[Susan Willard]

Susan Willard’s Profound Map Version 1

What I learned by doing this assignment is by building all three gradients of change the audience is receiving the same message in several different ways so that the message clearer.

Title: Where’s Oscar

Written by: Susan A. Willard

1.
What is the Profound Truth?

– Evil exists. Evil makes mistakes. Evil is defeatable.

– Take life’s challenges ‘one step at a time’.

2. What is the Transformational Journey?

Old Ways:

• Grandpa and Grandson enjoy summer-time recreation activities together.

• Son dedicated to work above all else.

• Grandson, with new prosthetics and a school project to do, needs help.

Old Ways: Walter:

• Independent to a fault.

• Set in ways. Self-Desires.

• Earned Time-off from responsibilities / work.

• Make Life what I want it to be.

• Prefers not to make waves.

• Everything Scheduled.

• Respect Authority and Professionals

• Don’t rock the boat.

Old Ways: Landon:

• Dependent on others.

• Excited about summer with grandpa.

• Summer project to do. Nervous.

• Want dad to be a part of summer with grandpa. Disappointed.

• Longs to be free to do things and make decisions his way.

• Anxious. A bit frustrated.

Old Ways: Ethan:

• Feels full responsibility for grandpa and his son.

• He bears full financial burden.

• Longs for rest time, help, a stable family, and social life.

• Independent to a fault.

Transformational Journey:

Walter’s Journey:

Every day, Walter enjoys a scheduled breakfast / card game, at a favorite café. Today his scheduled events are interrupted by early arrival of his grandson for a fun summer together, (complete with an unplanned summer school project to do, and new prosthetics to learn), his friend Oscar missing, his son leaves abruptly on a business trip, and the café being attacked by deranged neighborhood people. He must stay strong, decide how to orderly fix the chaos.

Landon’s Journey:

Landon is living a life of dependence on others. His new prosthetics are his last hope. His summer with Dad and Grandpa is a welcome relief from surgeries and school. He is looking forward to working on the summer school project with his dad and grandpa. As he is dropped off at a café to find grandpa is missing a friend, dad is leaving for business, weird people are attacking the neighborhood. He has no idea what is going on, how to use his new prosthetics or what to do for his summer project. Landon must find a way to deal with his world as it falls apart.

Ethan’s Journey:

Drops his son off with his father during a chaotic uprising of strange acting strangers. He had planned to stay the summer with his family but was called to a business trip at the last minute. Knowing that his dad’s friend is missing, and his son is nervous with new prosthetics and needs summer homework help, Ethan is compelled to support the family financially first. Will he live to regret the decision? He hopes not.

New Ways:

New Ways: Walter:

• Discovers he doesn’t have to have all the answers.

• Getting help from others can be helpful.

• Learns that new ways of doing things are fun / necessary.

• Relaxation time off is not as rewarding as working with family and friends.

• Sometimes you must take life as-it-is. Mold life to take care of family and friends.

• Even in retirement making waves, disrupting what’s happening can be necessary.

• You can’t schedule life.

• Professionals might not deserve respect.

• Where evil exists. Rock the boat and get rid of evil.

New Ways: Landon:

• Independent with new amputations and prosthetics.

• Excited. Planning a fun and loving summer with grandpa.

• Anticipating starting, finishing, and sharing his summer project.

• Happy looking forward to a summer with Dad and Grandpa.

• Has the confidence and freedom to live his life and make his decisions.

New Ways: Ethan:

• Changes his life to live a full, fun, and successful life with his family.

• He’s getting married. Going to have a full social life.

• He works for job enjoyment, rather than for the most dollars.

• Set your priorities of family, friends and good health, and a great life will follow.

Transformational Logline: A slow-moving grandpa, with his disabled grandson, must confront their disabilities, fear, and life-threatening situations, to find their missing homeless friend.

Taglines: (suggestions)

• Evil exists. It’s personal. It’s after you!

• A Dangerous Deranged Day of Discovery, Disappointments, and Developments.

3. Who are the Lead Characters?

Change Agent(s):

• Missing Friend(s),

• Grandson Landon,

• Grandpa Walter,

• Medical Outbreak causing Society Unrest.

Transformable Character(s):

• Grandpa Walter,

• Grandson Landon,

• Son Ethan.

Oppression:

• Missing or Misbehaving Friends,

• Enclosed / Locked Clinic Backrooms,

• Confusing Medical Personnel.

4. How Is The Audience Connect with the Characters at the Beginning of the
Movie

A. Relatability:

• An ordinary family, dealing with ordinary problems.

• Unexpected situations that affect them personally.

• Walter and Jack are having breakfast and playing cards.

• Landon, an amputee, has new prosthetics. They are uncomfortable.

• Landon’s dad brings him to his grandpa’s house and abruptly leaves for a business trip. The entire situation makes Landon uncomfortable, worried, and insecure.

• Many families can relate to weird summer schedules, and unexpected problems.

B. Intrigue:

• A homeless friend has gone missing. Where is he?

• Neighborhood people are acting strangely and causing dangerous situations. Why?

• Clinic personnel are being vague and illusive. Why?

• Will Landon’s prosthetics work right?

• Will Landon’s summer project get done?

• Is Ethan leaving for another reason?

C. Empathy:

• Walter’s day/summer has been totally disrupted with uncontrollable problems.

• Ethan’s need to support his family has blinded him to the reality of the moment.

• Landon feels lost and helpless in a whirl-wind day of increasing problems.

D. Likability:

• Walter, Ethan, and Landon respect, love, and care for each other even through rough situations.

• Walter and Jack care for their homeless, missing friend enough to search for him.

• Ethan is leaving his family for their financial security. He’d rather stay. Many people can relate.

• Landon (a 14-year-old) loves his family, even when they aren’t perfect. He tries to help whenever he can.

5. What is the Gradient of Change used?

EMOTIONAL GRADIENT: Forced Change.

• Walter is forced to help find his missing friend.

• Ethan is forced to go on a last-minute business trip.

• Landon is forced to go on Walter’s journey with him.

The Audience goes through these change stages with the family:

Denial:

• Walter: Walter takes no action. “Oscar will return. He has been late before.”

• Ethan: Ethan announces his intentions. “I won’t miss anything. I will be back before you know it.”

• Landon: Landon shuts down. “Grandpa, go do what you have to do, I’ll just sit right here.”

Anger:

• Walter: Walter pushes back in anger. “Why do you always leave me in a bind? How am I supposed to deal with everything?”

• Ethan: Ethan Leaves. “I’m going. I will help if he’s still missing when I get back.”

• Landon: Landon strikes out in anger. “I don’t exist. I’ll sit here. Go ahead, take care of Oscar and Jack. You and dad don’t understand.”

Bargaining:

• Walter: “If you help me find Oscar, then I’ll help you with your school project.”

• Landon: “If you lead the way, I can help find clues.”

• Walter: “Here, paper doesn’t refuse ink. Use these to document our clues.”

• Landon: “So old time, phones don’t refuse information. I’ll use my phone.”

• Walter: “Deal.” Landon: “Deal.”

Depression:

• Walter: “Oscar will return. He has been late before. It’s not too late for him to come back. Is it?”

• Landon: “I don’t know, Grandpa. Do what you must do, I’ll just sit right here. Nothing makes sense.”

Acceptance:

• Walter: Realizes when he is with his family, life is at its fullest. He pulls the pieces of his life together because he sees he can’t control the lives and activities of others.

• Ethan: Regrets leaving his family while they were in vital trouble. Family means more to him than money. Ethan also proposes to his sweetheart. Dr. Kathy, who has been waiting to get engaged for a long time.

• Landon: Relieved the ordeal is over, Landon is still processing his newfound discoveries, disappointments, and developments. Running to see his dad, Landon yells (cries), “Dad, Dad, I’m so glad to see you. Can grandpa live with us? I can fix my prosthetics all by myself. I saved grandpa, from being killed, using my prosthetic foot. Did you get all my texts? Our pictures and videos are on the TV news. You want to know what my summer project is? What did you do today? He has already started his new life’s adventures.

ACTION GRADIENT

SETUP

• Jack goes looking for their missing friend.

• Walter, waiting for his family to arrive, tries to find out information about his missing friend.

• Ethan leaves on a business trip as soon as he drops off his son, Landon.

• Landon, being overwhelmed and confused, sits, and waits.

JOURNEY

• Walter and Landon discuss their situation and decide to work together.

• The Janitor indicates that Oscar could be in testing behind the door behind the desk.

• Once through the door, they are locked in the backrooms unable to leave.

• They plan their investigative attack of the area and start to explore.

• They find clues, evidence, take pictures and videos.

• With each area of investigation, the risks get greater, and the evidence gets more disturbing.

• They get caught, get away twice, but not without damage.

• Ultimate evil is found, cementing their big decision to get away.

PAYOFF

• Walter and Landon trick evil forces, get captured, but get away.

• Utilizing their tricks, they delay the bad guys, make a second get-away only to be caught and handcuffed with the bad guys.

• They expose the bad guys with evidence, and they are set free.

• Nurse Kathy is a double agent, who was in communication with Ethan, who shared their text messages. They track Walter and Landon’s evidence.

• Walter is ready to give up his community and live with his family.

• Landon knows what he wants to do for a summer project. He overcomes all problems with using his prosthetics. He is happy to see his dad.

• Ethan is home. Is ready to change jobs and settle down with his family.

CHALLENGE/WEAKNESS GRADIENT:

Challenge Walter: To find his friend who is missing, or information to lead him to his friend.

Weakness Walter: Impulsive, Lying, and Frustrated

Challenge Landon: To find out how grandpa’s missing friend will affect his visit over the summer with grandpa.

Weakness Landon: Self-centric and concerned for his summer vacation.

Challenge Walter: To think clearly and find ways to help his friend or to find him.

Weakness Walter: Impatient, Persistently Aggressive.

Challenge Landon: To find a way to show everyone he is a valuable help in this situation.

Weakness Landon: Being invisible and helpless.

Challenge Walter: To find help in pursuing his lost friend.

Weakness Walter: Desperate, Unprepared for the crisis, unorganized, and not listening.

Challenge Landon: To listen, to learn, to find clues, to apply his critical thinking skills.

Weakness Landon: Stubborn, does not like conflict, and strong willed.

Challenge Walter: To reevaluate the situation for ways to complete the journey.

Weakness Walter: Fear and Strong-willed

Challenge Landon: To produce ways that the two can work together to solve the mystery.

Weakness Landon: Fear, Lack of Confidence, Uncertainty

Challenge Walter: To work with and trust his grandson to help him with his investigation.

Weakness Walter: Lack of Confidence in himself, his grandson, and their working together.

Challenge Landon: To forget about himself, and to focus on getting grandpa and finding his friend.

Weakness Landon: Overwhelmed and guarded.

Challenge Walter: To accept the current outcome and find a way to leave and get help.

Weakness Walter: To be more involved in the reality around them. Participate in community.

Challenge Landon: To collaborate agreeing with grandpa so the quest can end.

Weakness Landon: To think of others first, be more understanding to his family and community.

6. What is the Transformational Structure of the Story?

MINI-MOVIE MODEL (DRAFT 1)

Transformational Logline:

A slow-moving grandpa, with his disabled grandson, must confront their disabilities, fear, and life-threatening situations, to find their missing homeless friend.

Taglines: (suggestions)

• Evil exists. It’s personal. It’s after you!

• A Dangerous Deranged Day of Discovery, Disappointments, and Developments.

Where’s Oscar is a family mystery designed in the Mini-Movie (MM) Structure, emphasizing family interactions between three generations, giving a wide range of acting between lead characters.

A day in the life of the Freeman family is a classic story of unconventional heroes, a grandpa, a retired mechanic, with his grandson, a 14-year-old double amputee. Both desire the safe, controlled activities of the summer. But get, thrust into chaos by a deranged mob, one – no, two missing friends, new prosthetics, unlocked – locked doors, and evil, they must work together to survive and warn the rest of the community.

MM PART 1 (PAGES 1-15) – A Quiet Breakfast – A Missing Person

Grandpa Walter is enjoying breakfast, at their favorite café – The Clinic’s Sit and Sip, with his friend Jack. They are waiting for their homeless friend Oscar, who is late. Jack, Oscar, and Walter have breakfast together and play cards every day.

The TV plays news in the background. Jack is fixed on a story about a mob of presumed homeless people in the area. It’s almost too late to play cards because Walter’s son and grandson are coming over for a summer visit.

Oscar has a doctor’s appointment at the clinic, so they wait to see the results. But Oscar doesn’t show. They begin to worry about Walter. Neither friend saw Oscar at all today.

Jack watches the news about the crazy mob in the village.

Outbreaks of mob violence start occurring around the Medical Clinic and its café. The Clinic says Oscar never showed. Jack and Walter argue about what to do about Oscar. Walter gets a phone call. His family is wondering where he is. Walter will wait for them at the café in case Oscar comes by. Jack goes to look for Oscar at his hiding places.

Walter begins his search to find Oscar. He talks to the clinic desk, the clinic nurse, the clinic doctor, the clinic patients waiting in the waiting room. He even talks to the clinic janitor. He is getting frustrated and upset. The retirement community is so small that someone he talked to should know where Oscar is. Walter is asked to leave the clinic, so he goes back into the café to find Ethan and Landon arriving. Ethan is upset and leaves on a business trip. Landon stays with his grandpa.

FIRST TURNING POINT

Grandpa Walter decides to lie and make an appointment to find out Oscar’s clinic visit.

MM PART 2 (PAGES 15-30) – Conflicting Information – Investigation needed.

One Step At A Time.

Grandpa has an appointment at the clinic. Dr. Robertson, and Nurse Kathy are not helpful. He failed to get any clue to Oscar’s whereabouts. Landon’s prosthetics cause problems. Walter and Landon wonder where Jack is. Landon tells about asking people outside and in the waiting room about Oscar. There’s an update on TV News about the mob activity. Things are thrown at the clinic and café. People are worried.

The Janitor comes by doing cleaning rounds. They discuss Oscar. “Maybe Oscar’s getting tests run. The janitor suggests Oscar is in for testing in the back, pointing to a door behind the check-in, Labeled “No Admittance. Authorization Needed. Restricted Area”. Landon takes a picture of the door.

SECOND TURNING POINT

Grandpa talks Landon into going through an off-limits door so they can find Oscar.

MM PART 3 (PAGES 30-45) – Unexpected Dilemma – Revised Objectives.

Phones Don’t Refuse Pictures.

Once inside the back hallway, the door closes, they step inside the hallway. The door closes locked behind them. They jump and try the door. Locked in. Quickly their plan is updated. Go through each area until they find Oscar. Simple.

