Structuring a Screen Play

Part A

Brave is a Disney movie, a story about an Scottish Princess who wants to change her fate. The movie introduces the main characters in the first few minutes: Merida, a toddler, has just been given her first bow from her father, the King. Though her mother protests, it is clear that this woman is more concerned with her child's happiness than the laws of propriety. The King is a gentle, rambunctious man around his family. As Merida runs off to retrieve a lost arrow, she encounters her first will-o'-the-wisp, which legend says will lead her to her to her fate (this is told to Merida by the Queen, which is ironic because it is the will of the Queen that Merida wishes to defy). The first five minutes set up the plot of the story: Merida encountering legends of old to chase her fate. Not only does she encounter the wisp, but as she returns from the forest, her father battles Mor'du, the demon bear--both legends that reappear on her journey. Even the sweeping scenes of Scottland show images of settings important to Merida's path to changing her fate. Her brothers are intoduced a little later; precocious twin boys who never speak but have an intimate understanding of secret passage ways of the castle.

The main conflict of the film revolves around Merida trying to escape an arranged marriage. She doesn't want to get married at so young of age, let alone to someone she doesn't know or love. She is frustrated at her mother's lack of consideration and feels as though the Queen doesn't know who she is. The conflict develops as Merida encounters a witch who gives her an enchanted pie, one that will 'make her see things differently.' Instead of persuading the Queen to agree to allow Merida to do as she pleases, she turns into a giant black bear. She can only turn back into a human once Merida and her mother come to terms--to see things from one another's perspective, and to take responsibility.

Part B

First off, the painting I have (finally) chosen (knowing nothing about art makes even a Google search a lengthy task) is "End of the Day" by John Koch. It depicts a man in his home (apartment?) stretched out on the couch. I think I would set the scene in an office--perhaps in a cubicle. The camera would pan in on the man in his chair, hunched over a keyboard. Changing angles, the camera would show his eyes flicking to a square, drab looking clock, the only thing sitting on his desk besides a pencil holder and one "In" box and his desktop. In the next few moments, his boss will enter the scene, obviously upset with the man in the chair. As he leaves, he will run into a woman outside who spills coffee on his white shirt, and yells at him for it. Leaning against a brick wall, he will take one last drag on a cigarette as he listens to his cell phone, angry squawking on the other line.  The final scene will be his ascent to the apartment, taking off his dirty shirt (a white tank underneath), and collapsing onto the couch. It will fade to black for a moment before an alarm blares, a very close up shot of his eyes snapping open will close the film.