Posted on May 4th, 2008 — in Flics
HOW THE OLD WEST HAS BEEN DEFINED
People refer to the ‘Old West’ as the ‘Wild West’ or simply the
‘West’.
No matter how what they might call it, many look upon the
American Old West as a wild and dangerous place that existed
in the last half of the 1800’s in the American Frontier, west
of the Mississippi River in the United States.
Even Europeans who dislike or fear George W. Bush are quick to
call him a “cowboy”, in a derogatory manner, as if his being from
Texas automatically brands him as being like the outlaw cowboys
that died at the O.K. Corral on October 26 1881, in Tombstone,
Arizona Territory.
Many other people from around the world romanticize the American
Old West. They conjure images of cowboys, indians, guns, cattle,
buffalo, trains and the simple life when they imagine the world
of the Old West.
Television, radio shows, and movies have all contributed to
the romanticism of America’s Old West. Television brought us
“Gunsmoke” and “Bonanza”. Movies have come through time to
further emphasize people’s romantic ideas of the Old West. Movies
that come to mind include “Far and Away” in 1992, “True Grit” in
1969, “Two Mules for Sister Sara” in 1970, “Dances With Wolves”
in 1990, and “Tombstone” in 1993. And then there were my two
favorite westerns of all-time, “Support Your Local Sheriff” and
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” which both came out in 1969.
(People love their westerns, and the Internet Movie Database
gave them the chance to rate their favorite western movies here:
http://www.imdb.com/chart/western )
PEOPLE STILL THINK THE WEST IS ABOUT THE COWBOYS AND INDIANS
Even in today’s communication age, some people still believe
that Oklahoma and Texas exist as it did in the 1890’s. Back in
the late 1980’s, I had travelled to Florida. While there, someone
asked me where I was from. When I said Oklahoma, they had this
puzzled look come across their face.
After a moment or two, this individual seemed to have made the
connection they were looking for. She asked me, “So, how did you
get to Florida?”
I was confused. I said, “Well, I drove.”
She responded, “Oh, so you stopped along the way and bought
a car?”
I said, “No. I had the car before I left.”
I could see a “deer in the headlights” moment, and then I heard
her soon-to-be-famous words, “I thought everyone in Oklahoma rode
on horses and in wagons. What about the indians? Do you all still
have problems with the indians?”
True story. No kidding. It is hard to believe, I know. I would
not have believed it myself if I had not been there to hear it.
Yes, some people believe that we still live as we did 100 years
ago.
GOING WEST
Prior to 1848, the people who lived in the American Old West
were primarily the military men and lawmen, mountain men who
often worked as trappers and/or traders, the native American
population, cattle ranchers and their hands, and farmers.
Then on January 24, 1848, the news of James Marshall’s “Gold!”
erupted from Sutter’s Mill, California. Suddenly, everyone
wanted to go west.
“Go West Young Man!” was the cry that reverberated around the
globe. “Thus began one of the largest human migrations in history
as a half-million people from around the world descended upon
California in search of instant wealth.”
(For more information about the California Gold Rush, visit this
site: http://ceres.ca.gov/ceres/calweb/geology/goldrush.html )
THE HISTORICAL STORY OF INDIAN TERRITORY
Indian Territory, also known as I.T., was established in 1830.
The intent of the establishment of the Indian Territory was to
have a place in which to relocate the Eastern Native American
Tribes. In its early days, Indian Territory actually covered
most of modern-day Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.
Indian Territory was not a territory by the legal established
definition of a territory for several more decades. In the
beginning, there was no government or laws governing Indian
Territory. It was simply the place that was set aside to be
occupied by the Native American tribes.
In 1854, the American government decided that they needed to
increase the lands that could be used by their growing
population. So, at this juncture, they reduced the overall size
of Indian Territory to cover most of what is now Oklahoma.
During the Civil War, the Five Civilized Tribes who owned most
of the land comprising Indian Territory, gambled their lot on
the southern Confederate States. When the South lost, the Five
Civilized Tribes lost more of their lands under the new treaties
that had to be negotiated with the victors in Washington, D.C.
Beginning with the Osage Reservation Act of 1872, the federal
government began to treat Indian Territory more as a legally
defined “territory”.
In 1889, the federal government finally established a federal
court for the management of the Indian Territories. And then on
April 22nd 1889, the “Unassigned Lands” of central Oklahoma were
opened to white settlement. 50,000 people, who were called
“Boomers”, settled the “Unassigned Lands” that day.
Then in May of 1990, Indian Territory was divided into Oklahoma
Territory and Indian Territory. Over the next several years,
various “land runs” permitted the various sections of Oklahoma
Territory to be settled.