The first door says, “Medical Center”. They enter. The room is divided into three areas: Medicines Testing, Experimental Kitchen, and Surgery Implants. Each area looks like a mini lab. They break up duties. Landon will take pictures and Walter will look for “loose clues” he can pick up for evidence of anything suspect. Everything looks like a research lab, with stainless steel and glass everywhere. They investigate all areas. Landon asks if doctors are evil. He then sends the pictures to his dad, by text with no comment. He doesn’t tell Walter.

Each gathers their evidence. They lose track of time. Someone is coming through the door. They must hide. Someone they don’t know, in a white lab jacket, comes into the room. They are hiding. The lab coat man starts working. Landon’s prosthetic burps. He is found. A fight ensues. Walter saves Landon. They tie his hands and feet, put a gag in his mouth. They pushed him into the chemical storage room, locked, and blocked the door. It’s time to move.

THIRD TURNING POINT

Room two is hard to get to, people are running in the hallway, some mob people are at the back door. They make a run for it and get into the room labeled, “Monitoring – Technology Center”.

MM PART 4 (PAGES 45-60) – A Quicker, More Efficient Plan is Enacted.

Phones Don’t refuse Videos.

Monitors everywhere, with live surveillance feeds. No wall is without a monitor. It’s overwhelming. No one is in the room. They decide to take videos, otherwise they don’t know what to do. Walter looks for papers or taped evidence. He finds some of both, while Landon films all the monitors. Landon realizes that one set of monitors shows a live shot of Walter’s home. Landon asks, “Is your home safe, grandpa?” “No.” Landon sends a video or two to his dad, without telling Walter.

Landon must go to the restroom. Walter keeps working to collect anything that could be important, finding monitoring schedules, activities schedules and pictures. He wonders what’s keeping Landon. The door rattles, Walter hides. The man in casual dress comes in and sits behind a desk. Soon, Landon flushes the toilet and washes his hands. The man slowing gets up and says who’s there walking to the door. Walter stands, and yells to Landon a warning. Then man turns to Walter with an implement ready to hit him in the head. Then falls to the floor. Landon saved Walter. Landon’s phone rings. Walter says, “Don’t answer it now. Put your phone on silent too. Here put my phone on silent too.” After Landon puts on his prosthetic back on, they tap his feet together, his hands together and his mouth and lock him in the bathroom. It’s time to keep moving.

FOURTH TURNING POINT

Room three is labeled, “Dementia – Stagging”. When Walter and Landon walk through the door, they are standing in a hallway, with two doors: 1. Dementia, 2. Stagging. As they stand in the hall, the door opens. They hide behind the open door, slide into the storage area. The people go to the Stagging door and enter. Walter and Landon take the opportunity to go into the Dementia Room.

MM PART 5 (PAGES 60-75) – Overwhelming Stakes – Reality Hits Home.

Evil is personal.

The Dementia Room is like a one-room hospital ward. People are in beds, not moving. It smells like a hospital. Landon starts videoing and taking pictures. Walter begins looking at the people in the beds. There are 40 beds crammed into the room, with medical equipment and low lighting. All the patients are still and barely breathing.

Landon notices that Walter has stopped moving. He is bent over a bed. He is crying.

It’s Oscar. Landon runs to the bedside taking video. Then they hear voices coming from the corner vents. Walter motions and they over to hear better. Landon starts recording. It’s a person identifying a dead person. Lots of crying. Dr. Richardson is attending with some clinic attendants. Landon sends the audio to his dad and doesn’t tell Walter. Walter’s phone vibrates, but he ignores it. Landon’s phone rings, but he ignores it.

They go back to Oscar. They try to wake him up. They can’t do more because the equipment may alert the medical crew. Walter steals Oscar’s medical records. They hear the people leaving the stagging room. Then the lights go out. It’s 6 pm. The clinic must be closed. They need to find a way to get out.

FIFTH TURNING POINT

The Stagging door is left open, so they can see what the identification was about. It is a staging area for dead people. The room is dark. The room smells like a hospital. Do they dare go in? They do.

MM PART 6 (PAGES 75-90) – No Stopping Now – Determined to Finish.

Evil is deadly.

Landon starts taking videos. Walter walks in the light of Landon’s phone.

Walter finds the listing of the names of the people in the room. Before he puts the list into Landon’s backpack, he starts reading the list. He stops and shows one name to Landon, as he waves to the bodies. Landon shakes his head ‘no’. Walter get his phone out and starts looking at each body. Landon’s phone vibrates, he doesn’t answer.

Landon steps back to the door, ready to go. Walter asks for his phone. He finds who he is looking for. It’s Jack. Jack’s dead. He videos Jack’s dead body, takes the information packet for Jack. Walter and Jack start to leave. Walter’s phone rings but he doesn’t answer.

SIXTH TURNING POINT

On their way out, they get cornered by Dr. Richardson and his attendant. Fortunately, all the evidence was hidden in Landon’s backpack. They are pushed back inside the staging room. Dr. Richardson turns on the lights.

MM PART 7 (PAGES 90-105) – Crisis and Climax – Danger too Close.

Anything Can Happen.

Dr. Richardson is not the nice doctor he pretended to be earlier in the day. He was upset and kept asking them questions about what they were doing in his clinic rooms. Neither Landon nor Walter said a word. After it was clear he was not going to get answers. He was about to decide how to get rid of them when an attendant came running in saying they had a very large problem, and two other people were missing.

Dr. Richardson told Walter and Landon to stand back, he closed and locked the door, leaving them locked inside the staging room with the dead people. Walter and Landon decided not to give up. They began to look around the room for any way out. Walter needed to go to the restroom, so he did, only the door he opened went to the Dementia Room. They planned their escape. They waited until the main hallway got quiet then they started for the Exit door.

SEVENTH TURNING POINT

Landon dropped a cracker package in front of the exit door and opened the exit door to a jar. Then they opened and entered the storage room door. Hearing the commotion, the Dr. and attendant ran out of another room. Seeing the cracker package and the exit door a jar. They take the trap, leaving by the exit door.

MM PART 8 (PAGES 105-120) – A New Status Quo – New Vision for Living.

Evil is defeated.

Walter and Landon find a window at the far corner, farthest away from the hallway exit door, on the far wall. Using phones for lights they build a way to climb up to the window. Landon fixes his prosthetics while grandpa sits for a minute to rest. Landon takes pictures and videos. They hear noises from outside and decide to stay put for a few minutes. They try texting Ethan, but Nothing.

The boxes are too enticing. They start looking through the boxes until they hear loud noises in the hallway and exit coming their way. They climb out the window. Officers are waiting for them. They were handcuffed and led to a car. Walter hears a familiar voice. He sees Nurse Kathy in a blue uniform with a badge. “Hey, Nurse Kathy, it’s me Walter” he yells. After some communication, she frees their hands, and asks them to go with her.

They went to the café in front of the clinic building and sat at the table Walter started the day at. They identify all the bad guys. Ethan comes running into the café from the parking lot. Everyone is glad to see each other. Ethan and Kathy sit down with Walter and Landon. They debrief each other, as a few mob stragglers work their way into the café, Agent (Dr. Kathy) and other officers take hold of the stragglers before they can hurt anyone or destroy any more property. Kathy explains how she has discovered how to reverse the poisons given to the unfortunate victims. Most recover fully. Walter asks about Oscar; about the time he (and others) are being wheeled out to ambulances outside. Kathy said he should be fine in a few days. They briefly talk to Oscar. He is pushed to an ambulance, to go recover at the hospital.

Once the action settles. The audience finds out that Landon’s tests to his dad went to Nurse Kathy – as a friend, not knowing that she was undercover. She alerted the rest of the force that two undercover agents were inside, then they waited. Landon told them about the guy in the monitoring room. Walter told them about the guy in the Medical Center.

Ethan asks Dr. Kathy to marry him he has waited too long. She says Yes. Walter asks to take him up on the move in opportunity. Ethan and Landon say yes. Landon tells all about fixing his prosthetics, saving grandpa. He want to be a research investigator as his summer school project. Kathy says she would love to have him help her with the clinic project since he has all the evidence. Everyone is so glad the ordeal is over.

EIGHTH TURNING POINT

Walter at the café table with family (including Dr. Kathy). TV playing the Breaking News of footage / pictures from undercover agents, and the arrest of the bad guys. Walter slowly pulls out his cards, shuffles, while asking, “Anyone for cards?” (Everyone laughs / starts to relax a bit, talking to each other.)

7. How are the “Old Ways” Challenged?

A. Challenge through Questioning:

Grandpa Walter taught his family to respect professional people, and to always follow the rules. Walter leads his grandson, Landon to an off-limits door. When Landon questions his decision, Walter knows he will have to answer for his actions.

WALTER

Come on, Landon.

(Walking toward the door labeled: ‘No Admittance without Permission’)

LANDON

But, Grandpa, we don’t have permission.

Do we?

WALTER

We must find Oscar. If anyone asks,

You can tell them – your grandpa gave you permission.

We can talk about it later. Ok?

LANDON

Let’s have ‘the conversation’ with dad there.

He won’t believe this!

(Walter gently laughs under his breath.

Landon with eyebrow scrunched, shakes his

head as he follows grandpa through the door.)

Walter and Landon enter the room labeled, “Monitoring and Technology – No Entry without Permission”. Stunned they stare at wall to wall monitoring of the retirement village, even inside the business and homes.

LANDON

Grandpa.

WALTER

I see it.

LANDON

This is evil. Are doctors evil, grandpa?

WALTER

I don’t know.

LANDON

Is your house safe?

WALTER

No. It doesn’t look like it.

LANDON

Grandpa, I don’t want to go back to your house.

WALTER

Me either.

(Short pause, quiet sounds of TV News from one monitor)

WALTER

We won’t go back to the house. I promise.

Let’s get to work and get out of here.

B.
Challenge by Counterexample:

·
Handing paper and pen to Landon, he says,
“Paper doesn’t refuse ink. Here use my paper and pen.”

Landon,
pulling his phone out of his backpack, saying, “Phones don’t refuse texts,
calls, pictures, and videos. I’ll use my phone, it’s better. Thanks anyway.”

·
Walter, clearing his throat while staring
directly in her eyes, “Nurse Nancy, I need your help – Now!”

Nurse
Nancy, straightening in her chair, smiling, and looking Walter directly in the
eyes, says, “Due to HIPPA laws, I am unable to discuss anything about Oscar
without his permission. But perhaps I can help you at a more appropriate time,
when I am
able to help you.”

·
Walter, shuffling cards, says to Jack, “Don’t
worry, Oscar will be along any minute.”

Jack,
taking the cards away from Walter, “Where is Oscar? He didn’t show up for his
clinic appointment. He isn’t at any of his ‘places’. Walter, if you were in
Oscar’s shoes – Where would you be?”

Walter,
taking the cards back, says, “I have no idea.”

Jack,
as he gets up to search for Oscar, says, “That’s the point Walter, That’s the
point.” Jack leaves. More Rampaging Community Members report on the Café TV.

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

Walter:

Should Work: Waits for Oscar to come by
the clinic.

Doesn’t Work: Oscar never shows.

Should Work: Asks everyone he can, even
Dr., Nurse, Janitor where is Oscar?

Doesn’t Work: No one knows.

Should Work: Offers paper and pen to Landon.

Doesn’t Work: Phone is better.

LANDON:

Should Work: Always asks for help in
fixing prosthetics.

Doesn’t Work: Grandpa doesn’t help.
Landon must do it himself.

Should Work: Shaking, moving, putting a
cool, wet rag on Oscar’s face to roust him awake, and to move.

Doesn’t Work: Nothing he, or Walter,
does wakes or gets a response from Oscar.

ETHAN:

Should Work: Always just drops off
Landon with his grandpa when a business trip is required.

Doesn’t Work: Amid social chaos,
missing Oscar, and Landon learning his prosthetics, while needing help with his
summer project, it was the wrong action to take.

D.
Challenge through Living
Metaphor

· The TV news reports = Prophetic vision of actions at the café.

· The Open Door, labeled “No Entry without Permission =

Future vision: rules broken to get to the truth.

· The Monitoring Room is a metaphor to the Evil has full access to the entire village, without their knowledge and permission.

· The deranged mob creating chaos is a metaphor to what will happen to

All the people of the retirement village if the evil is not stopped.

8. How are Insights Presented through Profound Moments?

A. Action Delivers Insight

· Action Idea: Break into an off-limits area of a facility to find a missing person.

o Insight: Rules may be made to be broken. Family and Friends first.

o Action: Break into an off-limits area of a facility to find a missing person.

· Action: Protect grandson from being kidnapped.

o Insight: Family first.

· Action: Care for a family member in need of help in a secluded dangerous situation.

o Insight: Family first.

· Action: Explore dangerous places, without being caught, while securing evidence of activities found.

o Insight: Drastic situations need drastic actions.

· 5)Action: Plan and implement a series of resistance, deviation, escape the antagonist(s).

o New Way: Drastic situations need drastic actions.

B.
Conflict Delivers Insight

Conflict: A loss of a person due to physical, medical, or mental harm.

Insight: Evil, Evil doctors exist, harm, and kill people. Evil is personal.

Conflict: Physical challenges, in times of trouble.

Insight: Everyone can live independently, taking care of themselves.

Conflict: Physical challenges, to help, or save others from trouble.

Insight: Step up to the physical challenge, even with a physical impediment.

C.
Irony Delivers Insight

Irony: Janitor says Oscar is behind the off-limits door, (it’s a trap).

Insight: Janitor doing the right things for the wrong reasons.

Irony: Walter (with Landon) goes through the off-limits door, to find Oscar.

Insight: Walter doing wrong things, for the right reasons.

Irony: Father drops off his son, pursuing financial gain, instead of helping his family.

Insight: Going for wants and missing needs.

Irony: Father gets in touch with help, then does his best to arrive to help also.

Insight: Going after needs and losing wants.

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

At the Height of Emotion

· “Coming your way – One Big Step of Evil Truth.”

– Panic – Grandpa yells at the height of the emotion.

· “We must do more than find the truth before we stop the “Any Things” from happening. The next ‘One Steps’ are gonna be tough.”

– Shock and Depression – Oscar and the truth have been found, and neither are in good shape.

· Grandpa says, “Aha, Evil is vulnerable.” Grandson says, “And… Evil makes mistakes!” Son says, “Now…Evil is stopped.”

– Acceptance, Relief, and Exceedingly Happy: They found Oscar, the evil truth and Evil will be stopped.

· Walter says, “Anything can happen.”

– Overwhelmed / in Denial of what he is going through.

The Three Lines To Build Meaning Over Multiple Experiences:

A. Line 1: “One Step at a Time”:

• “One step at a time.” (Putting on new prosthetics)

• “One step at a time. Start with the small first step and go to the next small step, until you’re done.” (Solving the mystery of missing Oscar)

• “How do you get rid of the bad guys, ‘One foot at a time.’”(Landon to Walter after he saved Walter from a bad guy, using his prosthetic foot.)

B. Line 2: “Evil Exists…”:

• “Evil exists.” Stated when they realized the evil exists in the clinic.

