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Lesson 4
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46 Replies
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4A Lead Characters
I learned that there are 3 transformational journeys in this script.
Tell us your transformational journey logline.
a) Simple: A novice deprogrammer takes instruction from her mentor and learns to deprogram a brainwashed victim of domestic abuse.
b) Complex: A guilt-ridden counselor must learn to deprogram a brainwashed victim of domestic abuse before she can atone for her mother’s death.
c) A victim of domestic abuse who wants to go home experiences deprogramming and learns to leave her abuser.
1. The Change Agent is Gaia(60s), the South Asian manager of the transition house and the mentor of Selma, the protagonist.
a) Gaia’s vision is to have a counselor on-site who can deprogram brainwashed victims of domestic abuse and convince them not to return to their abuser.
She has seen women return to their abuser multiple times after fleeing to the transition house and she believes one of the main reasons is brainwashing. She knows a deprogramming process often used to free brainwashed victims from their cult leaders.
b) Gaia’s vision is to change Selma’s belief about guilt.
Gaia helps Selma understand that her father was responsible for her mother’s death.
2. The Transformable Character is Selma(40s), an African American counselor Selma who has never worked with abused women and does not know how to deprogram.
a) Old Way: She doesn’t know how to deprogram.
New Way: She learns to deprogram a brainwashed victim of domestic abuse.
b) Old Way: She believes she caused her mother’s death.
New Way: She believes her abusive father caused her mother’s death.
3. The Oppression is Petra(60s), White administrator and Gaia’s boss.
She believes on-site counselors are a waste of money and wants to keep the status quo. Gaia and Selma live under the threat of her firing them throughout the story.
4. The Betraying Character is Mark, the abuser.
He works against Selma and Gaia. He uses manipulation, gaslighting, and threats to make his victim come home.
The second Betraying Character is the victim, Elizabeth. Unbeknownst to Selma, she contacts Mark.
She believes Mark is a good man who she controls. She fights against Selma for much of the script and decides to go back to Mark near the end of Act 2.
During Act 3, she becomes a Transformable Character. Selma is the Change Agent.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by Joan Butler.
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I was intrigued by your story having a transformable character become a change agent for someone else.
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Your story reminds me of the mini series “Maid” which is about domestic violence. It address similar issues experienced by victims of domestic violence without the sci-fi elements of deprogramming.
It’s an intriguing concept with a complex plot. Do you intend to make this a feature film or a TV series?
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by
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Vivien’s Lead Characters
What I learned doing this assignment is that it is very difficult for a character to change because of her habitual way of life, which is practiced by other people around her. Hence, for a character to go on a successful transformation journey she’d need a change agent with relevant personal experience and a clear vision to nurture her through the changes.
1. TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY LOGLINE
A headstrong woman struggles to carry out her family’s plan to conceal the sudden death of her beloved brother from the elderly mother until she understands how to deeply love her family.
2. WHO IS THE CHANGE AGENT?
How does this character fit the role and what’s his vision?
The Father is the change agent. When his son Anthony dies, he wants to hide the death from his wife because he knows that Anthony is her world, and that the news may cause a total meltdown in her. In the Vietnamese tradition, which the family comes from, it is common for the family to shield tragic news from the elderly or vulnerable person in the family to protect their wellbeing.
The father understands that his daughter Alicia is a principled person and that she is likely to fight against his decision, which, based on her Western-influenced value is perceived as unethical. But he also knows that Alicia loves her mother deeply and will not want to cause her pain. He believes that he can call on Alicia’s love and filial duty to carry out his plan.
In the past, he and his wife lost a toddler son, who’s Anthony’s elder brother. His wife became suicidal after the loss. The father does not want her to relive the same experience. He is buying time while waiting for the right strategy to deal with the problem.
3. WHO MIGHT BE THE TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER?
HOW DOES THAT CHARACTER FIT THE ROLE?
The transformable character is Alicia, who’s in her late twenties. Alicia leaves her close-knit family in Australia to move to the US after high school. It would have been 15 years since she left Australia when her brother died. Alicia has lost touch with the Vietnamese cultural practice of her family and cannot comprehend her father’s decision to lie to Mother that her son has moved overseas for work.
But under the family’s pressure, Alicia begrudgingly weaves a web of lies to distract Mother. Her journey with her family is full of conflict, but also full of love and complicity. As she spends more time with her mother, she begins to understand her father’s decision and his self-sacrifice to protect the mother of his children.
She lets go of her prejudice about right and wrong and lets her heart guide her to do what that which might help her family live through the crisis.
4. WHO OR WHAT IS THE OPPRESSION?
HOW THE OPPRESSION WORK IN THE STORY?
How the Oppression work in the story?
The mother is the Oppression. She constantly worries about her son Anthony – he’s her baby and her favourite child. She wants to talk with him, see him, and visit him. She throws a tantrum when she cannot go see him.
5. WHO IS THE BETRAYAL CHARACTER?
HOW DOES THE CHARACTER FIT THE ROLE?
The betrayal character is the mother’s best friend Di Thu (aunty Thu). She agrees to play along with the family’s game, but when she sees Mother become too distressed, she questions whether the strategy is not only futile but also destructive to Mother’s mental health.
When Mother is about to find out the truth – where Anthony’s ashes are kept – she does not stop her or alert the family. She feigns ignorance and lets Mother head towards Anthony’s resting place.
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I liked how you summed up the requirements of a change agent. I copied them into my notes.
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Thank you, Joan. I’m glad you found my notes of useful.
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I liked the opportunity to understand a culture’s expectations through the roles of your 4 characters.
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Ashley’s Lead Characters
I feel like I’m figuring out the essence of this story. I clarified the logline, and gave one supporting character a new role “Betraying Character” which fits nicely with his current persona and life experiences.
Tell us your transformational journey logline.
A secretive slave woman is the only one who can save her people from the Spanish conquest, but she is torn between her love for a conquistador and her people.
Tell us who you think might be your Change Agent and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role. Also, include: – Their vision: – Their past experience that fits that vision:
Itzamna, a Maya shaman, is the Change Agent. In a shamanic journey in Act 1, he has seen two possible futures: one is negative and the other is ideal. He guides Malinche (“the One”) on her journey to create a better future. He goes through hell trying to change Malinche. She needs to own her gift to communicate with birds and use her voice to create positive change, but she is deathly afraid of standing out.
Tell us who you think might be your Transformable Character(s) and give a few sentences about how that character or characters fit the role.
The protagonist, Malinche, is the transformable character. In the “old world,” she is merely surviving as a slave woman, hiding her supernatural gift out of fear. And in the “new world,” she is thriving as an empowered woman who embraces her gift and uses her voice to inspire change. She needs to change to save herself, her baby, and her people.
Tell us who or what you think might be The Oppression and give a few sentences about how The Oppression works in your story.
The Oppression is the patriarchal worlds of the 15th century indigenous people and Spaniards. Women, especially slave women, aren’t supposed to stand out, use their voice or lead. And Malinche needs to do just that if she is going to save her people.
Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.
The betraying character is Jeronimo, a Franciscan friar, who was previously a Mayan slave. Jeronimo disapproves of “un-Christian” behaviors, and particularly, when Malinche starts to step into her power.
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I especially like her nicely the notion of ‘the Oppression’ fits into your story– the literal oppression of females. I also like the twist of a former Mayan slave as the betraying character.
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Thank you for the feedback! Jeronimo was simply a supporting character in the original idea. But this exercise helped me identify him as the Betraying Character and I think it will really improve the story.
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That’s a very interesting script. I look forward to seeing how it progresses.
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Interesting and unique journey for your characters.
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Great premise, Ashley. The story of women oppression and self-liberation resonates even in the 21st century. In the 15th century, the protagonist journey must be filled with heartache and inspiration. I look forward to hearing more about the story.
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Thank you, Vivien!
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What I learned doing this assignment is that my outline for my screenplay, Rotary Phone…
…so far has Judge Ken taking the lead doling out sentences and punishment but I think now after thinking about it in terms of THE CHANGE AGENT,
THE TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTERS, THE OPPRESSION and THE BETRAYING CHARACTER, my story was kind of half-baked regarding its structure.
The Tranformational Logline: A liberal circuit court judge is pushed too far by his wife’s death due to a texting driver and a justice system that fails to deliver justice. It’s only a matter of time until he joins his fellow judge’s star chamber to even the score.
