Cockiness to professional subservience.6. What subtext can the actor play?
The hurt in her eyes when she realizes her love interest has been cavorting with another woman.
The suppressed glee when she pulls a dirty trick on Private Benjamin.7. What are the most interesting relationships this character has?
With the protagonist, Private Benjamin
With her love interest, Captain Woodbridge8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She’s quietly dangerous.9. What makes this character special and unique?
She relishes the power she holds over others, yet operates in a system of hierarchy where her power is constrained by those with superior rank.10. All of the characters besides Judy Benjamin are just given brief moments where they can shine. For Captain Lewis, it’s the moment where she eggs Private Benjamin on, knowing she’s going to bring down the hammer. For Private Gianelli, it’s the moment during the first review, when she’s a tough chick in a sexy red bra. For Yale Goodman, it’s the moment in the back of the limo when he convinces his bride to pleasure him. For the recruiter, it’s the duplicity written on his face when he shows Judy pictures of a marina with yachts and condos and tells her it’s an army base. Each supporting character has their fleeting opportunity to shine, but none are given much of a journey. One thing that’s interesting about this story’s structure is that there is a constantly changing Antagonist. Captain Lewis is brought back to plague Judy in Paris, but she’s quickly left behind. The Antagonist is a series of oppressors, usually men, but sometimes women in the form of Lewis and the bunkmates.
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VISION – To write touching, entertaining family stories that have a message to teach and entertain audiences at the same time.
What I learned doing this assignment is analyzing actor attractors of the film I watched, “Clueless.”
Movie Title: Clueless
Lead Character Name: Cher
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
The lead is an “it girl” character. She’s pretty, popular at school, rich and has a wardrobe many girls copy after. The lead role is an attention getter that attracts a young audience and families.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
She’s not a ditzy girl. She has her father’s attorney skills to get her teachers to improve the grades on her report card. She also looks out for her widowed father by making sure he eats right and keeps his stress levels down.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Cher makes over Tye, the oddball new girl at her school. Cher and her best friend, Dionne, show Tye the ropes and try to get Elton, one of the most popular guys at their school, to fall for Tye.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Young, hip, beautiful and a Beverly Hills girl.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Comedic, heartfelt, manipulative, jealous, remorseful, insecure, shocked and genuine
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Cher decides that authenticity, accepting her friends for who they are and a genuine heart is the key to being a good person, not popularity and money.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Relationships with her best friend Dionne, her ex-step brother Josh who she has a crush on, Christian who she’s attracted to and Tye
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
She uses slang that was hip at the time the movie was made and her metaphors she uses to describe her feelings adds comedy
9. What makes this character special and unique?
She sees the best in people after she has used them for personal gain and realizes it was wrong for her to do so. Her genuineness during her soul searching moments causes maturity.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
In the beginning of the movie we see her life, her beauty, her popularity, her mansion and her wardrobe closet which has a rolling rack and she uses a computer to match her outfits before putting them on.
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Mhmd’s Actor attractors for (The Island)
My Vision: I will keep creating constantly and effectively; in order to be the most demanded and influential glorified writer within the industry and with the audience.
What I learned from doing this assignment is..
– There are many films in the same category as my concept, I didn’t consider. Now it’s so important to analyze them.
Movie Title: The Island (2005)
Lead Character Name: Lincoln Six Echo.
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
A unique and exciting character driven by questions to free 5,000 lives from death in the medical colony.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
He has mounting questions and recurring nightmares that he seeks answers to. Everyone tells him he’s special, but he doesn’t know how. Every step he takes contributes to changing the fate of others’ lives. In the end, he saves 5,000 lives from a dark fate.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Escape from the colony. kissing scarlett. Driving almost everything.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
A thrilling and unusual introduction from inside the nightmare of implanted memory. All the details confirm that the character deviates from the usual pattern of each one around.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Testing confusion and successive discoveries, and experiencing love and sex for the first time. The original Lincoln feels differently than Six Echo. Then Six Echo emulates original Lincoln’s behavior.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
In every step or dialogue, He seeks to discover and deliver more truths at the same time.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
His relationship with Jordan, the Doctor (the main antagonist) and with original Lincoln.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
The character is innocent with real noble intentions, and this doesn’t prevent him from waging successive major struggles.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He develops and adapts in a really remarkable speed.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The opening scene, in which Lincoln Six Echo has a nightmare and then wakes up to see him deviate from a number of different parameters inside his room, then when ordering food, then with Jordan; Which shows that he is a different and special person.