• “Evil is personal.” Stated when they find Oscar unresponsive in bed.

• “Evil is deadly.” Stated when Jack is found dead.

• “Evil is persistent.” Stated when an evil person pursues them, to kill them.

• “Evil is vulnerable.” Stated when evil shows a weakness.

• “Evil is defeated.” Stated when evil is stopped.

B. Line 3: Phones don’t reject information (texts, calls, pictures, and videos):

• “Paper doesn’t refuse ink.” Grandpa wants to collect information about what they find.

• “Phones don’t refuse information.” When they decided to collect all the information and clues. Else no one would believe them.

• “Take pictures of everything thing, especially the doors. After all phones don’t refuse pictures.” When they first realized how important how important the pictures would be.

• “Phones don’t refuse videos, grandpa. What do you suppose I take some videos too?” When they didn’t have time to take pictures.

• “Phones don’t refuse texts. Use it to contact your dad. “Walter realized they need help.

10. How do you Leave the Audience with A Profound Ending?

Where’s Oscar has a satisfying ending, weaving, the audience, through emotions, twists, and surprises.

Expresses Profound Truths:

· “Families and friends always stick together.”

· “Evil is vulnerable.”, Evil makes mistakes. Evil is stopped.”

· “Tackle life one step at a time.”

· The Change(s):

• Walter: (Grandpa) Walter puts family and friends first, will be vulnerable, honest, take help as needed. Walter will always pursue the truth in life. Surprises in life are dangerous.

• Landon: (Grandson) Landon found his confidence, independence, and his life’s purpose to help people to do the same.

• Ethan: (Son) He changes jobs to be home with his family, so his dad can live with him, and to marry his sweetheart.

· Payoffs: Answers to:

• Where is Oscar?

• Why did Oscar miss his Clinic appointment?

• Will Ethan come back and help?

• Will Landon learn to use his prosthetics? Without help?

• Why is the Clinic hiding things?

• What is behind the off-limits door?

• Where is Jack? Will he come back?

• Why are the retirement village homeless and residents uprising?

• Will Nurse Kathy ever help Walter?

• Will Landon find something to do for his summer school project?

· Surprising:

• Walter and Landon are handcuffed upon escaping from the evil people.

• Nurse Kathy is also Dr. Kathy in Undercover Criminal Task Force, (UCTF).

• Ethan has proposed to Dr. Kathy. She has accepted.

• Walter wants to move in with Ethan, Kathy, and Landon.

• Walter and Landon’s evidence cracked the Crime Clinic Case for the (UCTF).

• Walter and Landon won’t get public credit for solving the case.

• Landon can help the (UCTF) and make is a summer school project.

· Parting Image/Line:

• Beginning Mirror Image: Walter at café table with family.

• TV playing the Breaking News of footage / pictures from undercover agents, and the arrest of the bad guys.

• Walter slowly pulls out his cards, shuffles, while asking, “Anyone for cards?” (Everyone laughs / starts to play cards)

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Builds Meaning with Dialogue

Day 15 Assignment 15 – 2

What I learned doing this assignment is fun and entertaining. It allowed me to use my creative skills. I know that I will still have to rework some of the ideas, but the starting place is a better start than anything I have tried before. Thank you.

The Three Lines To Build Meaning Over Multiple Experiences:

A. Line 1: “One Step at a time”:

i. Arc Scene: The grandson is showing grandpa how to put on his new prosthetics, liners, socks, and vacuum seal closure so he can walk properly.

a. New Line Meaning: The grandson must remind himself how to do the process of putting on his feet otherwise he will either not be able to walk properly, or the mechanics will hurt his tender amputation sites. Answer: He put his prosthetics on “One step at a time.”

ii. Arc Scene: The grandpa is wondering how in the world they will find out what happened to his friend, and the mystery of how he has just disappeared.

a. New Line Meaning: The grandson relates the process of his prosthetics with his grandpa’s overwhelming look at his friend’s disappearance, and asks him, “Grandpa, how do I put on my prosthetics? The Answer is “One step at a time. Start with the small first step and go to the next small step, until you’re done.”

iii. Arc Scene: Grandpa and grandson are investigating a place of interest when they get interrupted. The grandson unexpectedly uses his prosthetic foot to save grandpa,

a. New Line Meaning: The grandson is not helpless even when his prosthetic foot is off. He saves grandpa by using his foot which is being worked with in the moment grandpa needs help. Answer: Grandson took eliminated the threat to grandpa, “One step at a time.” Which is also a play on words. He could say “How do you get rid of the bad guys, ‘One foot at a time.’”

iv. Arc Scene: At the end of the movie, grandpa is wrestling with how to start his new life, how to move on, how to deal with all the emotions and actions needed to resolve.

a. New Line Meaning: His son, (his grandson’s dad), says, “Hey dad, let’s get Landon (his grandson) lead the way – one step at a time.” The Answer is “That through all the distress, mystery, challenges, and frustrations, if they follow Landon’s leadership of taking everything – one step at a time – then they can accomplish anything. It also indicates that Landon becomes an independent amputee with his new feet (and even helped grandpa through the day), while grandpa realizes how much he can use the help of others and how much they need his help.

B. Line 2: “Evil Exists…”:

i. Arc Scene: Grandpa and grandson come across a room of in-security computers, monitors, and recording devices. They realize the full extent of the danger they, and the entire village. Everyone is under watch and control. Evil exists in their neighborhood.

a. New Line Meaning: Evil exists in their neighborhood and is a real threat to everyone. “Evil exists.”

ii. Arc Scene: They find grandpa’s friend, Oscar, in a medical bed, unresponsive, looking strange, hooked to all types of equipment and truly in danger. They realize Oscar is hurt and possibly dying. Evil affected Oscar personally, and possibly them also.

a. New Line Meaning: The Evil powers attack individuals, especially the weak and defenseless. “Evil is personal.”

iii. Arc Scene: They find another of grandpa’s friends, Jack, dead. Walter saw Jack this morning. Double grief is hard to take. Evil is not only personal, but it’s deadly. They realize just how personal evil is. Evil can affect your family, your friends, and you.

a. New Line Meaning: Evil can kill people, friends, family, but evil can also kill the future. It can take away time with family, friends, and you. It can cancel all the fun, memories, events, helping others, building, goals, and meaning of the future. “Evil is deadly.”

iv. Arc Scene: As grandpa and grandson continue, Evil pursues them. Nefarious people come after them. They are in danger and are trying to get away.

a. New Line Meaning: When they think they have seen the worst of evil, it continues to pursue them. Wickedness is evil in the form of a person, and it is deadly, personal actions, and haunts them. They realize evil is not going to stop until they find a way to deal with all the evil they’ve found, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Evil won’t stop. They must stop it. “Evil is persistent.”

v. Arc Scene: Once away from the Nefarious people, safe, and secure from attack again, ever, grandpa and grandson wrestle with an overwhelming emotions and reality. However, they do realize, Wickedness, (evil), has its weaknesses, was exposed, and was conquered today.

a. New Line Meaning: Wicked people can be taken down. Nefarious activities can be stopped. Emotional Evil torture can be ended. Evil needs action to go against it because “Evil is vulnerable.”

C. Line 3: Phones don’t reject information (texts, calls, pictures, and videos):

i. Arc Scene: When discussing the first steps to be taken to find Oscar, grandson askes, “What do you think we need to find Oscar?” Grandpa answers, “Clues and Evidence.” As he hands paper and pen to grandson he says, “Paper doesn’t refuse ink, use these to document for us, OK?” Grandson smiles, reaches into his backpack, saying “Phones don’t reject information.” They smile and laugh together.

a. New Line Meaning: This is a fun scene and a fun line. Grandpa is in his old ways. Grandson is in his old ways that are new to grandpa. He doesn’t correct grandpa’s suggestion, but he builds on it. (Taking things one step at a time.). Grandson then takes on the task of documenting the clues and information they come across, because “Phones don’t refuse information.”

ii. Arc Scene: They have entered a private part of the clinic. Broken the rules. The door closed. They must push forward. Grandson thinks of documenting the doors, and ways they don’t have to remember everything they see. First Room: Picture taken, and their journey, (quest) begins.

a. New Line Meaning: Grandpa sees grandson taking a picture of the first room’s door. The importance of pictures is beginning to become greater. “Take pictures of everything thing, especially the doors. After all phones don’t refuse pictures.”

iii. Arc Scene: Upon entry of the first room, the magnitude of the place is breathtaking. They are frozen from fear of the unknown, quietly reviewing the strange details. Grandson comments about the overwhelming magnitude of the details. He has a great idea.

a. New Line Meaning: He has a great idea. “Phones don’t refuse videos, grandpa. What do you suppose I take some videos too?”

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Height of the Emotion

Day 15 Assignment 15 – 1

What I learned doing this assignment is the more deep, profound statements are intertwined into the story arc, the more the characters’ journeys can work together to create a fluid and clear message.

What else I learned doing this assignment is by using the emotional moments and building deeper meaning into dialogue is not as hard as I thought, but I had to be willing to try new ideas and change some old ones.

The Five Most Emotional Moments in My Screenplay:

1. Emotion: Walter (grandpa) is Overwhelmed / in Denial of what he is going through.

· Meaning: He can’t understand what or why everything is, all at once, happening to him.

· New Line of Dialogue: Noticing grandpa’s emotional state, his grandson says, “Hey grandpa, ‘Anything can happen all at once, and it does.’ It’s normal.” “Anything can happen.”

2. Emotion: Landon (grandson) is Overwhelmed / in Denial of what he is going through, however, Landon is used to these emotions because of his current struggles with being a young, new amputee, with new frustrating prosthetics, no friends, or opportunities for fun, except summer with grandpa. Now it looks like summer is doomed.

· Meaning: He can’t understand what or why everything is, all at once, happening to him.

· New Line of Dialogue: Noticing his grandson’s emotional state, grandad says, “Once the truth is found, we can defeat ‘Any Things’ that are happening, and have a great summer.”

3. Emotion: Shock and Depression hit both grandpa and grandson, when they find Oscar, in a medical bed, unresponsive, medicated, looking terrible, with all types of equipment hooked up to him. They stand in shock and depression trying to figure out how to help Oscar.

· Meaning: The Oscar and the truth have been found, and neither are in good shape.

· New Line of Dialogue: Grandpa says, “We must do more than find the truth before we stop the “Any Things” from happening. The next “One Steps are gonna be tough.”

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4. Emotion: Grandpa Panics. Grandson has gone to the restroom. The lights are out. The Clinic is closed. Someone enters the room from the hall. Grandpa has no way to signal his grandson. The man goes to the bathroom, hearing noise, and yells at the person inside.

· Meaning: Grandpa needs and finds a way to signal his grandson of the bad guy so that he can be ready for whatever comes next. He quickly blurts out the first thing he thinks of.

· New Line of Dialogue: Grandpa yells, “Coming your way – One Big Step of Evil Truth.”

5. Emotion: Acceptance, Relief, and Exceedingly Happy: grandpa and grandson have been able to end the journey they are on, with their lives, and are able to start a do over for summer activities.

· Meaning: They understand their search for Oscar, their nightmare is over. They found out the truth and want to stop it. They are free, safe, and have a lot to tell everyone that will listen.

· New Line of Dialogue: Grandpa says, “Aha, Evil is vulnerable.” Grandson says, “And… Evil makes mistakes!”

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard Delivers Irony!

What I learned doing this assignment is irony that delivering insights is easier to do than I imagined.

What else I learned doing this assignment is, in my play, irony that delivered insights was already primed and ready to use, if my examples are appropriate.

New Ways / Insights Delivered – Experiencing Opposites:

1. New Ways / Insights Delivered:

Lying and getting the Truth: Telling the Truth and getting Lies.

· Experiencing Opposites:

· Walter questions the Clinic Clerk using the truth – He is looking for Oscar,

· The clinic clerk tells him lies – No she hasn’t seen Oscar.

· Walter questions the doctor using lies – he needs an appointment (but he is looking for information),

· The doctor gives him the truth – he can have an appointment.

· Walter tells lies to the doctor – he is having trouble remembering things, loses items, and he is confused about some situations,

· The doctor tells him the truth, Walter can have some tests run for further diagnosis.

2. New Ways / Insights Delivered:

Lying and getting the Truth: Telling the Truth and getting Lies.

· Experiencing Opposites:

· The nurse tells Walter the Truth – Walter doesn’t need any tests,

· Walter tells the nurse the Truth – He is really looking for Oscar.

· The nurse tells Walter the Truth – She knows Oscar but because of HIPPA laws, she can’t help Oscar, she is sure that Walter will find Oscar, but let her know if he needs anything in the future, she is sure she can help him then.

· Walter tells the nurse a lie – of course he will call on her if he needs to.

· In the end, Nurse/Agent – does help Walter, but he doesn’t know she’s an agent and he doesn’t ask for her help.

3. New Ways / Insights Delivered:

Going for wants and missing needs: Going after needs and losing wants.

· Experiencing Opposites:

· Father drops son off with grandson, so that he can pursue a big financially beneficial business trip, as a result he misses out on helping his dad and son when they need him the most.

· Behinds the scenes: Son sends Father clips of videos and some pictures without explanations throughout their journey as documentation of events in case they don’t make it. Son wants father there to help, but father never shows.

· Behind the scenes: Father calls wanting to know what the strange text messages are about, but the calls are unanswered. His need to know that his dad and son are ok grows as the journey continues.

· Behind the scenes: Father needs to get in touch with help, share text messages, allow agents, police, etc…. needing to arrive for help.

· Does he?

4. New Ways / Insights Delivered:

Doing wrong things, for the right reasons: Doing right things for the wrong reasons.

· Experiencing Opposites:

· Janitor overhears Walter and grandson’s conversation about Oscar, and asked if Oscar is ok. (Walter, the Janitor and Oscar are all casual acquaintances from The Sit and Sip Café). (He asked the right question for the wrong reason.)

· The janitor suggests if Oscar is getting tested, he could be behind the door labeled, “No Admittance Without Permission”, (manually, visually motioning to the propped-up door) non-verbally suggesting that they could see for themselves. (He gave the right information for the wrong reasons.) But Walter believes him.

· Later, the janitor rightly tells the doctor that Walter and grandson were trespassing behind the door, for the wrong reason, so they could get in trouble, not so they will be helped to find Oscar.

5. New Ways / Insights Delivered:

Doing something amazing and someone else getting the credit: Getting the credit for something you didn’t do.

· Experiencing Opposites:

· In the end, Walter and Landon have had an amazing journey, doing things no other persons had been able to do, but they are unable to get credit for doing anything, because they were unauthorized, taking situations into their own hands.

· While Agent – Nurse and crew take the overall credit – and run interference for Walter and Landon, keeping them out of trouble, but utilizing their information as the work of secret deep undercover plants within the organization that cannot be named.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Delivers Insights Through Conflict

What I learned doing this assignment is that Insights (or new ways) are an important part of each action. If all actions are attached

to a new way or insight, then there are no wasted moments on the movies screen, or script.

