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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A Feature Length Film: How I Met My Husband

A romantic, suspensful comedy starring
Ryan Reynolds, James Marsden, and Miranda Cosgrove
How I Met My Husband


Plot "How I Met My Husband" (the Movie) would essentially follow the same plot as its short story. However, there would be more to Chris Watters after he leaves her the first time. So, the movie would use the story as its beginning and middle. Essentially, however, I'd like to make it so that Chris Watters returns to Edie after months of waiting to sort of, play with her heart, but of course, he leaves, unexpectedly again. This repetition of Watters appearing and leaving would happen periodically throughout the movie. In addition to the Edie and Chris Watters, part of the movie would be from Carmichael's point of view in watching this young girl wait by her mailbox, and he would also see she and Watters out in the town when he would return. He notices though that even when Watters is with her she is not happy, and ultimately takes his chances one day she is waiting by the mailbox. She eventually decides to date Carmichael, while Watters is away, which causes a conflict when he returns. Ultimately, she must choose the right man for her. In making the movie this way it builds suspense, and focuses on what type of man a woman needs to make herself happy. The movie shys away from making others happy, and instead focuses on the protagonist's needs and wishes.
Structure
The structure of the movie would be a flashback like the short story. However, instead of the closing scene being her husband talking to the children about how they met, the movie would open with this scene. I want it so that Edie is sitting down with her children, and as she tells her story the movie goes into its plot. The husband is not to be shown in this opening scene, for it would ruin the suspense. Although it is a flashback, there will be no narration by the older Edie during the actual plot. The action can speak for the words itself. When the plot has come to the conclusion, or when Edie chooses which man is right for her, it will go back to this opening scene, where Carmichael will appear as the father. He will sit down with the children, and say something along the lines of, "aw I missed it. Please tell of how I swept you off your feet again?" and the movie will close.
Characterization
So if I would have made a movie in which one guy has to pick between two girls, I would have chosen Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and Angelina Jolie. But, it's not that way. So, I'm thinking Ryan Reynolds as Chris Watters because Chris Watters needs a really comical, and relaxed personality. He needs to show no personal, lasting affection towards Edie. Carmichael would be played by James Marsden, a real sensitive and affectionate man who puts his feelings and heart on the line for Edie. Edie would be played by Miranda Cosgrove, it would be her first big time movie and give her acting career a boost. Ultimately, for Edie though Cosgrove possesses that younger aura and could incorporate the characteristics of a humble and modest upbringing which are relevant in the character of Edie. The other characters would be played by some unheard of small role actors, and actresses which would characterize their role as essentially advancing the plot.
Point of View
Since it is a flashback of Edie's story telling it would be from her point of view. However, parts of it would be from Carmichael's point of view in watching this young girl wait for the mail each day, and her unhappiness even when Watters comes back. By using two points of view, it not only focuses on Edie's feelings on the situation, but how Carmichael sort of came in as the hero, and why he felt the need to act. None of the movie would be from Watter's point of view to show that he truly had no feelings for Edie and just played with her heart. In not showing any of the movie from Watter's point of view it foreshadows that Watters will not be the husband at the end of the movie. Although the point of view may switch from time to time, the audience will still be able to create their own opinions of each character.
Theme
As mentioned earlier, the theme will focus around finding who is right for oneself, and a personal perspective of happiness. Unlike the book, the movie cannot focus its theme on it being more about the journey, than the destination because Watters appears back in the plot, and Carmichael would eventually find out why Edie was waiting by the mailbox. The movie cannot be played off as Edie was coming on to Carmichael. It could seem like this for part of the movie, but not through the events the characters will go through. In making the theme, sort of choosing the right man and happiness, it creates more of a romantic chick flick. Probably not a movie for the guys, unless it incorporates a few fights between Watters and Carmichael. Then again, some men like a good chick flick. ;)

