Sharon Axcell
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Sharon Axcell
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Hi Amanda!
Is it really only you and me?!
I’m sorry for my late engagement – my father died at New Year, and things have been challenging. But getting back on track…. so please do bear with me and I’ll be able to respond to your bits and pieces.
In the meantime:
1. Name? Sharon Axcell
2. How many scripts you’ve written? Too many 😉
3. What you hope to get out of the class? Better Action sequences in my scripts
4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I’m half Brazilian, and a Rocket Scientist
We look forward to working with you all!
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Sharon Delivers Irony (kinda…!)
What I learned doing this assignment is…. that Irony is a great tool, and although I write with irony integral to everything, I do perhaps need more specific examples within particular scenes….. I’ll come back to this in a later draft, I think. I suspect there are additional examples that I can enhance/ include.
Anyway, in the meantime…
Insight/ New Way
– Irony
You cannot avoid your destiny.
– She’s trying to make her own life – yet that’s exactly what is pre-ordained.
You are drawn to do something in particular in life – you have a purpose. It’s ok to pursue it.
– But what you’re drawn to will expunge human life as we know it.
You will only achieve what you are meant to do over time – it’s not an immediate thing.
– She’s working on a time machine. 😊
You must CLAIM your destiny.
– She stopped waiting and claimed it….. but her destiny will destroy the world!
All good things come to those who…. take action and believe.
– She stopped waiting and claimed it….. but her destiny will destroy the world!
You can recover from adversity and loss.
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Persistence pays off. Slow and steady wins the race.
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Our place in humanity is pre-ordained, and that is our job in life. Every iota of our being and existence is driven by the past – including our thoughts, feelings, emotions, decisions – even if we think we’re in total control. So relax. And enjoy the ride.
– There are LOADS of her running around – at different stages in her life.
You are YOU. Live yourself to the max.
– There are LOADS of her running around – at different stages in her life.
Follow your heart, not your head to align with your ultimate purpose and happiness.
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Time is of the essence – use it before it runs out.
– She’s building a time machine – should have all the time in the world! But she doesn’t….
Focus on what you truly want, and it will come.
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Sharon Delivers Insight Through Conflict
What I learned doing this assignment is…. that I generally have this down, but always room for improvement!
Insight/ New Way
– Conflict
You cannot avoid your destiny.
– She injures herself – discovers that her older self has had it fixed (something more visible/ hidden e.g. on her face; something like a lost finger e.g. replaced invisibly) that wasn’t immediately visible/ obvious
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You are drawn to do something in particular in life – you have a purpose. It’s ok to pursue it.
– Trusting her instincts after not doing so – the graphs, the use of the key
– She tries to do something else, e.g. cooking, baking, interior designing, growing plants (they die, but she doesn’t know why) but learns that’s she’s not the greatest at it – always reverts back to what she knows and loves. Same with the other ‘career options’ she pursues for a while
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You will only achieve what you are meant to do over time – it’s not an immediate thing.
– Growth of bonsai tree
– Exercise
– A tree outside the bunker
– Weeds, the rats, anything that she can notice to take hold after time when she hasn’t been paying proper attention to it – a crevice with water eroding the cave, feeding the rats
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You must CLAIM your destiny.
– The letter – putting it back together again to read it and action it
– Returning to the bunker when she’s tried to do other things
– Even her other activities give her insight and solutions for her time travel device – it won’t let her go
– She’s only happy when she finally steps up to the plate to do it, wholeheartedly, once and for all, no excuses. This looks like….???
All good things come to those who…. take action and believe.
– Same as above, really
– She sees how little she’s achieved in weeks, until she actually claims what she’s meant to do. What presses the button? The ‘arrival’ of the watch??
– How will it come to fruition without her?!
You can recover from adversity and loss.
– Following the loss of her family – she returns to work and the bunker, to do what she’s meant to do.
– She’s in (emotional) pain, but the more she works, the more the pain lessens.
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Persistence pays off. Slow and steady wins the race.
– ???
Our place in humanity is pre-ordained, and that is our job in life. Every iota of our being and existence is driven by the past – including our thoughts, feelings, emotions, decisions – even if we think we’re in total control. So relax. And enjoy the ride.
– Comparison of the three versions of events – and their approaches to each version. i.e. Kappa is the most relaxed as she knows how it will end up – to a point!
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You are YOU. Live yourself to the max.
– Order in meals rather than cooking them
– Working into the night rather than sticking to a routine
– Response to Rats
– What she wears
– How she organises the cannisters
– How meticulous she becomes once she claims her destiny
Follow your heart, not your head to align with your ultimate purpose and happiness.
– The solution on one of her graphs/ experiments
– The rat friend – her head says to get rid, but her heart says no (and thank goodness as Roland does something later which gives her an idea)
– Sigma comes back to the bunker – to finish the job
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Time is of the essence – use it before it runs out.
– Literally the watch, and the culmination in the final showdown when the device explodes
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Focus on what you truly want, and it will come.
– She gets clear. And does only that in the end. (see above notes)
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Sharon’s Seabiscuit Analysis
What I learned doing this assignment is… that there are different types of profound moments all over the place – and what’s profound for one person isn’t necessarily that for another (reading others’ responses). So just write from the heart (and supported by the head) and create as many opportunities as possible – and don’t be afraid of them!
Profound Moments
– The richest (through the automobile) and their living standards, versus the comparable standards via photos and the kid earning the money (riding) that the father now can’t earn
o The contrast
– Intro Red properly, he gets sent away. He doesn’t want to go. Signified by the books going with him.
o The books – you know they’re going to come back later, a theme throughout. They’re everything, and the family gave everything for him to go
– “You don’t throw a whole life away just ‘cause he’s banged up a little” – Tom’s words, having put hawthorne on the horse’s foot, round a fire, in the dark. With the main character feeling out of place etc.
o The line – but the receipt of the delivery I almost missed!