CHANGE AGENT: Judge Jason (someone like Jason Statham)
Now, I think it would be better to have Judge Jason as the one who is taking the lead, doling out sentences and punishment along with a couple of prosecutors who have a star chamber already running. I now realize in Act 1, I was just writing iterations of Judge Ken getting angry and getting even by doling out sentences and vigilante justice. But it had no gradient of change. Just the same 3 or 4 scenes over and over. It will be more effective to have a bad-ass like Judge Jason already doing this. He’s more credible which sets up the opportunity for Ken to go over the new way, the dark side of vigilante justice.
TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER: Judge Ken (someone like Ken Jeong)
The star chamber, and especially Judge Jason, are waiting for Judge Ken to be pushed far enough by the oppression of a system that doesn’t work. A system that just slaps the hand of his wife’s murderers, albeit vehicular manslaughter, it’s still murder due to preventable negligent driving. He doesn’t want his verdicts overturned on appeal and that is what has happened to harsh sentences for texting and driving that some of his colleagues have issued. Judge Ken is pretty liberal but the system and what happened to his wife are eating him up inside. He will be able to settle the score of his wife’s death and get asshole drivers off the road once he is motivated incrementally to joining the star chamber.
THE OPPRESSION: Failing justice system and lack of care in society in general as it manifests with texting drivers.
THE BETRAYING CHARACTER: One of the prosecutors who is a member of the star chamber will get cold feet and betray the group perhaps under pressure of being caught.
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Interesting observation about scenes saying the same thing, without a gradient of change. New learning for me too!
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Liz Janzen’s lead characters…
What I learned doing this assignment is that there is a benign character in my script who I could turn into a Betraying Character.
Transformational journey logline:
An orphaned teen’s life is changed overnight when a kindly producer in 1930s Hollywood molds her into a star, until she realizes she must step outside the wishes of her benefactors in order to achieve her own destiny.
Agent of Change:
Charlie is a young man three years older than Sally and working in a small town diner alongside his waitress mother when he meets Sally briefly just before she encounters the producer who will change her life. Later Charlie runs into Sally in Hollywood after she has become a big star. They go out once or twice but the studio puts an end to it after the tabloids turn it into an undesirable sensation.
Charlie is the one who encourages Sally to think for herself instead of continuing to follow other people’s directives for her. Young as he is, Charlie is very much his own man and is inspired to leave America to fight with the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War.
Fate will reunite Charlie and Sally further down the road when all of Europe is at war.
Transformable Character:
After her rural family home burns down and she is orphaned, fourteen-year-old Sally Moss sets out to find her aunt in San Francisco. En route, she is ‘discovered’ by a kindly producer and his wife who are looking to replace the teen star who has aged out of the role of ‘Belle,’ a successful Hollywood serial. Sally becomes the new Belle and is soon a huge success, her career managed by her Aunt Frances and her producer. But after the studio puts a halt to her friendship with Charlie, Sally begins to question how much power her circle of benevolent protectors should have over her.
The Oppression:
While it created a life for her beyond her imagining, Sally will eventually feel oppressed by the Hollywood machine and its strictures regarding stars’ personal lives.
The Betraying Character:
Sally’s Aunt Frances, her legal guardian, accompanies her to Hollywood when she is discovered. They are best friends, until Frances disrupts Charlie’s and Sally’s friendship by not telling Sally that Charlie wants her to see him off when his ship sails for Spain. Charlie therefore leaves America believing Sally doesn’t care for him anymore. Frances will keep the secret of what she did for years until she finally confesses it to Sally.
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Steve McChesney’s Lead Characters.
1. What I learned doing this assignment. I learned two key things. First, I learned why Tony & Jose are good at being Change Agents; I sketched some developments about their backgrounds as artists and true free spirits. I knew something about their personalities–but now I am finding specific qualities and experiences that they will use as tools or surgical instruments to repair Edward. My vague ideas about the action of the transformation are forming into specific activities and tactics. Second, getting me to consider a Betraying character in Jose–makes his journey more interesting to me and begins to raise the stakes for the competing values (Conventional vs Artistic life). I also learned that I must be clearer about the Oppression. How it comes from every side, how it will even effect the Change Agents. My goal with this screenplay was minimalism: a single day, mostly in a half-acre of backyard, completely in a small country town; a single 24″ x 36″ canvas; the visions in the gray matter in the space between his ears; two seemingly simple-minded “ministering angels” to help get the visions onto canvas. Considering the Oppression fills up the small universe and makes it perfectly claustrophobic.
2. Tell us your transformational journey logline. A solitary, heartbroken, creatively blocked artist is about to give up his vocation until unlikely intervention of ex-con tree-cutters inspire him to finish a seminal painting, allowing him to have a career and re-engage in life and love.
3. Tell us who you think might be your Change Agent and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role; include: their vision & their past experience that fits that vision: Tony Giampietro & Jose Diaz–freewheeling workmen, there to cut branches in the high trees, are treated rudely, dismissively by Edward, the artist. But a bond begins over a simple offer of ice water on a hot day and Edward overlooking an offense. These guys are skilled singer/songwriters/guitarists who have been in worse prisons than the self-imposed mental one that Edward is in. In prison, they developed their artistry as well as their appreciation for preciousness of life and freedom. They see evidence of Edward’s talents and are discerning critics. They use the waning day with song, games, conversation, shared stories, and a little excellent Honduran weed to cure heartache and his crisis of competing expectations and restore his joy of art and life. They know what it is like to have had chances and completely blow them; but also, how to recover from the lowest depths of imprisonment and failure.
4. Tell us who you think might be your Transformable Character(s) and give a few sentences about how that character or characters fit the role. Edward, the blocked artist, is shackled by heartache (broken wedding engagement), competing expectation to give up artistic ambitions for a conventional career, and fear of failure–the one thing that will bring him great success and satisfaction is the one thing he can’t get himself to do: complete on large painting as the centerpiece of a juried art exhibition at the prestigious local museum.
5. Tell us who or what you think might be The Oppression and give a few sentences about how The Oppression works in your story. The Oppression is the conventional expectations and comfortable lure of the small town where he lives–no one (family, friends, neighbors, town leaders/elders) takes him serious as an artist and all expect he has returned home to follow tradition–attend the local law school (the admission paperwork is deadline is midnight) and get on with life like his parents knew it.
Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role. This one I wasn’t sure about as the focus is on Edward’s transformation, no one else’s. However, Tony and Jose get in some trouble at the end of the day (Their boss returns to find them goofing around, smoking, and drinking with half the work undone) –and Jose (as an immigrant) is more enamored with the nice life that the conventional society provides, and turns on Tony to keep his job, and pleads with Edward to become a traditional small-town lawyer despite his artistic ability. Whereas Tony throws all caution to the wind. But this shows an awareness of the risk that Edward may be taking, and another perspective.
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You have an excellent premise for a transformative character – a free man who takes himself prisoner of his own mind until he meets real prisoners who uses their newfound freedom to live a full life.
I’d have liked to know what brought the Jose and Tony to prison in the first place, to understand more how they could help Edward transform his life.
Look forward to following your story.
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What Bob Zaslow learned doing this assignment:
-A character I considered ‘minor,’ Fabian, can actually act as the Change Agent. I will be giving him a backstory I had not even considered before.
-I also realized that The Oppression can be a tangible part of the motivations in this play.
The Oppression of Revenge on both sides will help spiral the story into a place that will require a lot of struggle for both sides to dig out from.
-Finally, I never thought about having a “Betraying Character” in this play. It seems quite clearly Malvolio against the group. But with Sir Toby potentially betraying their agreement to shake hands and make up, it adds a new layer of complexity to the ending.
Transformational journey logline: – Malvolio, Lady Olivia’s steward in Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night,’ moves from a condescending, narcissistic toady to feeling desperation and anger for being thrown into a dungeon and humiliated on false pretenses… to being driven by a blind revenge to get even at any cost….to going too far with one offender and thus feeling true remorse for his actions…resulting in him finally dropping his pretense and for the first time, actually feeling real.
Change Agent- Fabian, the town’s baker. Although he was in on the plan to humiliate and wrongly incarcerate Malvolio, he is a simple, hard-working man who supplies his family and the whole town with sustenance. Fabian’s vision is to let bygones be bygones and is the first to admit he was wrong. His vision is to live and let live, evidenced by his good-humored response to sometimes being the butt of his friends’ jokes. He’s also the only one of the group who depends on the labor of his own hands for the little wealth he has obtained.
