Actors-Directors

Actors/Directors
__Task 1, Books I-IV__ You are pitching an //Odyssey// film to a studio. The studio executives have some concerns about the character of Telemachos being multi-dimensional enough to engage the audience. However, you have a clear vision of the way Telemachos should be portrayed and who might be the best actor to portray him. The studio executives want you to develop a brief (time is money) presentation in which you pitch the actor of your choice, using evidence from the story and the actor’s prior work to explain why he would make an appropriate Telemachos. Remember, you want to **sell** your idea, so make your presentation exciting and persuasive.



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__ Task 2, Books V, VI, and IX __ You and the actor you have chosen to play Odysseus (aka Mel “The Tank” Klinguargate) are in conflict over how the character should be portrayed. True to his name, “The Tank” wants to play Odysseus as a man with more “brawn than brains,” exerting his physical, rather than intellectual, strength. In order to avoid another literary box office epic failure, convince your actor to portray Odysseus in Homer’s vision. (Hint: Use your text!) Remember your audience. “The Tank” doesn’t like to exert himself too much intellectually, so you will need to find a way to capture his attention and convey your message in a Tank-friendly manner. Regardless, you still must be convincing. What’s a director to do?



__ Task 3, Books X-XII __

You are in the process of filming //The Odyssey//, but you are already over budget and behind schedule. The studio executives have told you that you must cut scenes. Reviewing Books X, XI, and XII, which key scene MUST you include in order to keep the plot line intact? Rewrite/script the key scene, including significant quotations. In your script notes, include brief explanations about why you chose that scene and any suggestions for filming (set design, etc.) that might help to lower the cost. If you feel that one scene isn’t enough, consider utilizing flashbacks or verbal references to other events by key characters.

We chose Book XI and a part of Book XII because in those moments, Odysseus learns about what he has to do from Teiresias, and we felt that Teiresias's guidance was the most important part of this part. Everything else is expressed through narration, which we decided was enough to communicate the plot, as most of it consists of dull dialogue which we decided could be cut and condensed. As for the filming part, we believe that it is possible with our budget to film Book XI on a beach set, and Book XII could be done completely in CGI.

Odyssey Books 10-12 Script Jeff Huo Karina Liu Peter Riley [Odysseus and his men are marching across a dark beach, lit only by a faintly bright cloud-covered sky. Moonlight streams through the clouds as the crew tromps across the sand, and the narrator, Odysseus, speaks.] Once you return to Ithaca, you will see that many men have invaded your home. You must kill these men that spit upon your property and drink your wine as if it were theirs. And now, I must speak of the immortals. Briny-bearded Poseidon is angry that you have blinded his son. You must make a sacrifice, a ram, a bull, and a boar to the raging god, and then solemnly swear to the immortals who reside in heaven. That is all.
 * (The men stop, Odysseus gets a shovel and starts digging in the sand)**
 * Narrator(Odysseus):** When we reached our destination set forth by Aiolos Hippotades, we beheld the city of the Cimmerians, wrapped in mist and cloud. The bright Helios never looks down upon this land, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. I could still feel Circe’s breeze at my back as I trudged up that dark sandy slope. When we finally reached level ground, I started the ritual and commanded my men to bring forth the sacrifices.
 * Odysseus(digging a hole):** Bring me the finest black ram and we have. We must do this quickly, so that Hades will not decide that we may look good as one of his subjects. **(Finishes, pours milk, honey, wine, water, and barley over hole and cuts the ram’s throat, blood spilling down into the pit)**
 * (Smoky figures appear around the hole)**
 * Odysseus:** My friend! Elpenor! How we have missed you! You have overcome such trials with us, brother. How may we deal with your body?
 * Elpenor:** Dear Odysseus, my brother, I suppose that this should be obvious. I request that you will bury my body on the island of Circe, next to the tall palms and under the sandy beach.
 * Odysseus:** Of course, Elpenor. We shall as soon as possible.
 * (Elpenor shuffles away, old man Teiresias in ragged robes approaches)**
 * Teiresias:** Honorable Odysseus, let an old man approach and indulge himself in the red drink of life.
 * (Odysseus moves away, Teiresias kneels down to drink)**
 * Teiresias(wiping his mouth):** Thank you, young man. I know what you want to know, and I shall reveal it to you. You seek to return home. But I believe that God will make the journey long and arduous. You must sail for the island of Thrinacia. There you will find the cattle of bright Helios. You must not touch these holy cows, or the bright god will exact retribution upon you and your men. If you avoid the cattle, you will make it home without suffering much.
 * Odysseus(nodding):** If that is the fate that the gods have set forth, then so be it. Thank you, prophet.
 * Narrator(Odysseus) speaks, while the camera pans to a ship on the high seas:** And that was how I found my path. I soon returned to Circe’s island and buried my dear friend. Circe warned me about the man eating monsters Scylla, Charybdis, and the Sirens. **(camera switches to the ship struggling against large waves created by Charybdis)** I lost all of my men and was left on my own. I was blessed to be able to survive this ordeal, even though I had to face all the ordeals that sunk my dear friends, who are now in the domain of Hades. After this, with the assistance of the gods, I floated to the island of Calypso.