Week 4 Day 1: Putting The Character To The Test – MY COUSIN VINNY

[Susan]

My Cousin Vinny

Watch 1st time for:

• How is she tested and how does it build to an emotional moment?

She is being tested both by if she is an expert witness with her credentials, and proving she is an expert by what she DOES know in General knowledge about cars. It builds to emotional moment because the question the prosecution asks is unanswerable and that pisses her off. Then she explains why and is accepted as an expert witness.

• What is the result of the test?

She is accepted and respected, (and not only in this scene, but later there is victory – the guys get off free). This is one of my favorite films of all time!

Watch 2nd time for:

• What drama is this scene built around?

Tension around if she will be accepted and her expertise will be accepted. Will the guys (who are out of their minds with fear) have to go to jail for a murder they didn’t commit or not?

• What profile items (right character, traits, secret, wound, future) showed up in these two character’s words and actions?

Marisa Tomei Character – Miss Mona Lisa Vito:

Traits: Sassy, Expert, Pissed Off, Intelligent, Knowledgable,

Secret/Wound: Something happened before this to really piss her off. Also it must have been really difficult growing up with the name Mona Lisa!

Future: You can see from this scene that she will be able to prove that the tires are not from the guys’ car.

Joe Pesci Character – Vinny:

Traits: Sarcastic, Knowledgable, Good Lawyer, Non-conformist (to say the least), Italian to the Bone,

Secret: He is head over heals in love with Mona.

Wound: He’s been treated like scum, and not a good lawyer; Mona has quit him.

Prosecution Lawyer – Jim Smith: Full of himself, Sly/Tricky, Appearance of Conformity,

Judge Chamberlain Haller – Fred Gwynne: Intelligent, Determined, Skeptical,

What makes this character great from a writing perspective.

Vinny: Character has a dual nature filled with traits that don’t seem to fit in the world he is operating in. The Character itself is ironic.

Mona Lisa Vito: The Character is filled with energy, highly intelligent and also highly emotional. She’s a firebomb! Lots to work with here.

What change can I make in my own work. In IPCT I could challenge G.G.’s knowledge and expertise in his profession in a more intense way.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by  Susan McClaryu. Reason: Rest of the assignment

[Susan]

Great film. Here’s another clip at the jailhouse. What comedy dialogue should be!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-FvDteymnM&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqqbcPsi6SmHaI3ozZW97xAE