So? What's this blog even about? Oh, right. My mentor text. The famous inspirational film, "Pay It Forward". And if you haven't already noticed my mastering of the blog-writing process, you know; the sarcastic punchlines, the back and forth-ness, the tendency to insert half-real words into my work.. I'd like to subtly steer your attention away from my actual book. Not because I don't want to tell anyone about it, certainly not because I haven't written a lot (trust me, I'm into it), but because I'd rather it be a surprise, my mentor text; a hook for suspense and anticipation. So, by "subtly", I mean I will actually very obviously steer your attention away by telling you straight-forwardly. And you, not even noticing or being phased by it.
Anyways, back to the film.
This family movie's plotline is mainly based off of the power of passing the good deed on, and "paying" it up. One of the main characters, Trevor McKinney, is a young boy who learns early on what it means to understand the troubled world around us. (Wow, i just sounded like some sort of convincing voice on a movie-preview..) His social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet, challenges him to idea of changing the world - then doing it. Trevor then rigorously applies himself to his idea, and comes up with challenging those who have been done a favor, to pass it on to three new people, who would then pay it forward again. Instead of paying it back and just returning the favor.
This movie serves as a mentor text for my book because, well, why not? See what I did there? I tricked you into thinking I was actually going to go against my word and tell you more about my book! Ha, maybe. But what I will tell you, is the similarities in my story, and in the Pay It Forward story. My story does involve a young boy, and an adult authority figure. Just as Mr. Simonet and young Trevor, the two characters in my story build an everlasting friendship by inspiring one another, and motivating eachother.I mean, nothing is as cliche as a homeless man and a generous, yet ignorant, boy and his desire to help.. obviously. The moral that I was trying to establish with this idea was also similiar to that of Jim Carey's star role, "Yes Man". Paying forward favors and always saying "yes!" to everything is never going to hurt, it will always have a positive impact...but ofcourse relying on the circumstances that you'd be saying "yes". Even though I am sure that society today has pounded these simple ideas into our heads and the minds of young children, I wanted to provide an instance where paying it forward was rewarded, rewarding, and real. Truly a moral to explore.
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Kathryn, I like your story idea and I too think it's important to always be positive and be saying "yes". Something that I think would help you out with writing your story is to research Ted Kennedy. If your feeling especially motivated you could even read his biography "True Compass". I suggest doing this because Ted Kennedy, maybe more than anyone else in history, was someone who ALWAYS tried to be positive and devoted his whole life to smiling, being happy, and helping others. It's a stretch but I hope this is helpful.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Kathryn, you really are so good at writing blogs. I like your sarcastic style of writing, it's like your own thing. Your story sounds really good from what you did say about the unlikely friendship. I would recommend Hancock because Hancock is an outcast just trying to do good but everyone hates him. He becomes friends with a little boy and his father and ends up standing up for the boy and it relates to your book in a few ways. You could probably get a few ideas from it.
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