[William Weeks]

William Weeks First Three Decisions
What I learned from this assignment: Having these ideas in mind from the start aids in organizing ideas, and in maintaining focus through the writing. It is good to realize that they may change over time (and often do).

1) Profound truth: We benefit from facing history even if it is uncomfortable.

2) Change in audience: Facing the truth of abusive law enforcement was done by Chicano activist lawyers over 50 years ago–and gave us tools we now need to recognize and embrace to make a more perfect union for all of us.

3) Embellished as it happened conflict: The first Chicano activist lawyer, Oscar Acosta, with more guts than sense–but went where no one before him had gone. Richard Cruz—Who called out the church that had been so important earlier in his life—and also threw light on forced sterilizations. Miguel Garcia—Who came from Mexico not speaking English, discovered the need for case law, brought us the Pitchess Motion (the most effective tool for weeding out abusive cops) and the Murguia Decision (which states any case based upon unequal enforcement of law collapses on the sands of discrimination). He was successful before the Calif. Supreme Court three times—the first coming only a year from when he was first admitted to the CA Bar Association.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by  William Weeks.

[William Weeks]

REFLECTIONS ON GROUNDHOG DAY
REFLECTIONS ON GROUNDHOG DAY

Bill Weeks

A self-absorbed prima donna, bored with his work and his life, transforms from being a selfish individual to being a caring human being who takes action to make a difference in the lives of others.
Change agent: a time itself, which repeats. (To me, the effect would be akin to the eastern belief of reincarnation—with a soul given a chance to repeat and improve. The added gift here, though at first thought to be a curse, was memory of past days/lives).
Transformable character: Phil Connors (Bill Murray) —Rita
Oppression: The character’s sense of being stuck (like so many small townspeople scared to take chances in life)

3) Lured. Phil Connors, like many of us, can get stuck in the tedium of every day life. He points with his hand and says, “I’ll be right here” (nowhere—on a green map). When his replacement says, “I could do the 5:00 show for you,” Phil replies, “Oh, please, you think I want to spend another second in Punxsutawney?” Although he is self-absorbed, he does face boredom with humor—and is not overtly rude to people which allows audience to not count him out entirely. He has some redeeming qualities.

Note re early on attitude: When the newsman is stopped by a blizzard, a cop says, “You can go back to Punxsutawney or go forwards and freeze to death. What’s it gonna be?”
Connors replies, “I’m thinking.”
The same reply Jack Benny gave when a robber held him up and said, “Your money or your life.”

Whenever I heard Sonny and Cher singing, I remembered a time when I was working on the Sonny and Cher show at ABC when Cher hit Sonny with a prop bottle—but followed through which caused a major scratch on his nose. Hopefully that image won’t continue to play in my head eternally.

To me, a telling piece was when he got drunk with two townspeople and asked, “What would you do if you were stuck in one place and the same thing happens over and over?”
One townsperson replies, “That sums it up for me.”
There are many persons who exist in defeated desperation—unable to summon the courage to escape.

4. The old Phil Connors went from being bored with his life, to fearing his strange new condition, to testing it, to attempting to cater to his lusts for money and sex, to despair, to finally discovering what some persons never discover—the joy in making the world a better place for others.
Rita calls him on his egocentrics with a quote from Sir Walter Scott. Phil ‘mistakes’ him for Willard Scott, the former NBC weatherman.
At first, Phil tries to find out about her to impress and seduce Rita—but discovers he truly loves her and could carve her face in ice with his eyes closed.

5. Phil relives Feb. 2nd, 12,395 times (according to someone who must have spent way too much time watching this movie), the equivalent of 33 years. He could not even end it by killing himself.
He saves a kid from falling from a tree (who never thanks him for it), takes piano lessons, saves a young marriage, saves a man from choking to death, and sometimes saves an old man from dying.

6. The belief that we are only happy when we get things for ourselves is challenged. Interesting lesson—and one that many who saw the movie may have missed.

7. Most profound moments: Not sure.
He breaks pencil (thought it should have happened a little later—too soon)
Each time he wakes up—walks past Gobbler’s Knob, and has a new intention
Learns timing of various things—to rob a bank—to save a kid
Gives a fantastic account of the rodent, referring to Chekov’s winter and another cycle of life. Goes from hating the town to wanting to live there.
He finally tells Rita the truth
Wakes up and finds her in bed with him—meaning a change has occurred (TG)

8. Most profound lines:
Wakes up, finds her in bed, and says, “What can I do for you?”
“There’s no consequences!”
Followed by, “If we wanted to hit mail boxes, we could have let Ralph drive.”
(not profound—but I liked it)
“Thought you hated this town.”
“No, it’s beginning to grow on me.”
“I could never love someone like you, Phil, because you only love yourself.”
Slap “That’s for making me care about you.” Repeated slapping.
“Anything different is good.”
“Maybe it’s not a curse. It just depends on how you look at it.”
Monk would say, “It’s a gift, and a curse.” Phil and Rita might say, “It’s a curse, and a gift.”
I listed some I felt were profound ( such as townsperson’s quote, above)

9. Ending pays off? We’re relieved, as is he, that life continues—but now it continues with a person whose eyes have been opened—the way Dickens’ Scrooge’s eyes were finally opened—and which people still don’t understand.

10. Profound truth: We are more whole and happy when we are able to be in service to others.

I used to work out with the director of an awful TV show (She is the Sheriff) or something. I once asked him if he would ever have enough money. He said, “Never.” I felt sorry for him. To never experience having enough. We create our own heaven or hell in so many ways.
It’s possible to have wealth and be happy—but not many wealthy people are.

How relates: I’ve written two novels and 2 screenplays related to the novels. My current historical novel is about the pioneer Chicano activist lawyers who combatted a racist system in the 1960’s and 70’s, and gave us some of the best legal tools for dealing with abusive law enforcement.
Elder Miguel Garcia is sought out by a young magazine writer because her editor wants more depth to her story on Arnoldo Casillas who won a $24 million law suit, by using the Pitchess Motion. The Pitchess Motion was brought about by Garcia’s dogged persistence.
Although her initial motive was to finish her story and get a pay day, the young woman becomes intrigued—learning about both the Pitchess Motion and the Murguia Decision (for Cesar Chavez—which prohibits laws from being enforced in a discriminatory manner)—-and a history of police brutality which many people still have refused to admit into their consciousness today. She changes as Miguel relates the story.
The woman is no longer so interested in the story about how a lawyer could make so much money—but of revealing the history of police violence and the story behind those who were brave enough to face it. The elder Miguel discovers that the fight against those who abuse power never ends, but young persons can benefit by taking up the fight.

[William Weeks]

I, Bill Weeks, agree to the terms of this release form

[William Weeks]

Hello,
Bill Weeks here in San Pedro, CA. I studied with Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, and many others while acting. Worked at ABC TV, and have written 2 films, 2 novels, and many short stories (some on Medium.com). I am working on a novel about early Chicano lawyers and adapting some earlier work. I have taught school in California and Japan, surfed, skied, etc. and was an elected delegate for Bernie Sanders. My family has been involved in Civil Rights for many decades.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by  William Weeks.

[William Weeks]

Interesting idea–Of course, if death is not a consequence (as it wasn’t in Groundhog Day)–then a lot of Hollywood stories would lose a lot of their suspense. Wouldn’t it be interesting if we became more concerned with the beauty in the world, relationships, and making a better world for all than focusing so much on greed and the fear of death?