Transformational Character- Malvolio, Lady Olivia’s steward, supervising the servants. Much like Phil, in ‘Groundhog Day,’ Malvolio comes off as an officious, despicable fellow. So when he is kidnapped and made to look like a lunatic, the audience may feel he deserved it. But when the practical joke is revealed, his nastiness turns to rage and he vows to “…take revenge on the whole pack of you!” Each nasty scheme he successfully launches gives fuel to make the subsequent plan even worse, until he gets sucked into a whirlpool of revenge. Until the turning point, when one of his schemes adversely affects many people. That event is the thing that transform him, like the old guy dying in the hospital after Phil couldn’t resuscitate him because it was his time.
The Oppression- The unrelenting force that affects this story is the overarching need to get righteous payback for being wronged. It starts with Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria (Lady Olivia’s servant) and Fabian wanting to ‘teach a lesson’ to the odious Malvolio for his put downs and oppressive ordering of them around (even though two of them are higher-status than he is). Once Malvolio retaliates, Sir Toby and his friends want to ratchet up the retaliation needle, and so on, in an endless spiral downward.
The Betraying Character- Sir Toby. As the character who harbors the most resentment against Malvolio, he cannot bring himself to a truce once Malvolio atones for his behavior against them all. It may only be by her clever manipulation that his now wife, Maria, coerces him to back off. (I had not thought about the need for such a character, but I can see it might add a tension near the end of the play that it would not have had.)
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It’s interesting how this course sparks new ideas. I like what you are thinking about the change agent.
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I had a similar experience as you did. The concept of a Betrayal character is foreign to me until now. I used to think of this character or circumstance as an obstacle to the protagonist’s journey. But he betrayal character brings a totally different dimension to the profound journey.
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Hope’s Lead Characters
What I learned: I’ve gotten more clarity about this first-draft script by doing this assignment than I ever had while writing the first draft. Just filling in the pieces on this process is already bringing together a roadmap for a much deeper script.
My transformational journey logline.
An entitled businesswoman intends to sell her inherited farm to save a failing company until she discovers the farm is the last chance for rescued livestock destined for the slaughterhouse.
Your Change Agent and how that character fits the role:
I’m working with a script I have at the first-draft stage; I see the dead aunt as the change agent; it’s her farm that the main character inherits. Aunt Charlotte was an independent woman who traded a career for a farm and, eventually, saved animals destined for slaughter. Pro-tag Charlie discovers this as the script progresses. She also discovers that Aunt Charlotte faced pressure from developers but died before the issue was resolved.
Her vision was that being a success had little to do with money and a career. It was about making a difference in the lives of others, whether human or animal.
Your Transformable Character, and how that character fit the role:
Charlotte “Charlie” is young and idolized her uber-successful father. She intends to follow in her dad’s footsteps, also making a million before age 25. She plans to sell her inherited farm to a developer to move her closers to her goal, but then she discovers the rescued livestock. By the time she meets an unscrupulous developer, her priorities have begun shifting.
The Oppression and how the oppression works in your story.
The oppression is twofold: The developer has been using eminent domain to acquire the land in this town, including Charlie’s farm. At the same time, Charlie learns she has Graves disease (or another auto-immune disease).
Your Betraying Character, and how that character fits the role:
Charlie’s stepmother is the betraying character. Much younger than her late husband (Charlie’s father), her company is failing and by working with the developer (unbeknownst to Charlie), she’s the behind-the-scene to force Charlie to sell. She also preys on Charlie’s fears about her illness.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by Hope McPherson.
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This may be your first draft but you have the whole story. The plight of the animals is very moving.
You might think about having a beaten or starving animal arrive at the farm. However, I would never want to see an animal harmed for the sake of a film.
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I agree!
I’ve had a few rescues on my farm (two donkeys and two of the goats). None were, thankfully, physically abused. The donkeys’ previous person had died; the goats had gone to auction (i.e., they would have ended up on someone’s plate had they not been rescued).
For this script, I’m going the direction of an auction. That’s where a lot of older, unwanted animals are picked up by rendering plants. 🙁
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Sounds like an interesting story!
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It’s an inspirational story, Hope. The idea of rescuing livestock from the slaughterhouse is heart-warming. and it can resonate with a young audience.
I can see that the protagonist’s journey is full of challenges not only because she must change her value and beliefs (become a young millionaires) but also because she most not let her stepmother influence her.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by
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4B Analysis of Dead Poets Society
I learned that the gradual step-by-step process of change makes the outcome more dramatic.
What is the change about?
The change is about a group of boys who learn to take chances and seize what is truly important to them while they find their own voice.
What is the transformational journey about?
The transformational journey is about a group of boys who are stifled by conformity and learn to think for themselves.
Lead characters:
Mr. Keating is their teacher. He is the right character because he has power and influence over the boys. He uses it to instill his ideas of free thinking.
Todd Anderson is the transformable character. He is the right character because he is the most timid boy at the start of the movie.
Mr. Nolan is the oppression.
How are we lured in and connect?
We are lured in by the intrigue of the boy’s school. We wonder who each boy is and how he will survive. Later, we are curious about the Dead Poet’s Society and the danger it presents to the boys.
We connect because we have experienced the excitement and jitters as we try to determine the lay of the land on of the first day of school.
Who takes the profound journey?
Todd Anderson takes the profound journey.
Old Way: He is a lonely, timid boy who believes he has nothing of worth inside.
New Way: He finds his voice and becomes a courageous leader when he is the first boy to stand on his desk and defy Mr. Nolan.
Gradient of change:
Todd writes Seize the Day in his book but is so uncomfortable, he throws the page away.
Neil says, “You’re in.” so Todd joins the Society.
He leaps from bed to bed and begins to be part of the group.
He yells the yowp like a barbarian.
He speaks from the heart when he describes the blanket on his face.
He throws away the desk set.
When he smokes a pipe with the other boys, he is definitely part of the group.
When the Cameron returns to the group and blames Mr. Keating for Neil’s death, Todd speaks up for Mr. Keating.
Todd is the first to honor Mr. Keating by standing on the desk and speaking, “Captain. My captain” against the opposition of Mr. Nolan.
Challenges to the old way:
Mr. Keating challenges the old way by:
showing the boys that poetry cannot be rated by a geometrical formula.
telling the boys to rip up their poetry book.
adding music and words to their physical education.
demonstrating how conformity takes over as they march.
How is Todd finally able to complete the change?
When Mr. Keating is forced to quit, Todd no longer believes in the righteousness of the school. Todd then becomes a free agent.
Profound moments:
Todd yowps.
Todd speaks about the blanket that covers his face.
Neil finds himself and tries out for the play.
While Neil is puck, he asks for his father’s understanding.
Neil places the crown on his head and considers jumping from the window.
The boys sing the 23<sup>rd</sup> psalm.
Todd finds the courage to stand on his desk.
Mr. Keating says thank-you to the boys who are standing on their desks.
Profound lines:
There is a time for daring and a time for caution. A wise man knows what is called for.
If you pardon, we will mend. I am an honest Puck. Give me your hands and we be friends.
Tell me what you feel. – Nothing.
You can’t save Keating, but you can save yourself.
Captain. My captain.
Payoff:
Mr. Keating tells the boys about Captain. My Captain and has them stand on his desk – The boys stand on their own desks as Todd says Captain. My Captain.
Profound truth:
People must fight conformity and think for themselves.
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Joan- I think you nailed it! Thank you for how succinctly you shined a light on the keys to understanding this play. Well done!
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Excellent analysis, Joan. I was undecided about the transformative character until I read your analysis. Now I can see it clearly that Todd is the boy who’s experienced the most transformation.
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4A Marilynne’s Lead Characters
What I learned doing this assignment is… I like the fact my initial thoughts may evolve as I consider other ideas. I hadn’t thought about the Oppression and Betraying Character before and these were a bit of a challenge for me.
My current GUESS about the logline and these four roles includes:
My transformational journey logline: Professor Caroline, an irritable and angry woman dissatisfied with her life and life choices is sent to Africa to lead a project intended to reduce deaths in childbirth where she discovers her life has more than one rewarding destiny.
