[Mike Murphy]

Mike Murphy

“I agree to the terms of this release form

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

[Mike Murphy]

Mike Murphy’s First Three Decisions

Writing the Profound Screenplay Day 2

What I learned doing this assignment is…

If you hang in there and keep throwing the proverbial spaghetti at the proverbial wall, something’s gonna stick, then something better, and so on…

Profound truth:

Hate is the new heroin

The Change:

Now I can see how damaging hate can be and have a way to recognize it before it can take hold in my heart and in my life

Entertainment Vehicle: Bizzarro world media circus turned loose against itself

[Mike Murphy]

What I learned doing this assignment:

I learned how amazingly powerful a tool like suspending time can be and how willing we are to play along with the incredibly unbelievable idea of the day that won’t end to join the transformational journey – we will suspend disbelief enough to buy in to something incredibly fake in a fictional character’s life and at the end, feel something real about our own.

What is the CHANGE this movie is about?

What is the Transformational Journey of this movie? From selfish, egotistical talented but pain in everyone’s ass weatherman, Phil Connors transforms to giving loving romantic irresistible everyman’s attainable dream – someone who stands out in an ordinary world and makes it seem like something special if you only really try.

Lead characters: Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?

The change agent is the ‘curse’ he brings upon himself, to be trapped in the same day. Honorable mention to the storm he confidently and repeatedly predicted wouldn’t hit them and the town he dreads spending a moment in.

is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?

Phil. He’s fake charming when he has to be, but always out of superiority. He simply doesn’t care about anything except his ambition and his needs. What is the Oppression? The day that will not end. The constant meaninglessness of life – especially life in a small town, where nothing seems to matter anyway, small, stupid people living small lives – his perfect personal hell.

How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?

We have all felt powerless to change our day to day lives, we’ve all felt that “ we’re stuck in the same place and nothing we do matters” (bout sums it up for me – bar dude

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

New way at conclusion – he genuinely loves being nice and humble and helping people – as many as possible as often as possible and in a way that means something special to them

What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?

At first he just wants the girl. Then he wants to make the most of it. Then, when confronted with this amplified version of the empty, self-centered universe he has created, until his main goal is to end it all. Then he needs to be the best human being – friend, lover, insurance client, auto club, humanitarian healer to the old man – saver of falling children etc… he can.

How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?

Time is suspended to give him as long as it takes to change. What are the most profound moments of the movie? Every time he tries to off himself in every way he can think of His moving speech at the Groundhog Day Event When he wakes up to the next day next to her What are the most profound lines of the movie? When he asks, ‘what would you do if nothing you did mattered’ (bout sums it up for me) How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie? His devotion to the needs of others and his desire to help them at the end of the transformational journey is as extreme as the distain and lack of concern we saw in set-up scene after set-up scene throughout the movie.

What is the Profound Truth of this movie?

Life lived only for self is empty and can seem hopeless and endless, but wherever there are people to care about and to let care for you, the possibilities for happiness and fulfillment can be unlimited.

[Mike Murphy]

Mike Murphy

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

[Mike Murphy]

Hi all!

I’ve written a few scripts for movies, but hundreds if not thousands for other stuff, mostly ads, kids shows and the like. I write songs that people say feel like movies. I hope to write movies that flow like songs. Prolly like yourself, I’m a big Screenwriting U fan. Let’s do this.

So…I got stories…I’ve written like a million “jingles” and once you say that, it’s all people think of you as…that guy who writes jingles. Worked with lots of stars and got to write one with Will Smith. That was just as hilarious as you think it would be. Nope, more. But I write more songs and ads and I think of it as great training for rewriting, which is really the gig, right?