[Christy Bley]

Christy Bley’s Day 4 Session 4a Assignment 1
What I learned doing this assignment: Specific Roles are defined well with this model. I put a bulls eye at each sentence showing me how to write these characters, and what they do to fit the model.
My transformational journey logline: An art teacher’s students bug her into using her art to -reluctantly- take up their River Town’s serious cause of the place being swallowed up by silt through the river authorities deliberate neglect of sediment removal.
WHO might be my CHANGE AGENT? And In a few sentences tell HOW that character FITS THE ROLE. What is their VISION? What are their PAST EXPERIENCES that fit that vision?
Her CHANGE AGENTS MIGHT BE her young china painting students whose parents have been kicked off the river, so to speak. OR… the teen CLAY, who minds no one, has experienced the ruins and many other secret places and many that are not that secret which will be lost to sediment.
Who do I think might be my TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER{S}? How do the character(s) FIT THE ROLE? FICUS is the only choice at this time… she is lazy, unwilling to use her strong sense of duty to what is right. And it is grating. Getting worse.
Who or What do I think might be the OPPRESSION? How does that character FIT THE ROLE? The old River Authority Guy whose son hangs out with him directly across from the RIVER LOOK VIEW STAND on a small tug with a scratched off state tag .
Who might be my BETRAYING CHARACTER? How does that character FIT THE ROLE? Maybe the reckless teen boater, CLAY, who is saved by the mermaid, EMERALD, when flying carp knock him out of his boat. He might accidentally – but no – the BETRAYING CHARACTER IS CLAY’S NEW LOVE’S OLD BOYFRIEND, who was using her to get to her Uncle, once-Senator WOODPORCH, in order TO ACCESS THE OLD RUINS WHERE MANY TREASURES ARE RUMORED TO BE BURIED.

Christy Bley’s Day 4b – analysis of DEAD POETS SOCIETY
WHAT I LEARNED FROM DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT: This level of difficulty is challenging in itself!
What is the CHANGE this movie is about?
The way the students look at life – no longer as a prison.

What is the TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY of this movie?
The movie takes a repressive testosterone overloaded hierarchy of a “normally abnormal” boys school and makes it look at itself through students who say “not my cup, adieu” or who cave and rat out, but who every one started school following the pack, not making waves.
LEAD CHARACTERS:
Who is the CHANGE AGENT (the one causing the change} and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
That would be Mr. Keaton. He’s had experience doing the very thing before, and is convinced and convincing that it’s the right thing to do.
Who is the TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER (the one who makes the change), and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
ALL THE BOYS – focusing on the Dead Poets Society re-emergence as per Keating’s remembrances.
What is the OPPRESSION?
The school rules and enforcers (parents).
How are we lured into the profound journey? Magnetic personality and sudden unexpected direction from Mr. Keating.
What causes us to connect with this story?
We see people picked on and don’t like it. Start rooting for the good guy!
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.
The Ethan Hawke character: TODD. He finally steps up to be counted, he wouldn’t even speak at first.
What is the GRADIENT OF CHANGE?
What STEPS did the TRANSFORMATIONAL CHARACTER go through as they were changing?
Lots of thought and viewing of abuse and unfair treatment grew on him.
How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
Belief that not standing up for what’s right is safer and better for everybody to believing there is strength in standing for the right.
What are the MOST PROFOUND MOMENTS of the movie?
All stand on the tables at the end.

What are the MOST PROFOUND LINES of the movie?
“Don’t tell me how to talk to my father. You guys are the same way.”
How does the ENDING PAY OFF THE SETUPS of this movie?
Much mention of poets, words of a poet stamps the end as fulfilled.
What is the PROFOUND TRUTH of this movie?
When guys stand up to uncontrolled brutish machismo in the form of a “NORMAL BOYS SCHOOL” they can become stronger, but it also sometimes kills those lacking that nerve or courage.

[Christy Bley]

Christy Bley’s Lesson 3 Transformational Journey
What I learned doing this assignment is: Gradient of change doesn’t happen in a single moment; it needs to draw through the story.
FORMING, STORMING, NORMING and PERFORMING is a great model!
1. LOGLINE for Transformational Journey of Lead Character
A 90-year feud between a River Town and the River Authority that’s enabling silt to bury her town annoys a girl who paints china. She doesn’t pay attention to, thinks crazy even, her closest friends, her young students, who believe that even though her river activism keeps getting her in trouble, truth is, the kids’ book she is painting might give her the power to save the town.

2. What I see as the OLD WAYS – she wants to ignore huge looming problems – they annoy her rather than galvanize her.
What is their current Problem State?
She could be described as frozen in hopelessness
Her MAIN RULE? Don’t get in too deep.