(For more information about the multitude of “land runs”, check
out this timeline: http://marti.rootsweb.com/land/oklands.html )
THE CHEROKEE OUTLET LAND RUN OF 1893
The famous opening of the Cherokee Outlet that was the backset
for the movie “Far and Away”, took place on September 16, 1893.
When the Cherokee Outlet was opened, there were 7 original
counties: O, L, K, P, Q, M and N. It was mandated by law that
the settlers of each county would select the new county name
after the run. The names selected were Garfield, Grant, Kay,
Noble, Pawnee, Woods and Woodward.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 101 RANCH IN NORTHERN OKLAHOMA
Originally bound for California, Colonel George W. Miller found
himself often sidetracked into various business ventures on his
trek west.
In 1893, Colonel Miller founded his 101 Ranch in northcentral
Oklahoma near present day Marland, Oklahoma, south and west of
Ponca City, Oklahoma.
Colonel Miller became good friends with Chief White Eagle, the
chief of the Ponca Nation. The Ponca Nation is situated to the
south of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and just east of the 101 Ranch
site.
In 1903, Col. George Miller died and the ranch was taken over
by his three sons.
At its height, the 101 Ranch which was located in Kay and Noble
counties in the Oklahoma Territory was comprised of a full
110,000 acres. It became the real nexus between the American Old
West and the world-famous 101 Wild West Show, which featured
cowboys and indians in the flesh and show dates around the world
from 1905 to 1931. Even the shows at the ranch were noted to
have attracted more than 65,000 spectators at various times.
HOLLYWOOD MEETS THE WILD WEST
Among the many notable accomplishments attributed to the
Miller’s and their 101 Ranch Wild West Show, was their role
in the revitalization of the western genre in Hollywood.
The first movie ever made of the western genre was “The Great
Train Robbery” in 1903. By the end of the decade, most believed
that the western was dead.
In 1911, the Miller’s signed a contract with the New York Motion
Picture Company and its’ subsidiary studio, the Bison Company.
The 101 Ranch served as the backdrop for several Hollywood films,
and the stars of the 101 Wild West Show staffed hundreds of early
westerns. More than 100 cowboys, cowgirls and indians from the
101 Ranch Wild West Show participated in various Bison Company
westerns.
Even the great Will Rogers did a short stint with the 101 Wild
West Show, before moving to Hollywood to become world-famous.
Will Rogers is just one of the many famous names that came
through the 101 show on their rise to stardom. Many of the
names of 101 performers became so famous in their day that you
may even recognize them today: Bill Pickett, Tom Mix and many
others.
If you want to know more about history, pick your favorite search
engine and go hunting. You would be surpised how much wonderful
history exists on the World Wide Web.
Copyright Bill Platt - All Rights Reserved. Reprints allowed with article and resource box unedited. If you post this article on a website, you must set the links up as hyperlinks.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bill Platt is the owner of http://www.LinksAndTraffic.com
- When you are tired of the struggle of the link building process,
it might be time to consider our “Links And Traffic” services.
- When you are ready to employ more Natural Linking Strategies in
increasing your link popularity, “Links And Traffic” can help.
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click-through traffic, we are here.
This is not a link rental
system or a reciprocal linking scam. We Guarantee our results.
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Posted on April 21st, 2008 — in Flics
From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms at www.clickok.co.uk/
The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.
Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero’s Journey:
a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
and more…
EXAMPLE: The Last Emperor, Academy Award Winner Best Film, 1987 - Hero’s Journey [basic deconstruction]
FADE IN: images of China; context: Manchuria.
Going on a journey: the train.
Meeting the hero: the emperor gets off the train.
Meeting the Mentor: the governor gets off the train.
Creatures of the World: the communists.
Rules of this World: no talking, obey the guards.
Hero’s status: people recognise him.
Warning / danger of the Journey: the Emperor tries to kill himself.
Pushed to the Call: open the door.
New World: Old China.
Call to Adventure: the boy prince is to be transferred immediately to the Forbidden City.
Leaving the Old World and Old Self: I give you my son.
Refusal of the Call: the boy prince cries.
Creatures of the New World: the various types in the Forbidden City; the half moon hats.
Meeting the Mentor: the boy meets the old Empress Dowiger.
Pushed to the First Threshold: the Empress decides that he will be the new Emperor.
Goodbye / Death to the Old World / Old Self: the Empress dies.
First Threshold from afar: the Emperor on the throne.
Threshold Marker: the yellow curtain.
Outer Cave: the soldiers and eunuchs kow-towing.
Middle Cave: the cricket and the old man.
Refusing the Inner Cave: can we go home today; not yet.
Inner Cave: being bathed, he can do anything he wants.
Resisting the Transformation: running to the wet nurse and crying, “I want to go home.”