– When Smith saw the horse in the mist (didn’t need to be in the mist)
o Cool intro
– The kid fighting when the horse is ‘incorrigible’ – they have a similar past
o Drawing parallels between the characters
– When the horse and rider keep going forever and riding riding riding
o They are as one – an example
– Red and the soup – mirrors the economy and America’s story
o The parallels
– When Red sees Red on the first main race – and then they realise they have to train the jockey as well…! “Son, what are you so mad at?” And the books are the visual key.
o When someone (Howard) asks the question that’s unasked til now – Howard really sees him, and subsequently the books bring it home
– When all the crowds are there to support ‘the Biscuit’
o Became a moment in relation to the ‘infield’ – a representation of the American people
– Sam Howard giving away the horseshoes, where the trainer needs them
o Not too sure on this one
– The owner inside the private area, the trainer outside – maintaining separation even though they’re a team
o Visual counterexample
– He’s blind in one eye – but Howard says it’s fine (even though he lied) – you don’t throw a whole life away just cause he’s banged up a little (quoting Tom’s words back to him)
o Living metaphor
– I’d rather have a horse like this than a 100 War Admirals.
o Counterexample
– And the announcement – from the train in Albuquerque – didn’t need to be a train…
o Old ways – back to his selling rather than being there for the horse/ kid – which eventually is challenged
– Training in the dark – good for the horse, but also for Red to learn to trust the horse, too
o Living metaphor
– When Howard is playing with the game, you realise the connection he has with Red as a replacement son
o Living metaphor
– Open up the infield – set up from before. Half a day off work – let everyone come enjoy it
o See above – setup/ payoff
– Continuous use of the photos of people during that period rather than live action to show what America was like during that time
o Living metaphor, drawing parallels
– Nice that the final jockey was the one that supported Red even when Red didn’t want the support
o Setup/ payoff
– Another parallel between Red’s leg and Biscuit’s leg – both of them can’t race again
o Living metaphor
– And then Howard brings the horse back home for Red so they can heal together
o Payoff
– And then Biscuit helped Red come back
– Red eating well; another kick start by the birds this time, rather than the engine
– And then he stops eating so much – in training – but George is still the one riding, and Red isn’t happy! “And this, the most unkindest cut of all.” “That’s as much my horse as it is yours.”
o Howard’s final challenge for the change
– “It’s better to break a man’s leg than his heart”. All about the son again. And he still carries the game.
o The wise one – a line of dialogue
– Number 7 (other jockey) gives him the butt view that he needs (overdramatization, I’m sure…!) but they know how the horse ‘works’ “we kinda fixed each other, too”
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Sharon Turns Insight into Action
What I learned doing this assignment is… that it won’t be ‘perfect’ yet, but it’s great to get ideas, and to also find ways to enhance what’s already there to become more profound.
Insight/ New Way
– Action
You cannot avoid your destiny.
– She injures herself – discovers that her older self has had it fixed (something more visible/ hidden e.g. on her face; something like a lost finger e.g. replaced invisibly) that wasn’t immediately visible/ obvious
–
You are drawn to do something in particular in life – you have a purpose. It’s ok to pursue it.
– Trusting her instincts after not doing so – the graphs, the use of the key
– She tries to do something else, e.g. cooking, baking, interior designing, growing plants (they die, but she doesn’t know why) but learns that’s she’s not the greatest at it – always reverts back to what she knows and loves. Same with the other ‘career options’ she pursues for a while
–
You will only achieve what you are meant to do over time – it’s not an immediate thing.
– Growth of bonsai tree
– Exercise
– A tree outside the bunker
– Weeds, the rats, anything that she can notice to take hold after time when she hasn’t been paying proper attention to it – a crevice with water eroding the cave, feeding the rats
–
You must CLAIM your destiny.
– The letter – putting it back together again to read it and action it
– Returning to the bunker when she’s tried to do other things
– Even her other activities give her insight and solutions for her time travel device – it won’t let her go
– She’s only happy when she finally steps up to the plate to do it, wholeheartedly, once and for all, no excuses. This looks like….???
All good things come to those who…. take action and believe.
– Same as above, really
– She sees how little she’s achieved in weeks, until she actually claims what she’s meant to do. What presses the button? The ‘arrival’ of the watch??
– How will it come to fruition without her?!
You can recover from adversity and loss.
– Following the loss of her family – she returns to work and the bunker, to do what she’s meant to do.
– She’s in (emotional) pain, but the more she works, the more the pain lessens.
–
Persistence pays off. Slow and steady wins the race.
– ???
Our place in humanity is pre-ordained, and that is our job in life. Every iota of our being and existence is driven by the past – including our thoughts, feelings, emotions, decisions – even if we think we’re in total control. So relax. And enjoy the ride.
– Comparison of the three versions of events – and their approaches to each version. i.e. Kappa is the most relaxed as she knows how it will end up – to a point!
–
You are YOU. Live yourself to the max.
– Order in meals rather than cooking them
– Working into the night rather than sticking to a routine
– Response to Rats
– What she wears
– How she organises the cannisters
– How meticulous she becomes once she claims her destiny
Follow your heart, not your head to align with your ultimate purpose and happiness.
– The solution on one of her graphs/ experiments
– The rat friend – her head says to get rid, but her heart says no (and thank goodness as Roland does something later which gives her an idea)
– Sigma comes back to the bunker – to finish the job
–
Time is of the essence – use it before it runs out.
– Literally the watch, and the culmination in the final showdown when the device explodes
–
Focus on what you truly want, and it will come.
– She gets clear. And does only that in the end. (see above notes)
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Sharon’s Living Metaphors
What I learned doing this assignment is… that I do automatically build into my script a LOT of these, but it’s worth highlighting them MORE so they become a little more overt and support the key message more. Careful to not become too ‘on the nose’, tho!
Upon second review, I did wonder whether I didn’t do this deeply enough, or explicitly enough. But we’ll see….!
5 Should Work but Doesn’t Challenges
– Thinking with her head, relying on stats – she gets the same results – until she trusts her gut instinct, then she gets a result
– When Beta is still acting old way and not really planning – she knocks herself (Alpha) out to tie her up and get her to stop – and then realises that it didn’t work last time, so why would it this time?
– Disconnecting power should stop the Black Hole – but it doesn’t, it keeps growing
– She wants to document it all and test it etc., but she doesn’t have the time!
– She continues to hide – but she needs to show herself to make sure it’s different to the last time
– She tries to stop the time machine from being made – but that doesn’t work
– She tries to give herself advice before she goes back – but spaghettification ruins that
– She keeps going back to fix it (whatever ‘it’ is) – but the only way to fix it is to go forward
– Kappa tries to break the device, but Omega can fix it (until the last minute)
– Kappa rips up the letter, declares she’s going to live her own life. But then she’s back. Still!
5 Living Metaphor Challenges
– The burning rats – a metaphor for the future of mankind, and also a comparison to the past (of the rats)
– The watch – signifies success! And also damage that will come with it – challenges her to step up and start to claim her destiny
– Appearance of the Silver Cannisters – and what’s she’s needing to do with them, including trust the instructions
– The appearance of Black Hole Hawking Radiation
– Exploding lightbulbs – she must create an alternative solution
– Firing the fire extinguisher elements to stop the fire, but it goes into the black hole instead
– The key/ not being able to get inside, whereas later she breaks in anyway
– She keeps going back to fix it – but the only way to fix it is to go forward
– The spare parts Omega keeps bringing out – it’s all happened before
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Sharon’s Counterexamples
What I learned doing this assignment is… that it’s easy to think you’ve got it when there’s quite a weak version of a possibility. Better to be obvious and straightforward at this stage, I think – and then elaborate when writing the script. So many examples available! Even with a contained script!