What else I learned doing this assignment is insights represented by actions – to write these combinations takes practice. I need

to practice.

New Ways / Insights to be Delivered:

1. New Ways / Insights: The Truth will come out.

· Conflict Type: A Dilemma: A Predicament defying a satisfactory solution.

· Delivery Methods: By a series of events, including a combination of breaking into places, lying, taking pictures, collecting items, and more,

· Or by discovery of events that have happened that define the truth,

· Or both.

2. New Ways / Insights: Everyone lives their lives independently, eventually.

· Conflict Type: An Argument.

· Delivery Methods: By a series of events, including a combination of breaking into places, lying, taking pictures, collecting items, and more.

3. New Ways / Insights: The Truth will come out.

· Conflict Type: Social Disruption and Misunderstanding

· Delivery Methods: By character(s) interaction by a mysterious social chaotic group, whereby assumptions and misunderstanding follow.

4. New Ways / Insights: Everyone lives their lives independently, eventually.

· Conflict Type: Physical Humiliation and Physical Confirmation

· Delivery Methods: By a physical altercation / physical combat,

· Or by a series of events unrelated to physical combat,

· Or by both.

5. New Ways / Insights: The Truth will come out.

· Conflict Type: A loss of a person due to physical, medical, or mental harm.

· Delivery Methods: By discovery of the person,

· Or by witnessing the harmful acts,

· Or by both.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Susan Willard.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Turn’s Insights into Actions

What I learned doing this assignment is when insights of new ways of behavior are turned into actions then the insights are a powerful tool in impacting the movie audience.

What I learned doing this assignment is I am going to practice this skill to develop insights of new ways turning into actions, so that I can use this tool to give a movie script its greatest impact.

My Movie Profound Moments (New Ways / Insights into Action):

1) New Way: Rules may be made to be broken. Family and Friends first.

· Action: Break into an off-limits area of a facility to find a missing person.

2) New Way: Family first.

· Action: Protect grandson from being kidnapped.

3) New Way: Family first.

· Action: Care for a family member who’s in need of medical help in secluded dangerous situation.

4) New Way: Drastic situations need drastic actions.

· Action: Explore dangerous places, without being caught, while securing evidence of activities found.

5) New Way: Drastic situations need drastic actions.

· Action: Plan and implement a series of resistance, deviation, and switch actions to escape the antagonist(s).

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Seabiscuit Analysis

What I learned doing this assignment is my understanding of action was shallow and often wrong.

What I also learned doing this assignment is my control of the use and impact of action can be improved to bring about conscious and subconscious ideas to people who are casually reading or watching my screenplay.

Seabiscuit Profound Moments (with analyzed meaning):

Watching for profound moments in the movie Seabiscuit quickly overwhelmed my experience of the movie. Having watched it for the first time, with this analysis in mind, was amazing.

The insight that the underdog will overcome, stated by the repeated vision of, “You don’t throw away a whole life away just because it’s banged up a little.” The actions below demonstrate this insight that the characters had, learned, and witnessed through the movie.

1) The actions taken by Marcela (eventually Mrs. Howard) to understand why Charles Howard held many profound moments in action, which worked through the reoperation of Mr. Howard from the overwhelming sadness of losing his son and wife. Actions Marcela too were:

· Showing Mr. Howard, he is not alone as they watched the Mexican families and close culture from a balcony.

· Giving him time to get used to being with company again.

· Listening and doing activities he enjoyed, including riding horses, leading to their marriage, demonstrating that Mr. Howard was not a throw away life, leading to their adventure with Seabiscuit.

2) The actions taken by Tom Smith when working or being around horses. A beautiful white horse hurt his ankle:

· The owner and horse hands immediately prepared to shoot the horse, because it’s use to them ran out. Tom offered to buy the horse, and even insisted to buy the horse. Even though the horse’s owner didn’t understand, he allowed Tom to buy the horse.

· Tom’s actions toward the horse, buying the horse, healing the horse, and discussing the horse the potential future of such a great horse, all accumulated in the beautiful white horse having a productive life after his broken ankle. (Foreshadowing the future of broken ankles/legs in the movie).

3) The actions taken by Charles Howard when looking for staff for owning racing horses:

· He noticed an old outcast horse trainer, (Tom Smith), lying in the grass caring for a beautiful white horse lying in a field and investigated the trainer.

· Mr. Howard acted by looking in the woods to find Mr. Smith, talk with him, understand his actions with the white horse.

· Mr. Howard hired Tom for his horse trainer, and jockey trainer, leading to his adventure with Seabiscuit.

·

4) The action of the first time Tom Howard meets the horse Seabiscuit while looking for suitable racing horses, at 5 AM in the dark, wet, fog:

· Seabiscuit is being calmly led down the track toward Tom.

· Tom’s eyes meet Seabiscuit’s eyes.

· The short scene visually explains all you need to know about the horses’ nature and demeaner, and Tom’s insight into the horse’s heart and past. (Learning later that the horse had been whipped in the hind quarter’s – abused.)

· The calm, but unusual scene focuses quickly on the determination in the eyes of the horse, as it reaches out to Tom in the fog of its life, and Tom’s immediate understanding and quick decision that leads to their life together, and Seabiscuit’s rewarding life with people who cared for him dearly.

5) The dramatic actions of Red (Johnny) Pollard’s and Seabiscuit’s loss at the Big Race with War Admiral and opposing reactions and combined, opposing reactions of Trainer Tom and Owner Charles:

· The riveting action of Seabiscuit’s dramatic loss is totally shocking and unexpected.

· The explosively loud, blame-throwing rant by trainer Tom to owner Mr. Howard is shocking and unexpected also, especially when he demands that the jockey, Red should be fired for lying – not telling them he was blind in one eye.

· The slow deliberate action of Mr. Howard, when listening to Tom, taking a moment to think about the entire situation, then lovingly moving close to Tom only to requote Tom’s words about saving the white horse, stating “its ok.”, patting Tom for reassurance and leaving Tom to deeply realize what just happened.

· Without these combinations of actions, the insight into the value of Red, and of saving a life, would not have been fully developed.

6) The actions of Tom Howard promoting Seabiscuit by honestly telling the story of his whole organization to the world:

· The actions Mr. Howard Opted to share the racing group’s belief’s – being a bit different (banged up in or by life) doesn’t prevent success:

· He brought Seabiscuit to see the public and press directly, giving Seabiscuit signatures and horseshoes as mementos, relating directly to people.

· He gave speeches on Seabiscuit being too small, trainer to old, jockey too big, he was too ignorant to know any better, while in person, everywhere they went, people could see, hear, relate, and understand all the working components of the organization, and related to their struggle to win.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Living Metaphors

What I learned doing this assignment is when I learn more about different ways of challenging old ways, then I see old ways challenges coming to mind from all types of inspiration. I wonder if there is such as thing as too many old ways challenges.

Should Work, But Don’t Work and Living Metaphors (Old Ways Challenges and Method of Play out in a Story)

1. 5 Should Work, But Don’t Work (Walter looking for his friend Oscar)

· Walter starts by checking his phone for missed calls, texts, or voicemails from his friend Oscar.

· Walter asks friends and calls neighbors to inquire about Oscar.

· Walter tells his friend Jack that Oscar will show up, he has been late before, and he is an independent and resourceful person. No need to worry about Oscar, we will see him soon.

· Walter checks with the clinic where Oscar had an appointment at 8 AM.

· Walter asks the professional doctor at the clinic about Oscar.

· Walter asks other homeless people if they have seen Oscar or know where he is.

· Walter even asks the janitor, who is routinely cleaning at the clinic and café, if he knows anything about Oscar’s whereabouts.

(Walter has always respected Oscar as an independent, resourceful person, because both men are set in their ways and respect each other’s privacy. Oscar has always shown up, sometimes a little late. But today, Oscar didn’t show up for a free breakfast and card game, he missed his appointment that the clinic eventually removed, and no one has seen or heard from Oscar. Walter has no idea what to do next. He is beginning to worry about Oscar’s welfare.)

2. Living Metaphors

· TV News Stories – seen in some scenes –

Live News Stories playing in the background of some story scenes challenge Walter’s belief of real-life possibilities that could be happening to his friends or eventually to himself.

Throughout the entire story, occasionally a TV is in the background. The news is played several times, and possibly follow-up stories explaining situations around the retirement community, the small town, and the big city, both nearby.

Details of the news catches everyone’s attention, who often bring it up for discussion or question the details. In the beginning, Walter pushes away saying, “The news is inflated to get ratings, sometimes they just make up stories, and they just want to keep you glued to their station – what do they know? However, as the day goes on, Walter halts and listens, until he can’t push the news away anymore. What will Walter do about the reoccurring news he hears?

What will he do when he can’t ignore the uncertain reality seemingly coming true?

· Walter’s grandson Landon’s feet prosthetics –

Landon’s feet prosthetics represent a challenge to Walter’s belief that he should be able to solve all the problems he faces by himself, without help.

Walter has always taught his son and grandson to be an independent, resourceful person, then they will always be able to solve their own problems in life and won’t need anyone’s help to get along their life’s journey. Until his grandson, Landon, because of birth defects on both feet, requires amputations and prosthetics. Landon has come to spend the summer with his grandfather, as he remembers doing every year since his mom died.

This summer Grandpa wasn’t at home when they arrived. They caught up with him at The Sit and Sip café waiting for his friend Oscar. Ethan, Landon’s dad explains; Landon has new Prosthetics that require help in getting used to using them, because they are extremely hard to fit. Landon’s Dad leaves right away for a business trip, leaving Landon and Walter in the café. Walter doesn’t give Landon, or the prosthetics, any additional thought, until Landon has a problem with his prosthetics. Walter is struck with the reality that he knows nothing about prosthetics or what to do. Walter himself needs help. He is trying to find Oscar, and now he needs to help Landon. What will he do?

· The Unlocked Door – “No Entry without Permission” –

The Unlocked Door labeled “No Entry without Permission” represents a challenge to Walter’s strict adherence to the rules.

Walter and Landon are in the clinic waiting room, waiting for Oscar. Walter has pursued all the activities and methods he can think of for finding Oscar. Landon is worried about his grandpa who has never acted this way before.

Walter asks about Oscar with a working janitor nearby. The janitor familiar with Walter and his breakfast card club friends, has not seen Oscar, but suggests that maybe Oscar needed a test or other observation, and points to the back room of the clinic. The door is behind the desk and labeled, “No Entry without Permission” and is stuck open with a big object on the floor.

After the janitor leaves, Walter and Landon discuss the door, the opening, and the possibility of checking for Oscar behind the door in the clinic testing rooms. Maybe Oscar is getting an Xray, MRI or CT scan. He’s taught Landon to always obey the rules. What will Walter do? Obey the sign on the door or pursue another method for finding Oscar?

· The Room – “Monitoring Center” –

The Room labeled as “Monitoring Center” represents Walters a challenge to his perspective of the retirement village safety that he feels about his retirement home, community, and the places he frequents.

Walter and Landon enter a room labeled “Monitoring Center”. Overwhelmed by the walls filled with video monitors all running live feeds of real-time surveillance of places and people. Once recovered from the shock of the visions, Landon asks, “Grandpa, is your home safe? Are we safe?” Walter is challenged to review his views of the safety of his home, community, the café, and everything in his current world.

· The Dead Body –

The Dead Body represents a challenge to Walter’s reality of a safe and enjoyable life at the retirement village, (or anywhere?)

Walter, and Landon, behind the scenes, witness a family saying their last goodbyes to their daughter who has died. From the conversation, it sounds as if the adult girl died suddenly in her doctor’s care. No one had any idea she was going to die. The family pushes back for answers, but the answers make no sense. After the family and attending medical personnel leave, Walter, nor Landon, are quite sure of what to do. Why did the girl die? Why did she die in this place? What did she die of? What is really going on? Now Walter has more questions than answers. What can he do next?

· The Cracker Package –

The Cracker Package and Landon’s idea represents a challenge to Walter’s self-sufficiency and adherence to the certain reality of what he has done before.

Walter and Landon are in a bind. They must escape the place they are in, and there appears now way out. Earlier in the journey, Landon fumbled a cracker package, which dropped on the floor without their knowing. A person came into the area where Walter and Landon were hiding. Not seeing anything, the person turned to leave, only to step on Landon’s cracker package making a load “pop” then a crunch as the cracker pieces exploded under the man’s foot. They were caught. Now they are hiding again, but Landon has an idea of how to use another cracker package so that they can get away. Walter is opposed to the idea. It’s dangerous. It’s reckless. It will never work. They saw what happened last time. What will Walter and Landon do? Will they get away?

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Counterexamples

What I learned doing this assignment is emphasizing the same message by more than one message method gives the script more depth to the movie’s message, consciously or unconsciously for the audience.

What else I learned doing this assignment is I’ve missed many of the counterexamples in life and in movies. I will begin to look and take note of them from now on.

Walter’s Old Ways:

· Independent, Retired.

· Set in ways. Self-Desires.

· Earned Time-off from Responsibilities.

· Earned Time-off from Work.

· Make Life what I want it to be.

· I prefer not to make waves. My home and my activities are my sanctuaries.

· Everything Scheduled the way I want it to be.

· Respect Authority. Professionals are the best at their trade.

· Don’t rock the boat. Let’s act like professionals.

Counterexample Challenges to Walter’s Old Ways:

1) Counterexample: Nurse Kathy, Her Environment:

Walter is challenged to look for his friend Oscar who is missing. He is forced to make an unneeded appointment at the Dementia Clinic to find out information of where Oscar may be. Nurse Kathy’s office is used for screening new patients. Walter is unable to get information about where Oscar may be. Whether or not he is aware of it, he gets immediate positive re-enforcement, which he is not interested in. Where’s Oscar?

· Family and Friends make the world go ‘round. (Happy People on a Farris Wheel)

· Helping others get to tomorrow. (Nurse helping an old woman)

· Ask me about my wonderful children. (Pin on her shirt, with a picture of her children underneath the saying)

· What are you doing to make tomorrow wonderful? (Shows a family helping plant a community garden of flowers and vegetables.)

· Reach out and build a better life for someone. (Leaflets for donating time and money to a prosthetics clinic, for low-income people.) Her dad was a veteran and a war amputee. He has passed away, but she honors him by helping the amputee clinic.

2) Counterexample: Nurse Kathy, A Discussion with Nurse Kathy:

During the discussion with Nurse Kathy, Walter is challenged about his behavior. Nurse Kathy is focused on her medical work. Walter is focused on finding Oscar. Walter gets more questions than answers. She doesn’t throw him out of the appointment right away. She seems distant but supportive. Walter leaves with mixed feelings.

· What seems to be the problem today, Walter? How can I help you today?

