Cara Rogers
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SUBJECT: Cara’s Conventions
What I learned doing this assignment is to allow myself to make changes through the process.
CONCEPT: A conceited self-important soldier learns through special forces training to become a better man so he can be a better soldier.
CONVENTIONS:
1. Hero: A soldier with authority issues is demoted, applies to a special forces team as a second chance.
2. Mission: Stop the launch of missiles pointed toward his country and family.
3. Demand for Action: Missiles have been identified, more incoming.
4. Antagonist: Rival is the only minority trainee and has as much to prove as the Hero.
5. Escalating Action: Completing various in-country assignments to prepare for mission and prove qualifications.
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Cara Rogers’ Connection with the Audience
1. What I learned doing this assignment is to attempt to include 4 areas to create a connection with the audience within the first 30 minutes.
2. Characters that INTENTIONALLY create a connection with the audience.
Shoe – transformable character
Samuel – change agent
3. How I’ll use each of the four ways of connecting with the audience in the first 30 minutes of the movie.
Relatability – Shoe is powerless against authority. Samuel can’t get help he needs for the good of all.
Intrigue – Dustbowl conditions for all characters (devastated ranch, starving animals, storms, etc.)
Empathy – Shoe tries his best but just can’t seem to succeed. Samuel is a harsh but loving leader.
Likability – Shoe’s flights of fantasy are enjoyable/comical. Samuel flirts with his wife.
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Cara Rogers’ Transformational Structure
What I learned doing this assignment: I need to create details which more strong escalate the challenges during his transformational journey.
Transformational Logline: An aspiring young pilot grounded on a devastated ranch fails to a man-powered flying machine while learning he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.
Main Character: Transformable Character Shoe
Mini-Movie Structure:
Status Quo & Call to Adventure: When forced to attend a community event after finishing his chores on the family ranch, Shoe learns of the award for a manpowered flying machine.
Locked in Conflict: He needs time to build machine but father insists he work with him on ranch. Resentment on both sides.
Hero Tries to Solve Problem but Fails: Shoe’s first attempt at flying destroyed & he is injured. Promises angry father he will stop.
Hero Forms a New Plan: Shoe decides to use stronger supplies to to take control of the wind and use it to fly.
Hero Retreats & Antagonism Prevails: Second failure, interference of enemy leaves Shoe injured to the point he can’t proceed without making changes.
Hero’s Bigger, Better Plan: Shoe takes advice and enlists help from family and friends to construct a third design.
Crisis & Climax: Huge storm threatens everyone’s lives, speeding up flight test, but most survive and find success as a group coming together.
New Status Quo: Shoe now slows down, thinks/plans, enlists input from others.
Elements covered:
Transformational Journey in Logline: Now appreciates his family and others.
Three Gradients: Went through 3 Gradients for Desired Change, success of flight
Sequenced in Escalating Challenges: Each failed attempt creates strong injuries, but I know I need to work on aspects to escalate further each time.
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Cara Rogers’ 3 Gradients:
The 3 Gradients: Desired Change
Emotions:
Excitement
Shoe reads article, cash prize for flying machine. Decides he can do this.
Challenge – creating a successful design. Weakness – No experience or plan.
Doubt
At potluck, can’t overcome The Devil Wind. It is destroying everything, including his dreams.
Challenge – way to utilize the wind, control it, to fly. Weakness – small, young, inexperienced.
Hope
Creates 2 different designs and attempts to fly.
Challenge – designs are unsuccessful. Weakness – still being impulsive, poor planning.
Discouragement
Dedicates time to helping father instead of flying (Jackrabbit Hunt).
Challenge – can’t focus on work, doesn’t enjoy it. Weakness – poor self-image as weak, too small and young.
Courage
Attempts a 3rd design despite injuries.
Challenge – injured, can’t do it alone. Weakness – won’t ask for help. Stubborn
Triumph
Allows help from family. Designs a successful contraption. Uses the wind to fly.
Challenge – storm, deadly conditions. Weakness – lack of caution or correct priorities.
3. What I learned is that following the natural stages of grief we go through can guide our character’s arc, when using the Forced Change Gradient. That’s easy for me to grasp and apply, so thank you for clarity.
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Dead Poets Society 4B
What is the change this movie is about? What is the transformational journey? Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.
Lead characters:
Change Agent (causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change? John Keating
Transformable Character (one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character? Boys. Young, dissatisfied with their life.
The Oppression? School Administration as they uphold strict structure of the prep school, Welton.
Betraying Character: Cameron doesn’t change, or reverts back after Neil’s suicide.
How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect?
Unusual first day of Keating’s class – this will be different.
Boys’ dissatisfaction with authority & strict control.
Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey?
Identify their old way:
Neil is obedient, gives up what he loves to please (or not disappoint) his parents. All other boys except Cameron – Begin as making decisions, or changing behavior to please authority figures.
Identify their new way at the conclusion: Neil acts in the play, defying his father. Takes his own life to avoid continuing to be under his father’s rule (military school). Other boys except Cameron – will continue to think for themselves, form their own conclusions, see the world from a different perspective
What is the gradient of change? (steps the transformational character goes through as they are changing)
Day one, boys react to Keating as if he’s odd; they’re awkward about it.
