Lecture 11:
It’s What They Don’t Know!
True Lies (1994)
Screenplay by Claude Zidi and Simon Michael and Didier Kaminka
Professor Christopher Bradley
1
Previous Lesson
•
Maintaining Interest
–
The “Center of Good”
–
Curiosity and Concern
–
Strategies
Wait Until Dark (1976)
•
Mystery
•
Suspense
•
Dramatic Irony
Screenplay by Robert Carrington and
Jane Howard Carrington, based on
the play by Frederick Knott
2
Previous Lesson (Continued)
•
Storytelling Challenges
–
Surprise
–
Strict Rules for Using
Coincidence
–
Comedic Design
–
Point of View
–
Avoiding Melodrama
–
•
Logic Holes
Wait Until Dark (1976)
Screenplay by Robert Carrington and
Jane Howard Carrington, based on
the play by Frederick Knott
Assignments
3
This Lesson
•
Dramatic Irony
•
Scene Analysis
–
Define the Conflict
–
Note Opening Value
–
Break into Beats
–
–
•
Compare Closing &
Opening Values
Tootsie (1982)
Screenplay by Murray Schisgal and Larry Gelbart
based on a story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart
Locate the Turning
Point
Assignments
4
Dramatic Irony
Sweeney Todd (2008)
Screenplay by John Logan
Based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
Lesson 11: Part I
5
Sweeney Todd Clip
•
Please pause the
lecture and watch
the first clip from
Sweeney Todd.
•
Keep in mind what
we as the audience
know, and contrast
that with what the
characters know.
6
Scene Analysis
Tootsie (1982)
Screenplay by Murray Schisgal and Larry Gelbart
based on a story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart
Lesson 11: Part II
7
Scene Analysis: 5 Parts
•
Define the Conflict
•
Note Opening Value
•
Break the Scene
into Beats
•
Compare Opening
and Closing Values
Tootsie (1982)
Screenplay by Murray Schisgal and Larry Gelbart
based on a story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart
•
Locate the Turning
Point
8
First Tootsie Clip
•
Please pause the lecture and watch the
first clip from Tootsie (the scene where
Michael Dorsey is arguing with his agent).
•
Keep in mind the 5 aspects of scene
analysis while watching. We will review
them after watching the scene.
9
First Tootsie Clip (2)
•
Define the Conflict
–
Michael Dorsey needs to work to finance
his friend’s play. ‘GET ME HIRED!’
–
His agent says Michael is unemployable.
‘I CAN’T!’
•
Note the Opening Value
–
Negative. His agent doesn’t even want to
talk to him.
10
First Tootsie Clip (3)
•
Break the Scene into Beats
–
Beat 1:
•
‘I need money for a play.’
•
‘I can’t help you.’
–
Michael’s Action: Demand assistance
–
George’s Reaction: Refuse assistance
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First Tootsie Clip (4)
–
Beat 2:
•
‘I am good at my job.’
•
‘Yes, but you’re too much of a problem.’
–
Michael’s Action: Justifying demand
–
George’s Reaction: Justifying rejection
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First Tootsie Clip (5)
–
Beat 3:
•
‘Directors are idiots.’
•
‘They can’t all be idiots.’
–
Michael’s Action: Throwing blame off
–
George’s Reaction: Throwing blame on
13
First Tootsie Clip (6)
–
Beat 4:
•
‘No one in New York will hire me? Not possible.’
•
‘No one in New York OR Los Angeles.’
–
Michael’s Action: Denying assertion
–
George’s Reaction: Confirming assertion
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First Tootsie Clip (7)
–
Beat 5:
•
‘My difficulty is really commitment to my art.’
•
‘You’re committed to stupid details.’
–
Michael’s Action: Claim persecution for
virtue
–
George’s Reaction: Claim persecution for
idiocy
15
First Tootsie Clip (8)
–
Beat 6:
•
‘My integrity should matter.’
•
‘Get therapy.’
–
Michael’s Action: Claim moral superiority
–
George’s Reaction: Claim mental illness
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First Tootsie Clip (9)
–
Beat 7:
•
‘I will succeed.’
•
‘You will fail.’
–
Michael’s Action: Strut
–
George’s Reaction: Shock into reality
–
Then, cut to: Michael in drag as Dorothy!
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First Tootsie Clip (10)
•
Compare Opening and Closing Values
–
Opening: Distinctly negative, hopeless
–
Closing: Determined and hopeful
18
First Tootsie Clip (11)
•
Turning Point
–
The turning point is at the end of the scene,
when Michael stops fighting. He has an
idea, and this bad news from his agent has
pushed him over the edge into drastic
action. He is not going to change his
commitment to his art. He is going to trick
the entertainment industry into working with
him.
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First Tootsie Clip (12)
•
Define the Conflict
–
Dorothy Michaels wants the job. ‘HIRE
ME!’
–
The director doesn’t want her. ‘YOU’RE
TOO GENTEEL.’
•
Note the Opening Value
–
Negative. The director says no and
dismisses her.
20
First Tootsie Clip (13)
–
Beat 1:
•
‘This is Dorothy Michaels’
•
‘We don’t want you.’
–
Dorothy’s Action: Be easy to work with
–
Ron’s Reaction: Reject
21
First Tootsie Clip (14)
–
Beat 2:
•
‘I can do this role’
•
‘You’re too genteel’
–
Dorothy’s Action: Argue kindly
–
Ron’s Reaction: Reject
22
First Tootsie Clip (15)
–
Beat 3:
•
Kick Ron in the nuts and scold all concerned
•
‘You’re wrong.’
