Week 3 Day 2: Character Intro – THE GODFATHER

[Susan]

The Godfather

Watch 1st time for:

How the Don Corleone character does the following:

• Puts him in a challenging situation,

It is the day of his daughter’s wedding and someone is asking him to kill other people.

• Give him interesting dialogue,

He asks questions like “why did you go to the police why didn’t you come to me first” which show his personality and what he expects from his “friendships.” He speaks very logically from his position of power and expectation of respect. He is also offended by the man’s offer to pay him instead of his “friendship,” which includes doing Don Corleone a favor in the future. He also lets him know this friendship includes if the man has enemies they will be Don Corleone’s enemies, that the friendship includes complete protection, and that people will fear the man because of this. He has people to take care of things… an “army” of people including those owing him favors.

• Has him take action that fits their character, and…

He refuses to kill the guys because it is not equal justice, but he will give equal justice.

• Give us an insight into who he really is.

Shows he is a powerful man who expects respect and friendship from the people around him and that he can rely on them completely. He feels his friendship and control of the people is more important and better than the police.

Watch 2nd time for:

1. What makes these characters engaging?

The man is engaging because he wants the guys who harmed his daughter dead, but he seems like a mild mannered man who would never otherwise get involved.

The men in the background are engaging because they are all carefully watching what is going on and are glued to Don Corleone, and obviously take orders from him.

Don Corleone is interesting because he is in total control and is feared, he is seeing people who ask him for favors on the day of his daughter’s wedding. He is a business man who makes deals. He is calm and composed and ruthless at the same time. He is a family man who understands the love of family.

2. How are they expressing their profile?

The man: Angry, Submissive, Loving father

Don Corleone: Family man, Powerful, Calm, Ruthless, Business man,

3. Where do you see character depth in this scene?

The contrast between Don Corleone’s love for family and his ruthlessness with anyone who is not part of his family (who he is not Godfather to), and his matter of fact business-like character compared to his “friendships.” He also has his own “moral code.”

The man has depth of character because he is normally someone who follows the rules and doesn’t want any trouble, but because his daughter was harmed he is willing to ask Don Corleone for a favor even though he knows the consequences.

Please watch this scene and provide your insights/breakthroughs into what makes this character great from a writing perspective.

As the scene progresses Don Corleone’s degree of power becomes more and more evident, his level of control over the area is immense. The audience is drawn in to his personal and professional life and wants to know how he will behave in different situations. He is unlike other normal people.