[Sherwen Moore]

Assignment 16: Profound Map Version 3

What I learned from this assignment is you can go on and on making corrections and changes. Also, I see the method in the things we did to try and make our scripts move forward with some type of depth.

TITLE: Badge Without A Gun
WRITTEN BY: Sherwen Moore

1. What is Your Profound Truth?
Equal Justice for All

The law needs to be just for all!!

2. What is the Transformational Journey?
Old Ways: Fed up with law enforcement. Cynical about how the justice system operates. Thought the FBI was racist, unfair and corrupt. No tolerance with local police.
Journey: By chance, Mark comes into Al’s life by disrupting a dinner date. Al is visiting a student who gets shot by the police while they’re having dinner and Al’s life changes.
New Ways: Al worked with a rookie policeman (Mark) to resolve and learn from an intricate and complex crime. He became more tolerant, less critical, empathetic and willing to share skills he perfected in the Agency.

Transformational Logline:

A disenchanted former FBI agent finds he is still needed in law enforcement. A dinner engagement inadvertently entangles him with a rookie cop and everything changes.

Change Agent (the one causing the change): Mark, Charles
Transformable Character(s) (the one who makes the change): Al
Betraying Character (if you have one): Tom. Tyrone
Oppression: Local Police Department, FBI

A. Relatability – They Are Us!

It’s 2010!! We start with Mark and his wife, daughter, family and friends at a police graduation. The speeches are great and everyone in attendance is proud the cadets are now policemen. Al has just quit his job as a FBI agent citing racism and discrimination. He decides to write a grant working with students in the inner city.

B. Intrigue

People that don’t think they know each other are intricately woven into a unique crime that connects them all together.

C. Empathy

Mark is somewhat naïve about big city streets and policing. Al has problems trying to teach young students.

D. Likability

Mark has good intentions about upholding the law and justice. Everybody thinks his boy-next-door personality is wonderful and forthright. People admire the way Al challenges America to live up to its potential; be fair and just for all. A student makes him their mentor.

A. The “Forced Change” Emotional Gradient

A. Emotion: Denial
B. Action: Al quits his job with the FBI. He lost confidence in law enforcement. Looking at reasons why his job is no longer good for him.

A. Emotion: Anger
B. Action: Al complained about staff and how the system treats white criminals different from black criminals- mad and frustrated about the different standards.
A. Emotion: Bargaining
B. Action: Al writes a grant and gets money to work with inner city youth. Al wants to teach young boys about the unjust legal system and how stay out of trouble.

A. Emotion: Depression
B. Action: After several invitations by Charles (one of his students), Al finally agrees to come over for a family dinner. Charles mother owns a catering business while his oldest brother, Tyrone, is selling drugs.

A. Emotion: Acceptance

B. Action: During dinner Tyrone runs into the house trying to escape Mark (the policeman) and his partner Tom. Mark is blamed for shooting Charles, in the hallway, and all hell breaks out in the house. Al is there and his law enforcement skills surge to the forefront as he learns more about himself and the law.

Gradient 2. The Action Gradient
Setup: Despite the fact that top brass makes a pitch to keep him and address some of his issues, Al feels the racism is too deep and he’s got to try something different.

Journey: He packs up and moves closer to his fiancée who is a tv journalist. He wants to do outreach work in the inner city.
Payoff: Al gets a grant and the students like him despite the fact that he lacks some teaching skills. One student, Charles, has adopted him as a mentor. He likes Al so much; he invites him to dinner for the 4th of July.

Gradient 3. The Challenge / Weakness Gradient

Challenge: Al wants to start a career change working with young people.
Weakness: – Unsure how to prepare young people for life choices and racism.
Challenge: Needs to adequately interpret white privilege; feels it’s unfair. Weakness: He was unable to effectively address institutional racism with the FBI.

Challenge: Inexperience working with young boys in a classroom.

Weakness: Al lacks classroom management skills. Challenge: Can he save both brothers for different reasons or just focus on Charles? Weakness: Unsure how to reach out to Tyrone, because he makes more money than Al.

Challenge: Al adapting to a sudden change from a peaceful dinner to Charles getting shot. Weakness: Al tries to hold on to his old ways of thinking as the situation heightens.

Mini Movie 1

Status Quo and Call to Adventure

The year is 2010. Fresh out of the police academy Mark’s vision was to be a great policeman. Al quits his job with the FBI to pursue a career in education/outreach. Emotional Gradient: Excitement

Mini Movie 2

Locked Into Conflict

Mark has no experience but his partner is a seasoned veteran named Tom McMillian. Tom, who makes no bones about being proud of his white heritage, uses his badge to do as he pleases in the black community. Mark knows he didn’t sign up for this.

Emotional Gradient: Doubt

Mini Movie 3 Hero Tries to Solve the Problem

Tom offers Mark a chance to make extra money. Mark is skeptical, but agrees. Tom gets money from medical doctors to sell medicinal marijuana. Tom introduces Mark to Tyrone. Tyrone is a bag man who gets the money from them and drops it off at a site. Tyrone, tired of Tom, decides to keep the money ($750,000). They find Tyrone. Mark tries to talk to Tyrone. Tyrone shoots in the air to discourage Mark but Mark follows him into his apartment anyway.

Emotional Gradient: Hope

Mini Movie 4- Hero Forms a New plan

Charles, Tyrone’s younger brother is having dinner with his mentor, Al, and his mother. Charles hears his brother running up the stairs and leaves the table with a spoon in his hand. Mark and Tom are chasing Tyrone; they think Charles has a gun too and shots are fired in the stairway leading up to the 2nd floor. Tyrone escapes out the window of his bedroom using a bungee rope. Tom banged his knee leading up to the front entrance and in pain. Mark panics as Al and Lily come to Charles. Mark still has his gun drawn and breathing heavy. Al uses his FBI skills and physically disarms Mark as they call for an ambulance and sort things out.

Emotional Gradient: Discouragement

Mini Movie 5

Hero Retreats and the Antagonism Prevails

Al tells Lily to wait in the hallway for the ambulance and leads Mark into the apartment to figure things out. Al makes sure all doors are locked. Mark advises Al if he returns the gun he will not serve too much time in jail for taking the gun. Al chose a different plan and decides to hold him captive. Mark now has to tell Al what really happened.

Emotional Gradient: Courage

Mini Movie 6 -Hero’s Bigger Better Plan

Tom has to call for back up because shots were fired and he’s hurt. Al realizes the police will be coming and handcuffs Mark to the radiator. They talk about the botched plan and how Mark really feels about police work, racism, trust, law enforcement and family. Ambulance picks up Charles and Lily and police surround the house. Al begins to trust Mark and thinks of a plan for his escape leaving Mark unharmed.

Emotional Gradient: Courage 2

Mini Movie 7

Crisis and Climax

Police calls the house to negotiate Mark’s release. Al knows this will not end well for him. Al remembers when Charles showed him his bedroom, Tyrone had built a trap door in case there was a shooting or to store drugs. Police decided to rush the apartment on all sides. They used tear gas and busted in the front door and the back door. They only found Mark handcuffed to the radiator but found Tyrone (without the money) hiding outside in a basement next door. They arrested him.

Emotional Gradient: Courage 3

Mini Movie 8

New Status Quo

Tyrone took the blame for holding Mark captive. He got instant ‘cred’ in the neighborhood and in jail. Mark would not cooperate with police about his kidnapping. Tom confessed to part of the clandestine operation but left out enough information to cast doubt on Mark as a corrupt cop. Who was financing the whole operation beyond the doctors? FBI was called in because one of their own was last seen at the house. They decided to ask for Al’s help rather than confused the case. Al did his investigation and learned that Mark’s father (Hedge Fund Manager) was the lead in this crime. Mark didn’t know. But Mark’s dad didn’t know his son was part of the money movement. Al discovered that Tom really shot Charles but was exonerated by the state’s attorney office. Mark took the fall for his dad as lead source of financing, illegal drug sales, distribution and weapons. This affected Al and how he viewed law enforcement, race relations, family loyalty and interpreting justice in America.