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Madeleine’s Actor attractors for (About A Boy).
Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes for me to be a writer of amazing stories with meaning who can move the audience and change the world resulting in financial, critical and audience success.
What I learned from doing this assignment is: It’s amazing to see how well the character of Will is worked in the movie. Every detail is great and gets more interesting to more you watch the movie.
ACTOR ATTRACTORS Template
Movie Title: About a Boy
Lead Character Name: Will
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
It’s a smart, witty and challenging role about the social evolution of a human being.2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
His unique approach to life and his strange philosophy about how to get a girlfriend.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Laying about being a dad and acting like an immature, selfish human being when it comes to relationships.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
With many simultaneous actions at the same time: visual, thinking, acting and talking and all point toward a strange personality.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
From antisocial, immature to being a well-integrated member and well-loved partner.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
The person, who does not care about anybody and does not need anybody.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
The relationship with the Marcus, a boy.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
We hear what he is thinking and it’s pretty funny to listen to the way he sees life.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
The adult behaves like an immature person and the kid acts like an adult – and they have to learn from each other.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
The end, where Will has to overcome his egoistical approach and get on stage to save Marcus. It’s a painful moment for Will and we suffer with him through the humiliation he gets through but we know, this action will save Marcus from social suicide.
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KZ’s Actor Attractors for BRINGING UP BABY
Vision: To master screenwriting so that I can turn any of my ideas into a salable script.
What I learned doing this assignment: that it’s easier to recognize Actor Attractors in finished movies than in my own script. So to get a little more practice, I decided to analyze my favorite comedy of all time.
LEAD CHARACTER NAME: SUSAN VANCE
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
This is a witty, well-written screwball (romantic) comedy, written for Katherine Hepburn, and ideal for showing off her comic skills.2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
Susan Vance is absolutely unreasonable, yet sees herself as well-grounded and logical.3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
- Usurping David’s golf ball, then his car, when they first meet.
- Pretending to be attacked by a (tame) leopard in order to get David to come to her apartment.
- Stealing a car.
- Sending David’s suit to be cleaned while he’s in the shower, thinking that if he has no clothes, he can’t leave to marry the “Bellamy.”
- Hitting Mr. Peabody, the lawyer, in the head with a rock so that David is associated with it.
- Tearing David’s suit.
- Opening the box containing a rare dinosaur bone, which leads to George, the dog, stealing it.
- Searching with David for the bone.
- Cooking one of his socks while trying to dry it over a campfire.
- Ruining his reputation with her Aunt, telling her he has mental issues.
- Telling her Aunt that his name is Mr. Bone without telling him, so that he seems insane when he doesn’t recognize his own name.
- Getting David and herself arrested, and then causing her Aunt, the gardener, and the dinner guest to be arrested, until Mr. Peabody shows up to have them all released.
- Pretending to be a gangster to get out of jail.
- Returning to the jail with a dangerous leopard, which she has mistaken for “Baby.”
- Achieving her goal of ruining David’s relationship with his fiancée.
- Causing David’s Brontosaurus to collapse.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
The first encounter between Susan and David is funny, when she claims his golfball as her own, and then does the same with his car, all the while believing she’s the rational one and he’s in the wrong. The best scene that really shows off both actors’ comedic abilities is the second encounter in the country club dining room.5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Obtuse to conniving. Helpless to resourceful. Dismissive to lovesick. Accusing to contrite.6. What subtext can the actor play?
Accusing him of something she’s done, shifting the blame. Saying “I love you” while seeming to talk about something else. Pretending to reunite him with his fiancee, Miss Swallow, while doing everything she can to disrupt his pending wedding.7. What are the most interesting relationships this character has?
- With David, her antagonist and love interest.
- With Aunt Elizabeth, from whom both she and David are competing for a gift of $1 million.
- With the Sheriff, whom she tricks by pretending to be a gangster.
- With the psychiatrist, who is convinced she is crazy.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
As an upper-crust eccentric.9. What makes this character special and unique?