Mary Ellen is the Change Agent. This character fits the role because her life prior to becoming a Buddhist Nun was a mirror image to Caroline’s life. Her vision for a life well-lived is a combination of her beliefs and experience. She joined the Buddhist order to escape some bad life choices she made.
Professor Caroline is the Transformable Character. This character fits the role because she has hit rock bottom and has so many ways she potentially needs to change to move her life forward. She is truly stuck in a negative spiral.
I’m not entirely sure how The Oppression works in my story. At this time, I think it might be the continued, pressing expectations of society and her family.
The Betraying Character might be any number of people, but I initially think it is another woman who works in the same program as Caroline and has had similar life experiences. She wants to change her life for the better and starts to work with Mary Ellen to make those changes… but when someone from her past arrives, she just gives up.
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I like your story very much. I’ve read real life stories of people like Professor Caroline who are dissatisfied with their lives until they find their live purpose where they could make a difference in people’s lives. She’s similar to Phil in the Groundhog Day, isn’t she?
The change agent, Mary Ellen, is an interesting character. A Buddhist nun in Africa is unusual and original. As her her view of happiness is likely to be diametrically opposite to Caroline’s, I can see that her influence on Caroline’s journey is not only inspirational but also requires much compassion, love and patience – the basics of Buddhist teaching.
Like you, I am not familiar with the concept of Obstruction or Betrayal Character. I think of them in term of antagonist or midpoint reversal.
I concur with your take on the Obstruction in your story as society’s and family’s expectations that Caroline believes she must live up to.
I look forward to hearing more about the development of your story.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by Vivien Le.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by
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I learned that I had been thinking the magical lion was the change agent, but now I’m thinking the love interest (cop) is creating more emotional change.
Tell us your transformational journey logline.
LOGLINE: A distrustful stripper in New York City teams with a magical lion to understand her growing powers as a goddess, and alongside a cop, defeats an adversary intent on ruling creation.
Tell us who you think might be your Change Agent and
give a few sentences about how that character fits the role. Also,
include: – Their vision: – Their past experience that fits that vision:Kit is a magical lion that transforms from Karma’s truck. He protects and guides her in the use of her new powers. Sobin, her neighbor cop, guides her in changing her outlook from negative to positive.
Tell us who you think might be your Transformable
Character(s) and give a few sentences about how that character or characters
fit the role.Karma is a stripper working in New York City to take care of her crippled Nana. When she is attacked by Thamia, daughter of Hades, there is an unexpected spark of electricity that signals to Thamia that Karma is a goddess. She targets Karma as her competition.
Tell us who or what you think might be The Oppression
and give a few sentences about how The Oppression works in your story.I originally thought the oppression was Thamia, the villain, but I’m also thinking that her job is the oppression because it brings her down.
Tell us who you think might be your Betraying Character
and give a few sentences about how that character fits the role.I have no idea who this character is. Or how to add this in. I’ll brainstorm.
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Ronald Barker
The Profound Screenplay
The Change Agent and Transformable Character
Dead Poet Society
1) Tell us your transformational journey logline… You must “seize the day” and be your own person and not what someone else wants you to be.
2) The old way was to give in to the pressure and cave into the higher authority.
3) The new way was to gather your strength to follow your passion to go against pressure to conform to someone else’s desire.
Tell us who you think might be your Change Agent and give us a few sentences about how that character fits the role. Also include-Their vision-Their experience that fits that vision… The change agent is Keating because he the force that moves them to see things from another vantage point when he instructs them to stand on their desks. Keating goes against the school’s rules and was warned about his methods Todd would my transformable character.
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Lesson 4 B- Bob Zaslow answers questions about DEAD POETS’ SOCIETY
The Transformational Journey in this film is one from living a life based on a controlled structure to moving toward living spontaneously and experiencing each moment as special. A journey from devotion to ‘Tradition,’ the first of Welton’s four pillars, to living fully, seizing every opportunity to experience life.
Lead Characters:
The Change Agent is Mr. Keating, who encourages his students to find their own voices. By the end of the film, we see the majority of boys break tradition and disobey the school’s headmaster by standing on their desks in support of Mr. Keating. Which is a sure sign they have been inspired and changed by what they’ve learned.
At first, I thought the Transformable Character was Neil, who moves from a boy who has successfully played by his parents’ rules all his life to someone who is willing to give up everything to break out of what he now sees as his prison. If he can’t live life on his own terms, he reasons, he will end his life. But when I thought about what character changed the most in this film, I could also make a good case for Todd. I wrote more about that choice below.
The Oppression is clearly the pillar of ‘Tradition’ Welton Academy imposes on their boys as well as the narrow path to traditional success the boys’ parents envision for them. Almost as if the boys don’t color inside the lines, they are doomed to failure. So, it’s an Oppression backed by fear. Fear of the school losing their good name and fathers and mothers fearing their sons will not be the doctor or lawyer or captain of industry they are pinning their hopes on.
How are we lured into this profound journey? For me, the dichotomy between the regimented behavior of the school’s rote traditions sets a tone of non-thinking sameness even before Mr. Keating enters the film. (Remember how each boy lights his light-of-knowledge candle with the boy’s candle to his right?) Then when Keating introduces the boys to a 180-degree different way of experiencing the world, and he does it with such gusto and good humor, I am hooked. I loved how he used stoic principles to talk about seizing the day while showing them photos of students now long dead and rotting in the earth.
What character changed the most? For me, it’s Todd, the shy newcomer, who is so self-conscious, he barely speaks more than a sentence at a time. It takes the trauma of the death of his roommate, Neil, and then being forced to sign a document against his will, that gave him a new perspective on his life. Literally. He is the first to stand on his desk, risking expulsion, in honor of “Captain, my Captain.”
What steps did Todd go through to make the change? It began by revealing the pressure of being a younger brother to a super-star student and now, successful man, which weighs heavily on Todd, who is expected to measure up to the highest standards. It’s no wonder he’s quiet and keeps mostly to himself. He finally opens up to Neil about what was important to him personally, and his disappointment with his parents’ lack of understanding of who he really is. And when Neil threw the desk Todd’s parents gave him off the roof, Todd had to laugh and showed some rebellion for the first time. Furthermore, when Mr. Keating helps Todd create a poem in front of the class with his eyes closed, he ‘writes’ something beautiful and worthwhile. We can see him getting more and more comfortable in his own skin.
And when Neil went directly against his parents’ wishes and took the role in the play, Todd eventually realized it was possible for him to do something similar. Again, it goes back to standing on that desk and seeing the world from a different perspective.
So many profound moments: the scene in the hallway when Mr. Keating shows the boys photos of former students, now gone, and encourages them to seize the day and make their lives extraordinary. Also profound, but in a negative way, Headmaster Nolan’s speech emphasizing the four pillars of the school’s credo and his intimidating way of delivering his message to the boys. I also loved the scene in the classroom where Keating asks the boys to rip out the introduction to their poetry book and speaks from his heart about how poetry, beauty and love are why we stay alive, ending with what they think their contributions to the world will be. In another scene, Keating has the boys stand up on the desk to learn to look at the world from a different perspective. Then, when Todd says he didn’t write a poem, Keating irks him on to create one and Todd does so beautifully. Applause. Then, there’s the trio of scenes revolving around Neil and his father: Neil is forced to quit the play. Neil’s father watches Neil acting and confronts him about the consequences. Neil takes his own life and his father is in agony. Finally, I loved the scene when the majority of boys stood up on their desks in celebration of their Captain.
Most Profound Lines-
“Carpe Diem. Seize the Day. Make your lives extraordinary!”
“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.”
“We would suck the marrow out of life.”
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read it because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion….But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
“…that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”
How does the ending pay off the setup?
The setup is pure constricting tradition. From marching in step to lighting the candles of knowledge the way the boys have been doing it for a hundred years, to parents insisting their children follow a regimented path to success.
The ending is an about face from that. Rather than bowing to Tradition as king, the boys’ transformation represents passion, love, beauty, aliveness and living in the moment at what’s truly important. So, they’ve come full circle in their journey.
The Profound Truth of this movie- Despite what society tells us, each one of us is on our own individual path, a path that may or may not include the traditional way of doing and thinking. Instead of focusing into the future, real success includes living in the moment and being alive to art, beauty, truth, and love.