· Are you sure that is your reason for the appointment? Why is your paperwork empty, Walter?

· I know Oscar. He’s an independent fellow. Do you look for him every time you don’t know where he is?

· You must be a great friend of Oscar’s. I commend your efforts. I just can’t help.

· I know Oscar. He’s an independent fellow.

· Everyone needs friends they can count on. I’m sure Oscar can count on you.

· Maybe I can be of help to you in the future, ok?

3) Counterexample: Grandson Landon, Discussions along the Journey:

On the journey to find Oscar, Walter’s grandson, Landon, challenges Walter at every step with questions, that force Walter to explore the difference in his perceptions of professional doctors, nurses, and clinics and the reality before him. Eventually Grandpa starts to ask Landon questions. They wish the terrible adventure would end soon.

· Don’t you believe the doctors? You always say doctors know best.

· Why are we sneaking into the back room? The door says, “No admittance without Permission.” Do we have permission?

· Are all these chemicals safe for the patients?

· Why are all the monitors here? What are they doing?

· Are we safe at the doctor’s office? Are we safe at your house?

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Old Ways Challenge Chart

What I learned doing this assignment is that I need to learn more about (and practice more) the progression of small harmless seeming challenges can make a big difference over time.

What else I learned doing this assignment is that Old Ways can have different types of challenges, from Emotional, Psychological, Physical, Environmental, Social…The amount and types of the challenges that can come against our old ways of living seem to be infinite.

Old Ways, with their Challenges Listed be low – (Walter Ingle):

1. A Self-First Sedentary Life:

(A Desire).

Idea for Challenges:

· The Activity of the Quest will force Walter to be active.

· Keeping up with his grandson will keep Walter active, maybe a bit overactive.

· Landon’s comments about Walter’s activities.

2. Live Independently:

(Belief & Desire: I worked for it. I deserve to do it. My House, My Car, My Stuff)

Idea for Challenges:

· Landon questioning Grandpa about living with them. Landon could use help now and then.

· Walter, progressively, starts wanting to live somewhere else because he is feeling unsafe.

· Walter is tired of the responsibility of living alone but is now slowly seeing he is tired of it.

3. I’m an Expert:

(A Belief – Filtered through Perspective:

I will always know the best Problem-Solving Expert, because that was my life’s work.)

Idea for Challenges:

· Since Walter is an expert, he should know about things he doesn’t.

· People look to Walter to do things he says he is expert in, and he doesn’t want to admit it.

· He tries to do things that he is expert in and fails and fails.

4. Don’t Question Professionals:

(A Belief – Filtered through Perspective:

Professionals are educated and specialized. They know what they are doing.)

Idea for Challenges:

· When Walter sees professionals do things they shouldn’t.

· When Walter sees things wrong about professionals.

· When Grandson asks about the professionals not acting, the way they should.

5. Things Were Better When I was Growing up:

(A Belief – An Assumption through his experiences)

Idea for Challenges:

· Clash between Walter and grandson on how to do things.

· When Walter is confronted with trying new things.

· When Walter must find a way to do things that were not possible when he was growing up.

6. Family Time is scheduled:

(A Habit – through Life Experiences)

Idea for Challenges:

· When challenged by others about his time with family.

· When Grandson needs his attention outside of scheduled time.

· When compared to others’ use of time.

7. Follow all the Rules, All the Time:

(A Belief – through his experiences through social virtues)

Idea for Challenges:

· When someone suggests the only way to do something which is urgent.

· When Grandson sees something unusual.

· When Walter sees something unusual.

8. Don’t need Church to Believe in God

(A Belief, A Habit through Life and Social Experiences)

Idea for Challenges:

· When Walter starts praying and has difficulty.

· When Grandson prays for him.

· Conversation with Grandson.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s 12 Angry men Analysis

What I learned doing this assignment is the progression of small harmless seeming challenges can make a big difference over time.

What else I learned doing this assignment is that Old Ways that exist everywhere are being challenged every day, and most people don’t see, look for, or acknowledge them.

12 ANGRY MEN – Old Ways and Their Challenges:

Old Ways, with their Challenges Listed below:

1. Assumption Of Guilt

· In the beginning of the Jury deliberation, 1 Jury member voted not guilty, challenging all other Jurors to think deeper about their assumption of the guilt of the boy on trial.

· Challenge: “Suppose we are wrong?”

· Challenge: “I just want to talk about it. (Trial proceedings, facts, evidence)”

· Challenge: “Are you willing to discuss it for 5 minutes?” “Let’s take an hour.”

· Challenge: “He doesn’t have to prove he is not guilty. He can keep his mouth shut.”

2. We Don’t Owe the Kid Anything

· Challenge: “What if that were you?” (If you were on trial?)

· Challenge: “I don’t think that the type of person makes a difference in this case.”

· Challenge: “We have a responsibility. We are notified by mail to serve. We have nothing to gain or lose. This is not personal.”

· Challenge: Personal prejudices always distorts the truth.

3. Just Want This Over

· In the beginning of the Jury deliberation, 1 Jury member voted not guilty, challenging all other Jurors to think deeper about their just wanting the trial to be over so they could go on with what they want to do.

· Challenge: “Are you willing to discuss it for 5 minutes?” “Let’s take an hour.”

· Challenge: “What difference is it going to make if you’re here or at the ball game?” (answer = “No difference Pal, No difference at all.”)

4. Not Caring

· In the beginning of the Jury deliberation, 1 Jury member voted not guilty, challenging all other Jurors to think deeper about their not really caring about the outcome of the trial, the trial spoke for itself.

· Challenge: (To Jurors playing tick-tack-toe and telling stories), “This is not a game.

· Challenge: “We have a responsibility. We are notified by mail to serve. We have nothing to gain or lose. This is not personal.”

· Challenge: (To the Juror that asks, “Why are you so polite?”) “The same reason you are not. The way I was brought up.”

5. Prejudice Against Wild Youth of The Day

· Challenge: (Response to comment that the Kid on trial was heard to say, when fighting with his father: “I’m going to Kill you.”) We hear people say these words in the heat of rage every day. They don’t mean that they are literally going to kill the person.

· Challenge: (Response to one juror yelling, “I’m going to kill you.” In a rage during their argument): “Just because you said, “I’m going to kill you.” Doesn’t mean you are going to kill me… does it?” No answer was given. The person retreated to himself in deep thought.

· Challenge: “I don’t think that the type of person makes a difference in this case.”

6. Prejudice Against People Living in Low Income, Poverty or Slums

· Challenge: “I have lived there.” “I came from there.”

· Challenge: “You don’t have to know his story.” (Background details)

· Challenge: “Listen, I’ve lived in a slum all my life. Our garbage is filled with garbage. Maybe you smell it on me.”

· Challenge: The Jurors began to physically challenge the loud-mouthed prejudiced Juror when he went on a rant saying, “Not one of those kids are any good. His type are wild.”

· Challenge: Personal prejudice always distorts the truth.”

7. Prejudice Against Older Citizens or New Immigrated American Citizens

· Challenge: About the older witness, said by the older Juror: “I am probably the best one to be able to know the situation of this witness.

· Challenge: New Immigrated American Citizen, when prejudice Juror statement: “The kid is a common slob that don’t speak good English.” Challenged by the new Immigrated American Citizen with “doesn’t speak good English.”

8. Not Looking Beneath, The Surface #1 – Lack of Paying Attention (Observation) during Trial

· Challenge: (To Jurors playing tick-tack-toe and telling stories), “This is not a game.”

· Challenge: The older Juror challenges the other Jurors to remember how the old man witness as he looked, his emotional, social, mental, and physical situation all determined by observation.

· Challenge: The older Juror challenges the other Jurors about dents around the female witness’ nose, which determined that she wore glasses and would not be able to see the murder, because she didn’t have time to put her glasses on within the 20 seconds in which the L-train windows were available to her. – A reasonable doubt.

· Challenge: The knife is a common switchblade found in a junk store.

· Challenge: The jurors were challenged several times to remember the boy’s demeaner and answers, more closely.

9. Not Looking Beneath, The Surface #2 – Lack of Critical Thinking about Trial

· Challenge: (The lone Juror challenges the other 11 Jurors to take the time to continue thinking about so-called-facts, observations, and trial information by saying) “Ill step out of the vote. If you all vote guilty – I’ll vote guilty, and we are done. If anyone votes not guilty, we’ll all stay and talk this out.”

· Challenge: One more Juror votes not guilty. The older gentleman stated it was his duty as Juror to have respect for his desire to talk out the evidence, so he wants to talk the issues out. He said, “I want to hear more.”

· Challenge: (About the man downstairs that identifies the kid’s voice.) “I wondered how clearly; he could hear through the ceiling. It’s not Easley to identify a voice, especially a shouting voice.”

· Challenge: Consider how the switchblade is used with people who used to using them.

· Challenge: Consider that anyone could have purchased and use a similar switchblade.

· Challenge: Consider the Old Man’s presentation, the boy’s presentation, and the woman’s presentation in the court room. Many details that were not discussed were evident by observation.

10. Not Looking Beneath The Surface #3 – Not Understanding “A Reasonable Doubt”

· Challenge: A push back comment about not being able to get answers to the jurors’ questions, “There are a lot of questions I would have asked.

· Challenge: “I am just saying that it is possible that someone found the knife and stabbed his father.”

· Challenge: “I’m saying a coincidence is possible. “The same knife can be bought at the same junk store by a juror, two blocks away from the boy’s house for six dollars.”

· Challenge: “It is possible that someone else stabbed his father with the same type of knife. “

· Challenge: “I don’t have to be loyal to one side or another, I am simply asking questions.”

· Challenge: “I don’t have to defend my reason to you. There’s a reasonable doubt in my mind.”

· Challenge: “I feel there’s room for doubt for a lot of the details that never came out.”

· Challenge: “Maybe you don’t understand reasonable doubt.”

11. Assuming The Evidence Is Not Questionable

· Challenge: “What does that evidence mean?”

· Challenge: How can the witnesses hear the argument, screaming, the body hit the floor and other noises, when the L-Line Train was so loud it was almost deafening?

· Challenge: How could the boy have murdered his dad with the knife, creating the down and in wound, when the boy is seven inches shorter than his dad, the switchblade knife is used by holding and using it underhanded, and the knife is a common knife easily acquired for $6.00 in his local neighborhood?

· Challenge: How could the woman see the murder, while the L-line passed by, with her room was on the other side of the train, without her glasses on? She saw blurred motion.

· Challenge: “I am just saying that it is possible that someone found the knife and stabbed his father.”

· Challenge: “I’m saying a coincidence is possible. “The same knife can be bought at the same junk store by a juror, two blocks away from the boy’s house for six dollars.”

· Challenge: “It is possible that someone else stabbed his father with the same type of knife. “

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Profound Ending

What I learned doing this assignment is there are many ways to make situations and clues fit together.

What else I learned doing this assignment is the ending may be the beginning of the profound story.

Design your ending to have a profound impact.

What is your Profound Truth and
how will it be delivered powerfully in your ending?

· No one can live life alone.

· Everyone needs help from time to time.

· Knowing the truth is important to living a safe, (secure or healthy) life.

· Families and friends stick together.

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

· The Change Agent and Transformable Character have a multi-teered forced adventure in which they learn the lessons above, one by one as the challenges become more severe.

· The Change Agent and Transformable Character are forced to depend upon each other and collaborate with each other in new and sometimes difficult ways.

What are the setup/payoffs that
complete in the end of this movie, giving it deep meaning?

· The truth: No one can live life alone. – drives two friends to search for their missing homeless friend, who without knowing it – echoes it back to them at the end of the story.

· The truth: Everyone needs help from time to time. – repeats through the story, sometimes as words, and sometimes as actions needed in difficult situations, even at the end of the story.

· The truth: Knowing the truth is important to living a safe, (secure or healthy) life. – Is a more subtle truth that maybe be more reflected on than noticed. When the whole of the movie is reflected upon, it will be the desire of everyone to know the truth about all things, people, and situations around them, or maybe not. (If I have done a good job writing the story.)

· The truth: Families and friends always stick together. – Are said to make the sayers feel better about themselves, in the beginning of the story. However, once reality hits and the danger real, the words take on true meaning. Will, or will not, the people see each other again?

How are you designing it to have
us see an inevitable ending and then making it surprising when it happens?

· A side character with the subtext of being a second purpose.

· A final deception in action.

· Unexpected results of a line of actions throughout the story.

· A betrayal blocks the final getaway, as planned.

What is the Parting Image/Line
that leaves us with the Profound Truth in our minds?

· As a parting inquiry, the change agent asks a secondary question, that was asked before, related to the truth: Knowing the truth is important to living a safe, (secure or healthy) life. – as they are going to live their new lives, however the answer is, “I don’t know. We will have to find out.”

With an intriguing picture shown, (or not).

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Connection with Audience

What I learned from this assignment is relationships make profound stories, and connections are like glue to relationships.

Tell us which characters you are going to INTENTIONALLY create a
connection with the audience.

Lead Transformational Character: Walter.

Transformational Character: Walter’s Grandson: Landon.

With each character, tell us how you’ll use each of the four ways of
connecting with the audience in the first 30 minutes of the movie.

1. Walter.

A. Relatability –

· Having breakfast and playing cards with his friends.

B. Intrigue –

· His friend goes missing for some unknown reason, and Grandpa and his friend get involved in looking for him, because he is like part of their family.

C. Empathy –

· His family comes in to stay with him during the summer, but Walter is unprepared for them, preoccupied with a missing friend.

D. Likability –

· When Landon has physical problems with his new prosthetics, Walter, being a good Grandpa, doesn’t make a fuss, but instead helps Landon to figure out the problem and fix it on his own so he can slowly become independent.

2. Walter’s Grandson: Landon.

A. Relatability –

· Landon just got his new prosthetics, so he is uncomfortable with them. He must learn many things about wearing, caring for, using them and more. His dad brings him to his grandpa’s house and abruptly leaves for a business trip, after a huff of an argument with grandpa. The entire situation makes Landon uncomfortable, worried, and insecure.

B. Intrigue –

· Grandpa’s friend, that Landon knows well, has gone missing. No one seems to care or want to help Grandpa to find his friend.

C. Empathy –

· Landon is worried and confused. His summer vacation started in a most terrible way.

D. Likability –

· When Grandpa gets stuck, or out of ideas, Landon helps him out in his own special ways.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Transformational Structure

What I learned doing this assignment is

· Structure is key to holding everything together so the story will work.

· My theme and voice may change as I write the script.

· Profound Scripts are about Character interactions.

Tell us
your Transformational Logline.

A retired grandpa, and his disabled grandson, anticipate a summer of fun together, but instead must confront their disabilities and fears, to find grandpa’s homeless friend who has disappeared.

Tell us
who the main character will be:

Forced Change for Lead Transformational Character: Walter.