5 Question Challenges to an Old Way
– Old Way
o Challenge
– She thinks with her head only
o She’s asked to ‘go with the flow’ when she is forced to investigate the opportunity of the crypt in the first place
– She thinks with her head, and that everyone is against her
o Assumes that everyone is against her – but this is a new setup seemingly built just for her. (Why? Who? Etc. – but the point is that she’s being challenged again to trust and go with the flow.)
– She’s suspicious about everything that’s happening
o Silver Cannisters – has to trust they’re there for a reason – and further, trust to use them
– She doesn’t believe she can do it, she’s not committed
o Her doubt of achievement completely comes into question when Beta appears in front of her
– She has the vision, but no commitment
o Beta must challenge Alpha against making the time machine in the first place
– Alpha and Beta want to STOP the time machine from being made – still thinking with their head
o Kappa must challenge Alpha and Beta to continue making it so that she can save her family and change history
– Alpha, Beta and Kappa are still resisting claiming their destiny
o Omega must challenge Alpha, Beta and Kappa so that she can save the world – her destiny gets bigger and bigger
– Kappa still doesn’t believe her invention will manifest
o Kappa sees Beta arrive – a real challenge to her old ways! Her stuff actually works! But not yet – a real vision of the future…! She manifested it.
– Stick to what you know, in your head. Don’t trust your intuition
o The lightbulbs – keeps screwing them in. Why not manufacture one that doesn’t explode?! A new way. JFDI – seize and claim it. Don’t just think about it. DO IT. Why am I waiting?!
– Faffing and indecision
o Omega’s matter-of-fact JFDI when she throws Alpha back – contrary to Alpha’s faffing and indecision
– Kappa still believes the path of time can be changed with decisions – Kappa’s asking whether Omega knows the future – still not convinced that it’s pre-defined
o Omega knows the future – even she doesn’t want to believe until the last minute
– Kappa continues in the old way (job, thinking, activities, approach)
o A job request/ email asks Kappa whether she wants to entertain/ do the old way – which she finally refuses
5 Counterexamples to an Old Way
– Scattergun approach
o Clear step-by-step instructions as opposed to a scattergun approach
– Faffing, maverick approach
o When Omega introduces clear and calmness and assuredness as opposed to Alpha’s ways, and then Beta has already learned some stuff, too
– Alpha tries anything and everything
o Beta, who questions her maverick approach, and focuses her down to the task at hand because that’s what she’s doing – she has a clear plan for what she needs to achieve
– Alpha only thinks with her head, needs evidence
o Beta shows Alpha how she trusts her instincts more
o Kappa showing Beta further how she trusts her instincts more
o Omega showing Kappa how she trusts her instincts more – but knows that there’s a bigger purpose that drives it all
– Useless at combat, not planned for any of this
o Kappa who’s learned some martial arts – To beat Beta and Alpha – but doesn’t realise she’d have to deal with Omega too
– Almost giving up when the key doesn’t work
o The key to get in – she almost gives up first time, whereas when she’s Kappa, she breaks in. Intensity and intention is there.
– Alpha is not too bothered about the plan – she’ll get there in the end, maybe
o Kappa super-focused on her plan – keeps Alpha focused through leaving the watch etc.
– Alpha faffing and indecision
o Omega’s matter-of-fact JFDI when she throws Alpha back – contrary to Alpha’s faffing and indecision
– Alpha is truthful, trusts everyone
o Omega uses manipulation and lying to get what she needs – Alpha doesn’t. Beta’s starting to, and Kappa more so. JFDI and focus.
– Flapping, chaotic
o Omega is calm, all-knowing, sure. Whereas Alpha, Beta and Kappa are flapping.
– Reacting to the situation
o Omega pre-preps with the knife and other items – Alpha reacts to the situation etc.
– Not a clue about anything
o Omega knows exactly where the Cone is
– Alpha is a picture of innocence
o Omega lies to ensure Kappa does what she needs
– Alpha hasn’t got a plan, nor a real end-game
o Omega is carrying out the plan to the nth degree – including killing Gamma/ Kappa’s family
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Sharon’s 12 Angry Men Analysis
What I learned doing this assignment is… that it can be quite ‘on the nose’ as long as it’s delivered well, and in context. And there are many ways in which to do it!
Old Ways
– Challenges
Setup from the judge – blah blah blah – he sets the tone right from the start.
The accused is young, of no particular origin (I don’t think!)
All in their suits and blazers, even tho it’s hot. Crazy people….!
Open and shut case like this one
– New blood with first time jury service
– Being put on the spot for their own opinions and justification
Sales/ business – can’t help himself – totally not involved in the proceedings – focus and interest elsewhere
– Forced to engage and pay attention – but I don’t think this guy really changes
One guy just wants to get outta there – encourages a vote
– Clarity that they’re deciding about someone’s life, and they shouldn’t make a snap decision
Order with the numbers around the table, ballot, tries to accommodate everyone’s approach; Show you where you’re mixed up. We decided to do things a certain way, I think we ought to stick to that way. Very defensive – removes himself from the discussion.
– One guy presses to hear what the dissenter has to say
– More and more others step in to change the approach – and he is more amenable to it
Maybe it serves him right – the father
– Receives a new perspective of the kid’s perspective rather than the older generations
– Direct challenge from the guy who was defending the older chap
One guy helping the older chap – who also directly challenges the loudmouth.
“Boy oh boy there’s always one.” “You can twist the facts any way you like”
– Calls into question their ‘making it personal’
– The one guy wanted to ensure they had a discussion – consider it’s about someone’s life
– Checking they understand the term ‘reasonable doubt’
“These people” are born liars – racism. People born in slums grow up as slummers in society. Bad breeding.
– If you don’t believe the boy’s story, how come you believe the woman’s? She’s one of ‘them’, isn’t she?
– Someone in the room points out they were brought up in the same kind of environment
– The main guy said he put himself in the shoes of the boy – could they be wrong?? Questioned everything.
He was guilty from the word go, and no-one proved otherwise, someone saw him do it; the entire story was flimsy
– Didn’t have to prove otherwise, burden is on the prosecution
– Accused of being what he is – You wouldn’t really kill me, would you? Showing his true thoughts and feelings
– The racist guy is shamed by the others when he does his outburst. (Prejudice always obscures the truth.)
The facts – take them how they want them to be
– Challenged by undermining their ‘fact-ness’ with doubts, alternative explanations
o A woman saw him – through a passing L-train
o The kid had motivation – no, he’s used to violence, nothing new
o He’s a kid brought up in a bad environment – my kid hit me, I hit him, and I haven’t seen him for two years (someone in the room)
o The whole knife thing – then the other guy bought the same knife, pulling into doubt the undoubtedness
o More depth and detailed thinking
o Looking deeper at the individuals who were testifying, understanding them
o “That’s not the knife, don’t you remember?!”
o The loudmouth argues himself into a corner – re: the old man, “He was confused, how can he be positive about anything?!”
o Testing them with literal activities, walking, remembering, own experiences with the knife
Peer pressure resulted in a guilty conviction – apart from one guy. All try to convince the single guy in their own way.