‘Emotional Gradient: Triumph

A. Challenge through Questioning

Must a first year officer be guided in how to handle people when policing the streets?

Could mistakes by a rookie get a veteran officer killed?

Is it true most young black students don’t do well in school because they’re not interested and full of sport and play?

What are the law enforcement stereotypes?

Are most police shootings in the black community justifiable?

Is the first option to cover up a police shooting?

How do you make the best out of a first reaction gone badly?

B. Challenge by Counterexample

Mark must understand how he fits in enforcing the law.

If Tom cannot be trusted, Mark needs a plan B.

After Mark is rescued from being held captive, he will not identify any suspects or corroborate with police.

Mark reacting to his captive situation had a domino effect on Al.

Al’s conversion was his ability to actively listen to Mark, then reach back and help.

When Al changed some of his old thoughts, releasing the ego was key.

Al encouraging creative thinking was a resource for positive outcomes for youth.

C. Challenge by “Should Work, But Doesn’t”

Tom and Mark are supposed to meet Tyrone at 3:30 for a money drop. Tyrone purposely delays the pickup and arrives at 4pm. After he gets the money, he decides to keep it.

Al tells his students, “When you are out in the world, question everything…don’t hold back if you really want to know something.” A student says, ”Mr. Allen why do white people hate us so much?” The bell rings and Al was left to ponder.

Tom thinks of the perfect situation is to get rid of Mark; rush the apartment, kill the hostage taker with their guns and kill Mark with his gun, then say the hostage taker killed Mark and they killed him. The plan was set. They rushed the apartment and discovered only Mark handcuffed to the radiator. They had to change their plans but find Tyrone next door in the basement.

D. Challenge through Living Metaphor

Tom is telling Mark how he handles black people. He tells Mark about Tyrone and sees his friends. “Yo bro, have you seen my man Tyrone? One of his friends replies, “Yeah, he said he was going to the store to get you a ham sandwich.” They all started laughing as Tom gave a goofy smirk. Mark didn’t laugh because he knew they were referring to Tom as a pig.

Charles guarantees Al will enjoy his mother’s cooking because it’s the Fourth of July. “I guarantee Mr. Allen, you come to my house for dinner, I bet $5 you’ll get dinner and a show”.

The supervising officer now has a direct dial to the phone in the house where the hostage situation is in progress. The supervisor ask, “…sir what would you like for me to call you?” Al quickly replied, “…I’m so glad you asked. …call me Mr. Wonderful”.

The negotiator says, “Mr. Wonderful, why don’t you consider giving yourself up. We got everybody here…let’s think about everybody in the neighborhood. They want peace, they want to celebrate tonight, they want to enjoy the fireworks, and they don’t want this. …come on, let’s do this okay?” Al quickly responds, “No, sir, as a matter of fact, I’d suggest you get a snickers bar because we’re gonna be here for a while.”

8. How are You Presenting Insights through Profound Moments?

A. Action delivers insight

Mark catches an alderman having sex with an underage teenager. Tom tells him, “We have to let him go.” The politician is well connected and the girl ditched school. Tom tells Mark, “It’s complicated.” Understanding the twists and turns of the law

Al has the students analyzing some brain teasers. In the process of that, the students share some teasing strategies of their own taking the class to a whole new level. Sometimes, the students are the teachers.

Mark’s mother (Penny) learns that her caterer’s son was shot by the police while having dinner. She was appalled to say the least. The police will not release the name of the policeman. Mark normally tells his mother everything about the job, but not this time. Big city/small world

Al escapes but learns that Mark is being set up for the ‘fall’ by Tom. Al decides to reach back and help Mark clear his name. When peeling an onion there’s always another layer

B. Conflict delivers insight

Tom says that a well-connected politician must be let go. Mark disagrees and goes back forth about the law, caught in the act and the best one, ‘no one is above the law’. Tom says, “If you make this collar, you will never make code blue.” (fellow officers will never trust you).

Al confides in his older brother and tells him everything that happened on the 4^th of July. His older brother argues about getting involved after escaping. “Let white privilege set him free, not a black man.” Al disagreed because he knew Mark could not trust CPD.

.

The police department was trying to figure what to say to the press. They had two options before they went into the building. Go with Tom’s story; A) label Mark a corrupt cop or B) Tell the press Tyrone killed Mark before they could save him. The dilemma was if things did not go as planned. There were too many ‘what ifs’ for CPD. Using Mark as a scapegoat.

The press is advocating the freedom of information about who the police arrested in the hostage crisis. Tyrone confessed that he held Mark hostage. Could they trust Tom’s story? Mark wasn’t talking and Tyrone’s story didn’t make sense. Was Tyrone really Mr. Wonderful? Nobody was fully cooperating. When is a story is minus the lies.

C. Irony delivers insight

Insight: When freedom ain’t free, what’s next? Irony: Reasons: doing the wrong thing for the rights reasons. Mark arrest a rapist, but had to let him go because he is a very powerful politician who advocates for the police and could ruin his career.

Insight: A story needs more than a missing clue to make it a news story. Irony: Credit: Getting credit for something you didn’t do. Mark’s mother (Penny) advocates for peace and justice at her women’s club meeting two days before her son is accused of shooting her caterer’s son.

Insight: There’s usually a deeper motive why people do what they do. Irony: Doing something amazing but the credit goes to another and getting credit for something amazing that you didn’t do. Mark is disarmed and held captive (by Al, aka Mr. Wonderful). By the end of the hostage situation Al escapes, Tyrone is arrested nearby, admits to the crime and takes credit for being Mr. Wonderful.

Insight: How do you keep a secret in a big city/small world? Irony: A win that is really a loss. The media is looking all over for unique leads to the hostage story. Al’s fiancée has the story ‘fall into her lap’ with firsthand knowledge of what happened but can’t release it to nobody.

Insight: Tables turned on both sides. Irony: Love/ Hate. Al quits the FBI because he cited racism and white privilege then, with their assistance, helps a rookie white policeman clear his name from corruption.

9. What are the Most Profound Lines of the Movie?

Pattern A: Height of the Emotion

Pattern B: Build Meaning Over Multiple Scenes

Al has taken Mark’s gun and handcuffed him to the radiator. Mark is denying that he shot Charles. Al doesn’t believe him. They go back and forth. Tension is building. Al asks him, “What is this about?” Mark angrily says,

“I’m not your enemy, stop talking to me like I’m white, talk to me like I’m you. Al says, “You’re not me.” Mark shakes his handcuffs defiantly and with pent up rage and humiliation,

“I am you”

Meaning: Mark wants Al to know, in this moment, he is actually experiencing what it feels like to be falsely accused and handcuffed like a black man.

Mark talks to Al about how Tom, disrespects Tyrone. In spite, Tyrone decided to nix the deal and get back at Tom by keeping the money.

Mark says, “A man can just take so much disrespect, badge or no badge.”

Meaning: Disrespect has its limits even with the police.

Al is visiting Charles in the hospital. Charles wants to talk about the white policeman that shot him. He thinks about the question in class that Al never got a chance to answer.

Charles: “Mr. Allen, why do they hate us so much?” Al says, “Racism is like a mustard stain on a white shirt: it’s hard to get it out.”

Meaning: It’s not easy to explain and not easy to eradicate.

