[Marshal Gordon]

Marshal Gordon. I agree to the terms of this release form.

[Marshal Gordon]

1. Name? Marshal Gordon

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 12 I actually admit to.

3. What you hope to get out of the class? Becoming a better writer and maximizing my story telling skillset.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I teach and moderate classes on gender and racial fluidity.

[Marshal Gordon]

Marshal Finds the Essence

What I learned is how to look at a scene and discover what it should convey to an audience. A way to see what makes the scene impactful, have purpose and move the action along.

Script I choose: Man on Fire

Scene 1 Location: Act 1

Logline: Lisa wants her husband Samuel to provide the family with the kind of bodyguard at the level of the other wealthy families in Mexico City. Samuel is resistant as Lisa leans into making it a superficial matter of status and worth.

Essence: Lisa is exerting her power over her husband by pushing the buttons she knows will get her what she wants in then end; status and their daughter.

Scene 2 Location: Act 1

Logline: A world weary John Creasy arrives in Mexico. A suspicious Custom agent checks Creasey’s passport as he questions him about his reason for coming to the country. As the Customs Agent checks his bag Creasy informs him, he is about to find a gun.

Essence: Creasy is not the ordinary traveler. He is coming to the country for a purpose, one he is unafraid to show.

Scene 3 Location: Act 1

Logline: Lisa enters her daughter Pinta’s room to find her hugging her teddy bear deep in thought. Her mother tells Pinta that her father is looking for a qualified bodyguard one that speaks English. She explains that it is important for Pinta to show her father her gratitude. “A man always needs to be thanked.”

Essence: Lisa wants to put Pinta’s mind at ease, but she also is teaching her the dynamics of the Male/Female order in life with a subtle hint of manipulation.

Scene 4 Location: Act 1 just after Inciting Incident.

Logline: Creasey’s old friend Rayburn, is driving Creasy to his interview with Samuel and Lisa. Creasy is uneasy about taking the job. Rayburn ignores Creasey’s concerns as he tells him the job ahead and reminding him it’s a job. One he needs.

Essence: Creasy has fallen on hard times due to his demons of deeds of the past and his descent into alcoholism. That as much as the family needs him, Creasy needs the work to regain his sense of purpose. But he isn’t sure he is up to it.

Scene 5 Location: ACT 2 before 2^nd act Twist

Logline: Creasy is teaching Lisa how to prepare for the sound of the starters pistol at her upcoming swim meet by getting her use to not panicking and freezing.

Essence: Creasy wants to teach a lesson about conquering fear.

My selection for most profound essence:

A MAN’S HAND. BLACK.

Raises up against the blue sky. Like a kid playing

Cowboys and Indians. The finger pulls an imaginary.

trigger.

RAMOS POOL

In her swimsuit and cap, Pinta crouches in makeshift

starting blocks.

CREASY

Bang!

Pinta takes off. Splashes into the water. Not to

Creasey’s satisfaction.

CREASY

No, no, come back.

Pinta turns in the water, looks back at him.

CREASY

You don’t flinch when a gun goes off; you.

react. You go. Don’t listen for the

sound; don’t anticipate it. Concentrate

on the sound itself.

PINTA

I don’t understand.

CREASY

Don’t worry. You will.

Creasy points at the blocks. Pinta gets out of the

water.

Shivering, Creasy throws a towel around her and

rubs her down.

The reason I chose this scene as the most profound essence is that it establishes something between Creasy and Lisa that both of them need. Eliminating their fears about themselves and establishing cementing their desire to allow themselves to not just trust others but themselves. For Creasy he knows he is teaching her a life skill she may well need to utilize one day to save her life.