ACTION ANALYSIS
ORPHANS' PICNIC
January 30

[...] scene to be good just because a certain audience laughed
at it. That audience may have been primed to laugh, ready to
laugh because of boredom with something that preceded, and
might laugh at almost anything. Don't use that as a criterion
for judging this scene.

     ARCHIE ROBIN: Suggested improving it with a slow truck
     on the whole thing which might have intensified the feel-
     ing of the crowd.

     KIMBALL: That scene gives me the feeling of water dumped
     out of a bucket.

     EUGSTER: It's a good effect.

Scene 10.

Duck sings Cucaracha - sets table

How many like the scene?

     About 20% of the class like it.
     About 10% of class don't like it.
     Most of the class think it will pass.

What is wrong with the scene?

     WARD: All the action is wrong - not extreme enough. It
     could have gone twice as far.

     BERNIE: Too much repetition.

     UGO: It would have been much better if the Duck had
     already had the napkin on his arm without having to grab
     for it - so that everything is prepared.

     Most of the class liked the way the Duck got rid of the
     plates.

     TOWSLEY: Felt the confusion in the scene came from the
     background being too mixed up.

With the knives as castanets, there was chance for confusion
with the background, but in setting the dishes out right in
front of him, he was covering his action. The action was con-
fusing in itself.

     EUGSTER: Didn't association put it over?

But that's not enough. It must be clear that it means some-
thing. By throwing the dishes accents were brought into the
dance... The display of the dishes and the way the Duck got
rid of them could have been more extreme. The action was
planned badly there - possibly a stronger contrast in coloring
would have helped. [...]