A NEW FEATURE FILM--THE LOTTERY

PLOT

In the short story, The Lottery, there seems to be many characters that get mentioned but we never find out much detail. At the beginning, we come to know there is a lottery that will be taking place, yet we don't fully understand what will happen. Alls we know is that it is a ritual and Mr. Summers is in charge. Also, we know that other towns have stopped doing this event. The rising action is the build up to the lotter. The kids are gathering stones and the people are waiting for absolutely everyone to arrive. The rising action in the story is when the audience is held in suspense as to why it is such a big deal for everyone to be present and emotions are tense. The climax is when each member draws a card. Lastly, the falling action is when Mrs. Hutchinson is chosen to be stoned. Of course, the plot in the movie would have to have a little bit more detail and explanation. A basis for where it takes place, why it is happening, how it is happening, and what happens to Mrs. Hutchinson in the end. This movie would be really dramatic and eye catching to the audience.

POINT OF VIEW

In the story, the p.o.v is told by an omnicient narrator. THe audience never really finds out much detail about individuals or feels sympathy, rather we just get the basis for what is going on. THis is a major part that would have to change in the movie. I would have one of the character, perferably a Hutchinson child, be the narrator. However, also allowing for insight on other characters and their emotions. But the reason for having a Hutchinson kid narratoring, the audience would build more and more sympathy and attention towards the Hutchinson's in general. The lottery is a huge deal, yet in the short story, I felt as if the meaning of the story was brought down because of the p.o.v.

CHARACTERIZATION

To make this story a feature film, characterization would have to change drastically. In the short story, the only we find out who characters are and how they are feeling is by their name and little small details from the narrator. Also, there is some small dialogue that takes place. In the movie, details about the villagers lives will be known, and images of how they live and how the lottery affects them will be known. Mrs. Hutchinson is a key character. The audience will be able to connect with her and actually feel like they are present and witnessing. Through characterization, the audience will be able to see how Mrs. Hutchinson takes the news personally and also how her family deals with it. Another character that needs to be identified is Mr. Adams. He is the oldest member a part of the lottery. The movie can have a major focus on him and his character can bring insight to the old and new ways the lottery is done.

SETTING

In the short story, the setting is not very elaborate. The only true description we get is that it takes place outside. We know they are in a small town and it is a ritual. In my mind, I imagined a rough, dirty town where the people are very hard workers. Trying to understand what is taking place is difficult from the beginning of the story. We are not given much background as to what is happening but we do know it is not like a lottery we have today. In a way the movie would do the same thing. Keeping the audience in suspense is a very good mechanism that makes movies interesting. The movie, however, would only enhance the meaning of the short story. It would be filmed in a place where it is hot and dusty. ALso, the people will be of lower middle class and truly looking as if they work hard. The audience will be able to relate because it will seem real and true.

THEME

The short story theme became known during the ending. It kind of applys to people today. "Everything is fine until it happens to me." Often times, we go about life just living and never really having a care as to what happens. Yet, when something bad or even good happens we start to think in different ways. I feel like the short story made that known especially when Mrs. Hutchinson was picked. She begged and pleaded to re-draw and that it was not fair. However, before it was her name, she didnt seem to mind that someone would be stoned. The movie in a similar way would enhance this theme. Characters words and actions would highlight the true feelings and how they change when it actually happens to them. Another example of a movie where this takes place is Dear John. The couple are happy together until he gets called to war. They knew others were involved in war, yet they did not think it would affect them until it happened to them. My idea of turning the lottery into a film would be a good one. I would make sure it would follow the short story but enhance it's good qualities. I would take after the short story i red, Red Ryder Nails the Hammond Kid. A Christmas Story followed the story for most part but added details to make it even better.

A CHRISTMAS STORY :]

PLOT
THe movie, A Christmas Story, is a movie about a little boy named Ralphie and his experience at Christmas. Unlike the short story, the whole movie takes place in Ralphie's town and scenes appear in his house, school, and the town. The rising action and climax is the same as in the short story. He puts the Red Ryder ad in his parents magazines, spilt his secret at the dinner table when his mom asked him, and even wrote his theme about it in school. The climax, of course, is when his father tells him there is one present left just for him. He runs over and unwraps the Red Ryder BB gun. Ralphie is ecstatic, while his mother is in a bit of schock! The father did this present shopping all by himself. Another difference between the movie plot and the short story plot is the family does not celebrate christmas on Christmas Eve. They open their gifts on Christmas morning with the rest of the town. The falling action in the movie is when Ralphie takes the BB gun and goes outside to try it out (the same day not the next like in the story) and the bullet comes back and hits him in the face, knocking off his glasses. He doesn't know what to do, but tells his mom it was an icicle, just like in the short story. The plot allows for the movie to flow and keep the audience interested in what is next.

POINT OF VIEW
The movie is partly narrated by the main character Ralphie, but at times the other characters speak as well. THe main point of the movie was on Ralphie and his total obsession with getting the Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. This is the same as in the short story. Ralphie tells the entire short story from instances that happend in his life. This is a form of first-person point of view. The movie being told in this manner allows for us audience to connect with the character and put our main focus on him. One thing the movie does that the short story does not really hit on is the feelings of the other characters. We get a wider range in the movie to get a better overall understanding. We learn of his true admiraton for the BB gun, his feelings of the "bully" Ferguson, and his family relations.