– Secret ballot – people could say what they actually thought
– Then they shift the persecution to each other
– One guy offered support to continue the conversation when they weren’t 100% convinced
– Then it starts going the other way – ‘there’s room for doubt’
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Sharon’s Old Ways Challenge ‘Chart’
What I learned doing this assignment is that… although I had much of the story elements in the script already, this has allowed me to add a whole new number of layers. #Exciting
– Maverick approach
o Multiple, inconclusive results – but then realises that it’s down to her approach
o The rat – knows it gets the results every time through perseverance
o Uses a non-maverick approach on something really simple – like opening a can of beans – and then applies it to the rest of her work
o The overarching approach to the time machine without considering the consequences in depth
– Keeps options open
o Challenged through overwhelm – gets nothing done. Forced to choose something for a while, and then stick to it
o Makes no progress on anything in particular – realises that she’s going to be here forever! She doesn’t have the time – unless she makes it. And even then, her body will expire before she commits to something in particular
– Scattergun, random approach – see what sticks
o She lets something continue after she’d given up on it – and it makes progress unexpectedly. She should have had the conviction in her beliefs.
o Not enough resources – including time to do it all.
o Exponential graph of return over time – perhaps she does it herself
– Reactive
o The only way her machine will work is if she plans it
o Something about food/ drink
o Or something she wants the rat to do which she has to plan for
o Collecting water/ growing food/ receiving/ ordering food
o Running out of money – she needs to plan way(s) to get more
o Clarity that this is actually about saving the world, and she shouldn’t be making any snap decisions
o Her immediate response to the black hole which doesn’t result in good results…!
– Doesn’t believe it will work
o Things work more and more when she doesn’t expect it to
o She follows her heart on one particular challenge rather than what the results say – then she realises later on that the stats appeared good, but would have petered out whereas her intuition gave the right result
o She time travels unexpectedly when Omega chucks her in
– Entitled – handed things on a plate
o Her experiences of herself take those away more and more
o Realises that, even tho she’s travelled back in time, she still doesn’t have the means to actually do it herself (yet) – she’s got to WORK for it. She’s seen a vision of the future. It’s real. It’s her job to make it real.
– Degrading/ diminutive – puts people down
o Has to admit that someone else’s research provides the breakthrough for her own attempts – doesn’t realise that it’s her own, rebadged with someone else’s name! But it makes her more humble at the time.
– Follows head, not heart
o Follows the stats/ results, but doesn’t get the results. Then follows intuition, gets the results
o Put on the spot when the results are very similar and showing nothing new – she needs to follow her gut
– Rebelling against the ‘flow’
o Doesn’t want to use this basement – why is she here? Then she discovers the chamber, and reverses her decision
o Decides to not use the batteries – but then has to as it causes more problems.
o Finds over time that she’s trusting her intuition more than she used to
– Believes in freedom, free will
o Argues with herself – realises that even that is pre-ordained based on who she is, and hence the decisions she makes! So if she learns creativity and positivity, then that’s what she’ll get
o Realises that intuition isn’t really ‘free will’, but her connection to the ‘truth’ of what’s required of her
– Blinkered
o
– Gives up easily – uncommitted
o Silver cannisters – leaves them in the corridor for a while…? “It’s too hard!” But if she wants the battery power, she’s going to have to move them
o Gets distracted with other opportunities – but keeps getting drawn back to the time machine. (Literally!) The Black Hole brings her back every time.
o She CAN’T give up on getting rid of the black hole – and taking up her responsibility for it
– Takes the easy route
o Uses cheap materials, does the minimum possible – but it results more often in failure rather than success
– Removes herself from picking up the responsibility for things
o There is no-one else that can help – apart from herself
o Anyone else will bring her harm – and the world harm
– Doesn’t believe that it’s her that’s meant to do this – she’s here for something else
o It can only be her in that time, that place, that situation – because SHE created it
o And all the positive stuff she did as Sigma/ Omega in the 20 years post Kappa
– Doesn’t believe that she’ll make it – she can’t. It’s not her that’s meant to do this
o Someone else fails in their activities, that she thought would indeed make it
o She has a dream/ vision that gives her the answer(s) to a particular challenge she’s having
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Sharon’s Profound Ending
What I learned doing this assignment is…. that I’m on the right track, but there are so many layers, and ways in which to enrich it!! #Exciting. Now to hone it down to one solution – but I’m in no rush to do that just yet. 🙂
1. What is your Profound Truth and how will it be delivered powerfully in your ending?
We each have a destiny – which we need to trust and claim it.
The only way Dexter can finish claiming her true destiny, which she knows is right, is to manually control the device when her previous self has broken it.
We understand that by this time, she has been claiming her destiny all along. Every decision she made contributed to her destiny.
I think there needs to be something which someone else can appreciate/ understand/ take away from that last action. Somehow. Or set up from Sigma’s activities.2. How do your lead characters (Change Agent and Transformable Characters) come to an end in a way that represents the completed change?
Alpha (and earlier Dexters) have changed to become Sigma/ Omega. Simples!
Alpha is maverick, Omega is focused
Alpha is head-driven, faithless, Omega follows her heart, faithful
Alpha gives up easily, Omega has Perseverance3. What are the setup/payoffs that complete in the end of this movie, giving it deep meaning?
Setup – Black Hole; Payoff – it’s blown out/ traversed
Alpha has become Omega
The Letter
The Time machine – a failure; actually a success
Alpha does the bare minimum, takes the easy routes; Omega does what is needed (i.e. manually follows through with the device when she knows it will kill her)4. How are you designing it to have us see an inevitable ending and then making it surprising when it happens?
Omega uses the manual device – even she could not foresee this particular final ending, and so could not forestall it. So everything she’s done, she’s manipulated or responded to the situation, but she has to trust at the end, her final action. But she’s had an awesome life.
Perhaps there are two timelines – Kappa thinks that Omega was on the ‘old’ one, and she’s on the new one, but in fact, there’s only one.5. What is the Parting Image/Line that leaves us with the Profound Truth in our minds?
Brainstorm:
– She’s claiming her destiny – is this the letter-writing, when she first sits down?
– A line: “I never intended for any of this to happen. But it did. And it will. And it was my job to claim it.”
– The image of the family
– Fleeting images of her life (what we know)
– Her sitting down at her equipment to do what she wants to do – with purpose. And enjoyment.
– A line: “I love what I do. I should never have tried not to.”
– A line: “Relax into who you are. Allow it to happen. Stop trying to ‘fix’ it. You know what needs to be done. And that’s ok. Make and allow it to happen.”