Al has done some research and basically has all the facts. Al tells Candice, his journalist fiancée, everything. Al says, Write the story like the naked truth and a lie went on a blind date”

Meaning: Expose everyone by telling the truth.

Mark has reconnected with Al and they both know what really happened and what needs to happen. Al says “karma will be our equal justice”

Meaning: Equal justice will come one way or another.

10. How Do You Leave Us With A Profound Ending?

A. Deliver The Profound Truth Profoundly

Equal Justice is simple to interpret, hard to enforce as long as there is white privilege. Karma fell at the expense of Mark even though he motivated Al by practicing what he preached.

B. Lead Characters Ending Represents The Change

Al was reenergized to solve an intricate case by providing evidence of Mark’s innocence in Charles shooting but exposing Mark’s father. He was also influenced to start a wrongly convicted program in addition to his mentoring program. Mark never implicated Al as ‘Mr. Wonderful’ and took the responsibility for the crime committed by his father.

C. Payoff Key Setups

Answers to: Will we find out who really shot Charles? How did Al escape from the apartment? How did the captive story end? Who was really behind the medicinal drug scheme? How did the scheme get exposed? Mark asked Al to help him free his name and solve the case but at what cost?

D. Surprising, But Inevitable: Mark’s family thought they were living a righteous life, but the father was not and it cost him his son. Al is doing something he loves using all his skills.

E. Leave Us with a Profound Parting Image/Line

Mark is doing time for the love of his father. Al vows to stay in touch and offers Mark a job working with him (when he gets out). Al feels bad but Mark feels resilient. Mark says to Al, “Karma is our equal justice.” They shake and hug. Mark says, “Hey Al” Al turns around, Mark whispers, “ I’m am you” Al leaves the prison.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Sherwen Moore.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Sherwen Moore.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Sherwen Moore.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 15a Subject: Height of the Emotion What I learned from this assignment is that profound lines can be very subjective. This might be the only assignment where it would be very helpful for me to get insight from the facilitators if I’m doing this right or not. It seems very important to the script.

1. Al has taken Mark’s gun and handcuffed him to the radiator. Mark is denying that he shot Charles. Al doesn’t believe him. They go back and forth. Tension is building. Al asks him, “What is this about?” Mark angrily says,

“I’m not your enemy, stop talking to me like I’m white, talk to me like I’m you. Al says, “You’re not me.” Mark shakes his handcuffs defiantly and with pent up rage and humiliation,

“I am you”

Meaning: Mark wants Al to know, in this moment, he is actually experiencing what it feels like to be falsely accused and handcuffed like a black man.

2. Mark talks to Al about how Tom, his partner, badly disrespects Tyrone. In spite, Tyrone decided to nix the deal and get back at Tom by keeping the money.

Mark says, “A man can just take so much disrespect, badge or no badge.”

Meaning: Disrespect has its limits, even with the police.

3. Al is visiting Charles in the hospital. All indications are that Charles is going to live. Charles wants to talk about the white policeman that shot him. He thinks about the question in class that Al never got a chance to answer.

Charles: “Mr. Allen, why do they hate us so much?” Al says, “Racism is like a mustard stain on a white shirt: it’s hard to get it out.”

Meaning: It’s not easy to explain and not easy to eradicate.

4. Al has done some research and basically has all the facts. Al tells Candice, his journalist fiancée, everything. Al says, “Write this story like the naked truth and a lie went on a blind date”

Meaning: Expose everyone by telling the truth.

5. Mark has reconnected with Al and they both know what really happened and what needs to happen. Al says “karma will be our equal justice”

Meaning: Equal justice will come one way or another.

Assignment15 b Building Meaning over Multiple Experiences

What I learned doing this assignment is that there are lines that can be used more than once and have significant meaning each time. The challenge is how profound are the lines? Do they make a difference in the script? Once again, this is definitely an exercise where dialogue with the facilitator could be helpful if requested.

“Karma will be our equal Justice”

1. Al is leaving his job with the FBI citing discrimination and white privilege. Another black FBI agent talks with him as he is packing up to leave, wishing he would stay.

2. Al is talking with his brother about helping Mark because he is being set up by his partner to take the ‘fall’. Mark’s brother is saying not to get involved since he escaped without them arresting him at the scene. Al reassures his brother that everything will be alright.

3. Al is at a meeting downtown to clear Mark from the allegations made. Proof is entered that frees Mark but there are other extenuating circumstances he must deal with.

“A man can just take so much disrespect, badge or no badge.”

1. Mark talking to Al about how Tom disrespects Tyrone.

2. Mark visiting Tyrone in jail.

“Wisdom is more than just knowing something”

1. Guest speaker at Mark’s graduation from the police academy

2. Mark to his wife about the streets

3. Mark to Al trying to figure things out.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Sherwen Moore.

[Sherwen Moore]

Assignment 14 Profound Moments

Sherwern Moore Delivers Irony!

What I learned doing this assignment is irony can be very relevant in your screen play and can be obvious or subtle depending on where it is and the type of affect you want it to have. I am also aware that some people don’t identify it as well as others…maybe conflict can help it along. Don’t know if I did a good job trying to recognize it and put a category on it, but nothing beats a failure but a try.

Insight: When freedom ain’t free, what’s next? Irony: Reasons: doing the wrong thing for the rights reasons. Mark arrest a rapist, caught in the act, but had to let him go because he is a very powerful politician who advocates for the police and could ruin his career.

Insight: A story needs more than a missing clue to make it a news story. Irony: Credit: Getting credit for something you didn’t do. Mark’s mother (Penny) advocates for peace and justice at her women’s club meeting two days before her son is accused of shooting her caterer’s son.

Insight: There’s usually a deeper motive why people do what they do. Irony: Doing something amazing but the credit goes to another and getting credit for something amazing that you didn’t do. Mark is disarmed and held captive (by Al, aka Mr. Wonderful) after he allegedly shoots Charles while running up the steps after Tyrone. By the end of the hostage situation Al escapes, Tyrone is arrested nearby, admits to the crime and takes credit for being Mr. Wonderful.

Insight: How do you keep a secret in a big city/small world? Irony: A win that is really a loss. The media is looking all over for unique leads to the hostage story. Al’s fiancée is a journalist who has the story ‘fall into her lap’ with firsthand knowledge of what happened but can’t release it to nobody.

Insight: Tables turned on both sides. Irony: Love/ Hate. Al quits the FBI because he cited racism and white privilege then, with their assistance, helps a rookie white policeman clear his name from corruption.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Sherwen Moore.

[Sherwen Moore]

Assignment 13

Sherwen Moore

What I learned from this assignment is that conflicts can have many faces but under further scrutiny there are more than able resolutions that fit the situations.

New Way/Insight to be delivered: When freedom ain’t free, what’s next? Mark wants to be free to enforce the law on whoever breaks the law. Conflict: Difference of opinion. Delivery: Mark is alerted to a rape in progress. He arrest an alderman caught in the act. Tom says that he is a well-connected politician and they have to let him go. Mark vehemently disagrees and they go back forth about the law, arrests, caught in the act and the best one, ‘no one is above the law’. Then Tom says, “If you make this collar, you will never make code blue.” (…meaning his fellow officers will never trust him).

New Way/Insight to be delivered: Tables are turned on both sides: Al decides to help Mark clear his name and get rid of his new reputation as a corrupt cop. Conflict: Falsely accused. Delivery: Al confides in his older brother and tells him everything that happened on the 4th of July. His older brother argues with Al about getting involved after escaping. He says to Al, “Let white privilege set him free, not a black man.” Al disagrees because he knows Mark and he knows Mark is being accused of something he didn’t do.