CHARACTERIZATION
Just as in the short story, the movie never really gives us key examples of direct characterization. We come to know many characters through their actions and the way they precieved. Ralphie, the main character, is a sweet young boy who loves Christmas. In the movie, he imagines events where his Red Ryder BB gun comes into play to save his family. This shows how determined and how much his eyes are set on that ultimate Christmas gift. Another character is his "kid brother", Randy. HE is a funny little character that gets credited alot inthe movie but hardly at all in the short story. In the movie, he is an extra. He is a strange kid, sits under the cubbord when he thinks his dad is going to kill Ralphie, never eats his food, and whines. Ferguson, a character never mentioned in the short story, is a major bully. He picks on Ralphie and his friends inthe ally way on the way to and from school. One day, Ralphie beats him up and sets him in his place. For doing this, his mother puts soap in his mouth. The last characters that really had an impact were his parents. They were typical of the modern day parents: protective, loving, and hardworking. When Ralphie told them he wanted a Red Ryder BB gun, they laughed and his mother said, "You'll shoot your eye out!" (just like in the short story) We are able to identify with the characters through these aspects and understand the movie.

SETTING
Unlike the short story, the movie only takes place in the city. As an audience we come to know the family through their house and school environment. The same line appears about Hohman as it does in the short story, "Downtown Hohman was prepared for its yearly bacchanalia of peace on earth and good will to men." There is a scene where the family goes to Higbee's mall and there is a parade outside and the store window is full of decorations just like the one's described in the short story. The whole time I was watching the movie, I rememebered my Christmases when I was little, and how much I could not wait to see Santa just like Ralphie. The same thing happens while he goes to ask Santa for the BB gun-he forgets. Finally, when he gets it out, Santa replies, "You'll shoot your eye out" so he feels all hope is lost. One of the little add ins in the movie is Flick sticks his tongue to the flagpole. This is the funniest part of the movie. The teacher gets all upset while the other kids just laugh and mumble under their breath. The whole movie, we come to understand the great family love and how family oriented they are. It's a truly touching story and great for the holiday. The movie setting is very relatable to the American family today. There are many correlations we can make to our own lives today.

THEME
The theme in the movie is the same as in the short story. The joy and cheer of Christmas is truly overpowering. Everyone seems to get a little sparkle in their eye on the holidays and kids especially cannot wait for Santa to bring them all the goodies. Ralphie is a spitting image of one of those little boys who believes in the magic of Christmas. THe family makes sure the day is wonderful and do not let anything interrupt the joy. For example, in the movie, the next door neighbor's dogs come into Ralphie's house and eat the turkey. So, the family gets all dressed and ends up eating dinner at a Chinese restaurant. They will never forget that Christmas. Memories will always be remembered on special holidays and time spent with family. A Christmas Story is jam packed of funny family memories and day to day life experiences for the whole family to enjoy. Overall, I liked the movie better than the short story. I feel the movie was more relatable to everyday life and Christmas.

The Lottery

The title of the story makes us think that they are going to win money. The lottery we think of is how we get numbers and then they pull the number win the BIG BUCKS. However, that is not the case for this story. The lottery they are talking about is drawing to stone someone. When I read the title, I was planning on reading a story about how some family wins the money and lives happily ever after. However, I began noticing weird things about the city and the people. The little boys were finding rocks and they had to make sure everyone was present before they could begin. Each person has to draw a piece of of paper and the one who picks the black dot must then make there famiily pick one individually. THis is not a normal lottery. Killing someone definately would never take place at a lottery like todays.

Popular Mechanics

The story has an ambiguous ending. We are unaware of what the decision was to who got the baby. These are very vivid descriptions to tell of how they pulled the baby and faught over it. THey held in the corner by the stove and both said they were having it. There are two ways to take the end of the storie. The first is that the baby literally ripped in half and each parent had half of it in their hands. The other i thought might have happend is that the father won. THe reason i think this is because at the end it says, "he pulled back very hard...the issue was decided." We will never know what actually happend.

Your're Ugly Too-Zoe

Zoe is an interesting character. SHe always has a sarcastic attitude that becomes prevalent in almost the whole story. She makes jokes and teases by fun. Her favorite joke which includes the title is "...I want a second opinion, your're ugly too." She tells this to Earl. It is strange because Zoe feels as though she can tell Earl everything even though she just met him, yet she can not even tell her sister. In a way, I feel Zoe is estranged in someway. She has weird thinking habits and places all of her items in her perse individually in baggies. I think she does this show that she can keep everything seperate and in order. At the end of the story, she acts as if she is goign to push Earl over the side of the building. What possessed her to do this? She was just joking and she says that over and over, yet there is a part of me who wonders is that true?

The Drunkard #6

The Drunkard refers to the father. He drinks and cannot stop; moreover, he is an embarassment to the family. THe father drinks so much one night that he can not go to work to make money for the family and support them. However, when the father and the son go to the bar, the little boy drinks his father's beer so he can not get drunk in public. The little boy's mother told him to act as the "brake" to his father. The little boy becomes drunk and causes a scene in the public streets. The father then states that he will not drink anymore because he finally saw how roudy and scene-making his son was when he was drunk. THis shows the principal irony in the story. Originally, the father was the drunk. Then, in the end the boy was the drunk. There was also a role reversal.