– Maybe Omega thanks Kappa for her life. Rather than crying. Finally she knows the truth, and the ending is inevitable. She welcomes the externalisation of spaghettification, as it’s the only way her time machine will work. But, of course, no-one will ever know.
– Image of Reverse-spaghettification – you can’t change the course of time. You must MAKE the course of time. The Law of Potential. Which takes time. Time is of the essence. And we run out of time – we can’t create more time.
– Image of black hole nothingness. = Life is precious.
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Sharon’s Connection with Audience
What I learned doing this assignment is…. that there are multiple ways in which to achieve this, some of which I hadn’t really considered overtly before. Some additional useful prompts!
– TRANSFORMATIONAL CHARACTER
o A. Relatability
§ Ever had your home destroyed?
§ Being forced to do something you don’t want – by an external force
§ Recognising something for what it is
§ NOT recognising something for what it is
§ Prized possessions – in particular a laptop…!
§ Being scared in a new place
o B. Intrigue
§ The mystery around why she’s at the crypt
§ What she’s doing there
§ Who made it happen etc.
§ And also why she doesn’t have any friends, it seems
o C. Empathy
§ The fire
§ Being forced to do something she doesn’t want to do
§ Excitement at new opportunities
§ The Rat – her only ‘friend’
o D. Likeability
§ Taking care of the rat
§ Her creativity
§ Her lightness in a dire situation
– CHANGE AGENT
o A. Relatability
§ She’s in a dire situation – and there’s no way out
§ She’s trying to take care of her younger self (kinda family), but her younger self insists on being a problem
§ She has a family that she’s lost
§ A life that she’s ‘lost’
§ She’s been through the mill (is going through, still)
o B. Intrigue
§ What is her plan – and why
§ Who is she, anyway?
§ Has she fixed the Black Hole situation?
o C. Empathy
§ Caught between a rock and a hard place
§ Appreciating what she has actually achieved
o D. Likeability
§ Taking care of her younger selves – in the best way she can
§ Her desire to NOT expunge the world…! And save it
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<div>Sharon’s Transformational Structure</div>
What I learned doing this exercise is…. that this is where the gems are – doing the work and the depth. So much more story was found doing this exercise – I’m very excited!
Transformational Logline: A maverick,
non-believing scientist….must stop her wayward experiment from devastating all
mankind… by forging and claiming her destiny completely.THE CHANGE AGENT
– Omega/ Future Dexters
o Vision – that life has been pre-ordained, and destiny is set. Time is linear – the timeline can not be changed because every single iota of life will define the future.
o Past Experiences that fit that vision – she’s tried changing the past so many times, but here she still is!
THE TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER(S)
– Alpha, etc./ Past (Present) Dexters
o She is literally at the beginning of Omega’s journey.
o Her beliefs are ‘freedom, free will’ – the opposite of where Omega really ends up
MM Structure (I want to revisit the ‘escalating’ challenges, although I think it works…)
MM #1 – Pages 1-15 – Our hero’s status quo, her ordinary world, ends with an inciting incident or “call to adventure”, introducing the story’s main tension.
Opening: Someone tries to blow up Alpha.
Inciting Incident: The fire. She follows strange instructions into isolation – safety or not?
Forced to go into isolation.
Discovers Cannisters – Uranium.
Rats.
Her peers ridicule her – she thought they were her friends, but are not.
Dead rats.
She’s going to build the Time Machine in isolation. That’s the vision.
By Page 10: Alpha wants to create her time machine to prove everyone wrong.
But someone’s wants to stop her.
Turning Point: Call to Adventure. – But someone’s trying to stop her.
CHANGE AGENT: Omega
TRANSFORMATIONAL CHARACTER: Alpha, Beta, Kappa, Gamma, etc.
OLD WAYS: Maverick, scattergun, entitled, degrading/ diminutive, thinks too much, thinks she’s got total free will
THE VISION: A fully working Time Travel Machine – Claiming her Destiny.
CHALLENGE: Being forced to go into isolation
WEAKNESSES: Under duress. Maverick approach. Ignorance. Second-guessing herself.MM #2 – Pages 15-30 – Our hero’s denial of the call, and his gradually being “locked into” the conflict brought on by this call.
Power issues.
Failure of simulations.
Someone’s inside with her. But she can see no-one.
Delivers cannisters – someone puts note under door for power solutions – should she trust it?
A hidden force puts barriers in her way.
Power surge – but without connecting up the source.
Something happens – power outage.
Tries to put in place more security.
More freshly fried rats. – Dinner? (Well, that’s dinner sorted.)
Finds the older watch. But it’s bashed it doesn’t work properly.
First Turning Point: Alpha finds something that shouldn’t be there – from the future. Now she knows she’s onto something that WILL work. She must continue. The prize is too big!
Turning Point: Locked in. – Something is his world has come from the future – it works! He’s got to keep going, no matter what. The prize is too big!
CHANGE AGENT: Future selves are causing both preventative and assistive forces. They force her down a particular path.
OLD WAYS: Rebelling against the obvious/ what seems right – the ‘flow’. Maverick, scattergun approach. Entitled. Blinkered.
THE VISION: The Time Machine completed
CHALLENGE: Power, someone’s there to stop her
WEAKNESSES: Pride. Wanton ambition. Faithless. Uncommitted. Blinkered – too focused on the goal to see what’s going on around her. Second-guessing herself.MM #3 – Pages 30-45 – Our hero’s first attempts to solve this problem, the first things that anyone with this problem would try, appealing to outside authority to help him. Ends when all these avenues are shut to our hero.
She tries to do it without outside help, tries to stop the person stopping her, but can’t find her. Stop her getting in, hiding more, going deeper under cover, telling no-one. Becomes more methodical in her attempts to figure out the Time Machine solution, plus determine who is trying to stop her.
Someone is stealing her data/ interfering in her work.
She is poisoned.
The experiment surges for no good reason.
Finally submits to connecting the power.
Someone’s there, but they won’t come out. But they haven’t killed her – yet.
Someone’s at the door – then she’s accosted. Attacked!
Power drop, and an explosion, unexplained.
A rescue, unexplained. Definitely two other people now. What do they want?!
Fire of her equipment – but the fire goes into the centre of the room. Bizarre.
Spots the Black Spot. Confirms with another fire extinguisher. Oh shit.
Turning Point: Standard Ways Fail. – She’s doing it – but is now heading towards also creating a black hole! And she can’t stop it!
CHANGE AGENT: All the future Dexters in their own way – she’s a pawn to their demands.
DOUBT:
VISION: Still a fully working time machine
CHALLENGE: The Time Machine has negative repercussions.
WEAKNESSES: Clearly a failure – and she doesn’t understand what it is, or how to fix it. Fear. Disbelief that it’s her fault.