New Way/Insight to be delivered: How do you keep a secret in a big city/small world? The press is advocating the freedom of information about what policeman was held hostage. Conflict: Dilemma. Delivery: The police department was trying to get their act together; what to say to the press. They felt they had two hostage rescue options before they went into the building. Go with Tom’s story; A) label Mark a corrupt cop and things went crazy. Or B) Rush the apartment and kill Mark with his gun and then kill Tyrone. They would tell the press Tyrone killed Mark before they could save him. The dilemma was what if things did not go well with either plan. There were too many ‘what ifs’ that created problems for CPD.

New Way/Insight to be delivered: How do you keep a secret in a big city/small world? The people in the neighborhood see the police arrest Tyrone hiding two doors down in the basement dwelling’s backdoor. Conflict: Stakes raised. Delivery: The press is advocating the freedom of information about who the police arrested in connection to the hostage crisis. Tyrone confessed that he held Mark hostage but was skimpy on details why he did it and the shots fired. He did say Mark was trying to kill him but shot his brother instead. He got instant ‘cred’ in the neighborhood and in the jail. Police knew something was missing but couldn’t afford to get the story wrong. Could they trust Tom’s story? Mark wasn’t talking and Tyrone’s story didn’t make sense. Was Tyrone really Mr. Wonderful? Nobody was fully cooperating.

New Way/Insight to be delivered: Teaching innovation techniques. Conflict: Plan goes wrong. Delivery: Al’s listening exercise goes awry. Students start ‘signifying’ talking about each other and about their mothers and grandmothers. Al intervenes as two students blame each other for the possible havoc.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Sherwen Moore.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 12a

What I learned from this assignment is the self-examination of my insights: did it match the actions that I tried to deliver.

Insight/New Ways: When freedom ain’t free, what’s next? Mark wants to be free to enforce the law on whoever breaks the law.

Action: On the way to lunch Mark receives an anonymous call (but he kind of knows who it might be) about a rape happening. It is close to their eatery so they stop to check it out. It is a small art gallery. Tom goes around the back. Mark walks in and hears faint sounds. He follows the sounds. He accidentally catches an alderman in the act of raping a young underage teenager in the back of the gallery. Mark reads him his rights and handcuffs him. Tom tells him, they have to let him go. This politician is well connected and the girl ditched school. Tom tells Mark, “It’s complicated.”

Insight/New Ways: Tables are tuned on both sides.

Action: After holding Mark hostage, Al escapes but learns that Mark is being set up for the ‘fall’. Al decides to help Mark clear his name and get rid of his new reputation as a corrupt cop.

Insight/New Ways: Mean Streets are not that mean. Mark gives 3 young teens a chance to stay free of arrests despite Tom’s request to arrest them.

Action: This was not a traffic stop, but because Tom was angry at Tyrone, he wanted stop any black kid walking the streets. He decided to pull over three teens and let Mark to do the dirty work. Mark had found a small quantity of marijuana in one of the youth’s pocket. He put it back in his pocket and told the young people “…be careful and be safe.” One teen said, “thank you sir.”

Insight/New Ways: Teaching innovative techniques. Al has an A☻ha moment.

Action: Al has a mental exercise that he feels will invigorate the young people. The students are analyzing some brain teasers. In the process of that, the students share some teasing strategies of their own taking the class to a whole new level.

Insight/New Ways: How do you keep a secret in a big city/small world?

Action: Mark’s mother (Penny) learns that her caterer’s son was shot by the police while having dinner. She was appalled to say the least. The police will not release the name of the policeman involved in the shooting. Mark normally tells his mother everything about the job, but this time he thought different, at least until he clears his name.

[Sherwen Moore]

Assignment 12 part 1

What I learned doing this assignment is to look for profound moments. Some may suggest that profound can be subjective, but if you find them, they must have the potential to be of major influence in thought or action from the thought.

Sherwen Moore- some profound thoughts from the movie, Seabiscuit

1. Red as a child was having dinner with his family. His father was reciting poetry from Dickenson. He paused for Red to finish a line…’We never know how high we are until we are called to rise…’

That was profound for me because of two quick thoughts; 1) Many are called, few are chosen. and 2) Sometimes, you don’t know just how great you are until it is time to show it.

2. Tom, the trainer was talking about Seabiscuit: “…you want something that is not afraid to compete.”

That was profound to me because a lot of people unknowingly play not to lose or they are intimidated by competition. Part of winning is not being afraid to compete.

3. Tom the trainer was talking about the greatness in Seabiscuit: “It’s not in his feet, it’s here…(patting his heart).

That was profound to me because you can have great talent or you can be very gifted, or practiced 12 hours a day but when everything is on the line and there’s no ‘heart’, there’s no victory. Also, what makes it so important is that you can’t measure how much heart is in the talent (that includes horses).

4. Charles was starting out his business as a bike dealer and later a car dealer in San Francisco: “I wouldn’t spend $5 on the best horse in America.”

That was profound because he later invested a lot of money in Seabiscuit. Maybe he was thinking cars were the new Iron Horse. But using a profound line to support this one: Ain’t nothing like the real thing…”

5. A guy describes Tom as different (weird). After watching him nursing a horse, Charles visits Tom at an undisclosed location. Charles asked him why he was working to rehab an injured horse.

Tom replied, “Because I can…you don’t throw away a horse just because he’s bang up”…and to that point toward the end, when Red and Seabiscuit were injured, Red said they would rehab, ‘Brick by Brick’.

That was profound to me because it is extremely hard to make a comeback from a serious injury. If you have the knowledge to do it and understand healing, that is remarkable.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Sherwen Moore.

[Sherwen Moore]

Assignment 11

Sherwen Moore -I learned that this method really gets to the core of how we can think as a writer and what you can do if you want something profound to happen.

Old Way: Gullible Rookie ‘in the hood’. Metaphor Challenge: Tom is telling Mark how he patrols in the black neighborhood and how to handles black people. He tells Mark about Tyrone and sees his friends walking down the street. He stops them and ask “Yo bro, have you seen my man Tyrone? One of his friends replies, “Yeah, he said he was going to the store to get you a ham sandwich.” They all started laughing as Tom gave a goofy smirk. Mark didn’t laugh because he knew they were referring to Tom as a pig.

Old Way: Charles wants to make Al feel comfortable coming over to his home. Metaphor Challenge: Charles guarantees Al will enjoy his mother’s cooking because it will be the fourth of July. Charles says, “I guarantee Mr. Allen, you come to my house for dinner, I bet $5 you’ll get dinner and a show”.

Old Way: Police strategizes an intervention to a hostage situation Metaphor Challenge: The block is full of police. They have the house surrounded. Mark radios in that he is being held hostage but he is alright. It is the 4th of July and the police feel they have to solve this hostage problem before it gets dark. The supervising officer on site says, ‘We got to get Mark out of there before this turns into a ‘blow up’ celebration.”

Old Way: Supervising officer tries to talk down the hostage taker. Metaphor Challenge: The supervising officer now has a direct dial to the phone in the house where the hostage situation is in progress. He now talks to the person holding the hostage. The supervisor ask, “…sir what would you like for me to call you?” Al quickly replied, “…I’m so glad you asked. …call me Mr. Wonderful”.

Old Way: In a hostage situation be tough but be cautious and give yourself a chance to win. Metaphor Challenge: Supervising negotiator suggested to Mr. Wonderful to surrender and give up now so this is easy for everyone. No one gets hurt and everyone gets to celebrate tonight. The negotiator says, “Mr. Wonderful, why don’t you consider giving yourself up. We got everybody here…let’s think about everybody in the neighborhood. They want peace, they want to celebrate tonight, they want to enjoy the fireworks, and they don’t want this. …come on, let’s do this okay? Al quickly responds, “No, sir, as a matter of fact, I’d suggest you get a snickers bar because we’re gonna be here for a while.”