3. What I see as the NEW WAYS – she cares, she now wants to do something about it.
What is the Solution State? Embrace the torture by risking losing everything. {I don’t yet know what “everything” is.
How has my CHARACTER CHANGED? – her care is activated – her ‘love switch’ turns back on.
She could now be described as fully engaged.

[Christy Bley]

Christy Bley’s Lesson 3 Transformational Journey
What I learned doing this assignment is: Gradient of change doesn’t happen in a single moment, it needs to draw through the story. FORMING, STORMING, NORMING and PERFORMING is a great model!
1. LOGLINE for Transformational Journey of Lead Character
A 90-year feud between a River Town and the River Authority that’s enabling silt to bury it annoys a girl who paints china. She doesn’t pay attention to, thinks crazy, even, her closest friends, her young students, who believe that even though her river activism keeps getting her in trouble, truth is, the “safe” kids book she is painting might give her the power to save the town.

2. What I see as the OLD WAYS – she wants to ignore huge looming problems – they annoy her rather than galvanize her.
What is their current Problem State?
She could be described as frozen in hopelessness
Her MAIN RULE? Don’t get in too deep.

3. What I see as the NEW WAYS – she wants to do something about it.
What is the Solution State? Embrace the torture by risking losing everything. {I don’t yet know what “everything” is.
How has my CHARACTER CHANGED? – her care is activated – her ‘love switch’ turns back on.
She could now be described as fully engaged.

[Christy Bley]

Christy Bley’s First three Decisions ; Lesson 2
What I learned during this assignment: there are at least five different Entertainment Vehicles I can tell my story through. And that my animated feature most probably must be told through metaphor, and that I must put the cause in the background while I create entertaining stories of the people in the kid-friendly cartoon format as they attempt to stay happy amidst the unaddressed unfairness of the destruction of their marina and town by petty bureaucrats out for vengeance against the innocent inhabitants who happened to speak the truth.
1. What is my Profound Truth?
The answer is: A fish out of water is not the same thing as
A fish that is OUT OF WATER!
2. What change do I want the audience to walk out with after seeing my movie?
I want them TO FEEL HOPEFUL about an American tragedy THEY FELT NOTHING ABOUT until seeing the movie, to the point where they’ll support the cause themselves and some will become activists and some screenwriters, and one or more of them will help save out town.
3. What is the Entertainment Vehicle I have used to tell this movie?
This animated feature film is told through a metaphor – with a cause in the background that’s at first in the way, then eventually becomes more.

[Christy Bley]

Christy Bley’s analysis of Groundhog Day
What I Learned from doing this Assignment – Day 1
A set up is easier for me to find when I think of it as a prophecy, though it is still the hardest thing. Using The Matrix analysis was an invaluable tool. There’s a lot more to learn.
Ten Questions:
ONE. What is the Change the movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of it?
Going from being the one who hated everybody at every party and vice-versa, who has no enjoyment of life and has no one who enjoys him, to loving life, loving people, and being loved by many plus being the life of the party.
FOR THE AUDIENCE: It may take a lot of punishment to recognize and acknowledge it’s either literal/figurative death, or a change must happen. The rewards: Loving giving to others makes life worthwhile.

TWO. Lead Characters.
Who is the CHANGE AGENT, (the one causing the change), and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
RITA. Why is she the right character-
Don’t know… ANSWER LATER
Who is the TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER? (The one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this Profound Journey?
PHIL. What makes him so? The enormous focus on his outrageously unpleasant personality singles him out from the regular “normal behaving” people.
We see he understands the lack of empathy he’s showing, but doesn’t care and delivers all with a smile.
OPPRESSION. Phil must live an endless repeat of his detestable, worthy-only-of-sarcasm, same day.

THREE. Connection with audiences. How are we lured into the Profound Journey? What causes us to connect with this story? RELATIVITY.
Phil is so annoying, we want someone to stand up to him.
Rita not only doesn’t let it get to her – at beginning – but chooses to credit him with not doing harm, though biting comments from him are questionably close to abusive.
We see a mighty trait of purposeful kindness in Rita’s generous responses that turn us her way.
We want him to give Rita a chance.
We start looking forward to Phil coming around, as he continues to reap failure of his efforts.
THE ADDITIONAL OPPRESSION of his arrogant way of responding to life leading to lack of fulfillment, and worthless rewards, advances unpleasant life experiences and zero promise of enjoyable time he has left, which might be a forever of quickly ensuing consequences of narcissism.
His emptiness is not filled by any of the things he tries. A lot of people can feel/ relate to his emptiness.
Again, failure can be related to by many “regular/normal” people.
His facial affect is stiff. At times kind of like a mischievous machine.
We’re surprised his face has no immediate normal response/change of expression at meaningful lines.
Bugs us he’s so calculating.
We are stirred to a bit of anger that he’s not soft towards Rita.
So we take sides. Most of us with Rita! Ha Ha!