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Watch and analyze DEAD POETS SOCIETY. February 28 2023 Assignment 4B
What is the change this movie is about?
The boys learning to think for themselves and seize the day. The change is the old conformist way of thinking to looking at life in a non-conformist way.
What is the Transformational Journey of this movie? Lead characters: Neil, Todd and Knox evolving. Neil standing up to his dad and doing the role of Puc in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Todd coming out of his shy shell and handling things with confidence. Knox going after Chris despite that she has a boyfriend. It’s about perseverance unto the sucking the marrow out of life.
Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
Mr. Keating is the right character because he has lived long enough to know that thinking for themselves rather being a robotic conformist yields better results in life.
Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
Neil, Todd and Knox are the Transformable Characters. They all went from fearful about some area of life to handling that area in the new way, confidently.
What is the Oppression?
The oppression is the rote, quasi-dictatorial Helton Academy administration. Why quasi? It is not mandatory that the students attend the academy but they are at the mercy of the rules of conformity of the institution which are strict.
How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
Mr. Keating offers a better view of the world than the other classes which are just rote memorization assembly lines for conformist thinking.
Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.” Identify their old way: Identify their new way at the conclusion:
Neil afraid of his dad to being defiant and doing the play in order to grow.
Todd afraid of life to boldly being the first to stand on his desk in front of the headmaster at the end.
Knox afraid of approaching Chris to courageously going after her and getting the date to the play.
Charlie Dalton was daring at the beginning and becomes even more daring, but I don’t think you can classify that as a profound of a journey that Neil, Todd and Knox go on. Dalton is
like a junior change agent-he already had a penchant for disregarding the old way.
What is the gradient of the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
Neil is afraid to defy his dad at the beginning, then he starts pondering doing the play. Then he does the play. And then, he does the play despite his father forbidding it.
Todd is oh so scared at the beginning. When the other boys ask him to do things, he says no, he has to study. Then we get a YAWP out of him at Mr. Keating’s prompting when he had to do a YAWP in lieu of not writing his poem.
How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
The play presents Neil with a way to grow, the old way of doing every edict that his father demands is out, he does the play anyways. The “new way” has arrived for Neil despite it costing him everything.
Mr. Keating makes Todd do the YAWP. This is the “new way”. The “old way” of being shy and self-concious is beginning to fade. He attends the Dead Poets Society meetings despite his fear of doing so. This is the “new way”.
Knox would have just given up on a girl like Chris in the past like when he hung up the phone when she answered. But he persists, even gets a bloody nose at the party for it. In the end, she goes to the Midsummer Night‘s Dream play with him. His persistence is seizing the day and he gets the date with her to the play that Neil is in.
What are the most profound moments of the movie?
Carpe Diem ghost voice that Mr Keating does in the lobby of the school at the beginning.
Tearing out the introduction of the poetry book.
They restart the Dead Poets Society which has been dormant for seventeen years.
They all stand on their desks at the end to salute and thank Mr. Keating.
What are the most profound lines of the movie?
“Ca r pe Di em” Keating in his ghost voice.
“YAWP!”
“Oh Captain, my Captain!”
How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
Keating unorthodoxly encourages the boys to seize the day in the lobby early in the film. This changes the way they think. In the end, this cannot be removed from their hearts because it became part of them. No heavy handed school administrator can deprogram this out of them.
Keating also has them stand on his desk earlier in the film and at the end they stand on their desks in defiance of the headmaster, Mr. Nolan, who is now teaching the English class.
This also illustrates that they are free thinkers now and the threats from the headmaster are not getting through: he can’t make their hearts go back to the old way.
What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Don’t let life pass you by, get on the path of independent thinking which is what America is all about. Ame Rica, Aim Rich. Aim to have rich experiences. Suck the marrow out of life.
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4B Marilynne’s Analysis of Dead Poets Society
What I learned from doing this assignment is… There were many great lines and moments in this story. I found it challenging to pick and choose between ones that were profound (the bigger, more general truths) versus ones that contributed to moving the drama forward (smaller truths related to the story).
We are looking at this movie from the perspective of the change that occurs for the lead character and the audience.
1. The change this movie is about is moving from rote, traditional thinking to free thinking.
The Transformational Journey of this movie is from being students who only follow the rules to young people who think for themselves and explore opportunities.
2. Lead characters:
· The Change Agent (the one causing the change) is the new teacher Mr. Keating. He is the right character to cause the change because he has experienced the culture of this school when he was a student but has taught at another school that espoused free thinking.
· The Transformable Characters (the ones who make the change) are the students in Mr. Keating’s class. They are the right characters to take this profound journey because they’re expecting a very traditional education, just like their fathers had that relied on order and simply following the rules without questioning them.
· The Oppression is the traditional, unchanging, unbending school system and administration.
3. We are lured into the profound journey when, in contrast to the Latin and trigonometry classes, Mr. Keating’s first class goes outside the rigid structure expected at that school.
Some of the students respond to this unexpected change, which causes us to connect with this story.
4. The character who changed the most was Todd. His profound journey began when he arrived at the school, was immediately expected to perform and be a “star” like his brother. For him the change in thinking was more difficult because he lacked self-confidence and the high expectations.
5. From “old ways” (following rules, not challenging them) to “new way of being at the conclusion” (free thinkers, able to explore new ideas and ways of learning)
6. The change gradient – steps the transformational characters go through:
· Following the strict rules and traditional learning/behavior without question,
· Beginning to experience freedom (from tearing out textbook pages that told them to follow a formulaic way to analyze poetry),
· More freedom (marching in the courtyard and not conforming to each other’s steps)
· Ultimate freedom (secret meetings in the Dead Poets Society and following their hearts rather than parents’ directives).
7. Mr. Keating questions the “old way” when he challenges the students’ beliefs and expectations by introducing new independent ways of learning (stands on his desk to get a new perspective) and thinking (challenges conformity).
8. The most profound moments of the movie:
Challenging conformity discussion:
o Mr. Nolan: “Curriculum here is set, it’s proven, it works. If you question it, what’s to prevent them from doing the same?”
o Mr. Keating: “I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.”
o Mr. Nolan: “At these boys’ age? Not on your life.”
Neil tries to “Seize the Day” and finds he’s a really good actor. His father refuses to let him continue in the play, unexpectedly shows up in the audience and in the most humiliating way possible drags Neil off in front of everyone.
Mr. Perry lectures Neil (yet again) on how his life will proceed without him having a say, pushing Neil to commit suicide.
Todd bravely stands on his desk and says “O Captain, My Captain” to honor Keating as he’s leaving. Other students follow his lead.
9. The most profound lines of the movie:
Mr. Keating:
· Carpe Diem – Seize the Day – you’ll soon be food for worms
· In my class you will learn to think for yourselves again. Words and ideas can change the world.
· Sucking the marrow out of the bone doesn’t mean choking on the bone. There’s a time for daring, there’s a time for caution. A wise man understands which is called for
Knox: “My father just finished a big (legal) case.” Mr. Danberry: “I know where you’re heading – Like father like son.”
John: “You take a big risk in encouraging them to be artists.” Keating: “Not artists John. Free thinkers.”
After Cameron betrays them to the Administration: “You can’t save Keating, but you can save yourselves.”
Document the students must sign:
· Mr. Keating encouraged you boys to organize this club and to use it as a source of inspiration to indulge in reckless and self-indulgent behaviour.
· It was Mr. Keating’s blatant abuse of his position as teacher that led directly to Neil Perry’s death.
10. The ending pays off the setups of this movie:
· Mr. Perry keeps humiliating and restricting Neil, tightly planning the rest of his life until Neil sees no way out and commits suicide.
· Initially Todd Anderson didn’t speak up because he lacked confidence – but he changed the most and leads the students in standing on his desk and addressing Mr. Keating as “Captain, oh my Captain” to acknowledge him and the change he made in their lives.
· Cameron never really buys into the “new ways” and betrays Mr. Keating and the group to the administration.
The Profound Truth of this movie: you must learn to think for yourself and “Seize the Day” but also know when to be daring and when to be cautious.
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Claudia Musikul’s Lead Characters 4A
I continue to learn the importance of just doing the assignment. It brings such clarity. In the past I have dealt with crippling perfectionism so it almost feels like a miracle to be able to turn in answers and not feel beholden to them. I really appreciate Hal’s constant reminders nearly every lesson and assignment to not get caught up on being “perfect” and that it actually impedes the process. I also love that for certain things he says “just guess’! It’s funny because my main character in this story also battles perfectionism-what’s that about writing what you know?!