Old Way: Educating poor youth is not easy: Should Work, But Doesn’t’ Challenge: It is his first day of class. Al had an ice breaker for his students to begin his lesson. The ice breaker was about listening to a message, passing it on and at the end; determining if the message is the same or close to it. The initial message was, ‘I saw a couple of ducks in a pond’. By the time the message got to the last student, the message was, ‘He didn’t see a couple of drunks, but yo mama did.’ The students laugh but Al knew he had to be even more creative.

Old Way: Gullible rookie: harass the teens in the street. : Should Work, But Doesn’t’ Challenge: 3 black teens are walking down the street. Tom tells Mark to stop the teens, search them and if anyone has drugs, arrest them. Mark finds a bag of marijuana on one of the teens. He puts it back in the teen’s pocket and says, “They’re clean… you guys be careful out here.” Tom swore they were gang members who always have drugs on them. Mark said, “Maybe…but not today”.

Old Way: Disrespect people you protect. Should Work, But Doesn’t’ Challenge: Tom and Mark are supposed to meet Tyrone at 3:30 for the drop off of money to be delivered at an undisclosed site. Tyrone is angry at Tom because he treats him bad around his friends. Tyrone has had enough. He purposely delays the pickup and arrives at 4pm. Not only that, after he gets the money from Tom, he decides to keep it for himself.

Old Way: Educating poor youth and making minimal progress. Should Work, But Doesn’t’ Challenge: Al tells his students, ‘When you are out in the world, question everything…don’t hold back if you really want to know something.” There is silence for about ten seconds, a student asked, ”Mr. Allen, why do white people hate us so much?” Two seconds later, the bell rang, and just as quickly as it was said, the students were off to another class and Al was left to ponder.

Old Way: Arrogance + Injustice = racism in law enforcement. Should Work, But Doesn’t’ Challenge: Tom tells a lie on Mark and blames him for everything. Truth of the matter, Tom really shot Charles; Mark fired his gun but missed. Tom thinks this is the perfect situation to get rid of Mark and blame it on the hostage taker. If they rush the apartment, kill the hostage taker with their guns and kill Mark with his gun they could say the hostage taker kill Mark and they killed him. The plan was set. They rushed the apartment and discovered only Mark was in the apartment handcuffed to the radiator. They had to change their plans. To complicate matters, they later find Tyrone 2 doors down in the basement dwelling entrance of the back door and no one else.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Sherwen Moore.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Sherwen Moore.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 10

What I learned from this exercise is to look at the old ways this movie shapes as reality, questioned those ways and see if it really addressed the counter example of the challenge in a real way.

1. Old Ways: Gullible rookie ‘in the hood’

Challenge: Must a first year officer be guided in how to handle people when policing the streets?

Could a rookie get a veteran officer killed? Counterexample: Mark must understand how he fits in working with Tom and enforcing the law. Mark pulls over some young white guys buying drugs in the black neighborhood. He discovers it’s his friends. He gives the driver a ticket (misdemeanor) for trying to avoid them but doesn’t tell Tom, his partner, that they are his friends. Tom, surprised he gave the driver a ticket because he is white and no one was hurt but Mark calmly says, “… they’re no different. I gave then a break for speeding but they got the ticket for trying to avoid us…” and kept his secret.

2. Old Ways: Drug Dealing and poor people. Challenge: Are all small time drug dealers operating in the street and ‘on the run’? Counterexample: Al opens up information that medical doctors and others are involved in an illegal trade of medicinal marijuana. Mark learned that Tyrone waits for Tom to call him with details for a ‘pick up’ time. Tom, a police officer, was getting money from a group of medical doctors and executives at Merchandise Mart as an investment into selling underground medicinal marijuana for recreational use. The money is given to Tyrone and taken to an undisclosed location where deals are made for large quantities only.

3. Old Ways: Educating our inner city youth and making minimal progress. Challenge: Is it true most young black students don’t do well because they are not interested in school? Is it because they don’t listen and full of sport and play? Counterexample: Al encourages his youth to question everything for the sake of their growth. Al introduces his students to fun creative exercises called, ‘icebreakers’. It is designed to get their attention and focus on the lesson.

4. Old Ways: Law is always right. Challenge: What are the law enforcing stereotypes? Counterexample: Mark, as a hostage, tells Al that sometimes bad times make good things happen. While being handcuffed to a radiator Mark tries to talk Al out of kidnapping him as a police officer. Al shows no remorse. Mark starts talking empathetically about how it feels to be locked up.

5. Old Ways: Deadly force is sometimes necessary in the black community. Challenge: Are most police shootings in the black community justifiable? Is the first option to cover up the shooting? How do you make the best out of a first reaction gone badly? Counterexample: Mark is rescued from the police thinking he will press charges and anyone he identified would go to jail. Mark will not identify any suspects and would not corroborate with the story that the police gave to the press.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 9 Part 2

I learned that this exercise forces me to look at the old ways my story is embedded in and how that helps us look at how this movie moves forward.

Old Ways: White privilege and civil rights don’t mix. Challenge: Al quit his job with the FBI but yearns to make a difference in his community. He writes a grant to create his own job working with inner city youth. <s></s>

Old Ways: Gullible rookie “in the hood” Challenge: Mark must understand how he fits in working with Tom and enforcing the law.

Old Ways: Disrespect the people you protect. Challenge: Mark and Tom learn the hard way that the relationship is strained with Tyrone because Tom doesn’t consider him an equal.

Old Ways: Law enforcing stereotypes. Challenge: Mark, as a hostage tells Al that sometimes bad times make good things happen.

Old Ways: Arrogance +injustice= racism in law enforcement Challenge: Police response to Mark being held hostage is a concern if he is bad for business.

Old Ways: Drug dealing and poor people. Challenge: Al opens up information that medical doctors are involved in illegal trade of medicinal marijuana.

Old Ways: Educating our poor youth and making minimal progress. Challenge: Al encourages all youth to question everything for the sake of their growth.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore –Assignment 9 Part 1

I learned it is very important to show an audience how some people think and how equally important it is to look at challenges as a result of that mindset. How can a different way of thinking affect you? What happens if you are right or wrong and it affects someone’s lifestyle?

12 Angry Men

Old Ways: 12 white men deciding the fate of someone different than them. Challenge: Go beyond the typical way white men judge others in a court of law and society in general. To act like a ‘jury among your peers’

Old Ways: Judging the defendant and not analyzing all the evidence. Challenge: Not to think so quickly because you feel this case is not complicated and the evidence seems so obvious because ‘this is how those people act’.

Old Ways: Quick to draw a conclusion Challenge: Think what if it was you being accused and the jurors were different than you. Be empathetic

Old Ways: Proving your point with the evidence. Challenge: Be open to the evidence having a different angle to it even though it may not initially look that way.

Old Ways: Peer Pressure Challenge: Have courage to be different and stick with your intuition if you don’t agree with what looks like the obvious.

Old Ways: Need to be convinced the person, different than you, is innocent. Challenge: Not to be afraid to hear yourself talk and deal with your prejudices even when it doesn’t make sense.

Old Ways: Stubborn because you think you are right. Challenge: Release your ego. It seems that the older we get the more this becomes a problem.

Old Ways: Thinking time is being wasted. Challenge: Not to have other priorities more important than someone else’s life.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore – Assignment 8

I learned that my story unfolds better if I stick with your format and not outwit myself. Be willing to change (no pun intended)

1. What is your Profound Truth and how will it be delivered powerfully in your ending? Equal justice is for all. Al facilitates a process that is helpful to Mark.