She’s completely wacky, but convinced she’s completely sane.10. In David’s second encounter with his nemesis, Susan is standing at the bar practicing tossing olives, then catching them in her mouth. She misses as David arrives for a lunch date with Mr. Peabody, the lawyer who is advising Susan’s Aunt Elizabeth about where she should bestow a gift of $1 million, which David needs to continue his important work reconstructing dinosaurs. Susan drops the olive and David steps on it, causing him to fall and flatten his top hat. Susan picks up the psychiatrist’s wife’s purse, mistaking it for her own, and then hands it to David to hold, so that he gets accused of stealing the purse. As David tries to get away from Susan, she pulls on the tails of his coat, ripping it, and says famously, “Oh, you’ve torn your coat.” They argue and she leaves in a huff, not realizing he’s standing on the hem of her dress, so that the back rips off, exposing her underwear. He has to press up against her to hide her drawers, and the two leave in lockstep, passing the bewildered Mr. Peabody, who is becoming less and less likely to recommend David as the recipient of the grant.
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Geoff Gwillim – Actor Attractors for Interstellar
VISION: I am a writer of popular and critically acclaimed films, enjoying and grateful for every aspect of my creative life, consistently writing what and as I choose wherever I choose to live in the world, loving the wonderful experiences my writing enables me to have.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS:
A great movie I had never seen before .. definitely one McConaughey’s best, he must have been pleased with his decision to refuse any more rom-coms .. and from the get-go/analysing the attractors I could see why the lead character would have been incredibly attractive for any A-list actor as well as the script for producer.
Actor Attractors for Interstellar
Lead Character Name: Protagonist COOPER
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Mega cool astronaut who does it all: crosses event horizon goes through a black hole and survives, realises/acts across time/space and enables the survival of humanity (potentially).
2. What makes this character the most interesting character in the movie?
Cooper is the central driver of humanity’s endeavour to survive beyond the dying Earth. He enables the character arc of every other character, from Murph to Mann to Brand etc., his experiences and the realisations they drive within the story are the message of the movie.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Travels through a wormhole, surfs a 500’ high wave on a planet in another galaxy, crosses event horizon into a black hole and transcends time/space, delivers to his young daughter the data that will provide humanity the possibility of survival beyond a dying Earth, returns to meet his now-aged and dying daughter before again heading off to help Brand provide a new home for humanity.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
A rugged farmer with two young children in a dustbowl dying farm region on a dying Earth, a former astronaut who didn’t make it into outer space. Taking his kids to school when they are buzzed by a low-altitude drone, charges after it blind across corn fields to take control and land it safely on Earth after a decade or more in the heavens.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Love across time/space .. from immense sadness having to leave Murph and Tom and then watching communications from his now-adult children across time/space .. to compassion for Brand, understanding her love while opting to go to the other planet .. from constrained exultation at travelling across space, ultimately ‘conquering’ time and surviving.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Cooper is driven by the ultimate human urge to re-unite with his children and have them understand/accept his need to have been away through their lives (Query – why Tom didn’t feature at all in resolution although Murph’s numerous and previously-unseen ‘family’ surrounded her death bed .. why was Cooper not included into ‘family’, rather separate from it .. Answer – Tom was a secondary character compared to Murph, Cooper ‘volunteered’ to separate from family/humanity on Earth/time).
Every action, while driving the narrative forward towards saving humanity, is actually more personal for Cooper.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Brand is Cooper’s non-romantic female lead, he understands and is compassionate for her as-yet-and-unlikely-to be-realised love for Edmond. Having achieved his mission of ‘solving the gravitational anomaly’ thus time/space and surviving to re-unite with Murph, he ultimately leaves Earth again to join her in continuing endeavour to save humanity (interesting, leaving open option for Interstellar II)
Cool working relationship with TARS.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Cool-constrained capability while conveying love, initiative and resilience that enables him to triumph.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
The best pilot/astronaut ever, only one (except aging Professor Brand) with children to love/want to protect and to enable their survival/the survival of humanity.
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Brandyn Cross’ Actor Attractors for Ghost Writer
My vision for success in this program is to develop and hone my skills to the extent that my screenplays will be produced and widely viewed.
What I learned from this assignment is how to present lead characters in a way that satisfies the unique priorities of A-List actors.