OLD WAYS: Refusing to believe what’s in front of her. Blinkered (it can’t be me – someone else is causing this). Tries a number of ways to fix it – random, scattergun approach. Totally relies on her head for a response. Second-guessing herself.
NEW WAYS: She starts trusting that her gut response is right. The Black Hole demands attention – she can’t ignore it. Assertive. Proactive.MM #4 – Pages 45-60 – Our hero spawns a bigger plan. She prepares for it, gathers what materials and allies she may need, then puts the plan into action – only to have it go horribly wrong, usually due to certain vital information the hero lacked about the forces of antagonism allied against her.
And then it becomes apparent that Beta wants to stop her. Beta doesn’t want it to happen, finally nearly kills Alpha.
Alpha realises too late that her actions are actually causing the Black Hole and tries to go back on it.
Assailant escapes – what will Alpha do about it?
Doubts herself – starts to delete code. But can’t bring herself to do it.
Someone in the corridor
Plus more uranium.
Intro Beta. New plan to detach power. Reduce the Black Hole. Work together.
Then another surge – it must be another arrival.
Then Alpha’s memory fails.
Midpoint: Alpha goes back to become Beta. Her opposition becomes herself.
Turning Point: Plan Backfires. – It flashes white because she went back in time.
CHANGE AGENT: In total certainty on what’s happening
DOUBT: No control over what happened – what DID happen?!
OLD WAYS: Self-doubt, resorting to head actions, not heart. And external forces rather than thinking and trusting herself. Maverick/ scattergun approach. Reactive.
VISION: She still wants the Time Machine to work. It must do!
NEW WAYS: Follows heart, not head. Open to ‘the wider picture’. And her part in it. Takes a little responsibility. Doesn’t know how it happened, but there’s the evidence! Focus commencesMM #5 – Pages 60-75 – Having created his plan to solve his problem WITHOUT changing, our hero is confronted by his need to change, eyes now open to his own weaknesses, driven by the antagonist to change or die. He retreats to lick his wounds.
Alpha is Beta – gone back two weeks in time. Damaged watch – doesn’t know why. Missing ‘time’.
Newly dead rats.
Beta needs to stop the black hole from happening, so she’s opposing herself (Alpha),
Beta tries to come up with ideas on how to stop Alpha – but she’s not yet committed.
Tries the poison – tests the theory of causality.
Something else arrives in time.
Uranium debacle.
Discovers the reason she didn’t die of poisoning.
Black sack – accosts her younger self. To no avail. Rescuer makes her black out.
More uranium – when?!
Gamma comes out of hiding as Beta tries to convince then kill Alpha – Gamma’s trying to keep the machine working and have more power – why? (so that it creates a new possible existence). She plans to go back in time to save her family (tho we don’t know that yet).
Intro herself to Alpha – tries to prevent by being actively open about decoupling the device.
Convinces Alpha to help Beta – this seems like a new plan.
Until Omega makes an appearance and throws Alpha back.
And then Kappa rushes in with new instructions – until she goes to white. She still wants to STOP it at this point. But with a longer-term plan….?
Turning Point: The Decision to Change. – Beta goes back to become Gamma – longer-term, more constructive plan.
VISION: A working Time Machine – still. Claiming her Destiny.
OLD WAYS: Maverick/ scattergun approach; disbelief in her abilities; freedom, freewill; keeping options open. Still following head, not heart.
NEW WAYS: Taking responsibility, realising her part in it. Recognising progress due to focus and commitment.
CHALLENGE: Sent back in time again – with no change to the outcome.
WEAKNESS: Can’t believe that she hasn’t made a difference. Failure to accept the potentially obvious.MM #6 – Pages 75-90 – Our hero spawns a new plan, but now he’s ready to change. He puts this plan into action… and is very nearly destroyed by it. And then… a revelation.
Gamma has to have a clear plan. No more maverick. Otherwise it won’t come to pass.
Gamma realises she has TIME to devise a better plan this time. And she takes it. A plan to stick to. A plan to stop the time machine’s development.
The key materialises when she couldn’t get out before – how? Why? Someone must just open it – she declares, with her new plan, that she’s going to purchase the place. Somehow.
She goes away to put it into place.
TIME PASSES (9 years)
Something happens that makes Gamma change to become Kappa. – Secret as to why. She’s in pain, every single thing she does. But she MUST do it. She’s claiming her destiny.
She (re)builds the machine to the point at which we first saw it. Sets everything up for Alpha’s arrival.
Beta arrives – and Kappa receives a timely reminder. Coincidence? Is she being manipulated?
Kappa stops Beta’s efforts to stop the time machine’s development – she remembers exactly what’s going to happen and when. Kappa helps Alpha. Because she wants to get her family back.
But she still needs to stop the Black Hole. Can she do both?
Something new arrives (BOOM!) (the ‘Fire hydrant’ – also with fire. She remembers the accosting – and the near killing – she has to save herself (Alpha) from Beta!
She saves Alpha – and she needs her help.
Sees Quasars – and Omega. But she’s on fire! Gotta put it out.
Goes for Omega – she’s clearly behind all of this. And then she doesn’t care – reconnects the power.
Beta goes back to become Gamma – but so far the plan to stop herself hasn’t worked.
Kappa tries to stop Beta from going back (of her own accord) but can’t – and her photo is gone too.
(She’s got to have her own book of notes etc.? That perhaps makes it through to the other side)
Second Turning Point: Kappa is the red herring – she wants to make the Time Machine work, but then destroy it before the Black Hole. But Omega comes out of hiding – she’s the one ensuring the Black Hole goes ahead.
Turning Point: The ultimate Failure. – Back to where he was AGAIN. Nothing’s changed. Or has it? Gamma is now a new person, with new information. And a new drive – humanity. And Kappa comes to light in earnest – she’s the one that’s been pulling the strings. Why?! Why must the Black Hole happen??
VISION: A working time machine with no issues
HOPE then DISCOURAGEMENT
OLD WAYS: Still pushing back against the inevitable. Can’t ‘trust’ her heart. Reactive in the moment. Discouragement in the moment, when it doesn’t work.
NEW WAYS: The detailed plan which she sticks to, followed heart, not head. Committed. Taking responsibility.
CHALLENGE: Confronted with her other selves that tell her to NOT trust her heart, and that she shouldn’t claim her destiny.
WEAKNESSES: Fear of failure. Still wants to change things, go against the ‘flow’. Can’t accept how things are.MM #7 – Pages 90-105 – The revelation allows our hero to see victory, and he rejoins the battle with a new fervour, finally turning the tables on his antagonist and arriving at apparent victory. And then the tables turn one more time!
Kappa still wants her family back – Omega tries to convince her of taking it forward.
Kappa tries to take control of the situation still – even down to the cone. But nil points.