Sunday, December 5, 2010

A Christmas Story


Plot
In regards to "Red Ryder Nails the Hammond Kid", "A Christmas Story" follows the same premises for its plot. Both, are humorous and light-hearted, but the movie includes many classic scenes in which everyone knows, including Flick getting his tongue stuck to the flag pole, "Oh fudge..", and the leg lamp. These scenes are not included in the short story, but rather help to make the movie longer. They are really not significant to the plot, although I believe the leg lamp symbolizes the origins of "Red Ryder Nails the Hammond Kid". I did some research, and the original publication of the story first appeared in Play Boy magazine, thus, the risque leg incorporates where the story first became famous. The movie also includes the narration of Ralphie as an adult, thus the diction of the storyteller is more wise than the voice of a child, similar to the story. Finally, the plot does not center around "Disarming the Toy Industry" as in the short story, rather it focuses on a boy's Christmas, and the involvement of the family.
Theme
Unlike the story, "A Christmas Story" does not end the flashback (it's not a complete flashback in the movie)/plot with "It worked!" (The "it worked" means Ralphie's plan to blame the injury to his cheek and broken glasses on a fallen icicle, rather than admitting the BB from his gun hit him). The movie continues after those words in which the narrator says "Life is like that. Sometimes at the height of our revelries...when all is most right with the world, the most unthinkable disasters descend upon us". At this point, the neighbor's numerous hounds come into the house and devour the Turkey, leaving the family with no Christmas meal. So instead, the family has Christmas dinner at the local Chinese restaurant This quote above incapacitates the theme. With events like Christmas, it does not really matter what occurs. Regardless, it is typical for families to celebrate the holiday and spend it with family. This can ultimately be compared with the short story in that the setting is the Great Depression. It does not matter that the families are lacking some essential needs, they are still going to continue with their traditions like seeing Santa, and exchanging gifts. The ending to the movie really ends this with a strong point. On Christmas night, it shows Mom and Dad enjoying the Christmas tree and the falling snow in the dark, while the children are nestled in their beds with their new toys. Some things never change.
Setting
The setting of "A Christmas Story" is similar to the short story, except that there is no beginning setting in New York, because Ralphie as an adult is disregarded in the movie. Also, the movie does not take place in the height of the Great Depression, rather the back of the cover considers it the 1940s. The Great Depression, is normally associated with the 1930s. However, the setting is still northern Indiana during the Christmas Season. What is important to the setting is the fact that it is Christmas time. Without this, Ralphie's desire for a "Red Ryder with a compass in the stock and the thing that tells time" would be irrelevant. It would make no sense to make this in July, because it would not build the story and suspense of, will he really get this item for Christmas. It also creates struggle for the character, because he has to get his point across that he really wants this toy for Christmas. It is also important that Ralphie is a child, because if he were an adult, the story would also be irrelevant. Then the Christmas magic would be lost.
Point of View
Ultimately, the point of view of "A Christmas Story" is first person from Ralphie's point of view. In a way, it could also be somewhat objective in that the movie is not seen from Ralphie's eyes, but from the audience. Meaning that the audience can see each of the characters reactions to events, they are not how Ralphie would have had them react. The main difference between the short story and the movie is that the flashback is different. In the movie, there is no physical flashback of a man looking back on a childhood Christmas. Rather, there is just his narration to the Christmas. As a fun fact, the narrator who voices Ralphie as an adult is ultimately the author of "Red Ryder Nails the Hammond Kid", Jean Shepherd. Ultimately, many parts of the narration are exactly from the script of the short story. For example, Ralphie says he wants '"a Red Ryder BB gun!"' Yet, he quickly retracts by saying "'I was just kidding. Even though Flick is getting one.'" Another difference between the movie and the story is that the movie includes short anecdotes. These anecdotes are Ralphie's imagination of if he had the Red Ryder, and making his parents feel guilty. They show the attention he desires, because many of his anecdotes display him as a hero.
Characterization
As in "Red Ryder Nails the Hammond Kid", the characters of Ralphie's Mom, Dad, teacher and Santa Claus help to advance the plot by telling Ralphie he will shoot his eye out with a BB gun. However, because it is a movie, the audience is able to see more of a relationship between Ralphie and these people. Although they have relationships with Ralphie and help to advance the plot, they still are rather static characters that can be described in one sentence. For example, Ralphie's mom cares for her children, and seeks the best for them, but finds humor in many of her family's situations. "A Christmas Story" also includes a more detailed involvement of Ralphie's friends. Although they are mentioned in the short story, they are displayed more in the parts that were added into the movie from the short story. They tend to show up in humorous parts of the story like Flick getting his tongue stuck to the pole, and occurrences with the neighborhood bully. It is plausible that children appear in many of the comical parts of the movie because it centers around light-hearted, holiday humor.