Adaptation Paper

The dark book/film that will be adapting in this paper is a fan favorite, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry Potter and the stories that J.K. Rowling wrote were something that captured people of all ages and cultures. As Rob White author of the short essay, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, wrote “Harry Potter is a magic mirror. ” The only views these people see are if you are a muggle or not. There is no judgment, there is no violence, unless your last name is Potter or your first name is Lord Voldemort. The book had so many good reviews, became so popular, that why not just make these books into a film? Well that it was what, one of the directors of the eight books/films, Alfonso Cuaron did. He brought a book to life and made it a masterpiece, or art, as some people would call it.
Of course with the book and the series being long as it is, it is impossible to fit everything and every detail in it. The book started with giving details about Harry and how he is, which seemed to be something common that started with these novels. For some reason the beginning of the movies and the novels were the best part and most interesting. They mostly talked about Harry and his life at home living with his sub-par aunt, uncle, and fat cousin. It is funny to see how Harry grew up in a matter of “three years.” He looked older than what he actually was which made him look a lot more mature. Of course the “muggles” forgot his birthday or at least did not care for it. For Harry it is just another day in the life of having no family contact.
The movie had amazing special effects and really exaggerated the darkness of it all. Some of the special effects include professors and characters turning into animals, a huge bird/horse, aka Buckbeak, and Hermione’s time turner which showed, both Harry and Hermione going back and forth in time. Darkness was a theme in the book and the movie. It seemed like this was the movie that would end Harry Potter, but as fans and readers know, that is not true. This book had an assortment of characters with new teachers and new faces. The people that you think were bad, were good, and the people that you thought were good, were actually bad or not even a person really. A lot of the characters in this movie turned out being part of animal as well. It is funny to compare the title of the book to the theme and the plot of it because it is contradicting. The Prisoner of Azkaban is shown to be a person who is crazy and really bad guy but is in fact something different than what everyone looks at it as. The character, Sirius Black makes his first appearance in the movie on a magic newspaper. Magic newspaper has moving thing pictures and words on it. The picture of Sirius is of him screaming and a mug shot. The film really makes Mr. Black look like a bad, terrible, crazy person especially with the long hair.
There were a plentiful amount of things that were pointed out in book that were missing in the film or not there in general. There were also some things that were different from the book in general. One big difference is that in the book Harry learns to ward off Dementors with his “patronus,” which is the spell coming from his wand. Dementors are “the foulest creatures that walk this earth…they glory in decay and despair (p.187).” Harry brings back the feeling of when he got to leave his horrible “family,” the Dursleys. He failed to ward off the Dementors twice in the book but only once in the film. He only failed once in the movie because he used a memory of his parents to produce the patronus to ward off the Dementors. Another difference is that Professor Snape is knocked out completely when Professor Lupin turns into a wolf. In the movie Professor Snape wakes up from being knocked out and protects Hermione, Harry, and Ron from Professor Lupin. Also, the film added the voodoo head in the bus, which was not in the book. This may be to add more of a witchy, dark feel before the real stuff happens.
Also, the costumes are very witchy and very old-fashioned, something that the director Cuaron used to connect reality and magic (Lane, 2005, p. 65). The costumes were very different in this film, showing how the characters matured and have grown up in age and in school.
What the film did very well was the “time-turner.” At first, figuring out what was going on was quite difficult. The fact that Harry and Ron had no idea why Hermione was coming out of no where to class made things interesting. The “time-turner” was kind of a foreshadow for what the film/book was going to show next. The time-turner was a huge deal in the film because that was how Harry saved Buckbeak and was able to find out what was going on with Hagrid and who hit Harry with a shell.

Of course, most books are better than the movie that it is based on. This book and film contains adventure, comedy, and mystery. Out of the series, this movie really adapts to the book the best. It exaggerates the darkness and points out the plot immediately. This is the third book of the series and even though most people have either read these books or watch these movies, the fourth one is nothing but trouble for Harry, as well. If someone wants to see a mystery, adventure, and amazing effects, the only recommendation that would come to mind immediately would be Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban. Hogwarts is nothing but trouble for Mr. Potter and as he would say himself, “I don’t go looking for trouble, trouble usually finds me (p. 75).”