–
Dorothy’s Action: Argue not-so-kindly
–
Ron’s Reaction: Reject
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First Tootsie Clip (16)
–
Beat 4:
•
Refuse to commit as to intention
•
Invited to audition
–
Dorothy’s Action: Stand her ground
–
Producer’s Reaction: Surrender
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First Tootsie Clip (17)
–
Beat 5:
•
Flatter
•
Surrender (somewhat)
–
Dorothy’s Action: Flatter the director
–
Ron’s Reaction: Instantly likes her more
25
First Tootsie Clip (18)
•
Compare Opening and Closing Values
–
Opening: Rejected. Hopeless
–
Closing: Tentatively accepted. Hopeful.
26
First Tootsie Clip (19)
•
Turning Point
–
The turning point is the moment when
Dorothy refuses to commit to whether she’s
acting or not. She wants to audition. She
has shown herself to be the same kind of
strong “career woman” as the character.
27
Second Tootsie Clip
•
Please pause the lecture and watch the
second clip from Tootsie (the scene where
Les woos Dorothy).
•
Keep in mind the 5 aspects of scene
analysis.
•
Also keep in mind the concept of Dramatic
Irony. (Notice! The conflict here is in the
subtext!)
28
Second Tootsie Clip (2)
•
Define the Conflict
–
Les would like to re-marry
–
Dorothy isn’t available for marriage, for
reasons we as the audience know, but the
character Les does not. (Dramatic Irony)
•
Note the Opening Value
–
Positive. Les is hopeful
29
Second Tootsie Clip (3)
–
Beat 1:
•
‘My daughter is nice.’
•
‘Yes, she is.’
–
Les’s Action: Point up his familial assets
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Agreement (Subtext:
‘Yes, I’m in love with her.’)
30
Second Tootsie Clip (4)
–
Beat 2:
•
‘I’m glad Ron didn’t come.’
•
‘Me, too.’
–
Les’s Action: Dismissing chauvinist.
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Agreement (Subtext:
‘Yes, he’s my romantic rival.’)
31
Second Tootsie Clip (5)
–
Beat 3:
•
‘I thought you’d be a women’s libber.’
•
‘I’m not entirely like the character on the show.’
–
Les’s Action: Expressing approval
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Agreement (Subtext:
‘I’m starting to see that I’m a chauvinist.’)
32
Second Tootsie Clip (6)
–
Beat 4:
•
‘I think women should have equal rights, but
shouldn’t try to be men.’
•
‘No...’
–
Les’s Action: Expressing approval of her
femininity
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Agreement (Subtext:
‘But this woman is a man.’)
33
Second Tootsie Clip (7)
–
Beat 5:
•
‘Can I get you a drink?’
•
‘I need my wits about me tonight.’
–
Les’s Action: Work to make her vulnerable
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Protection (Subtext: ‘I
have to keep track of my lies.’)
34
Second Tootsie Clip (8)
–
Beat 6:
•
‘Tonight?’
•
‘Always.’
–
Les’s Action: Check if he’s succeeding
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Shut him down
(Subtext: ‘My carefulness has nothing to do
with you.’)
35
Second Tootsie Clip (9)
–
Beat 7:
•
‘Males and females are different, and shouldn’t
try to be the same.’
•
‘Right.’
–
Les’s Action: Claim dominance
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Agreement (Subtext:
‘I’m a man, too. We’re the same.’)
36
Second Tootsie Clip (10)
–
Beat 8:
•
‘Being with someone is the most important
thing.’
•
‘Right.’
–
Les’s Action: Prepare his case
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Agreement (Subtext:
‘Yes. I want to be with your daughter.’)
37
Second Tootsie Clip (11)
–
Beat 9:
•
‘You’re not married.’
•
‘No.’
–
Les’s Action: Prepare his case
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Agreement (Subtext:
Preparing to escape.)
38
Second Tootsie Clip (12)
–
Beat 10:
•
‘Like another drink?’
•
‘Time for bed.’
–
Les’s Action: Try to make her more
vulnerable
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Escape
39
Second Tootsie Clip (13)
–
Beat 11:
•
She shakes his hand
•
He tries to kiss her hand
•
She pulls away and leaves
–
Les’s Action: Seduction
–
Dorothy’s Reaction: Rejection
40
Second Tootsie Clip (14)
•
Compare Opening and Closing Values
–
Opening: Positive. Hopeful.
–
Closing: Negative. Rejected.
41
Second Tootsie Clip (15)
•
Turning Point
–
The turning point is the moment when Les
brings up the possibility of marriage. The
possibility of hurting the father of the woman
he hopes to marry becomes to real. He has
to run before his mere presence provokes
disaster.
42
Assignments
Sweeney Todd (2008)
Screenplay by John Logan
Based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
Lesson 11: Part III
43
Reading
• Read Chapter 11 in Story, “Scene
Analysis”.
• Do the Reading Review to be sure
you’re clear on what you’ve read!
44
E-Board Post
• Post at least one example of Dramatic
Irony in a film. Think of a scene where
you as an audience member know more
than the character(s).
45
End of Lecture 11
The Invisible Man (1933)
Screenplay by R. C. Sherriff, based on the novel by H.G. Wells
Next Lecture:
Writing Strategies / More on Exposition
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