Perspective: Walter

Forced Change for Transformational Character: Walter’s Son: Ethan.

Forced Change for Transformational Character: Walter’s Grandson: Landon.

List out
your Mini-Movie structure, (or whatever structure you’ve chosen) for your
story. MINI-MOVIE STUCTURE:

And

Go back
through and make sure you’ve covered each the following:
– The Transformational Journey
listed in your logline.
– The Three Gradients.
– It is sequenced in Escalating
Challenges.

See below.

MINI-MOVIE STUCTURE:

Mini-Movie, Step 1 – Status Quo and Call to Action

Grandpa Walter is having his usual early morning breakfast with his friend Jack. They are waiting for their homeless friend Oscar, who is late. Jack, Oscar, and Walter have breakfast together every day, and play cards at the Medical Clinic’s cafeteria, call The Sit and Sip.

The TV plays news in the background. Jack is fixed on a story about homeless people in the area going missing. It is too late to play cards because Walter’s son and grandson are coming over to visit and drop of his grandson for a summer visit.

Jack brings up the TV news and Oscar wondering if there is any relation between the two. Walter says no because Oscar had an appointment at the clinic this morning. Jack acknowledges, by asks, “Where is he?”. Walter begins to ask about Oscar. Jack goes to see if Jack is at any of several places Jack stays at night. Jack tells Walter, “Everyone needs someone to help them through life.” Walter dismisses the comment telling Jack, “You watch too much TV.”

Ethan, Walter’s son, calls asking why he isn’t at home. They are there waiting for him. Ethan has an extremely important business trip and needs to get going. Walter suggests they leave his grandson’s things and meet him at the Clinic Cafe, because he is a busy himself.

Walter begins his search to find Oscar. He talks to the clinic desk, the clinic nurse, the clinic doctor, the clinic patients waiting in the waiting room. He even talks to the clinic janitor. He is getting frustrated and upset. The retirement community is so small that someone he talked to should know where Oscar is. Walter is asked to leave the clinic, so he goes back into the café to find Ethan and Landon arriving.

Change Agent: Missing Friend

Transformational Characters: Walter

Old Ways: Set in routine. Not paying attention to what is going on in the community. Walter feels that Oscar, his missing friend is fine just misplaced. However, it is unusual not to find someone that’s seen Oscar. Oscar will show up.

The Vision: Jack says, “Everyone needs someone to help them through life.”

Challenge: To find his friend, Oscar, who is missing.

Weaknesses: Impulsive. Frustrated. Lying to gain information. Denial.

Mini-Movie Step 2 – Locked into Conflict

The family sits at a booth in The Sit and Sip Clinic Café. None of the are particularly happy.

They make small talk, determine that Walter isn’t found, and order lunch. Landon tells a bit about his new prosthetics and Ethan gobbles his food and prepares to leave. Thinking both were staying the week, and Landon the summer. Walter is surprised. A lively argumentative discussion is had and Ethan leaves in a huff, only after explaining all the information and instructions about Ethan’s new prosthetics, embarrassing Ethan, and leaving angry.

Jack enters the café, quickly passing and bumping into Ethan. Ethan doesn’t acknowledge him – only keeps on going. Jack comes to Walter’s table, gives a quick hi and a smile to Ethan and begins to talk about his quest for looking for Oscar. Oscar is nowhere to be found. As Jack is talking, he is fixed on the TV again replaying the missing homeless people report.

Another neighbor comes into the café, and overhears their conversation, reaffirming the concern for Walter. Jack goes to talk to the reporter of the news story, the radio station reporters, and the news paper reporters, as well as the police, and the fire/rescue station.

Walter tells Jack he will figure out where to look next. Walter and Landon are left alone in the café, thinking about Oscar, the missing people, and what they can do. Jack suggests they go home, and he will talk to them soon.

Walter and Landon start out the café through the clinic, and Landon’s prosthetics start having a problem. Landon can’t walk home until his legs fit properly. They sit in the clinic waiting room, so Landon can fix the problem. Walter has an idea; he will see if he can get a quick check up. The janitor overhears that Walter wants a check-up and tells him the visit consultative visit is free. So, Walter goes and gets a check-up. But all he gets is the good news that he doesn’t need to be a patient.

Deflated and frustrated, he sits down next to Landon, who is watching the TV. Landon begins to discuss the same information about missing homeless people. Walter says, “We live in a small community that looks out for each other. We will find Oscar.” They talk and come up with a plan, but don’t know where to start until Landon asks, where was Oscar last?

Change Agent: Motivation to find Oscar. Landon. Jack.

Transformational Characters: Walter

Old Ways: Set in routine. Impatient. Frustrated and angry cause Walter to become persistently more forceful when talking with people. He is angry at the situation because he is becoming more concerned for Walter.

The Vision: Walter says, “We live in a small community that looks out for each other. We will find Oscar.”

Challenge: To think clearly and find ways to help his friend and find out where his friend is.

Weaknesses: Impulsive. Frustrated. Denial. Can’t think clearly.

Mini-Movie Step 3 – Unexpected Clues – Revision in Objectives.

Walter and Landon discuss Oscar’s potential clinic appointment for this morning, but the clinic denies it. Maybe he is had or is having some tests and they just don’t want him disturbed, Landon suggests. Landon suggests how to keep track of the facts that Walter knows so he doesn’t look in the same places twice. Walter agrees. Landon can keep track, so they review the information.

The Janitor overhears that Oscar may be having tests, Landon wondering where the tests are conducted, and the Janitor tell them, behind the door that says, “Entry only by Permission.” No, he didn’t see Oscar go back there, but that’s where the tests are done.

They thank the janitor, and he goes to the café to clean. Landon notices that the door is propped open, so that the janitor can go in and out pushing his cleaning cart, without having someone else to open and hold the door for him.

Landon leans down like he is working with his prosthetics, (so does Grandpa) and Landon whispers, “Let’s go see if Oscar is in the back of the clinic getting a test done.” Walter and Landon quickly devise a plan to go back and see where Oscar is. Landon says, “Families stick together. Oscar is like family. We will do what it takes to find Oscar.” They are convinced he is getting a test.

Landon documents details and off they go. They walk to the desk and wait until no one is looking and they slide through the door. Landon’s backpack gets caught on the door handle, and they struggle to get it loose. When they do, the door closes completely behind them. Walter quickly turns and tries the door. Locked. Now they are locked into the back area of the clinic. They are committed to investigating. There is nowhere else to go. – Sorry, Grandpa. No worries –grandpa replied.

Change Agent: The Janitor. The opportunity to investigate.

Transformational Characters: Walter. Landon

Old Ways: To give up once all the known outlets of information are seemingly exhausted. Not to push any further.

New Ways: Both Walter and Landon are willing to think and outside of the box, as well as break the rules to find their friend, Oscar, who is really like family to them.

The Vision: Landon says, “Families stick together. Oscar is like family. We will do what it takes to find Oscar.”

Challenge: To find Oscar having a test taken or clues that he had a test taken. Weaknesses: Impatient, Impulsive, Unprepared, Unorganized, Not thinking Clearly.

Mini-Movie Step 4 – New Plan Enacted

The two stood in the dark hallway, squinting their eyes to see the layout of the clinic’s private facility. “What’s the plan now, grandpa?” Landon asked. They continue their plan of looking for ‘Oscar clues’ as they called it. The first target was Room 1 on the right labeled “Advanced Dementia”. Landon took a picture of the door with his phone, and they went into the dark room. (They encountered horrific situations, documented them, and gather hopeful clues) (encounter with a person coming into the room, and Ethan calling Landon on his phone).

The decided to leave room 1 before the person comes back. Out in the hall they go to room 2 on the right, labeled, “Medical Center”. Walter suggests that Landon take pictures of everything – its quick and effective, while he collects clues that could become evidence of Oscar being there or where he is. Landon says “The plan will work, but I can’t do this without you Grandpa. You are my strength.” Grandpa hugs Landon and says, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here for you, always.” They go into room 2.

Change Agent(s): The situation grows with each room, pushing them forward. Fear, Determination.

Transformational Characters: Walter. Landon

Old Ways: When all you have is failure, go do something else.

New Ways: Walter and Landon must confront their fears along with the devious reality. They are forced not to think of consequences, only Oscar and their safety.

The Vision: Landon says “The plan will work, but I can’t do this without you Grandpa. You are my strength.” Grandpa hugs Landon and says, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here for you, always.”

Challenge: Walter: To listen more intently to ideas from his grandson, Landon. Some of his ideas may be useful. Landon: To learning to be more independent, yet helpful to Grandpa.

Weaknesses: Fear, Inadequacy, unable to confront the horrific unknown

MIDPOINT:

Walter and Landon have their method of investigating and documentation in place and are working well together. Locked inside back rooms of the medical facility, then proceed to room 2 labeled “Medical Center”. Documenting the door, they go inside. No lights cause them to wait until their eyes adjust. It’s a big pharmacy and science lab all in one. Walter: Don’t touch anything. Everything is dangerous. Walter finds a box of clean gloves and stores some gloves in this pocket and the box in Landon’s backpack. They photograph and take a few small items they feel will be of help.

Danger enters. They fight the danger. The secure the danger so that it will not hurt them, Walter’s phone rings again and he answers. Landon: “I wish dad was here.” Walter: “Me too. How about after all this is over, let’s call your dad and have a man’s night out to tell him all about our adventure today. Family should have no secrets. What do you say?” and they leave for Room 3?

Change Agent(s): Room 2 – gives good clues, and a bit of hope. Strange phone call renews opportunities.

Transformational Characters: Walter. Landon

Old Ways: Walter: Still believes he has things figured out.

New Ways: Walter more accepting of their situation. Landon is also starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

The Vision: Landon: “I wish dad was here.” Walter: “Me too. How about after all this is over, let’s call your dad and have a man’s night out to tell him all about our adventure today. Family should have no secrets. What do you say?”

Challenge: Walter and Landon: To accept what comes next with a brave and discerning attitude, because anything could happen.

Weaknesses: Fear, Inadequacy, unable to confront the horrific unknown

Mini-Movie Step 5 – Heroes Doubt & Reality Closes In

Room 3 is labeled, “Media and Nanotechnology”. From Wall to Wall are Screens blaring with monitoring images. Landon photographs the room. The more Walter explores, the visions seep into his mind. The more visions he sees the more reality clears his thinking. No one is safe in his community. He asks Landon to take a picture of everything, of everything, in this room. It is very important. We must leave quickly. Walter is at the brink of panic and flight for their safety but must maintain composure for their safety and so that Landon does not become more concerned. (Landon notices the deviant crimes that he is documenting but doesn’t say a word. He will be strong as to not really scare Grandpa.) Landon asks, “Is your house safe Grandpa?” Grandpa says, “No anymore. You and I are safe when we are here working together.”

Descriptions of the scenes they see are vivid and in real-time. Both stare at the colorful moving of people and places they know, like watching their friends on the big box movie theatre. Landon slowly starts to photograph again, and Walter picks up a clue.

Walter’s phone rings. It is Ethan. He doesn’t answer, lets it roll to message. We will call your dad once we are finished. Landon: Good thinking, He wouldn’t understand, yet.

They finish up and hear some noises outside. Then the lights go out. The clinic must be closed. They slowly go to the door and peer out. They then make their way to room 4.

Once the hall is quiet, the two quickly move out into the hall to the next door. Door 4. “Experimental Kitchen” (documented) was still open, so they entered. Don’t touch or eat anything. I don’t think this Kitchen has food for us. Be quiet. Landon took pictures. Walter found a small, worn paperback book titled, “Poisoning Food and Contaminating Drinks”, showed it to Landon and put it in his backpack.

The two wearily finished each of their tasks without a word, determined to be complete. The headed to the door to leave, then stopped. People were walking around in the hall and the room next door. The hid near the door, in the shadow of the dark room. A door closed. Landon’s phone vibrated. It’s dad. He sent to voicemail. Walter’s phone rang. It was Ethan. He let the phone go to voicemail. The lights went out. It must be clinic closing time. Landon, “I’m hungry.” “Sorry, son, nothing good to eat here, but we can live on finding the truth until we are out of here.” The exit room 4 and head to room 5.

Change Agent(s): Room 3 & 4 – the dark, invasive reality that they can’t escape.

Transformational Characters: Walter. Landon.

New Ways: Walter and Landon must accept that no one is safe. They may be the only ones that know the secrets. It is more important than ever to find out what is happening to Oscar.

The Vision: Landon asks, “Is your house safe Grandpa?” Grandpa says, “No anymore. You and I are safe when we are here working together.”

The Vision: Landon, “I’m hungry.” “Sorry, son, nothing good to eat here, but we can live on finding the truth until we are out of here.”

Challenge: Walter and Landon: To accept that they may have the keys of information to stop this sinister facility.

Weaknesses: Insecurity, wanting to flee, physically & mentally tired.

Mini-Movie 6 – No Stopping Now. Determined To Finish.

After checking the hall, they started to the room 5, labeled, “Surgery and Implants”.

Landon took door pictures, by now his hands shook, and Walter wavered while opening the door. I want to go home, said Landon, me too said Walter. We are almost done. Immediately upon entry into the room, they smelled formaldehyde and rubbing alcohol. That smell makes me sick. Me too. Let’s work fast. Try not to touch anything.

Quickly and quietly, they completed their tasks. Landon helped Walter find physical evidence to take. Walter was physically worn out. Landon was hungry and his legs ached from the new prosthetics wear.

Walter’s phone rang again. Strange. He will call them back later. Noises outside, as they progressing to the door to leave. They were caught off guard. The door opened quickly, and Grandpa was charge at by the intruder. Landon had climbed upon a storage cabinet and saved Grandpa. Walter: “You are just like your dad, thinking about others first, way ahead of what’s going to happen. Thanks for saving my life.” Really? Dad does that? Lots of hugs … But they had to work fast and leave. (Secured the intruder and left for the last door, room 6 – “Stagging”.

Change Agent(s): Room 5 – the dark, invasive reality that they can’t escape.

Transformational Characters: Walter. Landon.

New Ways: Walter and Landon must look out for each other and keep each other safe. Danger is everywhere and the have no one to depend on except themselves. The excursion is not over.

The Vision: Walter: “You are just like your dad, thinking about others first, way ahead of what’s going to happen.

Challenge: Walter and Landon: To accept that they may have the keys of information to stop this sinister facility.

Weaknesses: Physically and Mentally Exhausted. Scared. Focused on leaving.

Mini-Movie Step 7: A Sudden Change & Ultimate Reality

There’s one more door between the two and the outside door. They couldn’t stop now. Room 6: labeled, “Stagging Area. They went in. It’s cold, no, it’s freezing here. They froze from realization. They stood in fear. “I don’t want to search for evidence here.” Said Landon. Me either, but let’s take a few pictures as evidence. Landon crying. Ok but I don’t want to look. Walter – that’s ok. I have enough pictures. Let’s get out of this terrible place. Both crying. They went to the door to leave the evil place.