1. http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=15285285-c9e1-45e4-b3ce-6919ad80db90%40sessionmgr110&vid=2&hid=121

2. http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6837969c-6905-4d7f-a1ca-4d29e51cefb1%40sessionmgr4003&vid=2&hid=4104

3. http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/06/rewatching-the-potter-films-harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban

The Watchmen

1.) The comic, The Watchmen, is about nothing other than superheroes. The story is about ex-superheroes coming back to fight, obviously, the big crime. Why else would they come back from retirement? The comic starts out as the villains breaking into the apartment and this is why the heroes come back to fight.

2.) The movie was based about the comic, The Watchmen, with a little different plot. Since the setting was based a couple years ago, the costumes and all should have been a little more different. The theme was the obvious, fighting crime with an awesome cast and the plot of finding out who killed the Comedian.

3.) Although the comic has unrealistic characters, the movie was a real life film. As in there was not any cartoons. The film should have had more costumes that were based on the setting of both the comic and film in 1985. The costumes, especially, for the characters could have been a little more different, more in the actual setting of 1985. The movie and the comic both had general a same plot of fighting evil.

4.)
1. http://www.austinchronicle.com/download/2008-12-12/042.pdf
This is somewhat of a review of The Watchmen.

2. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=JE7SHbKiOhAC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1945&dq=the+watchmen+the+comic&ots=T5wWx06L7O&sig=-NaTLOf_DuL3bmruL1a-x2HBTvA#v=onepage&q=the%20watchmen%20the%20comic&f=false
This is an essay about the comic The Watchmen, and others. It talks about other graphic novels and why graphic novels exist.

3. http://comicsstudies.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/50797207/thompson-deconstructing.pdf
This essay is about being familiar with comics and specifically The Watchmen.

5.) This comic, and movie, is about saving the world, of course. It is almost a reminder of Superman. The theme and the setting is based around the same as Superman. Why do writers and directors stick with the same setting. The two stories are pretty similar with the same setting.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

1.) The book, or should I say children’s book, Fantastic Mr. Fox, is about a fox running away from something he did wrong. Usually, in books the main character is not the “bad guy” but this time, he kind of is. This picture book is about adventures and trying to catch Mr. Fox. Although Mr. Fox is doing the wrong, he is in fact doing it for his family, making the story kind of contradicting.

2.) The way the movie is portrayed is exactly how I pictured it. The movie shows adventure and how Mr. Fox is in the wrong but doing it for the right of his family. The movie is about adventure and has a little bit of comedy of it, especially because the characters are in fact animals.

3.) The way the book the and the movie were portrayed was very similar. The book and the movie had pretty much the same themes and the same idea of adventure. The way the animals were pictured were kind of different, since the book had pictures of them already.

4.) 1. http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/journals/childrens_literature_association_quarterly/v036/36.1.kertzer.html
This is an essay that talks about the director of the film.

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5uKeOolfTc
This shows “behind the scenes” of the making of the moving which I thought was interesting what voices they put with the characters. I thought this was interesting about how they did the effects. Although it is a short clip, it gives a lot of information.

3. http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=4d2d68ec-1837-4d34-947b-3ffcf4ac4a9d%40sessionmgr114&vid=2&hid=103
This is an article that talks about the film and what Wes Anderson is trying to accomplish.

5.) My argument for the Fantastic Mr. Fox is that why is there not a sequel? I feel like there should be adventures of this character and his family. This movie and book seems like it would have more adventures and keep going, for kids, especially.

Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban

1.)    Yes, of course what we have all been waiting for: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  This book of the Harry Potter series is probably one of the best and one of the most exciting.  On this adventure, Harry learns to fight Dementors, grows up, and finds out that prisoner is not so harmful after all.  The prisoner is actually, shockingly, trying to help Harry because that is part of family, aka Sirius Black.

2.)    The movie showed the main themes: finding out Sirius Black, fighting Voldemort (again), and showing how grown up Harry Potter really is.  The movie showed almost perfectly how the clock that Hermoine had worked in a clear way.  The effects in this book made witchcraft seem way to real. 

 

3.)     This movie, strikingly, had some amazing effects and portrayed the book the best way possible.  It showed who the prisoner was, how Snape is kind of evil, and gave fans a look back into Harry’s past.  This film showed how strong Harry Potter was just like in the book.

 

4.)    1.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_G1W5Mr7gw 
This youtube video gives a look at the special effects and why they did that.  They made the comparison to the book of the effects that they wanted.  This clip shows the characters and there thoughts towards there character, too.

2. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/10508611/Harry-Potter-and-the-Prisoner-of-Azkaban-2004-original-Telegraph-review.html 

This is a review of both the book and the film without much summary or giving away any ending.