It’s also wild that I really had no Change Agent or Betraying Character in mind at all initially. I think both these things vastly add to the story.
Longline: A dramatic and perfectionistic teenage ballet dancer strives for approval and success in the ballet world while balancing her dysfunctional family life, but ultimately learns to stay true to herself.
The Change Agent (An Initial Guess): At first I had no idea who the change agent might be but upon further thought, I think it may be the characters mother. The character’s mom is unconventional in society because she was a teen mom and is a Playboy Bunny. She never hides who she is and has chosen to be. I would like to expand further on these qualities.
The Transformable Character: Our main character the teenage ballet dancer. I think she is the right character because she was more free as a young child but due to her extensive pre professional ballet training she has been changed into someone more rigid and damaged. In a sense her change is getting back to her roots.
The Oppression: The oppression is the ballet world and its abusive practices and demanded rigid lifestyle. It is almost cult like in how it changes people and what it demands of you. She is also oppressed by being a minor and being forced to live in her parents dysfunctional world (her stepfather is a drug dealer).
The Betraying Character: The betraying character is the main character’s best friend. A fellow ballet dancer at her academy. The have an intensely close friendship but her friend will end up betraying her for the ballet world (playing with some things for this like betraying her and getting her in trouble to gain a lead role or something along those lines). She will also betray the main character by not following through on their plans to move to New York and escape their small town together at the end of the story. They have a very ‘historical close companions’ type of friendship/situationship. This character fits the role because although their friendship is intense and deep, their is a certain amount of toxicity always present in it. Probably due to the oppressing and damaging ballet world.
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This is a bit of a tangent from the lessons here, but your script seems like it would fit the “Save the Cat – Institutionalized” genre really well. It first crossed my mind reading your logline, and then again reading your Oppression.
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Ronald Barker
The Profound Screenwriter
Analyze Dead Poet Society
1. What is the change this movie about?… This movie is about the change the members of Keating’s class go through as the embody his teaching in their own lives. They are trying to find their own voice. What is the Transformational Journey of the movie?… That journey is the shedding of the old order, that is living their lives for approval of the adults, and having the courage to chart a personal path that brings them fulfillment.
2. Lead characters:
o Who is the change agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?… Keating is the change agent because and he right for the job because he was of the class of the pioneering Dead Poets of the past.
o Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and who makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?… That character is Neil and he’s the one to deliver the profound journey because he paid the ultimate outcome, he took his life.
o What is the oppression?… That would be the school’s rigid conformist agenda and Neil’s father, who wanted Neil to please him and his mother for their sacrifice for him.
3. How are we lured into the profound journey?… It’s an entertaining story. What causes us to connect with the story? …We identify with the main characters and their situation young people navigating life.
4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey?… The character that is changed the most is Neil because he is the main character inspired by Keating trying to find his own way despite his father’s objection to him being in a play where he feels that was his true calling. Then there is Todd Anderson character who is so closed mouthed in the school environment and is afraid to speak, but does find his voice when he stands up for Keating being dismissed, being the first student who stands on his desk defining the administer which prompts other students to join in.
5. What is the gradient change? What steps did the Transformation Character go through as they were changing? They got in the poetry class and
embracing Keating’s philosophy. They gathered to duplicate the Dead poet’s ritual of reading poetry in the same cave.
6. How is the old way challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make a change? He wants to do something his father is against. Instead of living his father’s dreams he found something he was passionate about. He tells Todd “I found it, what I want to do.” He wants to be in a play.
7. What are the most profound moments in the movie? When the group go to the cave and reenact the reading like the dead poets. Neil realizes what he really wants and not want his father and mother want for him. Neil’s decision to take his life and Todd taking the lead to stand of the desk in defiance of authority.
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
o Strive to find your voice.
o Gather rose bud while may.
o Seize the day.
o We are food for worms.
o The power of the play goes and contribute a verse.
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie? The students did accomplish and exemplify the theme of seizing the day, for themselves.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie? A moment in life comes when we must make a choice for ourselves.
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<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>DAY 4B – ANALYSIS of “DEAD POETS SOCIETY.”
What I learn doing this assignment is that when the oppression is great, the ability to make changes depends on the conviction of the character.
Vivien’s analysis of “Dead Poets Society.”
1. What is the change this movie is about? What is the transformative journey?
The change is about Carpe Diem (seize the day), find one’s own voice, and live life to the fullest.
The transformation journey is to reject conformity and embrace free thinking.
2. Lead characters
a. Who’s the change agent and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
The change agent is the new teacher Mr Keating. He’s a compassionate poet, a non-conformist, and a teacher. He cares for his students and sets the vision for them to “suck the marrow out of life. “
b. Who is the transformable character and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
The boys are the transformable character. They are young and open to adventures, but they are living under the strict control of their parents and school. Mr Keating gives them an escape and inspiration.
c. The Oppression
The oppression is the school administration that imposes conformity by demanding compliance and obedience from the students. It’s represented by Mr Nolan
There’s also an additional level of oppression for individual students. For instance, for Neil, his father Mr. Perry is his major oppression. For Todd, his oppression is the high expectations that his family and school put on him.
3. How are we lured into the profound? What causes us to connect with this story?
It is human nature to root for those who are under oppression to break away from their shackles. At the beginning of the movie, we see the authoritative Mr Nolan and other teachers plan to turn the students into learning robots.
Then Mr Keating comes into the boys’ lives like a breath of fresh air. He demolishes the rigid learning structure and teach the boys to be free thinkers, and to find their own voice by following the Dead Poets Society’s philosophy of life. We are eager to know what the DPS is and to follow the boys’ journey of discovery.
4. Looking at the characters, who changed the most? What is the profound journey?
From “old way” to “new way of being.” Identify their new way at the conclusion.
Todd is the character who changed the most. In the end he overcomes his introversion and insecurity to stand up for Mr Keating.
Todd has a quiet personality and is good at hiding his feelings. We see a glimpse of change when he’s asked to denounce Mr Keating and struggles to concur.
Another event is when he hears about Neil’s death. At first, he acts as if nothing happens then he breaks away from his group and flies through the snowy field, howling in pain. He no longer hides his feeling. He’s no longer self-conscious.
Old way: shy, low self-confidence, lacking free will, self-conscious, suppression of feelings, conformist, follower
New way: creative, expresses his feeling, stands up for his beliefs, leading the way.
5. What is the gradient of change? What step did the transformational character go through as they were changing?
Todd declines to join his classmates for a Dead Poets Society meeting in the cave unless he doesn’t have to speak.
He carefully tears out the pages of the poetry teaching book as Mr Keating suggested.
At the suggestion of Mr Keating, Todd timidly climbs on the table after his classmates.
He writes poetry for Mr Keating class, but he feels deeply embarrassed when Neil wants to read it.
Coached by Mr Keating, Todd yawps in front of the class. His inhibition slowly melts away. Then he recites a beautiful poem he’s been thinking about.
Todd opens up to Neil about feeling emotionally neglected by his parents. He shows Neil the gift his parents give him for his birthday – the same gift that he does not care for. When Neil tosses over the roof, Todd feels empowered.
He comes regularly to the DPS meetings with his classmates and enjoys it.
Todd roots for Neil when Neil plans to take part in a Shakespeare play in spite of the strong objection from his father.
When Cameron incites the group to turn against Mr Keating, Todd defends him with impassion.
When Todd is forced to sign an affidavit to hold Mr Keating responsible for Neil’s death, he resists and tries to defend him, albeit unsuccessfully.
In his poetry class with Mr Nolan, when Mr Keating passes by, Todd stands up on his desk, protesting Mr Keating’s firing despite fierce protest from the headmaster. He calls out loud “Captain, My Captain,” as a tribute to Mr Keating. Half the class join Todd and stand on their desk.
6. How is the old way challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective and make the change?
In the old way, Todd doesn’t have his own identity. He lives in the shadow of his brother. He believes that the way to excel is to follow traditions set out by his predecessors.
Under Mr Keating’s coaching, Todd begins to question the path his parents paint for him. He sees Neil defy his father to act in a play. He sees Knox win over the girl he loves by pursuing her relentlessly despite her rejection. These circumstances make him believe that he too can achieve what he puts his mind into.
