Week 3 Day 2: Twists — THE MATRIX

[Mary Albanese]

Scene Mastery, Week 3 day 3 – The TWIST – THE MATRIX

Watch first time for: Basic Scene Components, which are:
Scene Arc – Neo is interrogated in a creepy room by Smith who wants his cooperation to get Morpheus. Smith says Neo has two lives – one as a nice worker who has a future. One who lives inside computer as a hacker, which has no future. Smith gives Neo a choice – which life to live. Neo chooses to flip Smith off. Smith REVEALS WHICH LIFE IS REAL by putting a robot scorpion into Neo’s stomach. Now Neo has no doubt – he really is inside the matrix and Smith is the true evil.
Situation – Neo is asked by Smith in an interrogation room to make a choice on what is real – is Neo a mild mannered worker in an office, or a matrix-bound computer hacker terrorist warrior? When Neo flips Smith off, Smith PROVES the matrix is the real world by inserting a robot scorpion into Neo’s stomach.
Conflict – Neo vs Smith is the obvious external conflict. But the real conflict is within Neo. Is his old life real? Or is the matrix real? When Neo flips Smith off, Smith reveals that the matrix is real in a very chilling way. Now Neo has no choice but to fight Smith and the matrix for his survival, and the survival of the world.
Moving story along – Now we have no choice but to be hooked into the story.
Ent. Value – Super creepy setting, super creepy Smith asking questions in a super creepy way. Then the robot scorpion in the stomach, something we have not seen before. This makes Neo’s panic OUR panic.
Setups/payoffs. Smith gives Neo a choice. Neo’s choice is to flip Smith off. We know something bad is coming. We didn’t expect it to be a robot scorpion to the stomach, but what a scary payoff it is.
2nd time:
What makes it great?
How was the twist set up? The interrogation – the choice – sets us up for something big to happen.
What happens after? Afterwards, as Neo has bug inside him, he “wakes up.” Is he bugged now? Smith did say he would help them whether he wanted to or not. The phone rings – is it Morpheus or Smith?
How twist changes direction and meaning of the scene? This twist changes the meaning of the whole story. We know now how evil Smith is. And we see the hideous extent of his evil power.
Interesting action. Super creepy to see Neo’s mouth melt away. Super creepy to see the scorpion tracker slide into his stomach and leave no trace.
Interesting dialogue. Many fantastic lines: “you help your land lady carry out her garbage.” Double meaning – Neo’s a good guy just trying to help. But also, he’s the kind of naïve guy to help Morpheus with Morpheous’s “garbage.” Brilliant. Also – Neo’s response to the choice: “That’s a pretty good offer. But I’ve got a better one. How about I give you the finger and you give me my phone call.” Smith’s response is equally catchy. “What good is a phone call if you don’t have a mouth?”