Suddenly the door opens. Who ever put me in the closet, must be in here it’s the only room we haven’t looked in. Everyone freezes staring at each other. It’s you! Yells the doctor. I know you guys, exclaimed the Janitor. Then they charged. A fight ensues, ending with Walter and Landon trapped by their attackers. We have you now and you know what that means.

Landon asks, “Grandpa, is this what real evil looks like?” Grandpa, answers, “Yes, True evil doesn’t look evil, it acts evil.” No one says anything else. They head for the exit to leave the medical facility, at gun point.

Change Agent(s): Room 6 – the ultimate evil that came for them.

Transformational Characters: Walter. Landon.

New Ways: Walter and Landon must face the reality of true evil.

The Vision: Landon asks, “Grandpa, is this what real evil looks like?” Grandpa, answers, “Yes, True evil doesn’t look evil on the outside, it acts evil.”

Challenge: Walter and Landon: To accept no matter what effort they put into saving Oscar; they cannot save themselves.

Weaknesses: Physically and Mentally Exhausted. Scared. Afraid of the Future.

Mini-Movie Step 8: The New Status Quo

They are led to and outside the exit, and to a car. Landon has trouble getting in, leading to a struggle between all four characters.

Out of the dark, they hear, “Stand still and put your hands on your heads. Drop all weapons. This is the county Sherriff.” They obey.

Stay right where you are with your hands up. They are quickly taking aside, and hand cuffed. The doctor and janitor get the same welcome. Walter and Landon are moved to a big black SUV. Janitor and Doctor are moved to another big black SUV and are taken away.

Walter and Landon were red-puffy-eyed, shaking. Out of their big black SUV steps Nurse/Sherriff Kathy, who walks to the men holding Walter and Landon, and says let them go. They are with us. Ethen sits in the SUV waiting for Walter and Landon.

The Doctor: “You can’t stop us. We will be back to get you next time.”

Sherriff Kathy: “Don’t be afraid of evil. Show your family and friends you love the by your actions, remembering good people are everywhere.”

Landon, “Wherever there’s evil, good is one step ahead.”

Walter, “Guardian Angels on earth really do exist.”

The last scene ties up all loose ends and pulls the ending together, (Oscar, Jack, Ethan’s appearance, Nurse/Sherriff Kathy and more).

Change Agent(s): Their desire to live a life without evil, or without personally confronting evil again. To live a life with family, friends, and communities that are safe.

Transformational Characters: Walter. Landon. Ethan,

New Ways: Walter and Landon must practice putting others first, appreciating family and friends as much as possible, conduct acts of kindness, caring, helping others, and building great relationships, while being ever diligent to see and combat evil, because it’s everywhere.

The Vision: The Doctor: “You can’t stop us. We will be back to get you next time.”

Sherriff Kathy: “Don’t be afraid of evil. Show your family and friends you love the by your actions, remembering good people are everywhere.”

Landon, “Wherever there’s evil, good is one step ahead.”

Walter, “Guardian Angels on earth really do exist.”

Challenge: Walter, Landon, and Ethan: To accept the reality of the evil exposed in their world. To build life-long relationships with family and friends to love, serve and protect.

Weaknesses: To overcome the day they searched and found missing Oscar.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Three Gradients

What I learned doing this assignment is that The Oppression and the Betrayal are important to the Gradient of Change.

I also learned that different Transformational Characters may have different pathways in the overall Gradient of Change.

What is the
Emotional Gradient you’ll use?

Forced Emotional Gradient of Change

For each emotion
of that gradient, tell us the following:

Lead Transformational Character: Grandpa ~ 70 years old Gradient of Change:

A. Emotion: Denial

B. Action: Grandpa, at a Dementia, to try to find his homeless friend who is missing. He checks in for a check up to get more information. He fails at all attempts.

C. Challenge: To find his friend who is missing, or information to lead him to his friend.

D. Weakness: Impulsive, Lying, and Frustrated

A. Emotion: Anger

B. Action: When he gets turned away from the clinic, he starts reaching out to others, The Nurse, Police, Community Members, and Family. He is repeatedly dismissed and turned away. He fails at all attempts. No one is listening.

C. Challenge: To think clearly and find ways to help his friend and find out where his friend has gone

D. Weakness: Impatient, Persistently Aggressive

—————————————————————————————————

A. Emotion: Bargaining

B. Action: In his pursuit, he tries a different tactic of action (data collection), while discussing his dilemma with people, but there is confusion. Walter tries to entice (bargaining with) them to help him if he can show evidence or information about his allegations. They neither accept nor reject. He is dismissed. He fails repeatedly.

C. Challenge: To find help in pursuing his lost friend.

D. Weakness: Desperate, Unprepared for the crisis, unorganized, and not listening to others.

A. Emotion: Anger / Doubt

B. Action: After trying everything he can think of Walter becomes angry and fills with doubt about the situation. His grandson is now with him for the summer, and he sees nothing he can do.

C. Challenge: To reevaluate the situation for ways to find something out about his friend.

D. Weakness: Fear and Strong-willed

A. Emotion: Bargaining

B. Action: Grandpa and grandson begin to strike out in an agreement of beliefs and actions, because both are determined to find out what happened to Grandpa’s friend.

C. Challenge: To work with and trust his grandson to help him with his investigation.

D. Weakness: Lack of Confidence in himself, his grandson, and their working together.

A. Emotion: Depression

B. Action: As grandpa and grandson, they plan actions, and find demanding situations, failing in their purpose each time. They trudge on until they are completely overwhelmed and depressed. They are stymied and sit to talk and reevaluate everything that has happened. All is lost.

C. Challenge: To overcome their depression and fear to move forward and see what can be done.

D. Weakness: He is not prepared for this. Unforgiving of himself for being too old, and not being able to do more.

A. Emotion: Acceptance

B. Action: Finally, acceptance comes, grandpa sees that he, nor his grandson, cannot solve the mystery of grandpa’s missing friend. They need help.

C. Challenge: To find out what type of help they will get and continue or accept the current outcome of not knowing.

D. Weakness: Need to be more involved in the reality around them, and participate with the community they live in.

Second Transformational Character: Grandson ~ 17 years old Gradient of Change

A. Emotion: Denial

B. Action: While going to grandpa’s house, grandson calls grandpa to tell him that he (grandson) has new prosthetics that must be broken-in for wearing routinely, and while talking to grandpa, finds out that grandpa’s friend is missing. He is also friends with the missing man.

C. Challenge: To find out how grandpa’s missing friend will affect his visit over the summer with grandpa.

D. Weakness: Self-centric and concerned for his summer vacation

A. Emotion: Anger

B. Action: While being dropped off at grandpa’s house for the summer, discussions happen that he does not fully understand. He offers to help, and participate, but declined. He is left to listen, becomes concerned and angry.

C. Challenge: To find a way to show everyone he is a valuable help in this situation.

D. Weakness: Being invisible and helpless

A. Emotion: Bargaining

B. Action Being confused and frustrated, he begins to discuss ways that he could become helpful, but over and over he fails. He finally decides to work on his own to become helpful to grandpa’s quest.

C. Challenge: To listen, to learn, to find clues, to apply his critical thinking skills.

D. Weakness: Stubborn, does not like conflict, and strong willed.

A. Emotion: Anger / Doubt

B. Action: He doubts that the problem will be solved, and he anger drives him to discuss the whole situation with grandpa. He doubts what will be the outcome, but acts to find clues, and hopes they join efforts.

C. Challenge: To produce ways that the two can work together to solve the mystery.

D. Weakness: Fear, Lack of Confidence, Uncertainty

A. Emotion: Bargaining

B. Action: He doubts that the problem will be solved, and he anger drives him to discuss the whole situation with grandpa. He doubts what will be the outcome, but acts to find clues, and hopes they join efforts.

C. Challenge: To produce ways that the two can work together to solve the mystery.

D. Weakness: Fear, Lack of Confidence, Uncertainty

A. Emotion: Depression

B. Action: Working together seems to be a significant effort for more failure. After he has done all that he seems he can do, all he wants is to help grandpa to feel better. He needs help, to help grandpa.

C. Challenge: To forget about himself, and to focus on getting grandpa and finding his friend.

D. Weakness: Overwhelmed, and guarded

A. Emotion: Acceptance

B. Action: Finally, he sees that grandpa and himself have done as much as they can do. He reviews all the actions, and results of their efforts with grandpa, and hopes they will find a way to bring things to an end.

C. Challenge: To work collaborate and come to an agreement with grandpa what will be the end of the quest for his friend.

D. Weakness: He needs to learn to think before he speaks or jumps into trouble. He needs to think of others first, and appreciate, care for, love, and be more understanding to his family and community.

Third Transformational Character: Son ~ 45 years old Gradient of Change

A. Emotion: Denial

B. Action: Grandpa’s Son does not understand the chaos of what is happening. His dad is not home to take possession of his disabled grandson for the summer vacation. The call and find out he is at the Dementia clinic because an old homeless friend is missing. This cannot be happening when he must leave immediately on an important business trip.

C. Challenge: To end this madness, drop off his son to his father’s house, so they both are safe and secure, then leave immediately for the business trip

D. Weakness: Self-focused, and financially focused, with a careless work/live balance

A. Emotion: Anger

B. Action: He cannot control the situation, between the people at the clinic, his son and his dad, the situation escalates.

C. Challenge: To leave for a business trip or risk being late at the loss of money.

D. Weakness: Thinking of financial security always first, self-interested first.

A. Emotion: Bargaining

B. Action: As he leaves his family, he begins to spout shallow and open promises that do not help the situation, because he thinks it will help, then he leaves for his business trip.

C. Challenge: To ease the situation anyway possible and leave.

D. Weakness: Unwilling to listen, preoccupied, and stressed

A. Emotion: Depression

B. Action: Driving to and throughout the business trip, he starts feeling the situation back at home, and calls both his dad and son, but does not get through, and when he does get to talk to one of them, he cannot logically understand the conversations. He is truly in the dark of the happenings. He cannot do a thing about it.

C. Challenge: To keep calling until he is sure they are doing well, and he understands what the situation they are in is all about.

D. Weakness: Guilt, Worry, Frustration

A. Emotion: Depression / Doubt

B. Action: He begins to doubt his actions of leaving his family. He is in the darkest place of not knowing what they are doing, or what he finds when he gets home.

C. Challenge: To keep himself together, until he can get to his dad’s house and help them through whatever is happening.

D. Weakness: Regret, criticizing himself, and fearful

A. Emotion: Acceptance

B. Action: Driving home he wrestles with himself and decides that he will work to build a better work/life balance for the sake of all his family. He anticipates getting home and helping them.

C. Challenge: To get to his dad’s, put the needs of his father and his son first, then take some time off, even the summer with them both.

D. Weakness: To build real relationships with his son and his dad. He also realizes that he can do a better job with interaction with friends and the community.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Answers for the movie, Dead Poet’s Society

TODAY: Watch and analyze DEAD POETS’ SOCIETY.

1. What is the change this movie is about?

The change that Mr. Keating, the English professor, was trying to instill in the boys was that they should “seize the day”, think for themselves, find what their voice wants to say to the world, because life is too short and if they wait too long then they may never be able to.

What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?

· Confusion – about what it means to use your voice and think for yourself.

· Learning – researching the meaning of learning their voices.

· Interacting – each other to experiment with their voices.

· Bonding – supporting others while using their voices.

· Testing – trying out their voices.

· Deciding – to keep using their voices.

2. Lead characters:

· Mr. Keating – New English Professor, who was an ex-student, who wanted the boys to think for themselves, “seize the day,” and use their own voice.

· Neil Perry – Todd’s roommate, who wanted to be an actor, instead of a doctor as his dad wanted him to become.

· Todd Anderson – trying to find his voice instead of being a shadow of his brother. Todd wants to be a writer instead of a lawyer as his dad wants him to become. It was Todd’s first year at the school.

· Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) –

Mr. Keating, the new English Professor.

· What makes this the right character to cause the change?

Yes, He had been to the school as a student, and he had learned to use his voice even through the rules and regulations, often by breaking them. He was loving what he did and wanted to pass the same along to the boys.

· Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change)?

Neil Perry – wanted to be an actor and Todd Anderson – wanted to be writer, both against the desires of their fathers. They made the most significant changes. Others made smaller changes – still experimenting, while others just broke the rules to get what they wanted.

· What makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?

Both Neil and Todd had significant stress and opposition from their families.

We are not as sure about all the boys’ feelings. Some of the boys were less disturbed about their course of learning.

· What is the Oppression?

The Oppression of having their lives planned for them, and having the Strick rules and regulations at the schools were contributing oppressors.

3. How are we lured into the profound journey?

We are pulled into the profound Journey by watching the boys got to the first day of school, and we see the oppression of their families weighing on them, as well as the ridged tradition of Strick adherence to the rules, regulations, and regiments of the school. Everyone has gone to a new school and felt uncomfortable. We can image while watching how terrified and not-looking-forward-to-school Neil and Todd were.

What causes us to connect with this story?

4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most?

Neil Perry and Todd Anderson

What is the profound journey?

The Profound Journey was to go from being a generic student/person in life, to knowing your voice, who you are, to be a free thinker, make your own decisions, and “seize the day.”

From “old ways” to “new way of being.”

Identify their old way: being a generic student/person in life.

Identify their new way at the conclusion: knowing your voice, who you are, be a free thinker, make your own decisions, and “seize the day.”

5. What is the gradient of the change?

The step-by-step process by which the students go from ridged compliance to free thinkers.

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

· Confusion – about what it means to use your voice and think for yourself.

· Learning – researching the meaning of learning their voices.

· Interacting – each other to experiment with their voices.

· Bonding – supporting others while using their voices.

· Testing – trying out their voices.

· Deciding – to keep using their voices.

6. How is the “old way” challenged?

The old way of living is challenged by new thoughts and ways of learning.

What beliefs are challenged, that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?

· The belief that there is only one way to be successful.

· The belief that the boys’ families know what is best for the boys.

· The belief that the school knows what is best for the boys.

· The belief that they were not ready to think for themselves or be a part of their process to the future.

· The belief that you must push through, where you are, to eventually get what is good for you. You cannot start out by pursuing at what you are good.

7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?

The mirrored scenes of opening and closing of the movie.

The opening set the stage for the change, but Professor explaining in a “Show me” way that his job was to help them become creative thinkers.

The ending allowed Professor Keating, and us, to see that 10 (11 with Neil) boys had learned the lesson.

8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?

“Oh Captain, my captain” When the ten boys stood on their desks to thank Professor Keating at the end of the movie.

9. How does the ending pay off the set-ups of this movie?

By the boys standing on their desks and quoted, “Oh Captain, my captain,” they were completing Professor Keatings purpose for teaching English at the school and caring for the boys. The boys also gave the highest honor to Professor Keating by the gesture of disobeying the standing fill-in Professor, and the school’s rules.