We see Todd’s transformation when the school make Mr Keating is a scapegoat for Neil’s death and fires him. Despite his fear, Todd stands up for Mr Keating and he defies Mr Nolan’s authority. He takes initiative and shows that he leadership skills.
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
In Mr Keating’s first class, he tells the boys the tale of their predecessors who died without living their dream. He urges the boys to throw away convention and find their individuality.
Mr Keating tells the boys about the Dead Poets Society and its opening meeting mantra that urge members to suck the marrow of life and not die with a broken dream.
The boys meet in clandestine in a cave in the wood to officiate their Dead Poets Society membership.
Neil meets with Mr Keating to talk about his father’s demand that he withdraws from the play. He’s in despair. Mr Keating gives him a glimpse of hope.
Todd yawps in front of his classmates in Mr Keating’s class. Then, in the middle of high emotion, he blurts out a beautiful poem.
Neil looks blissfully happy when he performs on stage.
When Mr Perry tells Neil about his determination to make him a doctor, Neil fights back but quicky resigns to his fate.
Neil stands in front of his bedroom window, shirtless, wearing the headpiece made of branches and flowers that he wears in the play. He looks like Christ, who’s bearing unimaginable pain.
Todd runs on the snow and howls in pain after hearing about the death of his friend Neil.
In an empty classroom, Mr Keating comes to Neil’s desk, lifts its top, and takes out the poetry book “Five Century of Verses” that the Dead Poets Society and the students used in their meeting. He reads the opening statement that tells member to live fully so they won’t regret when they die. Mr Keating son. Neil died without having an opportunity to live.
Mr Nolan and Todd’s parents pressure him to sign an affidavit to declare that Mr Keating is directly responsible for Neil’s death. Todd tries to defend Mr Keating but gives in quickly because he’s too afraid of contradicting the authority.
When Mr Keating passes by the classroom for the last time to pick up his belongings, Todd defies Mr Nolan by standing on his desk and calling out to Mr Keating as “Captain, My Captain.” Half the class follow suit.
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
“Carpe Diem. Seize the day.”
“We are food for worms.”
“Make your life extraordinary.”
“The human life is filled with passion.”
“Dead Poets were dedicated to suck the marrow of life.”
“We just didn’t read poetry, we let it drips from our tongue like honey.”
“We must constantly look at things in a different way.”
“You must find your own voice.”
“We all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your belief are unique.”
“Two roads diverge in the wood, and I, I took the one less travelled by.”
“Sucking the marrow out of life doesn’t mean choking on the bone. There’s a time for daring, there’s a time for caution. The wise man understands which one to go for.”
Neil: “He (Mr Perry) is planning the rest of my life for me. He never asks me what I want.”
Mr Keating to Neil: “You are playing the role of a dutiful son. You have to show him who you are, where your heart is.”
Neil: “I’m trapped.”
Neil to his father: “That’s 10 more years, Father. That’s a lifetime.”
“I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, I wanted to live deep and seek out all the marrow of life! To put to rest all that was not life. And not when I came to die, discover that I had not lived…”
“You can’t save Keating, but you can save yourself.”
Mr Keating to the boys when he leaves the classroom for good: “Thank you boys, thank you.”
9. How does the ending pay off the set up of this movie?
In the beginning Mr Keating tells the boys to stand up on the desk to see things with a new perspective.
In the end, the boys stand on their desk by themselves to pay tribute to Mr Keating. Metaphorically they’ve found a new perspective in life. They are free-thinkers and no longer subscribe to the herd mentality doctrine.
10. What is the profound truth of the movie?
Seize the day and live your life authentically.
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JD’s Lead Characters
I came up with the idea for my script, just after starting this class, so it was a very rough and barren story. After the first three lessons, the story has really begun to take shape. The Betraying Character wasn’t even on my radar, but now, I really like how it is adding depth. My lesson learned is, keep adding depth.
Transformational Logline:
A solitary treasure hunter falls in love with a mermaid, but must sacrifice his treasure and his love, to save the mermaid’s home.
Change Agent:
At first, I was thinking my Change Agent would be a local townsperson who knows about the mermaid but has kept her secret for a long time. But now, I think my Change Agent is Lana, the mermaid herself. Her kindness will inspire Jake to be more compassionate. And her heritage and perspective on history will help change how Jake values his treasure.
Transformable Character:
Our protagonist, Jake the treasure hunter, is the Transformable Character. With help from Lana, Jake will find compassion and love. He will also alter the way he values artifacts and treasure.
The Oppression:
Greed and selfishness. Jake feels it. Jake’s treasure hunting associates feel it. Jake’s dream of fortune motivates his actions. His ruthless drive keeps him one step ahead of his competition — but it’s destroying the rest of his life.
Betraying Character:
Meet the newest character to my script: Calisto, a man Jake had to partner with to get the treasure map… and/or, to bankroll this treasure hunting trip (I am still still developing the connection). Calisto does not have the benefit of learning from Lana the mermaid, so he is only driven by greed. He seems to be coming around as Jake tries to help him come around, but in the end, betrays Jake and his new plan. (Woo-hoo! Sounds so exciting!)
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Connie’s Lead Characters (4A)
What I learned from this assignment is…that the Betraying Character can be easier to come up with than I originally thought! Also, this activity has helped me lean into experimentation and possibilities! No need to be perfect at this point in the process 😍
1. TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY LOGLINE:
After losing her job and feeling uncertain about her future, Layla, a 40-year-old woman is unexpectedly transported back in time to the 1800s, where she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, falls in love with a charming soldier and herself.
2. WHO IS THE CHANGE AGENT? HOW DOES THE CHARACTER FIT THE ROLE?
Millie, Layla’s younger sister is the change agent, and fits the role perfectly as she has always been her older sister’s cheerleader. She helps Layla reconnect with her authentic self, the self she was before she entered the corporate world and assimilated to corporate expectations of a woman.
3. WHO MIGHT BE THE TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER(S)? HOW DOES THAT CHARACTER(S) FIT THE ROLE ?
There are two transformable characters:
Layla – who transforms from a corporate woman with low self-esteem, burned out from work to a person who is realigned with their authentic selves, their purpose and the joy of life
Robert – Andrew’s brother, he transforms from a person who is playing small and is afraid to be seen, to someone who embraces his whole self, and takes chances.
4. WHO MIGHT BE THE OPPRESSION? HOW DOES THE OPPRESSION WORK IN THE STORY?
The oppression in this story is a combination of the corporate world and corporate expectations. Layla has adopted these oppressive aspects, and to this point all of her decisions have been made through this oppressive lens. Her journey truly begins once she recognizes that she has adopted these beliefs – they are not her own. As she realigns with her authentic self she sheds these oppressive influences.
5. WHO MIGHT BE THE BETRAYING CHARACTER? HOW DOES THAT CHARACTER FIT THE ROLE?
The Betraying Character might be Andrew, Layla’s 1800’s love interest. He fits the role because while he appears to have fallen in love with Layla and wants to join her in the future/Layla’s present, he decides to stay in the 1800’s at the last minute, betraying their plan to be together.
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4B – Connie’s Analysis of ‘Dead Poets Society’
1. What is the change this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?
The change in this movie is about transitioning from conformity to freethinking and seizing the day.
2. Lead characters:
Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
Mr. Keating is the Change Agent; he is the right character to cause the change because of his position as a Teacher and influence with the boys. Through his theatrical and charismatic class lessons, he plants a variety of seeds: life is precious, stay curious, and be unique and flexible when it comes to your thinking. Mr. Keating is also the right character to cause the change because he himself went through the same change he is inviting the boys to take while he was a student at Welton.
Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
The Transformable Characters are the boys; each of them makes a change in their own way, going from conformity and living from a place of being told what to do – to thinking on their own, and seizing the day in their own way.
What is the Oppression?
The oppression is the school/Mr. Nolan, archaic patriarchal ways of being, tradition; at Welton, they are all one in the same.
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
We are lured into the profound journey by immediately connecting with all of the boys in the student body as their headmaster/principal lectures to them, followed by their parents say their goodbyes, giving them pep talks and lectures before they leave. We understand what it was like to be that age, have a variety of adults lecturing to you about their expectations, and how we were trying to straddle the line of their expectations and self-discovery.