Movie Title: Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980) Alec Guiness, Ricky Schroder
Lead Character Name: Cedric aka Lord Fauntleroy (Ricky Schroder)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
Lord Fauntleroy is an iconic character from classic literature. The character is also played in circumstances ranging from a child of poverty to an extremely wealthy heir to the British aristocracy.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
He doesn’t undergo the typical internal journey, which changes the character in a fundamental way. Rather, he is goodhearted from the outset, and remains so despite being thrown into circumstances under which a lesser person could be corrupted by power and avarice. As such, he is the catalyst of change for all the adults surrounding him, all of whom have become jaded to varying degrees. Through his influence, they all regain a semblance of the innocence personified by Lord Fauntleroy.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
Cedric unwittingly forces the most jaded adults around him to perform acts of kindness that they don’t really want to do. This is because Cedric commits them to these acts, and to then refuse to follow through would reflect very poorly on these adults.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
Cedric is introduced as a street urchin on New York City’s Hester Street. He is precocious yet kind-hearted, relating more comfortably with adult merchants rather than other kids his age. Being taken seriously by adults, as an equal, should be appealing to a 10-year-old actor.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
Cedric is almost always happy and kind. He is, however, shown occasionally questioning the motives of his grandfather, the Earl of Dorincouert, regarding Cedric’s mother. He is also downcast at times due to missing his mother, who is not allowed to live with him at the castle.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
Cedric wants to be a normal kid, rather than Lord Fauntleroy, heir to a British fortune. He is not only unimpressed with the opulent surroundings in which he finds himself, but openly dislikes them. He is torn between his love for his grandfather and his antipathy toward his new life of elitism and privilege. Over time, though, he comes to recognize the ways in which a life of power and riches could be used to help those around him, and improve the lives of his impoverished friends and tenants.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
Though Cedric is only 10 years old, his best friends are a grocer and a bootblack, who are adult merchants on Hester Street in New York. He is devoted to both his mother and his grandfather, who are separated by mutual dislike for one another, which causes Cedric to question his grandfather’s motives. He resists being treated as an elite by his servants, whom he would much rather have as friends and social equals.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
Cedric is unusually goodhearted. He leads all the adults surrounding him to changes for the better by his own ability to keep extraordinary power, nobility and wealth from making him self-absorbed or jaded.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
Cedric is a very ordinary boy- in fact, a less than ordinary boy given his impoverished life- who is suddenly thrown into extraordinary circumstances of wealth and position, the likes of which would be the average person’s dream come true. Yet, he is entirely unaffected by it and, truth be told, would much rather have this honor lifted from him.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
On Christmas Eve, Cedric is despondent about his mother not being with him on Christmas. He looks through a window at the snow falling, and sadly questions whether his mother might be watching the snow fall right then as well. His grandfather overhears him and realizes how his feud with Cedric’s mother is negatively affecting his grandson. This is the crescendo of changes that Cedric has brought upon his grandfather, and he sends for Cedric’s mother to be brought to the castle, completing the Earl’s transformation.
Lead Character Name: The Earl of Dorincourt (Alec Guiness)
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role?
The Earl of Dorincourt is an iconic character from classic literature. The character undergoes a far-ranging character arc, from a cold-hearted tyrant to a kind-hearted person who rediscovers the value of family and the feeling of unconditional love.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie?
First, the character is the principal authority figure in the story, which is almost always the most interesting character in a story. The Earl is of a stature that distances him from the other, ‘common’ characters, which has robbed him of basic humanity. Then, as he becomes endeared to his grandson, he rediscovers his humanity, providing him the first real human relationship he has had in decades. This warms his heart to where it overlaps all of his relationships, which must be played without undermining the authority he must maintain in the management of his business affairs.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie?
In need of the only heir to his title and estate, the Earl of Dorincourt enlists his right hand man to find Cedric Errol, his grandson, whom the Earl has never met. He then undertakes the duty of training Cedric to succeed him as the future Earl of Dorincourt, thinking it will be a one way street, with him modeling the young boy in his image. It ends up being the opposite, with Cedric restoring in his grandfather a sense of humanity, love and caring. In the end, the Earl is inspired by Cedric’s example to become a better person, and make up for the wrongs he has done to others over his life.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor?
The Earl is first seen sitting in a grand room in his gigantic, opulent castle, where he is clearly in charge of everyone and everything in his world. It is the point where he first meets his grandson, whom he has never laid eyes on. Yet, he is cold and matter-of-fact, not showing the least sign of sentimentality at meeting the boy who is, essentially, the only remaining family the Earl has. His wife and all three of his sons have passed on, yet he has no emotional sense of family. His interest in his grandson extends no further than his role as heir to the Earl’s position. The scene portrays him as utterly devoid of sentimentality or emotional attachment to family, but without it coming across as mean or evil.
