Screenwriting Homework
Neo is the protagonist
· The catalyst:
Neo accepts the Red Pill from Morpheus.
· The crisis:
When Neo dies
· The climax:
When Neo controls the Matrix (stops bullets in mid-air) and rescues Morpheus.
The Wizard of Oz: Do the Hero’s journey on the Wizard of Oz.
Homework Exercise #2 - The Hero’s Journey
Film: The Wizard of Oz
Task: Identify and describe the stages of the hero’s journey.
ORDINARY WORLD
Dorothy’s life in Kansas living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and little dog Toto, who is in trouble because he has dug up Miss Gulch’s flowerbed.
CALL TO ADVENTURE:
Dorothy rescues Toto from Miss Gulch. Dorothy then runs away from home.
REFUSE THE CALL
Professor Marvel convinces Dorothy to return home.
MEETING THE MENTOR
Dorothy meets Glinda, the good witch, who gives her the ruby slippers and tells her to follow the Yellow Brick Road.
CROSS THE FIRST THRESHOLD
When Dorothy Gale is caught up in the tornado.
TESTS, ALLIES and ENEMIES:
When Dorothy helps the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman they become her allies. When Dorothy stands up to the Cowardly Lion to protect Toto, he becomes her ally. The Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy’s enemy, sends out various snares for Dorothy, such as the grumpy apple trees and the poppy field.
APPROACH THE INMOST CAVE:
Dorothy’s arrival in Oz, but also when Dorothy and her allies are trying to sneak into Wicked Witch’s Castle.
THE TRIAL OF THE INMOST CAVE:
When Dorothy and her friends are trapped by the Wicked Witch, who threatens to kill them one by one, before setting the Scarecrow on fire. To extinguish him Dorothy pours a bucket of water over him, which splashes the Wicked Witch, who dies slowly and horribly.
REBIRTH
Dorothy asks the Witch’s green skinned guard for the broom. Also when Toto reveals that Wizard is just a little old man, who then gifts the Scarecrow with a diploma, the Cowardly Lion with a medal, and a windup heart for the Tin Woodsman. There is an element of satire in this.
THE ROAD BACK:
The Wizard builds a hot-air balloon for Dorothy so that she can get back to Kansas. When Toto chases a woman’s cat, Dorothy runs after him and thus hot-air balloon flies off without Dorothy.
THE FINAL TEST:
Dorothy’s hopes are dashed and it seems there is no way to get back. Then Glinda the Good Witch arrives and tells her to tap her ruby slippers together whilst chanting ‘there’s no place like home’.
RESTORE BALANCE:
Dorothy wakes up in bed in Kansas, and announces that she will never leave home again.
Introduction to Screenwriting & Introduction to Screenwriting G
Homework Exercise #3 - plotting, momentum & counterpoint
Muriel’s Wedding
Task: Identify and articulate the sequence of positive and negative dramatic beats from the opening scene to when Muriel switches “Dancing Queen” (10 mins approx)
{C}· Positive: Muriel grabs the bouquet
{C}· Negative: Cheryl, the other bridesmaids, and the bride (Tania) react negatively.
{C}· Negative: Muriel throws the bouquet to Cheryl, who throws it back to her revealing that she and Shane broke up last night.
{C}· Negative: the bride and the other bridesmaids run off to comfort Cheryl, blaming Muriel and accusing her of not buying a new dress.
{C}· Positive: Muriel is given the cake, the lady tells her that she will dream of her future husband.
{C}· Positive: Leo Higgins gives her his card, compliments her eye-catching dress, asking her to pass his card onto her father, Bill Heslop, whom he considers the best local council president.
{C}· Negative: she then asks what happened to his nose, and a lady in glasses looks at her leopard print dress askance.
{C}· Negative: Muriel catches Chook and Nicole having sex in the laundry.
{C}· Negative: Muriel is arrested for stealing the leopard print dress. The woman with glasses was a store detective.
{C}· Negative: Muriel’s lazy family (Penelope, Bill, Joanie, Perry and Malcolm) are rude to their mother Betty, ordering her about.
{C}· Negative: Bill asks if Muriel stole the dress, and points out that she hasn’t had a job in two years and couldn’t have afforded it. Betty denies giving her the money for the dress. Bill tells Muriel to get the receipt.
{C}· Negative: Joanie says “You’re terrible Muriel.”
{C}· Positive: Bill schmoozes the police officers, so they don’t arrest Muriel.
{C}· Negative: Muriel switches on Dancing Queen, her facial expression is one of pure dejection.