Kappa rushes Omega, seems to have victory with the broken device.
But to no avail.
**She realises that the only way to survive is for the black hole to blow itself out. Come out the other side.
Needs to be more here? More crisis – clarity on how Omega is different to Kappa (and previous). Why her plan is working. Trusting her heart.
Crisis: Gamma is desperate to give Beta the notes, but Kappa is there to ensure things go according to a single timeline – including knowing that Gamma has to go THROUGH the Black Hole – and herself in her updated time machine that she can’t reveal until… ALL 4 attempt to do their things, and the Black Hole is losing power!
Turning Point: Apparent Victory. – yes! They’re stopping the black hole!
VISION: A working Time Machine with no black hole – Dexter claiming her destiny as the maker of a time machine
BETRAYING CHARACTER: Kappa – still can’t ‘go with the flow’
OLD WAYS: tries to change the future by using the time machine
NEW WAYS: Follows heart. Committed. Taking control of her future – manifesting it in the long term.
CHALLENGE: Actually Omega, coming back to correct her self-made problem. But Kappa undermines her attempt – again.
WEAKNESSES: Stubbornness. Uncertainty. Faithless, still. Untrusting.MM #8 – Pages 105-120 – The hero puts down the antagonist’s last attempt to defeat him, wraps up his story and any sub-plots, and moves into the new world he and his story have created.
Omega explains her plan – and how she got here. But Kappa still tries to get her family back.
Frustration from Omega about Kappa – she STILL hasn’t learned the reality. But it will soon become clear. Even though she was hoping to avoid this eventuality.
Of course – Omega finally claims her full destiny when the device finally smashes.
But no! They must go through the black hole! And out the other side – Gamma manages to come out the other side – she now knows that fate is fate, and the only way it can all happen again is if she goes back to make it happen. As she gets closer to the machine incarnation, she knows it has to be.
Climax: Black Hole
Resolution: Gamma emerges the other side – with limited knowledge. Omega is gone. Now what will Gamma do? What’s her belief?! That history is determined – and you can’t change it. No matter what you do. So claim it. Live to the full. You only get one chance.
Turning Point: New Status Quo. – But in actual fact, Omega self-sacrificed. She steps into the quantum accelerator…
NEW WAY: Claimed and accepted destiny. Can’t – and won’t – escape it. Follows her heart. Takes responsibility to the full. Manifesting her future. The past dictates the future. In absolution.
PROFOUND TRUTH: You have a destiny. Claim it!
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Sharon’s Three Gradients
What I learned doing this assignment is…. that these gradients provide the belief within the story for the character. (And don’t shoe-horn the story into them!!)
Gradient: Desired Change
Excitement
– Dexter
is intro’d to her new lab – almost forgets the circumstances that put her here.
Should she accept what’s offered her (i.e. press ‘go’ on the computer or not) –
need something more metaphorical– C: Having to trust that what’s on offer is a ‘good’ thing – risk.
– W: Maverick/ scattergun approach, doesn’t always
result in the positive progress it needs. IgnoranceDoubt
– Black
Hole discovery – and Beta seals the doubt. Starts to believe that time travel
is has negative repercussions – and she shouldn’t be doing it.– C: Black Hole discovery
– W: Her work is NOT successful in ultimate terms –
with an horrific side-effect. She’s a failure.<div>Hope
– Following her family’s death, she realises that her work could change history – and her situation. The work she’s doing is needed after all.
– C: Going back farther, creates extra time, and additional resources (self) to fix the issue and/ or stop it.
– W: She believes the past can change, even when
she hasn’t. Relies on data, which doesn’t actually help her</div><div>Discouragement
– But
the work is what caused the Black Hole – and she finally understands what impact
she’s had on the world. She has to stop it – and can only do so by stopping her
own actions. She mustn’t follow her dreams.– C: Confronted with her future self – that’s telling her to stop it! And trust her heart/ intuition
– W: Can’t believe that history is ‘fixed’ and
tries to change it.</div><div>Courage
– Omega
decides to correct her self-made problem (Black Hole). She returns to the spot,
knowing that her return will likely make it worse. And then she sacrifices
herself to save her earlier incarnations, and to save the world.– C: Going back in time to fix the Black Hole – finally.
– W: Over-confident – she still believes she can
survive the situation.</div><div>Triumph (and Loss)
– Gamma/Sigma
finally knows her destiny, and embraces it – all of it. And fixes the Black
Hole situation.– C: Attacked by herself over and over.
– W: Dead.
</div>
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Sharon Axcell’s Lead Characters
What I learned doing this assignment is… that the oppression itself is part of the profundity.
LOGLINE:
A maverick, non-believing scientist must stop her wayward experiment from devastating all mankind by forging and claiming her destiny completely.
THE CHANGE AGENT
– Omega
o Vision – that life has been pre-ordained, and destiny is set. Time is linear – the timeline can not be changed because every single iota will define the future.
o Past Experiences that fit that vision – she’s tried changing the past so many times, but here she still is, exactly as predicted/ expected!
THE TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER(S)
– Alpha
o She is literally at the beginning of Omega’s journey.
o Her beliefs are ‘freedom, free will’ – the opposite of where Omega really ends up
THE OPPRESSION
– The Time Machine/ Black Hole
o It seems to open up opportunities, but in fact it’s following strict rules, which eventually portray/ enforce the transformation
o Linear Time itself.
THE BETRAYING CHARACTER (they revert back to the old ways at the worst possible moment)
– Kappa (the one that goes through the Black Hole to the other side)
o She looks as though she’s going to trust Omega, but can’t – which just proves the evolution of the situation even more. i.e. she thinks she’s acting spontaneously, but it’s exactly what happened last time.
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Sharon Axcell’s Transformational Journey
What I learned doing this assignment is that I pretty much always knew where I wanted to end up, but couldn’t figure out the best place to start. Now I realise how easy it is – start with the opposite of where you want to end up!
Tell us your logline for the transformational journey.
A maverick, non-believing scientist….must stop her wayward experiment from devastating and all mankind… by forging and claiming her destiny completely.
Tell us what you see as the Old Ways.
– Tries anything to learn something new
– Scattergun, random approach – see what sticks
– Reactive
– Doesn’t believe it will work
– Entitled – handed things on a plate
– Degrading/ diminutive – puts people down
– Follows head, not heart
Tell us what you see as the New Ways.
– Committed
– Having Faith and ‘knowing’
– Trusting
– Values human life
– Knows to do ‘what’s right’
– Assertive and proactive
– Follows heart, not head
– Making her future – manifesting it
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Sharon Axcell’s First Three Decisions
What I learned doing this assignment is… that I won’t get it right first time, but best to start. And then it will evolve. Trust in the process!
1. What is your profound truth?
You have a destiny. Do it!
2. What is the change your movie will cause with an audience?
To not shy away from their destiny in fear, but take action and claim it.