3. http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/06/rewatching-the-potter-films-harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban 

This is a blog about this movie and why it is most likely the most rewatchable and best one yet.

5.)   It is hard to figure out an argument for a book and film that was so great.  Like most films, there is usually a love interest.  Harry’s love interest does not really come into play until the next book.  I feel like, not just in this book, but in the other ones, Harry should have had a love interest.  His love interest eventually is Ginnie Weasley, but I feel like that should have happened earlier in the series.

A Scanner Darkly

1.)    The book A Scanner Darkly, opens up with a weird approach.  It opens with talking about bugs which was what I thought the book was going to be about until I kept reading.  There is something to do with bugs, but also drugs.  The bugs are part of a theme of paranoia that is kind of wrapped around the drugs and the characters drug use. 

2.)    A Scanner Darkly, is everything drug-related, and dark.  The film is animated-like which makes the storyline and the film seem so much darker.  When the thought of drugs comes to mind, it is a reminded of everything bad and dark.  The film really exaggerates the bug paranoia surrounding the plot about drugs.

3.)    The novel is about drugs as well as the film.  The way the film portrayed the book made the plot seem so much darker because of the animation.  With the assortment of characters it was hard to keep of with which character was who.  Although the plot or general theme of the story was about drugs and drug abuse, it was not clear about what the storyline really was.  The movie kind of seemed like it was going on and on just about drugs and drug abuse. 

4.)         
1. http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2012/dec/17/philip-k-dick-a-scanner-darkly  

This blog gives information about the book and Philip K Dick.  After reading this I did not know that it is kind of based off of his life.  It gives great information about what Dick felt in just a couple of years.

 

2. http://www.philipkdickfans.com/literary-criticism/frank-views-archive/digressions-on-allusions-in-p-k-dicks-a-scanner-darkly/

This is a fan site of Philip K. Dick and gives meaning behind the story.

 

3. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/summer_movies/2006/06/watching_the_detectives.html

This is also a great website about Dick’s life and what he “went through.”

 

5.)  So in this argument, I would really like to know what exactly the movie and novel was trying to show besides a story written/based off of things that Dick went through.  The plot was not clear in the movie which I was really hoping for.  Some of the events were just like, why?  Why is this just a big thing for this to happen?  This movie/book is clearly about drugs and drug making but what is it about and what exactly did Dick go through for him to write the book?

No Country for Old Men

1.)  The title of the book, No Country for Old Men, is about an investigation with a couple guys and money. This novel is a stereotypical old western theme and plot with a common theme of money and drugs through out the story. The way it is written looks like a diary that someone wrote. It does not 100% written like a novel, it is to strictly tell a story.

2.)   The film, No Country for Old Men, is an old-western themed story with the surround of the plot about money and drugs. The film starts off with Sheriff Bell talking about the changes that have been happening. The beginning part was a little confusing, until the film kept going was when the pieces were able to be put back together.

3.)   How the movie portrayed the book was pretty interesting. It should probably had more of a first person view because of the way the book was written. Someone should have narrated it. The movie missed a few parts that probably should have been in there, as well. The way the scenes look should have had more of a western field to it. The book and the film shared the common themes of money and drugs, which was well known in the film.

4.)  1. http://www.cormacmccarthy.com/works/no-country-for-old-men/

This website gives a background of the book and what McCarthy sees in his writings on this novel.

 

2. http://arbitrarynonsense.com/2012/08/08/no-country-for-old-men-ending-explanation/

This is a blog just like we are doing in this class. I looked up the meaning of the book and this is what I found. I thought it was interesting to hear someone else’s point of view. The blog was not based on a class just strictly on the book and the film.

 

3. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=sTGqEiA1oooC&oi=fnd&pg=PR3&dq=cormac+mccarthy+no+country+for+old+men&ots=rihE4hUsoF&sig=48wR3B5lzpNoeOYgkQR0DWPO5uQ#v=onepage&q=cormac%20mccarthy%20no%20country%20for%20old%20men&f=false

This essay is anything and everything about the film, book, and the author. Anything you want to know, it is right here.

 

4. An argument that I thought about while reading and watching this movie is how the story should have been told in the film. In the beginning, there is a voice over but since the book was written like someone was actually writing it, or close to it, it should have had a voice over through out the whole entire film. The voiceover should be narrating the film.