4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.” Identify their old way: Identify their new way at the conclusion:
Some examples include:
Neil – goes from the ‘old way’ of being under Dad’s thumb and having to drop out of the paper (which was an outlet for his creativity) to his ‘new way’ of expressing his authentic creative self – ie. reinstating the Dead Poets Society, auditioning for and getting the role of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream to ending his own life.
Todd – goes from the ‘old way’ of existing as an introverted person, living in the shadow of his older brother to his ‘new way’ of speaking up, expressing himself and overcoming his big fear of public speaking and being seen for who he is, a talented poet in his own right.
Knox – going from the ‘old way’ of always ‘doing the right thing’ (ie. Going to dinner at the Danburry’s house because his parents asked him to) and in keeping his feelings about Chris to himself to his new way of expressing his love to her and taking a chance on love by going to her class and reading poetry aloud, and later asking her out to see Neil’s play.
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
Using Neil as an example, below are some steps of the gradient change he made as a Transformational Character in the movie:
– Upon drop off, Neil’s Dad makes a few things known – he has high expectations of his son (he even says “we expect great things from you this year”) – he expects Neil to stay focused on his courses, drop the extra curricular, so he can get into medical school. We also see early on that Neil’s Dad cares greatly about what others think of him (‘never dispute me in public’); we see Neil’s response to this – he is sad, disappointed, he shrinks down, he is very controlled by his father
– After a few of Mr. Keating’s classes, Neil starts to reconnect with his authentic self, he is moved by these free thinking exercises and influences; he reconnects with his creativity and passions
– Neil leads the reinstatement of the Dead Poets Society, even convinces Todd to reconsider his thoughts on joining; this goes against school rules, and would definitely go against his father’s wishes to stay focused on curriculum
– Neil decides to try out for A Midsummer Night’s Dream play (a creative endeavor, the opposite of what his father wants him to do, we can see that his father’s control is diminishing as Neil’s independent thought leads the way)
– Neil forges letters from Mr. Nolan and his father so he can star in the play; he’s gone from independent thinking without harm, to overtly breaking the law/school rules so he can support his creative passions (where there is a will, there is a way, no looking back!)
– Neil’s father catches on to the fact that he’s in the play, he pays a visit – Neil pleads with him to do the play, his father puts his foot down, saying no, back to feeling controlled again by Dad
– Mr. Keating asks Neil to speak with his Dad, encourages him to reason with him; Neil later lies, says he spoke with his father and that he gave his blessing; we can see at this point, Neil is putting his own need to express himself and be himself ahead of his fathers need to control him
– Neil performs in the play, he’s on cloud 9 while in his creative expression on stage; he is fully the captain of his own ship; simultaneously an act of rebellion against his father
– Neil’s Dad is in the audience; he pulls him away immediately following the play and drives him home; he scolds him, telling him that he is leaving Welton and he will be enrolling him in military school before he attends medical school; Neil is trying his best to stand up for himself and express his needs; father shuts him down
– Neil prepares to end his life – he opens all of the windows in his room, he caresses the crown he wore as Puck one last time, and then goes on to take his own life, showing his father that he has the final say, the final control over himself
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
– Pritchard’s ‘Understanding Poetry’ introduction was an ‘old way’ that was challenged by Mr. Keating’s invitation to rip Pritchard’s introduction out of the poetry text book
– All of Mr. Keating’s ‘unorthodox’ classes challenge the ‘old ways’ the school and it’s teachers teach their curriculum and how they control the students in their class through their 4 pillars
– Neil and the boys reinstate the Dead Poets Society by challenging the ‘old ways’ of following all the rules, and doing what they are told, etc.
– The ‘old way’ of following all of the rules is challenged by Knox when he kisses Chris’ forehead with Chet standing a few feet away
– Todd moves though his ‘old ways’ of being introverted and living in his brother’s shadow by joining the Dead Poets Society and participating as much as he comfortably can
– Todd’s ‘old way’ of playing small, and living like he is unworthy is challenged by Mr. Keating when he is encouraged and coached to speak/create a poem out-loud in his class
– Neil’s ‘old ways’ of having his extra curricular activities controlled by his father are challenged when he sees a flyer for a play he wants to audition for
– Neil’s ‘old way’s of following the rules/being controlled by his Dad are challenged when he needs written permission from his father and Mr. Nolan to participate in the play – which leads him to forging
– Neil’s ‘old ways’ of telling the truth, and putting his father’s needs ahead of his own are challenged when he lies to Mr. Keating about his father giving him permission (when Mr. Keating asks if he spoke with his Dad)
– Neil’s ‘old ways’ of being controlled by his father are challenged when he moves forward in playing Puck on stage, knowing that it’s the direct opposite of what his father would want him to do
– Knox’s ‘old ways’ of staying quiet and observing the ‘right thing’ (ie. observing that Chris is already in a relationship with Chet) is challenged when he asks Chris to go with him to the play
– Neil ‘old ways’ of having every aspect of his life controlled by his father is challenged when he takes his own life
– Todd’s ‘old ways’ of staying quiet is challenged when he speaks up as Mr. Keating is leaving for the last time; followed by leading the students in standing upon their desks
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
Some of the most profound moments in this movie include:
– All/each of Mr. Keating’s classes – whether tearing out pages, standing on desks, marching around in the quad or kicking the ball while reading passages – each of these cinematic moments are profound
– When the boys resume the Dead Poets Society for the first time in the cave
– When Todd creates a poem on the spot after being coached in real-time by Mr. Keating in front of the class
– When Knox shows up at Chris’ school, and when Chris shows up to Knox’s school
– When Neil is on stage playing Puck
– Neil’s final sequence of events
– Todd breaking down in the snow after learning about Neil
– Todd bursting out in the class as Mr. Keating was picking up his belongings; and then several students standing on their desks in solidarity with Mr. Keating
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary’
“No matter what anyone tells you, your words, your ideas can change the world.”
“We read poetry because we are members of the human race….poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
“What will your verse be?”
“You take a big risk when you encourage them to be artists.”
“We must constantly look at things in a different way….just when you think you know something, you have to look at it in a different way….you must strive to find your own voice, because the longer you wait to being, he less likely you are to find it at all.”
“We all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique and your own.”
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
SETUP – This movie sets up the importance and power of freethinking and of living life to it’s fullest, and the consequences that come with creating your own way (vs following a path that is already carved out for you by someone else)
ENDING PAYOFF – Everyone experiences a change as a result of their freethinking and seizing the day….whether a tragic or triumphant transformation, collectively, all of the characters experience the fullest of life.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Along life’s finite journey think and feel for yourself or before you know it, you will be a collection of others’ beliefs and feelings. Claim your own life, carve your own path, seize the day and express yourself – live life to it’s fullest because you only have one!
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Chhimed Drolma’s Lead Characters
WHAT I LEARNED
I didn’t have a Betraying Character! A Betraying Character will bring so much more depth to the story, much more difficulty for my protagonist to overcome or transform. This changes my story for the better!
LOGLINE
A traumatized and lonely space mercenary is compelled to rescue a familiar child and she finds peace and family in the process.
CHANGE AGENT
M: She is a child in a similar situation as A.V., but has had the benefit of a Mother and Grandmother. She represents what A.V. could have been and what she can still be, even with trauma.
TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER
A.V.: She’s on her own just living day to day, surviving financially and except for her pet, she doesn’t open up to anyone. She takes care of everyone on her ship and doesn’t let others care for her because her trauma is too great and shameful to even begin to chip away at.
THE OPPRESSION
Trauma: A.V. has forgotten her past, knows no one who looks like her, her second mom was killed in front of her, and her first love cheated on her. Trauma works as The Oppression in this story because others have done things to her, but now she continues to traumatize herself by keeping her life small and safe. When she meets M, someone with her same circumstances, A.V. can begin to see her past and present from another perspective.
BETRAYING CHARACTER
O: He is so messed up from his childhood trauma he doesn’t know how to form connections or get paid work without betraying people for money. He meets A.V. and “befriends” her, but once he realizes he could actually form a relationship with her, it’s too late, he’s already agreed to sell her to the highest bidder to survive.
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Tom’s Lead Characters
The big thing I learned from this lesson is having intention in the transformation by giving more structure to your characters. Also, incorporating a betraying character to show how difficult the change is makes a lot of sense and builds a new layer into the dramatic arc of the transformational journey.
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