5. What is this character’s emotional range?
The Earl is at first all business, managing his countless servants and tenants, all of whom he considers ‘underlings.’ As such, he cares little- if at all- about them as human beings. This includes his grandson in initially as well but, over time, he is unable to resist Cedric’s charm and genuine goodness, in part because the boy is so like his father, the Earl’s late ‘favorite’ son. As the Earl lowers his guard and comes to love Cedric, he warms up to everyone else around him as well, in a classic “Ebenezer Scrooge” fashion, and learns to love life, and family and friends, again.
6. What subtext can the actor play?
From the outset, the Earl has a strong set of ethics. He embodies that in his utter devotion to his duty as the manager of his estate. He also expects the same sense of duty from those he oversees, which he feels justified in. As such, he sees himself as the ‘good guy’ and, technically speaking, there is nothing wrong with his sense of ethics. As such, he is not overtly mean, he’s just all business. As Cedric reawakens love and caring within him, he starts seeing those around him in through a lens of humanity, rather than strictly through a lens of business and duty.
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?
The obvious choice is the relationship with his grandson, but I find a couple others more interesting. First is the Earl’s relationship with Cedric’s mother. He resents her for marrying his son, since he did not consider a ‘common American’ worthy of him. When she and Cedric move from New York to England, he refuses to so much as see her. Over time, as he recognizes what a wonderful, loving child she has raised Cedric to be, and how devoted Cedric is to her, he overcomes his prejudices and accepts her as family. The other is his right hand man. Though it is without question a master / servant relationship, the Earl’s view toward him is nevertheless different from any other, as there is a sense of friendship beneath the surface.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
He has sole authority and responsibility for maintaining his vast estate which, in the British system of aristocracy, makes him responsible for the vocational viability of every person within the towns and farms under his jurisdiction. It is a position of nobility into which he was born, and to which he has been groomed his whole life to fulfill. His shoulders carry a burden of responsibility far beyond the average person’s comprehension, and one he takes very seriously. As such, he is very business-like in his demeanor. And though he is looked upon by everyone under his charge as cold and unfeeling, he is nonetheless never mean-spirited. Because of this, you always sense a spark of good inside.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He is a major figure in the British aristocracy, born into nobility. As such, he lives a life of opulence and responsibility that very few ever experience or can truly understand. Conversely, he has never known a life of manual labor, nor the insecurity of having to provide for one’s family without the means of doing so.
10. (Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.)
Cedric and the Earl ride horses through Earl’s Lane- where the servants on the Earl’s estate live- which the Earl claims to have not visited in 20 years. They find a subhuman condition of run down houses, misery and extreme poverty. The usually hardhearted Earl is shamed in front of his grandson for his apathy and negligence toward his servants, and tells Cedric to vow to be more responsible than he has been. This marks a pivotal change in the Earl.
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Raquel Solomon’s Actor Attractors for Uprising
I want to go deeper into my writing to create screenplays where characters of depth are placed in compelling journeys with a fresh voice that Hollywood producers as well as independent film cos. know they must make!
What I learned from doing this assignment is that the best written lead characters should show a broad range of emotion, even better when some are through subtext. I also learned to pay more attention to these varied character traits and analyze them in the film, Uprising that I viewed for this assignment.
Movie Title: Uprising
Lead Character Mordechai Anilowitz played by Hank Azaria
1. Why would an actor want to be know for this role?
Mordecai Anilowitz was the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising against the Nazis. He is a truly heroic figure in Jewish history. He was a complex person, physically tough and believing it was better to die with honor than succumb without a fight to the Nazi killing machine. He also helped to set up educational programs for the children in the ghetto before the uprising. Not only a leader and a fighter, he was a philosopher whose belief system included it was necessary to remain a moral person in an immoral world. He also was a young man with a girlfriend.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting in the movie?
What makes Mordecai most interesting is his philosophical nature along with his fearless fighting skills. After escaping the ghetto, he returned to help his people. He was extremely resourceful. Whenever a plan of resistance failed, he was able to change gears and make a new plan. He was not afraid to die and fought valiantly and led others to do so. He strove to save as many jewish people as he could.