2. How do your lead characters (Change Agent and Transformable Characters) come to an end in a way that represents the completed change?

Al (Transformable Character) comes back to help Mark (Change Agent) with a problem he didn’t know he had.

3. What are the setup/payoffs that complete in the end of this movie, giving it deep meaning?
Set up -Mark is convinced to work an infamous second job.

Pay off -medical doctors give Mark and Tom money to drop off at an undisclosed site.

Set up -Al witnesses Mark mistakenly shoot Charles during dinner.

Payoff-Al disarms Mark in the hallway while mother is in disbelief.

Set up-Mark is embarrassed by a civilian taking his gun and holding him hostage, yet they still share views about race relations, equal justice and a better world.

Payoff -Mark changes Al’s view on law enforcement and how to deal with race relations.

Set up-Mark won’t bring charges against Al or Tyrone.

Pay off-Police has problems trying to solve this case.

Set up-Looks like a cover up because the police can’t find the money that created this.

Pay off-Al learns more about the case from his fiancée who is a journalist.
4. How are you designing it to have us see an inevitable ending and then making it surprising when it happens?

Al and Mark look like a dynamic duo and solve this case of the missing money and discover who is behind Tom, Tyrone and the doctors. Who they discover surprises everyone.

5. What is the Parting Image/Line that leaves us with the Profound Truth in our minds?
Mark sends a message to Al: “If I want you to believe in me, then I must practice what I preach”

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 7

I learned about how important my characters personalities are in a story. Also, how important intrigue and empathy can be in a movie.

Characters to create a connection: Mark Schilling and Alphonso Allen.

Relatability

Mark Schilling – Family man with a wife and a daughter, still has two parents in love and actually wants to enforce the law the right way. Mark is proud working as a policeman, taking care of his wife and daughter and receiving support from family and friends. He is a young man with high morals and values. Alphonso Allen is engaged to a television journalist. He quit his job with the FBI citing institutional racism and bias toward white privilege. He wrote a grant and created his own job working with junior high school students.

Intrigue

Mark’s partner, Tom McMillian introduces him to a second job as a money carrier for some medical doctors. The problem is he can’t explain, to his wife, what this job really is about. What kind of extra job is this? What does moving their cash to an undisclosed site have to do with medical care? Why won’t Mark press charges even though Tyrone admit to kidnapping him? Why won’t Mark press charges against Al? How did Al escape the police after they had him trapped in Tyrone’s apartment? Where is the doctor’s money and how did it disappear? Did Charles die? Who is really behind this money scheme?

Empathy

Mark is naïve about the inner city streets and the black community. Unfortunately, Mark shoots a child (Charles) thinking his life was in danger because he thought Tyrone was trying to kill him. Mark is embarrassed that he was disarmed and held hostage by someone he thought was a regular civilian. Al has problems teaching junior high school students. Al reluctantly accepts a dinner invitation from Charles who thinks of him as a mentor. He regrets coming over for dinner because he witnesses Charles accidently get shot by Mark. Now, the police are considering Al as a suspect even though he didn’t shoot the child.

Likability

Mark has good intentions and now has the power to enforce the law and do his fair share in upholding justice. His friends consider him a hero. He wants to do what’s right for him and his family and gain the respect of his co-workers and the community. He even got respect from Al, Tom and Tyrone. Al wants America to live up to its commitment for all citizens; equal justice. He is highly skilled, very intelligent and wants to do right and have the appropriate responses should he be challenged or disrespected. Integrity is very important to him.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 7

I learned about how important my characters personalities are in a story. Also, how important intrigue and empathy can be in a movie.

Characters to create a connection: Mark Schilling and Alphonso Allen.

Relatability Mark Schilling – Family man with a wife and a daughter, still has two parents in love and actually wants to enforce the law the right way. Mark is proud working as a policeman, taking care of his family and receiving support from family and friends. He is a young man with high morals and values. Alphonso Allen is engaged to a television journalist. He quit his job with the FBI citing institutional racism and bias toward white privilege. He wrote a grant and created his own job working with junior high school students.

Intrigue

Mark’s partner, Tom McMillian introduces him to a second job as a money carrier for some medical doctors. The problem is he can’t explain, to his wife, what this job really is about. What kind of extra job is this? What does moving their cash to an undisclosed site have to do with medical care? Mark will not press charges even though Tyrone admits to kidnapping him. Al escapes the police after they have him trapped in Tyrone’s apartment. The doctors’ money disappears and only Al knows what happened.

Empathy

Mark is naïve about the inner city streets and the black community. Mark unfortunately shoots a child (Charles) thinking his life was in danger because he thought Tyrone was trying to kill him. Mark is embarrassed that he was disarmed and held hostage by who he thought was a regular civilian. Al has problems teaching junior high school students. Al reluctantly accepts a dinner invitation from Charles who thinks of him as a mentor. He regrets coming over for dinner because he witnesses Charles accidently get shot by Mark. Now, the police are after Al even though he didn’t shoot the child.

Likability

Mark has good intentions and now has the power to enforce the law and do his fair share in upholding justice. His friends consider him a hero. He wants to do what’s right for him and his family and gain the respect of his co-workers and the community. He even got respect from Al, Tom and Tyrone. Al wants America to live up to its commitment to all citizens. He is highly skilled, very intelligent and wants to do right and have the appropriate responses should he be challenged or disrespected. Integrity is very important to him.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore – Assignment 6
I learned from this assignment that an emotional Gradient can happen to you while doing this. For the first time I felt doubt about if I am doing this correctly. Did I understand the directions? I thought I could focus on any major character I wanted. A little confused but this is my story.

Today, your assignment will be to do these four steps:

1. Pick the primary character we will go on the journey with. It may be the Change Agent (Gandhi) or the Transformational Character (Groundhog Day and The Matrix).
My primary character to go on the journey with is the rookie policeman named Mark Schilling.
2. Send them on the Transformational Journey (represented by your Transformational Logline) as you build your STRUCTURE of this story.

A former agent quits the Agency to become a community activist but finds out he is still needed in law enforcement. A dinner engagement inadvertently entangles him with a rookie policeman in an intricate case that includes a hostage situation.

My Change Agent is Mark Schilling, (desired change) a rookie policeman in his mid-20s.

Transformational characters; Alphonso Allen , Mark’s father, Tyrone, and Tom McMillian

Mini Movie 1

Status Quo and Call to Adventure

The year is 2010. Fresh out of the police academy Mark’s vision was to be a great policeman that helps keep the community safe. We start with his wife, family and friends at the graduation. The speeches are great and everyone in attendance is proud the cadets are now policemen.

Emotional Gradient: Excitement

Mini Movie 2

Locked Into Conflict

Mark has no experience but his partner is a seasoned veteran named Tom McMillian. Mark is assigned to work with Tom who makes no bones about being proud of his white heritage and uses his badge to do as he pleases in the black community. Mark listens and observes what policing can be it like as Tom gives his philosophy and interacts with the community.

Emotional Gradient: Doubt

Mini Movie 3 Hero Tries to Solve the Problem

Tom offers Mark a chance to make extra money. Mark is skeptical, but agrees. Tom gets money from doctors to sell medicinal marijuana. Tom introduces Mark to Tyrone. Tyrone is a bag man who gets the money from them and drops it off at a site. Their only job was to transfer money from the medical doctors to the site where all transactions occur. One day Tyrone, tired of the way Tom handled him, decided to keep the money. It was $750,000. They cruised in the neighborhood and find Tyrone. Mark tries to talk to Tyrone. Tyrone shoots in the air to discourage Mark but Mark follows him into his apartment anyway.