American Splendor

1.) It is never easy to find a plot and themes for comic books. Comic books come with mini descriptions and drawings, so sometimes it is hard to figure out what “box” you are supposed to read next. The themes that occur in this comic deal with Harvey Pekar’s life, specifically. It is Mr. Pekar trying to figure out himself and life struggles.

2.) The film is based off of Harvey Pekar, and his writings about, well, his life, who does the voiceover. The film shows great acting from all the characters, especially Judah Friedlander. When watching the film, it seemed like Toby Radloff, played by Judah Friedlander, was a more important character than Harvey, himself. Every character are based on a real person that Harvey has encountered. It shows a person going through the struggles of life, while the real person is narrating it.

3.) The adaptation with the comic to the film was not easy. Because comics are not the easiest to read, the adaptation of the film made you rewind a few things to make sure you were on the right track. The film should have added some actual comic book pictures, so the book and the film could be more relatable. If the film did this, you could read the comic as you were watching the film making it easier for viewers to keep up with what was going on. Readers could listen, while reading.

4.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Ruyz3M-eM
This is another guy doing a narration of Harvey Pekar giving his background.

http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=af46a252-47bb-4186-af8f-98aa96d845c6%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=103
This essay discusses the adaptation of the film and the comic. It discusses how the project was showing a comic, a movie, and an autobiographical film. It gives a detail description what the film was trying to show.

http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/journals/college_literature/v038/38.3.bredehoft.html
This essay explains Harvey Pekar’s autobiography between his writings and other people’s drawings.

5.) When I was reading the last essay that I posted about Harvey Pekar, I was asking myself the similar questions, is the comic really an autobiography if he did not draw the comics himself? American Splendor is not just a book or a normal autobiography, it has drawings in it, more drawings then writing. I feel like this is an autobiography still though, but I wonder if people think the same thing.

Adaptation / The Orchid Thief

1.)   The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean is about beauty and passion. It is a true story where people go to extreme lengths to find the beauty in nature, literally. It is about the appreciation of what Mother Nature brings to our world and the scandals behind the money that nature has.

 

2.)   2.) The film, The Adaptation, shows a well representation of the book The Orchid Thief. The movie provides a theme of the adventure of finding the beauty in nature. It shows how nature is “expensive” because of the creation of it. The movie also provides adventure, love, with a little mystery twist.

 

3.)   Adapting to the book and the movie was not an issue at all. Of course the book is based on a true story, so the movie had to have other things to keep peoples’ attention; one thing was the love story in it. It was hard to understand in the movie why we heard Charlie Kaufman’s thoughts. In the book, the writing did not seem like something that would come out like that in the movie

 

4.)
1.) http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ii6IPUuHThYC&oi=fnd&pg=PA31&dq=the+orchid+thief&ots=CfDAQz3apI&sig=1Wj5xjxvyuwM4IH1f4gtHDl1wLs#v=onepage&q=the%20orchid%20thief&f=false
This book gives sort of an adaption from the book to the movie.

 

2.) http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VK04sar06BUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA161&dq=the+orchid+thief&ots=F5m5BvnPv4&sig=WaaGFhN4iBWKInSm2NmOMgUuQIw#v=onepage&q=the%20orchid%20thief&f=false
This is another book giving about the opinions of going to book to movie. This book explains why movies should follow exactly how the book was written. It tries to give an explanation between Hollywood and an actual movie since it is based on a true story.

3.) http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/phl/summary/v030/30.2smith.html

This essay gives another look at Adaptation and what the movies represents.

 

5.) My argument that I was thinking about, not just with these two forms of literature but other forms as well, why do movies do books based on a film but change the name?  The book Adaptation is based completely off of the true story The Orchid Thief, I feel like the directors are not given Susan Orlean any credit for her work.  What is the difference between the two titles and is there an issue?  I feel like the movie did not live up to the books expectations and that is why the name was changed to something similar.

The Hours

1.)   The excerpts that were given for The Hours, were written just like any other novel. It had quite an unexpected opening of a suicide by a main character. Although that part was questionable as to why she committed suicide, the rest of the story made it more clear as to what was going on with Virginia Woolf. The book is about the struggle of roles with women when being homosexual and being sexually confused was unheard-of. The book also centers around a book that Mrs. Woolf wrote that Mrs. Brown actually reads.

2.)   The film began just like the opening of the book, with Mrs. Woolf’s suicide. The film showed the background of the three main characters, Mrs. Virginia Woolf, Laura Brown, and Clarissa Vaughn. The film had twists and turns between the three ladies with the book that Mrs. Woolf wrote and there sexual confusion. The film also shows how time has passed and what is most important in these three women’s lives.