· The catalyst:
Neo accepts the Red Pill from Morpheus.
· The crisis:
When Neo dies
· The climax:
When Neo controls the Matrix (stops bullets in mid-air) and rescues Morpheus.
The Wizard of Oz: Do the Hero’s journey on the Wizard of Oz.
Homework Exercise #2 - The Hero’s Journey
Film: The Wizard of Oz
Task: Identify and describe the stages of the hero’s journey.
ORDINARY WORLD
Dorothy’s life in Kansas living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and little dog Toto, who is in trouble because he has dug up Miss Gulch’s flowerbed.
CALL TO ADVENTURE:
Dorothy rescues Toto from Miss Gulch. Dorothy then runs away from home.
REFUSE THE CALL
Professor Marvel convinces Dorothy to return home.
MEETING THE MENTOR
Dorothy meets Glinda, the good witch, who gives her the ruby slippers and tells her to follow the Yellow Brick Road.
CROSS THE FIRST THRESHOLD
When Dorothy Gale is caught up in the tornado.
TESTS, ALLIES and ENEMIES:
When Dorothy helps the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman they become her allies. When Dorothy stands up to the Cowardly Lion to protect Toto, he becomes her ally. The Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy’s enemy, sends out various snares for Dorothy, such as the grumpy apple trees and the poppy field.
APPROACH THE INMOST CAVE:
Dorothy’s arrival in Oz, but also when Dorothy and her allies are trying to sneak into Wicked Witch’s Castle.
THE TRIAL OF THE INMOST CAVE:
When Dorothy and her friends are trapped by the Wicked Witch, who threatens to kill them one by one, before setting the Scarecrow on fire. To extinguish him Dorothy pours a bucket of water over him, which splashes the Wicked Witch, who dies slowly and horribly.
REBIRTH
Dorothy asks the Witch’s green skinned guard for the broom. Also when Toto reveals that Wizard is just a little old man, who then gifts the Scarecrow with a diploma, the Cowardly Lion with a medal, and a windup heart for the Tin Woodsman. There is an element of satire in this.
THE ROAD BACK:
The Wizard builds a hot-air balloon for Dorothy so that she can get back to Kansas. When Toto chases a woman’s cat, Dorothy runs after him and thus hot-air balloon flies off without Dorothy.
THE FINAL TEST:
Dorothy’s hopes are dashed and it seems there is no way to get back. Then Glinda the Good Witch arrives and tells her to tap her ruby slippers together whilst chanting ‘there’s no place like home’.
RESTORE BALANCE:
Dorothy wakes up in bed in Kansas, and announces that she will never leave home again.
Introduction to Screenwriting & Introduction to Screenwriting G
Homework Exercise #3 - plotting, momentum & counterpoint
Muriel’s Wedding
Task: Identify and articulate the sequence of positive and negative dramatic beats from the opening scene to when Muriel switches “Dancing Queen” (10 mins approx)
{C}· Positive: Muriel grabs the bouquet
{C}· Negative: Cheryl, the other bridesmaids, and the bride (Tania) react negatively.
{C}· Negative: Muriel throws the bouquet to Cheryl, who throws it back to her revealing that she and Shane broke up last night.
{C}· Negative: the bride and the other bridesmaids run off to comfort Cheryl, blaming Muriel and accusing her of not buying a new dress.
{C}· Positive: Muriel is given the cake, the lady tells her that she will dream of her future husband.
{C}· Positive: Leo Higgins gives her his card, compliments her eye-catching dress, asking her to pass his card onto her father, Bill Heslop, whom he considers the best local council president.
{C}· Negative: she then asks what happened to his nose, and a lady in glasses looks at her leopard print dress askance.
{C}· Negative: Muriel catches Chook and Nicole having sex in the laundry.
{C}· Negative: Muriel is arrested for stealing the leopard print dress. The woman with glasses was a store detective.
{C}· Negative: Muriel’s lazy family (Penelope, Bill, Joanie, Perry and Malcolm) are rude to their mother Betty, ordering her about.
{C}· Negative: Bill asks if Muriel stole the dress, and points out that she hasn’t had a job in two years and couldn’t have afforded it. Betty denies giving her the money for the dress. Bill tells Muriel to get the receipt.
{C}· Negative: Joanie says “You’re terrible Muriel.”
{C}· Positive: Bill schmoozes the police officers, so they don’t arrest Muriel.
{C}· Negative: Muriel switches on Dancing Queen, her facial expression is one of pure dejection.