Emotional Gradient: Hope

Mini Movie 4- Hero Forms a New plan

Charles, Tyrone’s younger brother is having dinner with his mentor, Alphonso Allen and his mother. Charles hears his brother running up the stairs and leaves the table with a spoon in his hand. Mark, chasing Tyrone, thinks Charles has a gun too and shoots him in the stairway leading up to the 2^nd floor. Tyrone escapes out the window. Tom banged his knee leading up to the front entrance and he’s in pain and can’t help. Mark panics as Alphonso and Lily come to Charles aid in the hallway. Alphonso uses his law enforcement skills and disarms Mark as they call for an ambulance and sort things out.

Emotional Gradient: Discouragement

Mini Movie 5

Hero Retreats and the Antagonism Prevails

Alphonso tells Lily to wait in the hallway for the ambulance and leads Mark into the apartment to figure things out. Al makes sure all doors are locked as Mark tells Al what happened and advises him to return his gun and Al will not serve too much time in jail for taking his gun. Al chose a different plan and decides to hold him hostage. Mark now has to tell Al what really happened.

Emotional Gradient: Courage

Mini Movie 6

Hero’s Bigger Better Plan

Tom has to call for back up because shots were fired and he is hurt in front of the house. Al realizes the police will be coming and handcuffs Mark to the radiator. They talk about the botched plan and how Mark really feels about police work, racism, trust, law enforcement and family. Ambulance picks up Charles and Lily and police begin to surround the house. Al begins to trust Mark and thinks of a plan for his escape leaving Mark unharmed.

Emotional Gradient: Courage

Mini Movie 7

Crisis and Climax

Police calls the house to negotiate Mark’s release. Al knows this will not end well for him. He remembers during his tour of the house, Tyrone had built a trap door in their bedroom in case there was a shooting or to store drugs. Police decide to rush the apartment on all sides. They used tear gas then they busted in the front door and the back door. They only found Mark but they found Tyrone (without the money) hiding in the basement dwelling next door. They arrested him.

Emotional Gradient: Courage 2

Mini Movie 8

New Status Quo

No one would suspect Mark or Tom because they are the police. Tyrone took the blame for holding Mark hostage. He got instant ‘cred’ in the neighborhood. Mark would not cooperate with the police about his kidnapping. Tom confessed to the operation but they needed more evidence. A piece was missing. Who was financing the whole operation beyond the doctors? FBI was called in because one of their own was last seen at the house. They decided to ask for Al’s help rather than confused the case. Al learned that Mark’s father was part of the financing. Mark and Al were at the station and had to decide how to enforce the law.

Emotional Gradient: Triumph

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 5:
What I learned from this assignment was to make a decision if your work is forced or desired change. That helps you better understand your story and walk through the steps in your mind a little easier.
1. What is the Emotional Gradient you’ll use? The Emotional Gradient I am using is Forced Change

2. For each emotion of that gradient, tell us the following:
A. Emotion: Denial
B. Action: Allen quits his job with the FBI. He has no confidence in law enforcement. Looking at reasons why his job is no longer good for him.
C. Challenge / Weakness: C- He wants to make a career change but he knows nothing about working with young people. W- Unsure how to prepare young people for life choices and racism.
A. Emotion: Anger
B. Action: Complained about staff and how the system treats white criminals different from black criminals- mad and frustrated about the different standards. C. Challenge / Weakness: C- Unsure how to interpret white privilege but feels it’s unfair. W- Unable to effectively address institutional racism on his job.

A. Emotion: Bargaining
B. Action: Allen writes a grant and gets money to work with inner city youth. Allen wants to teach young boys about the unjust legal system and how to address it.
C. Challenge / Weakness: C-Inexperience working with young boys. W- Can’t get them to behave. Charles is one of his students and thinks of him as his mentor.

A. Emotion: Depression
B. Action: After several invitations by Charles, Allen finally agrees to come over and have a family dinner at the student’s house. He learns that Charles mother has her own business as a caterer but Tyrone, the oldest brother, is selling drugs in the community. C. Challenge / Weakness: C-Can he save both boys for different reasons or just focus on Charles? W- Unsure how to reach out to Tyrone, because he makes more money than Allen.

A. Emotion: Acceptance

B. Action: During
dinner Tyrone runs into the house trying to escape Mark (the policeman) and his
partner Tom. Mark shoots Charles by mistake and all hell breaks out in the
house. Allen’s law enforcement skills
surge to the forefront as he learns more about himself and the law.
C. Challenge / Weakness: C- dealing
with Inexperience of Mark while the situation unravels for the worst. W- Allen
adapting to a sudden change from a peaceful dinner to Charles getting shot,
Tyrone escaping the police and Mark becoming a hostage

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Assignment 4b

Watch and analyze DEAD POETS SOCIETY.

We are looking at this movie from the perspective of the change that occurs for the lead character and the audience.

1. What is the change this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie? The change is about newly hired professor alum that has a very unique style of teaching that captivates the students through his poetry class. The students were accustomed to a regimented, disciplined type of education with specific measurable ways to grade students. Keating was totally different advocating that their learning be about living in the NOW, respecting the past and shaping the future.

2. Lead characters:

– Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change? Keating is the change agent because he is the new teacher with the unique teaching style that challenges the students to, ‘seize the day’.

– Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey? It starts out with about seven students who are really captivated by Keating and they learn about his group, the Dead Poets Society and emulates that group.

– What is the Oppression? The school is the Oppression.

3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
I was lured by Keating’s impetuous wit and his ability to get you to think outside the box. It is a good possibility that we all have experienced a teacher who is different than the rest of the faculty and seems to produce wonderful results.

4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.” Neil, Todd, Pitts, Cameron, Charlie, Knox, and Meeks all took that profound journey but for different reasons. It seemed to start out the same but they were motivated by Keating to explore or not explore different truths.

Identify their old way: typical boarding school filled with strict rules, study groups and formal training.

Identify their new way at the conclusion: One example is their salute to Keating, even though he was fired; they let him know the profound change he made for them by standing on their desks.
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing? The process was interesting; it started out with Keating challenging the preface of a poetry book by analyzing it and having the students rip it out. Then having them analyze past students, looking at their photos as a sign of getting wisdom from the pics to be different, then the crew decided to do research on Keating and learned how eccentric he really was back in his school days. They took his words and what he did (going to this special cave and practicing poetry and doing what the original Dead Poets Society did) and emulated his actions making it applicable to their times.

6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change? Keating’s teaching style showed major differences in how you retain knowledge, transfer it to your personal life and break from tradition while discovering who you are (example: Kicking a soccer ball whie making statements of social thought, creating unique poetry).

7. What are the most profound moments of the movie? Ripping out the preface, Neil’s suicide, Cameron’s break from the group, Todd having a break through moment and the final moments of Keating departure (students standing on their desks)

8. What are the most profound lines of the movie? “Seize the Day” “ I love you” (Knox to Chris) “O Captain, My Captain”

9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie? Even though they signed off to blame Keating for Neil’s death, all but Cameron, who was a constant doubter, realize what Keating had done for them as an educator and mentor.

10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie? Keep an open mind to how knowledge is presented to you. It can make a difference in your destiny.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore Day 4A Assignment

I learned it is okay to have one or a group as the change agent(s) or as the transformational character(s) and as the Betraying Character(s). Those roles are important as ingredients to a profound artistic work.

My transformational journey logline is a former agent quits the Agency to become a community activist but finds out he is still needed in law enforcement. A dinner engagement inadvertently goes bad and entangles him with a rookie policeman in an intricate case that includes a hostage situation.