3.)   The adaption from the book to the movie was not easy to follow because the characters names were not really thrown out there. Readers really had to know the background of each character to know what was taken place. The movie did not make clear of what the plot was about. It seemed like it was just about three depressed women trying to find themselves.              

4.)  
1.) http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/455/the-hours

This is a book review that gives a clear input on what Cunningham is trying to show in his novel.

2.) http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/journals/arizona_quarterly_a_journal_of_american_literature_culture_and_theory/v061/61.2.spohrer.pdf
This is an essay about Cunningham’s novel and the background of the book that was in the novel, Mrs. Dalloway.

3.) http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=8650a88a-d11f-4a86-9945-0ff066963fdd%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=126
This is a book about the adaption of The Hours and Ian McEwan’s Atonement. In detail, this essay describes both of these books were adapted to become film. The essay also describes how the directors used the literary allusions in the film.

5.) What if this book was a story within a story. At first when I was reading the book, I thought it was a story within a story. I thought Mrs. Dalloway was about the women in the book and that they were being narrated. Mrs. Woolfe could have written this novel about the two characters, which would be interesting. The whole novel could be about how Mrs. Woolfe struggles through life but sees her other friends struggle as well. It would be like The Neverending Story, a book within a book. What if this story was about Mrs. Woolfe writing about Mrs. Brown and Mrs Vaughn?  

The Hate List

1. Concept

The film that is being adapted is a novel by Jennifer Brown called The Hate List.

This book was something that really grasps readers because of how it is so relatable, especially these days. The book is about a girl, Valerie Leftman, who returns to high school a few months after her boyfriend shot their friends and classmates. Some of these people were actually on a list that Valerie made for people that she did not like, “the hate list.”    

   Valerie was looked at as a partner in her boyfriends crime to shoot their classmates. Although Nick, Valerie’s boyfriend, and her both were part of their hate list, she had nothing to do with it. She actually saved one girl and was shot herself. After everyone has dropped Valerie as a friend, even some of her closest friends she somehow has to pick herself up again with a hell of a home life and social life. Valerie is invited to join the Student Council and help to be a part of the memorial of that her and her classmates will present to the school and the victim’s families. Valerie presents the memorial at there graduation where she explains her and her ex-boyfriends actions.

This book is to show how dangerous kids are with hurtful words and actions. This is supposed to teach kids a lesson and have people look from the outside. It shows courage, compassion, and leadership. This book is also about forgiveness, something that is not taken lightly with people. It is hard to forgive sometimes and hard to understand people, especially who are different.

 

2. Characters

Valerie Leftman: The story is based around her, the main character. Valerie is very independent and shows leadership through out the book. She was always teased because she was different in high school. Through high school she hated almost everything and even everyone, hence the hate list. Her nickname was Sister Death all through high school. They called her this because she wore dark clothes, dark eyeliner, and dyed her hair black. She enjoys drawing and is very quiet.

Nick Levil- Although Nick is a deceased character, he plays an important role because he was the person who brought the gun into school and shot his classmates. He was the boyfriend of Valerie. He was a sweet boyfriend to her and liked reading Shakespeare. Nick was skinny and quiet.

Jessica Campbell- Jessica was one of the girls that made it on the Hate List. Valerie took a bullet for her, literally. She always made fun of Valerie and was very hateful towards her, before the shooting. Because of Valerie’s heroic doing, Jessica felt that she owed her something. When Valerie came back to school, Jessica and her became friends. She was the reason that Valerie joined the Student Council Committee.

 

Dr. Hieler- He was the therapist that helped Valerie and her mother move on after the incident. Although Valerie did not like going there, she knew deep down that it dip help her and her mother by talking to him. As most therapists, he tries to make Valerie open up and try to go back to normal things again.

 

3. Themes

There are several different themes that are obvious in The Hate List. One of them is forgiveness but the one that this film will be based on is leadership. When people think of leadership they think of super heroes, firefighters, police officers, and parents. This time it is an 18 year old girl. This girl shows leadership because she takes on harassment, she is victimized, and hated on, but yet somehow she gets by and changes at least some of her attitude and her reputation. She shows something that it is hard for any 18 year old to do, especially if they did not do anything wrong. These days with bullying, it is hard to stick up for yourself, especially in high school when everyone just wants to fit in. This book does not show someone having fake super hero powers to save the world; it shows realistic things. This scenario could happen to anyone, especially with all the violence in the world. Valerie shows leadership, by joining a club, when everyone hated her, going back to school where was victimized, and apologizing to her whole grade and there parents for something she did not do. She showed how to stick up for herself, ignore people, and to, as we say, “be the bigger person.” She showed leadership through great attitude, even with a bad home life, as well.     