10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?

Be a free thinker, you only have one life, so seize every day and live life to its fullest, speak up and use your voice for yourself and for others.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s Lead Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is

· The importance, and definition, of balance of the script’s Profound Truth and the Oppression.

· The importance, and definition, of a Character that betrays the Transformational Character(s).

· Clarification of how to think about and define the Oppressive Forces acting on the Transformational Characters.

Transformational Journey Log Line:

An aged, slow-moving grandpa, and his disabled grandson, must confront their disabilities, fear, and life-threatening barriers, to find out what happened to their homeless friend who has disappeared.

Who is your Change Agent?

· Nurse

How does your Change Agent fit the role?

· She takes every opportunity to help anyone she can.

· She takes every opportunity to teach a life less, as time allows.

· She cares deeply about people, not just her family and friends, but about humanity.

· She works to make a positive change in the world, one person at time, as a nurse.

Change Agent’s Vision:

· Everyone deserves to be treated humanely, with care, honor, dignity, respect and understanding.

· If something is wrong, find out what it is and try to fix it.

· If you see a wrong, you are most likely the one to make it right, or to start to make it right.

· We must help each other through life because life is difficult.

· She has devoted the rest of her life to caring for others in the way she envisions taking care of her parents.

Change Agent’s past experiences that fit the vision:

· The Nurse was so wrapped up in her life, that she totally missed her parent’s aging, and they died without her, and without her knowing.

· She credits her mom and dad for the wonderful childhood she had.

· She regrets not being more aware, not being more selfless, not taking care of her parents, and not being present at their deaths.

Who are your Transformational Characters:

Tell us who you think might be your Transformable Character(s) and give a few sentences about how that character or characters fit the role.

· Grandpa

· Grandpa’s Son

· Grandpa’s Grandson

How do the Transformational Characters fit their roles?

Grandpa:

· Grandpa has had a productive long life, so far.

· He served his country, married, had a son, and worked his own business later in life.

· Since retirement he has become lonely, because his wife has passed away, his son’s family moved far away, soon after his daughter-in-law died in a car wreck, and his grandson only gets to see him during summer school break, (maybe some holidays, but mostly less than more).

· Grandpa’s favorite time of the year is the summer when he gets the full attention, love, learning, and adventure that he misses from his son who is constantly busy.

· Grandpa lives in a small independent retirement village, where it is quiet, peaceful, and full of other (mostly single) retirees, just like lonely and sedentary.

Grandpa’s Son:

· Grandpa’s Son is a busy executive in a big corporation, located in a big city.

· His Son has many responsibilities, including taking full care of his middle school aged son, Grandpa’s grandson.

· Grandpa’s Son spends little time with his son and his dad because the work/life balancing act is not working for him, his son seems to always need something, and his dad is always way out in left field about things.

· He intends to do better but must take personal time to ease the stress he feels all the time.

Grandpa’s Grandson:

· Grandpa’s Grandson is a healthy, intelligent, middle school aged boy.

· He loves to learn about everything.

· He loves to read, watch movies, play video games – but not too much, and be outside as much as possible.

· He is good ‘Spatial Acuity’ and manipulation, as a result he folds paper (Origami), loves to use 3D-modeling, make models, and discuss the way things are physically made and why.

· He is a new double foot (Symes) amputee, and because of his lifelong struggle with surgeries and now (self-decided amputations to elevate pain), still struggles through learning to use prosthetics.

· He loves to spend the summers with his grandpa, because he gets all the love, attention, learning, and adventure his dad can’t give him.

Who or what is the Oppression:

· The Oppression Forces (or Oppressors) are the unknown reasons for strange things that have started happening in the spring.

· It is the reason people and things from the retirement village have gone missing.

· It is the reason that the village is peaceful, and retirees are staying indoors.

How do the Oppressive Forces work in your story?

· The Oppressive Forces are subtle, quiet, and don’t draw attention.

· It operates in plain sight of the retirement village gaining everyone’s trust, only they don’t realize the oppression situation.

· It is accepted as an essential part of the community, even though no one sees them.

Who is the Betraying Character?

· Grandpa’s Son

Why does Grandpa’s Son fit the role of the Betraying Character?

· Grandpa’s Son thinks he is supportive and goes along with life until his responsibilities for his job and his social life come into need.

· He loves his family, but he believes that if he neglects his work, pass-times, social responsibilities, then his family would be down and out. He is the major bread winner for both his son and his dad. Taking care of your financial well-being comes first.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A Willard’s Transformational Journey

What I learned doing this assignment is that there are infinite Transformational Journeys that can be taken. Inside all stories many transformational journeys could exist.

I also learned that you don’t have to have all the answers to all the parts of the Transformational Journey to be able to define the start and end of the journey, as well as describe it enough to be of interest to others.

1. Tell us about your logline for the transformational journey.

An aged, slow-moving grandpa, and his disabled grandson, must confront their disabilities, fear, and life-threatening barriers, to find out what happened to their homeless friend who has disappeared.

2. Tell us what you see as the Old Ways.

Old Life: Grandpa and Grandson enjoy summer-time recreation activities together.

3. Tell us what you see as the New Ways.

New Life: Grandpa and Grandson enjoy all-year planning and activities of helping the less fortunate, as well as visiting good friends together.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard’s First Three Decisions

What I learned doing this assignment is that I can combine two or more story ideas to create a more profound movie idea.

What I also learned doing this assignment is that boiling down to the fundamentals of the profound truth of my movie ideas was a difficult exercise for me. It was a great thought and research experiment for me, and I will be working on getting to the seed of all my ideas from now on.

Susan A. Willard’s First Three Decisions:

What is your profound truth?

Movie Idea 1: Profound Truth: Those who seek the truth – will find the truth, no matter where it leads.

Movie Idea 2: Profound Truth: As you plow through the chaotic storm of life, searching for

answers, when truth is secured then grace and liberty will carry forward.

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

Movie Idea 1: Audience will consider pursuing truths daily, not knowing where the truths will lead once found.

Movie Idea 2: Audiences will be more impowered to seek truth through action in a chaotic world around them.

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

Movie Idea 1: Entertainment Vehicle(s) Embellished-As-It-Happened-Conflict, Cause is the Background, and Metaphor: A Life of Liberty is like a silent growing seed.

Movie Idea 2: Entertainment Vehicle: Cause is the Background

[Susan Willard]

ScreenWritingU Class: The Profound Movie Map

05/02/2023: Day 1, Assignment 1 Ground Hog Day Susan A. Willard

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

What I learned from doing this assignment is I am able pick out elements of the story that I had not noticed before.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that all aspects of the movie have a purpose, with greater focus or repeated viewing smaller pieces become more meaningful to the entire story.

What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What is the Transformational
Journey of this movie?

The CHANGE, in the movie, is the change that happens to Phil Conners, the TV Weatherman when he lives Ground Hog Day repeatedly.

Phil’s Transformational Journey is from a tired, agitated, mean, self-centered, unhappy, Prima donna to a humble, caring, observant, intelligent, kind, sensitive, gentle, funny, supportive, romantic, courageous, man, who helps everyone he sees that needs help and who wants to get married, have children.

Phil transforms into a new man by listening, learning, applying lessons learned, being patient, and seeing things through. He has learned life skills that will allow him to survive in his old life, because now Phil is happy and fulfilled on the inside, by have a servant’s heart and thinking of other’s first.

Lead characters:

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

Rita, the new TV Producer, is the Change Agent. She is new to the station and everyone there, especially to Phil. She is completely different from other people he has known. He even says that he was drawn to her since the first time he saw her. It can be imagined that subconsciously or consciously he compared her joy and happiness for life to his current miserable situation (emotionally).

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

Phil, the TV Weatherman is the Transformable Character. He makes a change from an unhappy, self-centered professional to a loving, kind, and caring married man first. He was the right character to go on this profound journey because he was already dissatisfied with his life. He had no where else to go; either be miserable, or change.

What is the Oppression?

The Oppression is his internal misery amplified by the forced repeating of the same Ground Hog Day for many, many, many days, with no end that he can come up with.

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

Everyone in the audience knows and/or has worked with Phil, Rita, and

Larry. The personalities are shown right in the beginning with the action and dialogue to set the scene: A new producer fun and full of life, A miserable Weatherman who hates going to the Ground Hog Day for the 5^th time (not to mention being with those hicks), and Larry the camera man.

Once the scene is set, everyone will want to see what could happen.

Just about anything can happen, so we keep watching.

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 and Rita are changed.

Phil goes from being a mean, unhappy, self-centered professional who

puts himself first always, closing off from others: to a humble, intelligent,

helpful husband-type, who wants to live life to its fullest and share his life with others.

Rita changes her perspective of Phil as she observes him acting differently from her first expectations. As she sees his kindness, caring for others. She becomes attracted to the new man he has become.

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

The Gradient of Change is made up of all the shifts in actions, thinking, talking, learning, and applied learning that happens to Phil as he is stuck in Ground Hog Day hell.

Phil goes through:

· Confusion, not knowing what is happening to him.

· Ignoring his surroundings, rushing to get through the day so that it will end.

· Getting checked out physically and mentally to find out what is wrong with him.

· Letting go of the rules he has lived by and doing anything he want any way he wants to.

· Not worrying about anything, indulging in anything he wants to. (Sex, stealing money, eating anything and everything…)

· Questioning: What would you do if you only had one day to live? Asks Rita what she wants out of life, and she tells him in detail.

· Experimenting with developing some of the skills she desires in a man she would date.

· Frustrated with each failure and just stews for day before starting over the next day. But all is lost.

· Gives up all hope and tries to kill himself (stabbed, shot, hung, frozen, poisoned, burned, electrocuted, and fell off a building).

· Considers that he may be immortal. Discusses it with Rita. <Note: at this point his old inner man is gone, Phil tells Rita, “It doesn’t make a difference. I’ve killed myself so many times. I don’t even exist anymore.”> Rita states, “Maybe it’s not a curse, – it depends upon how you look at it.” Rita has now given Phil a reason to live. She is his new measuring stick.

· Trying out a new life, applying what he has learned: Phil begins to really analyze each person and each situation he encounters so that if he can help, he does. He takes his time learning new skills, like playing the piano, learning how to ice sculptures, reading poetry and more. Until one day he…

· Applies all he has learned into one successful giving, caring day.

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

Phil’s old way of life is challenged by his opinions and actions towards others. He has already determined outcomes based on his past experiences at previous Ground Hog Days. When he gets stuck in the repeated nightmare of what he hates, he no longer has power over his surroundings or his future.

It is at this point that Phil goes on a journey to discover what other ways of living life can help him get out of the rut he is in. It is a will journey as he goes from one avenue to the next until he slows down enough to list to those around him, especially Rita who he is really drawn to.

What are the most profound moments of the movie?

The most profound moments came in the movie when Phil started treating people differently, not as a phony, but from a pure caring perspective, such as catching the boy falling out of the tree, helping the homeless man the best as he could, changing a tire for three old ladies, saving a man from chocking, and when he used all the personal skills learned to share with Rita.

What are the most profound lines of the movie?

One of the most profound set of lines was the speech that Phil gave at the last Ground Hog Day shoot about winter being another step in the cycle of life. “Standing here among the people of Punxsutawney basking in the warmth of their homes and hearts, I couldn’t imagine a better fate that a long and luxurious winter.” (Something like this)

One of the most profound lines of the movies was on the last repeat of the Ground Hog Day, that evening Phil says, to a sleeping Rita, “No matter what happens for the rest of my life, I’m happy now, because I love you.”

How does the ending pay off the setup of this movie?

The beginning of the movie began in a stressful situation. The ending resolved the stress and elevated the emotional feeling of harmony and satisfaction, through changes in Phils actions, care, feelings and dialogue with others.

What is the Profound Truth of this movie?

The Key to life is the only thing that you can really have power over and change in life is yourself. When you change yourself for the better, life will be better, and you will be happier. Don’t wait for someone else to do something or some situation to change. Do things in the moment of need for others, and yourself. You have the power to change your own situation.

[Susan Willard]

Susan A. Willard

I agree to the terms of this release form.

GROUP RELEASE FORM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

Susan A. Willard

[Susan Willard]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Susan Willard

I haven’t written any complete scripts yet, but do have many useful notes.

By the end of this course I am determined to be able to write a Profound Movie Script, from beginning to end.

Educated in Physics and Computer Science. Had two careers of being a Senior Quality Engineer cancelled. (Physically can’t do the work anymore.)

I am the co-inventor of the T-Rex (Titanic Remote Explorer), the deep underwater remote controlled vehicle with camera, for the 1998 Discovery Channel Titanic Expedition, as well as and expedition participant.

Patricia, I am also a creative arts person who loves nature, all types of animals, growing things and painting.

I am excited to be here with everyone.

[Susan Willard]

Hey Gordon,

The way you have stated the profound truth really is a good way to put the ending of the Ground Hog Day movie.

I was mostly focused on Phil and his change, but the relationship journey give a new perspective on the entire Gradient of Change. I will have to go back and review the movie again from this perspective. I appreciate your insight here.

Thank you.

Susan

[Susan Willard]

Hi John,

The comment you made about Phil being his own oppression was a learning point for me.

You are right and I believe that Phil’s oppression to himself was more oppressive than repeating one specific day that you hate over and over. you have changed my mind.

The Profound Quotes you stated were fantastic. They all can stand by themselves.

I need to be more observant in the moment for dialogue. Thank you for showing me this fine way to look at dialogue.

Susan

[Susan Willard]

Hey Andrea,

Your lists of Profound Truths for this movie is great.

Each one has its own relatable quality for the movie.

I loved them all.

Thank you for sharing these.

Susan

[Susan Willard]

Hey Mary,

Your discussion of Ground Hog Day having three change agents is great. It fits.

I was focused on the fact that there were character agents and the way you described the community as a change agent was a good one. It made me rethink what are change agents.

Thanks,

Susan

[Susan Willard]

Hi Bob,

Thank you for you “to the point” summary.

I am never good at just getting to the meat of things.

You hit this one out of the park for me.

Thanks,

Susan

[Susan Willard]

Hey Will,

I like your conclusions.

The way you described the Characters the most is great.

I didn’t think about adding the community, but it surely changed and is better for it.

I see that community now as being brought more together, and will stay that way because of Rita and Phil living there.

Thanks for the descriptions here.

Susan

[Susan Willard]

Hi Kate,

Thank you for the detailed Transformational Journey.

Your insight is a gift.

Susan

[Susan Willard]

Bill,

I enjoyed reading your crisp and clear ideas.

They helped me understand some ideas that had not occurred to me before.

Thanks.

Susan

[Susan Willard]

Hey Joanne,

Thank you for the kind words.

The real adventure is sharing what you know and helping people along their life’s journey.

I am looking forward to enjoying this class with everyone here.