Lecture 13 The Epiphany Little Miss Sunshine 2006

Lecture 13: The Epiphany Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Screenplay by Michael Arndt Professor Christopher Bradley 1

Previous Lesson • The Big Pit. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman Based on the novel by Ken Kesey 2

In this Lesson • Your Protagonist’s True Goal Revealed Jaws (1975) Screenplay by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb Based on the novel by Peter Benchley 3

The Epiphany Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Screenplay by Michael Arndt Lesson 13: Part I 4

A Moment of Clarity • The Epiphany is the moment when the course of action the protagonist must take becomes clear, sometimes very quickly. • The protagonist creates a new plan. • The stakes are higher than ever. • If there was a ticking clock, now is the time the bomb explodes! 5

Example 1: Jaws (1975) Screenplay by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb Based on the novel by Peter Benchley 6

Example 1: Jaws • The stakes are higher than ever. It’s not just Sheriff Brody’s job, or his credibility on the line, it’s his very life. • The “ticking clock” on the bomb that was set when the ship started to sink is now exploding. He will be in the water, unprotected momentarily if he doesn’t succeed now. 7

Example 1: Jaws • Brody creates a new plan very quickly– ‘I’m going to shoot the oxygen tank in that shark’s mouth and it’s going to explode. ’ Jaws (1975) Screenplay by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb Based on the novel by Peter Benchley 8

Example 2: Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Screenplay by Michael Arndt Lesson 13: Part I 9

Example 2: Little Miss Sunshine • Richard, Dwayne, Sheryl and Frank all have an epiphany here. • Richard starts the cascade wherein everyone will make the same realization. • Olive won’t win the contest, but she will win as a human being. 10

Example 2: Little Miss Sunshine • Richard decides, ‘My daughter is going to finish her routine and honor her grandfather. ’ • He realizes, ‘No one decides what winning is for someone else. I define what winning is for myself. ’ • Richard generates and executes his plan very quickly. 11

Example 2: Little Miss Sunshine • The stakes are higher than ever. It’s not just the contest at stake now, it’s their freedom. They’ll be arrested. • The “ticking clock” on the bomb that was set when they left for California is now exploding. They are out of time, out of chances, but they are pulling something far more valuable than they ever imagined out of the wreckage. 12

Assignments Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Screenplay by Michael Arndt Lesson 13: Part II 13

Writing • Write the next 7 -8 pages of your screenplay, taking your protagonist from the worst moment he or she could possibly imagine to a realization of what he or she must do, the change he or she must make in himself, herself and/or the world and the final plan for victory.

E-Board Post • Give supportive feedback to at least one of your fellow writers on their next 15 pages. 15

End of Lecture 13 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman Based on the novel by Ken Kesey Next Lecture: The Climax and The Resolution 16