4. The film will be based in three different settings: a school, Valerie’s home, and the therapist office.
   The school is seen as a three story building with the cafeteria being on the second floor, where the shooting occurs. The cafeteria is the biggest part of the school, holding about 25 square tables with chairs surrounding them. The cafeteria has three stone walls and one glass wall, where it meets the hall way. The cafeteria cane be entered from the main hallway, where the glass wall is, or from one of the stone walls on the other side, where there is a small hallway. The school is not too big, everyone bumps into each other when they gather to go to the next class. The steps are skinny as well, making it hard to get up and down.

Valerie’s home holds four bedrooms and two full baths on the second floor, with a half bathroom on the first. Valerie’s basement is not finished, she only holds her art supplies down there, where there is a couch. The hallway on the second floor connecting the bedrooms is tiny and you can hear anything from anyone’s room. Her house is dark, for it is covered with a lot of trees. Her house is clean but only because her sister tries to do what she can. Her kitchen holds all the appliances, a wooden table and five chairs. The back door is next to the stove where they enter there small backyard.  

The therapist office that Valerie goes to is small and dark. When she enters the building there is a lady who always asks her to please wait in the red chairs on the wall. When she enters the tiny room where her therapist is, there are two chairs right next to each other and one big on the opposite side. There is a desk but is between them pushed against a wall. There is usually coffee brewing on the desk every time Valerie and her mom have a session.    

 

 

5. Action Scene:

It has been about a month since Valerie has been back at school and all she has received were nice compliments from her number 8 on her list, Jessica. Valerie decided to sit outside today because she could not take the stares and people running away from her. Although, sitting outside was banned because students were supposed to eat inside, Valerie did it anyway. The sun gave her warmth it was a breath of fresh air, somewhere she could just let go of her thoughts. She took a bite of her sandwich when all of a sudden number 8 sits down with her. Valerie stares at her as Jessica tries to start conversation with her. Why would Jessica do this, this is Valerie’s time to herself.
      

6. Dialogue Scene: a flashback

 

Valerie: I am never looking at Mrs. Sassy Pants (Jessica), ever again. The way she just degraded my art project is just terrible. As Jessica enters Nick’s car.

Nick: I loved your picture. I think it made everyone think differently. Who gives f*** what Jessica says. Her drawing looked like something a first grader drew.

Valerie looks out the window and Nick sees Valerie’s face droop.

Nick: She is added to our list right? I can’t stand her and wouldn’t mind if she left for eternity.

 

Valerie: I think I added her two days ago when she basically pushed me into my locker. Apparently it was an “accident.”

Nick: Bull sh** it was an accident. I swear if I could get rid of her today, I would.

 

Valerie: Can we go to your house for a little while? My parents have been fighting. I just don’t want to go home.

 

Nick: Yeah, of course we can!

Valerie: Wait, Nick you missed the turn to your house..

 

Nick: Chill Val, I need cigarettes, do you want anything?

 

Valerie: No, Nick you aren’t 18 yet…how-

 

Nick: My boy got em’….Val come on

 

Valerie rolls her eyes and looks away from Nick.

 

Nick: alright, now back to my house. Are you okay?

 

Valerie: yeah.

 

Nick: Do you love me?

 

Valerie: yeah.

 

Nick: When we get home let’s go on my back porch.   I need some fresh air.

 

Valerie: That sounds awesome.

 

7. Pitch

Everyone loves watch a happy ending. What if the ending to a story was not so happy? In this case it is a semi-happy ending. There is no fairytale love story, because obviously Valerie’s love is indeed, dead. The only thing that is happy is her apology to her classmates at graduation and the memorial to the students who were shot and killed, this is therefore, not a happy ending. It is more of an ending showing leadership and power that one does not show when they are being victimized and bullied. This film shows so much leadership and empowerment. This whole scenario could happen and shootings have happened in schools. Have you ever seen someone who was bullied in make a complete turn around, they made friends, and apologized to a whole school? This is no ordinary Clark Kent, but this is Valerie Leftman. She took over her life and realized what needs to be done. She changed her views of people thought of her and changed the way she looked at things, what a real hero would do.