3. What are his most interesting actions?
His most interesting actions include confronting the Jewish administrative leader, head of the Jewish Council formed by the Nazis to administer the ghetto. He asks him to help fund the uprising. He is refused as the head of the council believes more Jews will be saved by appeasing the Nazis. Mordecai sees through this idea and forms his military organization anyway convincing many others to join. He never shows fear to his comrades. The only person he lets in to see his doubts is his girlfriend. On a mission outside the ghetto he is captured by a Polish soldier aiding theNazis. He is beaten but manages with his physical strength at the point of being shot to grab the gun away and shoot his enemy.
4. How is this character introduces that could sell it to an actor?
Mordecai is introduced at the opening scene of the film. His action begins with him passionately conducting to a classical music recording. He is then interrupted with orders to obey by a Jewish policeman working for the Jewish council. He refuses and flips the policeman to the ground holding his confiscated baton at his neck. The policeman leaves. At the beginning scene of the film we witness Mordecai’s passion for life and desire to fight against the Nazis.
5. What is the character’s emotional range?
His emotional range includes being a tough leader. He is charismatic with leadership abilities able to get others to join the cause. A heroic fighter able to kill many of his enemies. A believer in being a moral person. Willing to die with honor. He is also tender and caring to his younger sister and the other children. He is romantic with his girlfriend.
6. What subtext can the character play?
He can show revulsion at having to kill as he has been forced into this role. He can show fear and self-doubt underneath his tough leadership. He can show sorrow at the loss of his family and fear for his younger sister whom he is trying to protect. He can show exhaustion at having to keep up his leadership role and witnessing to the death of many of his comrades as well as the victims in the ghetto.
7. What is the most interesting relationship this character has?
The most interesting relationship is with Adam Czerniakow, the administrative leader of the ghetto. Mordecai works relentlessly at setting up a meeting with him. He is turned down but insists and gets the meeting. The 2 men vary in how they perceive what is the best way to save Jewish lives. Czerniakow refuses to give Mordecai financial aid for weapons. Even when the first Jews are sent to Treblinka, Czerniakow hold on to the belief that more Jews will be saved by not antagonizing the Nazis. Mordecai as to work without his help to forma fighting organization.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented?
His philosophy- being moral in an immoral world, his love of music, his ability to lead, his ability to sway others to the fight, his romantic nature with his girlfriend, his caring to his sister.
9. What makes this character special and unique?
He returns to the ghetto after escaping to help others. He is a leader who commands the uprising. He is physically strong and persuasive. He is philosophic. He fights until the end and is grateful he lived to see the Jews develop a fighting force and hold back the Nazis for a month against the final liquidation of the ghetto. He is a Jewish as well as a Polish hero recognized by both with honors.
10. Fill in a scene that shows the character fulfilling much of the Actor Attractor model.
The scene in which he is outside the ghetto and has paid a guide to help him escape through snow covered land to reach the Polish resistance in order to ask them to help supply the ghetto with weapons. He is double-crossed and captured by a Polish soldier aiding the Nazis. During his beating he manages to outwit the soldier grab his gun and kill him before he is killed and return to the ghetto. This scene shows his physical strength, his heroic nature and his loyalty to the Jewish people with his return to the ghetto. Also even with this mission failing he strives on.
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Kelly’s Actor Attractors
I want to be an empowered writer who consistently produces salable scripts.
What did I learn? I learned to really see why actors take rolls. They take them because they’re interesting. Engaging and give the actor a chance to be something great.
Movie Title: the Eye in the Sky
Lead Character Name: Helen Miren
1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? This part is great to be known for because the character is a powerful woman that usually is played by a male. The character could be seen as evil by some and good by others.
2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? The character wants to do her job but caught in a dilemma that is produced by characters she depends on to do her job.
3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? The character persuades. Manipulates and posters others to get what she wants.
4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? In the opening scenes she is shown to be powerful and no nonsense person.
5. What is this character’s emotional range? Determination frustration anxious confidence
6. What subtext can the actor play?manipulation. Being polite. Underhanded
7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has?her regard for the villain is interesting they don’t interact directly.
8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Her authority determination and smarts are in every scene.
9. What makes this character special and unique? She is a woman in a role that is played by men doing a task that is controversial and timely.
10. Right before the climax Colnel Katherine Powell gets a Sergeant to manipulate the data in order to fire a missile at a house where terrorists are meeting.
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