Ben Meier - Week 10 Response
I loved Coco, I’ve seen it before but the second time was just as good. I know Pixar
movies are simpler since they’re more directed towards kids, but I’d argue that it takes a lot of
attention to detail, and being able to hide hidden jokes/second meanings to scenes to make it
appealing towards an older crowd too. Most of the time Pixar is able to make everyone enjoy
their movies regardless of their age. Pixar is also using the “buddy” archetype in a lot of their
movies and they didn’t stop with Coco. They had Dante be Miguel’s companion when he was in
the living world, then switched it to Hector when he arrived in the world of the dead. After
seeing it a second time I noticed too that when Dante was in the dead world, Miguel asked him to
lead him to his great great grandfather, thinking it was Ernesto. Then he actually brings him to
the station where Hector is getting chewed out by the police, just thought that was super cool and
a small detail I missed watching it for the first time. Another easter egg that was clever was when
Hector was giving Miguel make up, he had a tin of shoe shining gel which fit his previous’ life
pretty well. Overall it was so good to see again and with a new way to watch the movie and
break it down that made it even more interesting.
I didn’t notice a whole lot of script differences compared to the movie. The beginning in
the script has a woman lighting a candle, whereas the movie starts with the cool vignette in the
framework of the city and we learn the backstory of the family and music.
For the 15 beats of the movie based off of save the cat, I came up with:
OPENING IMAGE: The framework telling the backstory of Miguel’s family and his
great great grandpa leaving and the family banishing music and making shoes.
THEME STATED: We meet Miguel and learn that he DOES like music, and his family is
still very against it, “NO MUSIC” is a pretty tell-tale sign that Miguel has a big obstacle in front
of him if he wants to be a musician.
SETUP: We learn about De La Cruz and how awesome he was. Miguel sneaks away to
the plaza to see the musicians and the statue of De La Cruz.
CATALYST: Miguel is just about to play a guitar for some people at the plaza but his
family finds and stops him, causing a scene and taking Miguel away from his chance at playing
music for a crowd.
DEBATE: Miguel tries to play in front of his family but his grandma breaks his guitar.
Then he gets mad and says he hates his family and storms off. Finally he finds out that his great
great grandfather is De La Cruz (we think that) via the family picture. Which sets him off on the
journey to the cemetery.
BREAK INTO TWO: Miguel has had it with his family and leaves their house, his heart
is set on getting a guitar and playing in the talent show that night.
B STORY: Miguel steals the guitar, but when he plays he unknowingly transports himself
into the world of the dead.
FUN AND GAMES: Miguel crosses over to the dead world, meets all of his deceased
relatives and is now trying to get back to the live world. His great great grandma says she’ll send
him back if he agrees to no more music, which he doesn’t and ends up back in the dead world.
He then runs away and finds Hector, who says he can get him to De La Cruz.
MIDPOINT: Hector lies saying he can get him to the party with De La Cruz, but takes
him to where he thinks he’s rehearsing to get his blessing so he can go home.
BAD GUYS CLOSE IN: Miguel enters a contest to get to the De La Cruz party and wins,
but his dead family is tracking him down trying to send him home, they’re close to him right as
he’s finishing playing music for a crowd.
ALL IS LOST: Hector finds out who Miguel is and tries to bring him to his family so he
can get his picture on the Ofrenda. Miguel gets mad and abandons him, heading to De La Cruz
on his own.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL: Miguel gets to the party and gets De La Cruz’s attention,
right as he’s about to get the blessing Hector comes back. This is when we realize that De La
Cruz killed Hector for his lyrics and locked him and Miguel up to keep his reputation.
BREAK INTO THREE: Miguel is trapped and sad that he told his family he hated them
right before he disappeared. Then he finds out that Hector is family and that they can work
together one last time. Then his dead family arrives to rescue them, Hector tries to make amends
with his wife, who still hates him thinking he abandoned their family for music. When in reality
he was murdered trying to come back to his family.
FINALE: The family takes down De La Cruz and shows everyone his true colors. Miguel
makes amends with his dead family and is sent home with no conditions, but Hector is going to
fade away since Coco is forgetting him in the live world. Miguel comes home and makes amends
with his living family, then sings to Coco who remembers her dad and finds a picture of him to
put on the Ofrenda and save him.
FINAL IMAGE: “THE END” is in the paper/frame work, with Miguel singing and
dancing with his family, music has re-entered their lives and everyone has a happy ending.