My Change Agent is a rookie policeman in his mid-20s. Fresh out of the police academy his vision was to be a great policeman that helps keep the community safe. His past experience is based on his upbringing. He came from a white middle class family that believes all people are equal under the law and should be judged by their actions and not who they are/know or how they look.

The Transformational Character is a former FBI agent in his mid-40s. He quit his job because he saw no future for himself, racism and bias toward white privilege. Even though they considered him one of their best agents, he didn’t trust them. He was not happy so he started his own program working with junior high school students from the inner city. He taught them about healthy lifestyles and healthy choices.

The Oppression is the police department. Some officers found creative but unlawful ways to supplement their income and high ranking officers would turn their heads the other way. The rookie’s partner was one of those creative officers. The police department formed a bond that seemed unbreakable. They supported each other whether right or wrong.

Betraying Character was the Bag Man. This character had worked with the rookie’s partner for a couple of years. They had been doing capers together and made money. The rookie thought they were moonlighting making extra money legitimately but they were involved in a very different and unique caper. The Bag Man’s decision to hold on to the money not only brought havoc and melee to the caper but everything else took a turn into the macabre.

[Sherwen Moore]

Sherwen Moore – Transformational Journey

I learned that this is a great way to analyze your story and have it reach a point of interest. The beginning is just as important as the journey itself and the ending is nothing without the beginning. That is the puzzle for me…getting all the pieces right.

Logline:

A former agent quits the Agency to become a community activist but finds out he is still needed in law enforcement. A dinner engagement inadvertently entangles him with a rookie policeman in an intricate case that includes a hostage situation

Old Ways: Critical of law enforcement, cynical about the justice system, no confidence that police get it right, quit old job because he thought they were selfish, unfair and incompetent.

New Ways: Worked with a rookie policeman to resolve an intricate and complex crime. He became more tolerant, less critical, more objective, and willing to share skills he perfected in the Agency.

[Sherwen Moore]

Day 2 Assignment: The Three Decisions

3/37/22

Sherwen Moore

“What I learned doing this assignment is that it is okay to change your thoughts and it may not be your final rationale. Also, to answer these three questions make you focus on what you are trying to write about. It even narrows the scope of the idea if you go beneath that.

1. What is your profound truth?

The law needs to be just for all

2. What is the change your movie will cause with an audience?

We reconsider how we evaluate self, family and others.

3. What is your Entertainment Vehicle that you will tell this story through?

Look at changing values through a case of mistaken identity.

[Sherwen Moore]

We are looking at this movie from the perspective of the change that occurs for the lead character and the audience.
1. What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?
The change is about an ego centric weatherman named Phil Connors who is trapped in his own world, which he thinks is fine. He realizes his repeated day is a trap and he must change his way of thinking and interacting with people in order to move forward. The transformational journey is the constant reminder from day one called, Ground Hog Day, of how this journey began manifesting itself by making one day seem continuous.
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?
As crazy as this sound, it’s the ground hog, the people in the town and Rita that forces the change because in Connor’s perception this celebration keeps happening and as a reporter he has do this assignment. I begrudgingly say Rita because she is focused on producing and she became engulfed by him and he admitted she helped in the change.
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 Connor is the Transformable Character who makes the change because he keeps waking up to this same ‘reality’ until he finally sees the need to change- but not without resistance.
o What is the Oppression?
Phil subconsciously tries to outwit his own fate by trying to still be himself and thinking he can change his fate.
o
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
I was lured by the same characters (including) his co-workers meeting him each day and saying the same words. What made this brilliant, was in Phil’s unconscious state of mind, he only needed to be stuck in the blizzard and turn around once, he knew it was coming and so he didn’t run or think the weather would drive him back so after he reported each day, he stayed in town and at first developed relationships with the people in a halfhearted effort… That was key because then he had to face his own dilemma in that town.
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:
His producer (Rita) changed. When Phil changed, they had no choice but to change. At first, Rita was business like and very professional about completing the tasks but later became more intimate with Phil and more engaging and vice versa. This movie reminded me of a speech I gave on racism to some young black students. I told them if you make that dramatic change that moves the “needle” others around you have no choice but to change. In the process of changing, Rita not only liked him but found reasons to fall in love with this guy who had all these talents/skills that unfolded the more he evolved. The cameraman even felt more wanted and was the beneficiary of a good reporter.
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
Step by step focused on how he started treating people. At first, he was belligerent, rude and condescending. But as time revealed itself, he kept waking up to his own reality. He first didn’t like the reality because it gave him the same results and showed him about self. He tried to change the rules and still be himself and he still got the same results, He even kidnapped the ground hog and thought that at least the fiery crash would end this ‘nightmare’ but his lethargic decisions to change with concessions netted him the same results. For example he not only tried to seduce an old class mate Nancy but he called her Rita! Then, as he opened up to people each day, you could see him changing. He tried to help the old man, he even tried to convince Rita in an odd way by telling her about the people in the town (who’s getting married, who’s gay, the bus boy dropping the tray and Larry talking about leaving before the storm hits…)
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
No matter how smart he thought he was, at the end of the day, he woke up to the same song, he stepped in the same puddle and met the same insurance agent each morning. When he changed, he dodged the puddle, he bought insurance from the agent, learned piano lessons, and played live, etc. Those were signs that the old ways were being challenged and his beliefs that he could be taught music, that he could save a boy’s life who was falling, that he could change (no pun intended) the tire for some women in a car…things he would not have done before.
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
The profound moments in the movie, not necessarily in this order:
 Kidnapping the groundhog, the car chase and the fiery crash with him and the ground hog in the truck and the other attempts to rid himself of self by standing in front of a truck, jumping off a ledge, electrocuting self in the tub. (trying to think of ways to rid self of self without changing; thus stubborn, hard to change.)
 The ice sculpture he made of Rita (he had truly found his way to change).
 His final reporting of the ground hog day ceremony (the ultimate change in him as a reporter and a person)
 Rita, the producer, out bidding other women at the show for Phil (humility).
 Phil waking up with Rita to a new day (finally gaining self-realization.)
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
His final on camera appearance as a reporter seemed to touch on everything. Also, the quiet time in bed with Rita and professing his love for her while she was sleep and how he thought she was always beautiful and how she helped change his life. He not only seemed sincere but it was more in line with seasonal change and how important it is for us all to be ready for change.
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
The final bed scene was predictable but maybe necessary to set the tempo for a wonderful ending and what one might call the payoff…live to see and appreciate another day.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Maybe I’ll use a line from my script, where the main character tells his son at breakfast after they talked about the challenges of going to school with students who make fun of you as you discover yourself…”you be the change you want the world to be…”

[Sherwen Moore]

Hey everyone, my name is Sherwen Moore. I have only written 4 scripts. So I have limited experience and hope to gain a lot out of this class. This project I am currently working on is so special to me that I believe I need help from Hal and company. I get a lot of information when there are free sessions so I believe this will truly be great for me. Something unique, strange or unusual about me: I am a musician (sax)/producer (example: I produced 3 gospel/polish concerts in Chicago) who has retired from high school Sports Administration and classroom facilitation for social emotional learning.

[Sherwen Moore]

I will do the class privately.

[Sherwen Moore]

For me, this was an interesting…. romantic comedy to say the least with a twist of YOLO (You Only Live Once) type decision making as the story progressed. Creator is always challenging to present on paper for the visual imagination to accept as all encompassing. So, two very unlikely foes coming together for the sake of the type of romance innately needed. I guess this is a story only the universe would figure out why George and Tanya needed to be together.

[Sherwen Moore]

You be available to talk about our works?

[Sherwen Moore]

Your story caught my interest. I found it interesting. Must read more.