FOUR. “Old” ways vs “New” ways. Looking at the characters, who are changed most? What is the Profound Journey? From “old ways to new ways of being”?
PHIL changes the most– Old way – Unsatisfied with everything. Hones his wit criticizing what “normal” people are doing. Obvious fake sweetness in delivery of cutting sarcasm.
Old way – He only had one feeling all the time – DISDAIN.
PHIL – New way –after exploring every possible way to run away from life, nothing left to do, but explore what “normal” people are doing, because he has felt something, an interest in a few things, in fact.
He’s falling further in love with Rita, but doesn’t fully acknowledge it. Already messed it up, probably.
But more and more wanting to EXPLORE it.
We can relate.
We see Phil’s Explorer PERSONALITY TRAIT.
RITA – little by little becomes less palliative to his rude excesses, a growing strength to stand up at the moment that must come. Start to see she’s on the way to tell him he needs to get over himself.

FIVE. What is the GRADIENT OF CHANGE? The Transformation. What steps did the Transformable Character go through as they were CHANGING?
PSYCHOLOGICALLY – Confusion when day starts over again. Everything a surprise.
“I feel weird.”
Doesn’t verbally respond to people, he’s so shocked.

THROUGH ACTIONS –Forced to get physically close to people who are repeating actions. Sees they aren’t aware it’s happening.
Starts to see no repercussions to any of his actions.
Amps up snide remarks.
Does everything he’s been told never to do.
Shows he’s not gonna live by their rules anymore.
Slugs Ned.
Kidnaps Punxsutawney Phil and drives the two of them off the cliff to a fiery death.
Commits suicide many times.
Starts helping people, getting to know Rita.
Becomes piano player, learns many other skills which help others.
EMOTIONALLY
THIS MUST MATCH UP WITH ____ACTIONS?____________ FOR AUDIENCE TO BUY IT?
Pours out his disdain for everything and everybody on nice people of Puxsutawney.
Is shocked, then curious, then believes.
Starts Exploring benefits to him if there’s no tomorrow.
Sees what he can get away with, up to and including robbery, taking advantage of women.
Then begins to have feelings, empathy for others – helps the homeless man.
Helps the little old ladies with their flat tire, hard work he is fulfilled emotionally.
Hedonism falling by the wayside.
Goes pretty far to manipulate Rita into falling for him, tricking her.
The lack of consequences finally not so pleasant, and he seems to be searching for who he really is.

SIX. How is the “old way” challenged?
What are the beliefs that are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective – and make the change?
Slaps.
Every morning starts a new old.
He thinks he can really do anything or say anything he wants without consequences. And does it.
Eventually, good starts welling up in him from getting to know people.

SEVEN. What are the MOST PROFOUND MOMENTS IN THE MOVIE?
The day starts with a clock of doom.
He knows all the answers on Jeopardy – before they finish asking the question.
Snowball fight over-the-top enthusiasm – voice so very desperate.

EIGHT. What are the MOST PROFOUND LINES IN THE MOVIE
“All you care about is yourself.” “I don’t even like myself!”
“You tricked me! It’s been one big setup!”
She slaps him. “That’s for making me care about you!”
RITA
You’re missing all the fun!”
RITA
You couldn’t plan for a perfect day like this!
PHIL
Well, you can, it just takes an awful lot of work.”

NINE. How does the ENDING PAYOFF THE SETUPS?
There are a lot of setups Phil pulls to get a girl. He snoops.
He is practically stalking Rita, and she gets wise.
I think he has never loved anyone. Wall of sarcasm – we don’t know where it came from.
SETUP___He’s gonna drop that tray full of dishes_________________________________
PAYOFF___!CRASH!_________________________________
SETUP__The day goes on forever. Finaly, Phil calms down, has seen sweet life He falls asleep being nice.
PAYOFF_ _When he wakes, it’s not Groundhog Day anymore__________________________________
I need to work on this question further.

TEN. WHAT IS THE PROFOUND TRUTH OF THIS MOVIE?
Possibly this was an important lesson FOR ME TO LEARN!
DAY TO DAY LIFE IS NOT ABOUT ENDURING AND COMPLAINING, IT IS ABOUT ENJOYING LIVING, HELPING OTHERS BY BEING KIND AND GENEROUS WITHOUT HOLDING OTHERS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING YOUR LIFE COMFORTABLE AND WITHOUT ANNOYANCE.

[Christy Bley]

Christy Bley I agree to the terms and conditions of this agreement
I have no idea how to post every word of the agreement and what do you require re:tags? this is becoming almost impossible to navigate in the time I have allotted – I would like to start this class, please.