Todd writes “Seize the Day,” considers it, then crumbles the paper. (pointless)
Students begin taking detailed notes, then are told to rip out the page. Hesitant. (then entire introduction) They comply.
Learn of Keating’s school years and The Dead Poets Society. Neil is intrigued.They decide to go to the cave where DPS met. “Can’t get caught.” One by one they agree. Todd resists, but they agree he can just listen.
Hooded figures sneak out that night, reconvene “Dead Poets Society” but primarily tell scary stories and read gory poems. Charley reads from centerfold. (transition)
Knox calls Chris, even though he’s totally scared she, her parents and his parents will hate him. All are gathered around supporting him. Make a plan to meet at a party at the Danburys. (Chet’s house)
“The point, Charlie, is that she was thinking about me. I only met her once and already she was thinking about me.” They chant Carpe.
Todd’s poem about truth being like a blanket. P. 51
Charlie is now “Nuwanda” and puts red lipstick on his cheeks.
Chet says “Carpe Diem” and kisses a sleeping Chris
On his birthday, Todd’s parents gave him the same desk set as last year.
McAllister is walking his students outside doing their work (as Keating has done).
As Keating leaves, Todd stands on his desk first and says “O CAptain My Captain.” The rest of the boys follow, except Cameron. (he’s shown them how to view the world from a different perspective)
How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective and make the change?
What are the most profound moments of the movie?
“Poetry, beauty, romance, love. These are what we stay alive for.” Keating to boys, new perspective versus success in careers.
Neil “For the first time in my life, I know what I want to do.” Decides to be in Midsummer’s Night Dream. If I don’t ask him, at least I won’t be disobeying him. Who’s side are you on? (to roommate Todd) Can’t you let me enjoy the idea for a little while?
Todd “I’m not like you. You say things and people listen.” Could you just butt out? Neil says “No.”
Charlie has God call, tell Mr. Nolan they should have girls at Welton.
After whippings, says “The name is Nuwanda.”
Knox walks into classroom & reads his poem to Chris.
Tells others she said nothing but he did it. “Seize the day!”
Neil’s father enters the auditorium of his son’s play
Mr. Perry says tell me what you feel? What is it?
Neil sits down, Nothing. Dad didn’t really want to know.
Neil commits suicide.
Keating sees quote in Neil’s book, to be read at opening of DPS meetings
Boys stand on desks at ending “O Captain, My Captain.”
What are the profound lines of the movie?
“Make a clean tear. I want nothing left of it.” When telling boys to rip out the introduction to poetry in their books.
“Keep ripping gentlemen. This is a battle, a war. And the casualties could be your hearts and souls.” No more academics measuring poetry. Learn to think for yourselves again.
“No matter what anyone tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
“The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”
“But only in dreams can man be truly free. Was always thus, and always thus will be.”
“Boys you must find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.”
“I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.”
“Sure there’s a time for daring and there’s a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.”
“Then you’re acting for him too.” Neil not telling his father how he really feels (Keating)
How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
Almost all the boys stand on desks showing Keating that despite everything, he has taught them to see things from another perspective.
What is the Profound Truth of this movie? Seize the Day. Do not hesitate, but take control of life and live it your way with no regrets.
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Cara Rogers’ Main Characters
Logline: An aspiring young pilot grounded on a devastated ranch fails to design a successful flying machine but learns he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.
Change Agent: The young boy’s father is a WWI Ace, used to leading a mission under his command. He’s determined his plan will save the ranch, if his children will just follow his orders.
Transformable Character: The aspiring pilot, 11yo Shoe. Impulsive, immature and independent, he’s convinced winning prize money will save the ranch versus hard work and obedience.
The Oppression: The conditions of the 1930s Dustbowl that have devastated the family farm, isolated the community, and ended any ability to pursue dreams.
I have learned the drought and harsh winds have to more directly interfere with Shoe’s efforts to design a flying machine that can operate in current conditions.
Betraying Character: The focus is on Shoe’s transformation at this point in my revisions but if I added more interaction between Shoe and Robert, the “outsider” and rich banker’s son, he could serve as the Betraying Character. He already accidentally destroys one of Shoe’s attempted flying designs but I could make his interference more intentional.
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Cara Rogers’ Transformational Journey
1. Logline: An aspiring young pilot grounded on a devastated ranch fails to design a man-powered flying machine while learning he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.
2. Old Ways: “I’ll do it on my own.” Distracted, unfocused, impulsive, unappreciative, frustrated, isolated.
3. New Ways: “Together we can do anything.” Focused, planning, cooperative, confident, appreciative, team player.
4. I learned I’ve got to make my lead character’s Old Ways more pronounced, more unlikable, so there’s more of an appreciation of his change to New Ways.
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Cara Rogers’ First Three Decisions
1. Profound Truth – Together we can overcome all obstacles.
2. Audience Change – Appreciate and focus more on strong family relationships to define success.
3. Entertainment Vehicle – Pick a World
4. “Cause as background” – we accept the profound truth as reality because it isn’t preached at us.
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Cara Rogers, signing in 2 weeks late due to travel but catching up.
I’ve only written one so far, but I’ve rewritten it about 8 times if that counts.
I hope to get one final rewrite so I can put this one to bed and move on, satisfied it’s ready.
Unique? I bet my friends could give you a list but I’m stumped.