3. What is your Entertainment Vehicle that you will tell this story through?
METAPHOR – Black Hole Time Travel
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Sharon Axcell’s analysis of Groundhog Day
What I learned: Messages appear all the way through the story, but they don’t have to be ‘in your face’. But sometimes, they do! Don’t shy away from it. They can be in lines, or actions. And the gradient doesn’t necessarily have to be linear.
1. What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?
Going from living a boring, unfulfilled, disdainful life (prima donna) to being the one who positively affects all those around him with his unselfish love.
Going from being egocentric (“I know you’re egocentric, it’s your defining characteristic”), bitter and twisted, uninspired to grateful and inspiring.
For the audience: From being self-centred and ego-centric to embracing love – give and you shall receive.2. Lead characters:
o Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
Rita.o Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
Phil.o What is the Oppression?
Punxutawney/ Groundhog Day/ his situation.3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
Phil’s so obnoxious, we want him to change. And we see people around him putting up with him – we can relate to both how they feel, but also the drudgery of what Phil is doing on a daily basis – so we do empathise somewhat.
4. 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.
Phil: Egocentric, selfish, bitter to being in love, with Rita, self and life.5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
– Egocentric
– Selfish
– Manipulative (being what he thinks others want to get what he wants)
– Frustration/ despair/ anger
– Desperation/ Crazy (death is better than living this over and over)
– Resignation
– Appreciation for others (forced)
– (He thinks) He loves Rita for who she is – actually loves her selflessly.
– He does what HE wants. He helps others – embraces the day. And others. And learning stuff. Reading, instruments. Giving to others. Learning to love himself first.
– Learns that what he does doesn’t necessarily affect things – i.e. the dying guy.
– Attracting others with his actions. Undertaking doing things that make HIM feel good. Loving himself.
– He’s the shining light. Popular.6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
“Old Way” is challenged by repeating situations, and Phil having to deal with them again and again – and so he changes and evolves the way he deals with them.7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
The wakeup song – I got you, babe.
On Day 3, when Phil talks to the two guys he previously dismissed in the café. They’re in the bowling alley, and they have a profound discussion about “What would you do if you were stuck in one place, and nothing you did mattered?” “That about sums it up for me.”
And then Phil drives them – his first unselfish behaviour, really.
When he first learns to appreciate the daily re-do. But it’s all selfish, superficial stuff.
He sits with Rita, “So what do you want out of life anyway?” The point is, he’s asking her for the first time.
When Phil tries it on with Rita, learning what she wants, and then it STILL doesn’t work to get her into bed.
All those slaps! (midpoint)
When they’re playing cards/hat in the room.
And when he realises he’s having a good time just ‘being’ with Rita in the room.
When he tries to keep the old guy alive. And fails.
Profundity during his presentation. Engaged, learned, humble.
When he does things that make him feel good, then it attracts others, and everyone’s happy. He’s a shining light.8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
“It’s Groundhog Day!”
“I had a really good day (description). Why couldn’t I get that day, over and over?”
“You know, some people describe this glass as half empty, and others as half full. I think you’re a glass is half empty kinda guy, am I right?”
“What would you do, if you were stuck in one place, and nothing you did mattered?” “That about sums it up for me.”
“What would you do if there were no tomorrow?” “There would be no consequences, we could do whatever we wanted!” “That’s true! We could do whatever we want!”
“You make choices, and you live with them.”
Rita’s line: “The wretch, concentred all in self, living, shall forfeit fair renown, and doubly dying shall go down to the vile dust from whence he sprung, unwept, unhonoured, and unsung. Sir Walter Scott. (The Lay of the Last Minstrel, 1805.)
“You could never love anyone else Phil because you’ll never love anyone but yourself.” “That’s not true, I don’t even like myself.”
When they’re playing card/hat in the room – “Is this what you do for eternity?”
“Maybe it’s not a curse. It just depends on how you look at it.”
“No matter what happens now, or for the rest of my life, I’m happy now. Because I love you.”
“You know what today is? Today is tomorrow.”
“Is there anything I can do for you? Today?”9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
They all come together in one situation that moves the story on into the new world.
The snow – is a key change.
The lack of people outside the window – no Groundhog Day “tomorrow”.
The presence of Rita now in his life – and how she now feels about him.
His popularity because of what he’s done that day, and who he (hopefully) now is.10. What
is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Happiness is love. Yourself first, and also embracing others with no
expectations, and they will love you, too. Give, and you shall receive. -
Hi all!
Sharon Axcell here, from the UK. I guess you could call me a veteran of Hal’s classes, but this is one I’ve been meaning to do for a while.
I’ve written a fair number of scripts, improving all the time. Mainly Sci-fi now, with female leads.
I hope to elevate ALL my screenplays, as I tend to write quite ‘clinically’, and I want to make them (spookily enough) more profound and message-delivering, life-changing. Simples!
Something about me? I’m a rocket scientist by education. 🚀
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Sharon Axcell
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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.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.
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Sharon’s Intentional Lead Characters
My vision: I am writing multiple movies that I love and that I can direct, and that people want to invest in and want me to direct. And they are successful, and bring more success.
What I learned from doing this assignment is…. That I can still hone in better on the uniqueness. But careful not to overthink!
Character 1: Vara
Logline: My protagonist is a brilliant inventor who battles with technology – and her feelings – to cure her husband’s paraplegia.
Unique: Technologically brilliant, but unable to tap into feelings and what really matters. Flaw is that she believes she can express her feelings through her technology.
Character 2: Bernard
Logline: My other protagonist is a paraplegic who helps his wife grieve and let him go.
Unique: Paraplegic who doesn’t hold a grudge against his wife, but has had enough.
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My vision: I am writing multiple movies that I love and that I can direct, and that people want to invest in and want me to direct. And they are successful, and bring more success.
What I learned from doing
this assignment is…. that things can always evolve and change – and that’s ok! Ps: Outlines RULE OK.TITLE: The Trouble With Love
CONCEPT: Guilt
drives a medical scientist to try cutting edge theta brain wave therapy to help
her husband regain feeling in his body, except the healing he needs is not her
science but her love (SCI-FI DRAMA).CHARACTER STRUCTURE: Either Protagonist/ Antagonist or Rom-Com/ Buddy Movie
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I, Sharon Axcell, agree to the terms of this release form.
GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of Writing Incredible Movies, 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, through social media, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, videos, 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.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.
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Hey y’all!
I’m Sharon Axcell from the UK. I’ve written probably 15-20 scripts (feature-length) plus who knows how many shorts. Varying quality – hopefully increasing along the way….! Optioned screenwriter, but I’m hoping to get more of a consistent ‘Recommend’ from coverage. And hence more of my projects actually produced.Something unique, special, strange or unusual? I’m a rocket scientist by education…!
Have fun, all!