-
Lesson 14
Reply to post your assignment.
-
8 Replies
-
Chris’s Meaningful Action
What I learned from this assignment… I learned that meaningful action can be a subtext precursor of ideas expressed in dialogue.
Breakfast Scene 1963.
Meaning of scene: Moses’ expresses the opinion that his biracial daughter Bess will have a better chance in her audition if she passes for white.
The action in the scene was originally written as Moses and Polly having breakfast and making lunches. While there was some meaning in the reflection of the routine of their lives, it needed something to punch up the scene. So, I added Moses using a butter knife to tinker with a toaster, while he drinks his coffee. He believes he fixes it, announces to Polly, “good as new.” Polly drops in two slices of Wonder bread. As the dialogue proceeds, smoke begins to pour out of the toaster. The Wonder bread is blackened (there’s meaning here too). Meaning: Maybe Moses shouldn’t be so sure of himself. About the toaster. About Bess passing for white.
I also learned that a lack of action in a scene can also be meaningful.
Restaurant scene, 1963.
Meaning of scene: White people can be completely unaware of racism.
Bess, who is still passing for white from her audition, waits with her mother in the lobby of a segregated restaurant. A young black man is refused service because the restaurant “does not serve negroes.” He refuses to leave. The manager calls the police. Four police officers carry the young man out of the restaurant. Bess barely looks up.
-
That’s a great metaphor!
-
-
Lora’s Meaningful Action
Since my script has a lot of physical action – magic, a car chase, torture, fights, etc there’s a lot visually compelling action. I noodled around with a bunch of scenes, spelling out the acton but I don’t think my script required much on this front. I learned that writing the meaning and then ensuring that the scene carried out that meaning helped my scenes.
Scene 1
Meaning: Establishing Steven’s a famous k-pop singer and that Lisette panics.
Action: Stephen headlines a show; Lisette has a panic attack.
Scene 36.
Meaning: Kelly’s trying to establish a relationship with Lisette as they walk to the bus, but Lisette wants nothing to do with her.
Action: Lisette walk apart from her and wears headphones
Scene 51.
Kelly cooks and they argue about Lisette. Greg Wants her gone but Kelly’s adamant she stays.
Action: Kelly cooks and Greg helps her cook showing that he does contribute.
-
Lesson 14: Meaningful action rewrite of a scene…or two…or more! I loved this assignment and found it so helpful. The biggest change I made was after Dennis and Victoria witness a brutal murder I had them drowning their sorrows at a bar. I knew it wasn’t working but this really helped me to find a way to get some action. Instead of sitting and drowning sorrows, Victoria now comes into Dennis’ office and is angry at the horrible death of a student she just witnessed. Dennis leads her outside and starts running to help her move her anger…faster and faster she chases him until she screams her anger at the perpetrators. Then she falls from exhaustion and now their “Shields are down.” The scene accomplished a lot more…made more emotional sense…and I could still lead them where they needed to go in the story.
I also made a big change to the final scene. I am feeling better about the script after Lesson 13 and 14. And I’m sure character dialogue in Lesson 15 will help even more!
-
Sorry to intrude here, but the only reply button I can find now is the big red one at the bottom of the scroll. The reply to Cheryl button isn’t showing up. Anyone else having this problem?
-
Elizabeth Cochrell’s Meaningful Action
What I learned doing this assignment is that adding meaning through action makes it way more entertaining and interesting! I’m doing this with more scenes but want to catch up on the lessons…
Scene 26 Meaning: Mayor Frank is starting to crumble under the pressure and not only will his sex addiction ruin his political career but it will put him and his son in danger as well.
Action: A photographer tries to take photos of the mayor at the sex club, Frank smashes the man’s camera and points a gun at him. The man runs away but comes back shooting at him and Bradley.
Scene 77 Meaning: Misha is angry that Rebeca has left her.
Action: Misha smashes the photos of them together, drinks, does her nails and calls her coach to cancel training.
Scene 78: Misha is furious that she has been disqualified from the MMA event after she decided to do it without Rebecca around. Teaching Goldie on the party bus becomes the start of her women’s self-defense retreat.
Action: Goldie is mauled by the bachelor party guys on the party bus and Misha teaches her some moves right then and they fight their way to escape the drunken partiers.
-
Zenna Davis-Jones Meaningful action
What I learned from this exercise is that meaningful action can really enhance a story. Scenes that fall flat suddenly jump off the page when they’re changed to be in line with meaningful action.
I changed about 8 scenes. Adjusting location and what the people were doing. it was a creative way to allow for metaphor and watch the scene begin to take off.
-
Day 14:
James’ Meaningful Action
What I learned doing this assignment is…by concentrating on the character actions of the scene more depth is discovered. In this case, additional character depth was explored making the scene more profound than its previous version.
I noted character nuances developed as well which means I’m getting to know my characters more intimately. Also, changing the setting contributes to altering the meaning of the scene making it more impactful.
Scene 30: Meaning: Rufus reveals he’s interested in Jessica causing Freddie to offer caution. Action: Rufus looks over some selfies of him and Jessica from the previous night as he remains reserved by not revealing too much to Freddie.
Scene 60: Meaning: Rufus hasn’t gotten over Jessica. Action: Rufus plays racquetball in a lifeless manner with Freddie.
Log in to reply.