Pushed to the Belly of the Whale: saved from slitting his wrists; you are a criminal you must be judged.
Belly of the Whale: meeting his brother and mother; I have never met any other children; playing with his little brother.
Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: breast feeding from the wet nurse.
Physical Separation: you’re not the Emperor anymore. There’s a new emperor; watching the car arrive.
Physical Separation: the wet nurse is forced to leave.
Resisting the Trials and Transformation: running after the Governor.
World of the Transformation: all the prisoners lined up.
Transformation Mentor [in the camp]: the governor.
Rules: you will write the story of your life and confessing.
New Self: new clothes.
Meeting the Transformation Mentor [in old china]: Johnston arrives.
Warning: the soldiers barricading the way.
Mentor and Hero meeting: the Emperor and Johnston shake hands.
Forced to the Trials: now we start.
Trial and Transformation 1:
Outer Cave: the first lesson; are you a gentleman.
Middle Cave: having lunch; I’m angry.
Transformation: Johnston given the hats.
Trial and Transformation 2:
Outer Cave: Johnston gives the bike.
Middle Cave: Mother dies.
Inner Cave: Trying to get out of the Forbidden City; the door is blocked.
Transformation: Throwing the mice at the door.
Trial and Transformation 3:
Outer Cave: Rescued from the Roof.
Middle Cave: Transformation: needing glasses.
Resistance to the Transformation / Inner Cave: the Emperor cannot have glasses.
Pushing the Transformation / Inner Cave: Johnston threatens the eunuchs.
Trial and Transformation 4:
Outer Cave: Emperor gets a wife.
Middle Cave: I want a modern wife.
Inner Cave: wedding night.
Mid Point: I wanted reforms.
Transformation: cutting off his hair.
Asking for an inventory.
The threesome.
The burning of the stores.
Expelling the Eunuchs.
When did your friendship with the Japanese begin?
New Self: dressed in the tennis gear.
Forced out of the World of the Transformation: the Japanese arrive.
Resistance: I always thought I hated it here and now I’m afraid to leave.
New Self: becoming a playboy.
Meeting the Oracle: wife #2 is nothing outside the city, she wants a divorce.
Foreshadow of the Atonement: the Japanese keep tabs on the Emperor.
Antagonism: the Japanese have taken the city.
Resisting the Sword: no one divorces me.
Seizing the Sword: wife #2 escapes; freedom.
Meeting the Shape Shifter: Eastern Jewel arrives.
Near Death Experience: our ancestor’s graves have been decimated and the Empress has been hacked to death.
Goodbye to the Old Self / Mentor: saying goodbye to Johnston.
Reward: becoming an Emperor again.
Atonement with the Father: the general arrives; the Emperor is a puppet.
Apotheosis: still using other people as servants; put in the cell with the other collaborators.
Ultimate Boon: the arms have been taken away; the Emperor stands up for a free China.
Denial / Disgust: the Empress is pregnant by the chauffeur; you still think I’m your servant don’t you; walking to the far side; stop pretending; I let it happen; they killed the baby and the chauffeur.
Magic Flight: the Empress is taken away; pursuing her.
Shape Shifter Revealed: Eastern Jewel is having an affair with the Japanese man.
Rescue from Without: watching the film.
Crossing the Return Threshold: the Empress returns.
Master of the Two Worlds: the Emperor is a gardener now; leave me alone; you only want me because I’m useful to you.
Inner Challenge Resolved: the Emperor graduates; is free.
Resisting the Freedom to Live: trying to save the governor from the Maoists.
Freedom to Live: going back to the Forbidden City.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://www.clickok.co.uk/
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Posted on April 12th, 2008 — in Flics
A sequel to the 1994 movie Stargate, Stargate SG-1 is one of the premiere science-fiction series on television. First airing in July 1997, the show has been nominated for 7 Emmys and 23 Saturn Awards. The brainchild of creator Dean Devlin, producer of such Hollywood blockbusters as Independence Day (1996) and The Patriot (2000), Stargate SG-1 chronicles the further adventures of the Stargate Command (SGC) as Earth and its citizens advance forward into a new era of space exploration in the aftermath of Dr. Daniel Jackson’s discovery of the galaxy’s numerous stargates…
Stargate SG-1 follows the exploits of the SG-1 Unit (i.e. the “explorer” unit) of Stargate Command. When a new code is broken that reveals the location of stargates throughout the galaxy, Earth and its inhabitants are given the ability to travel through time to any point they wish instantaneously. Earth’s military sends out stargate (SG) teams to scour the universe for new technologies, new planets, and methods of defense against the oppressive Goa’uld. Brigadier General Jonathan “Jack” O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) is the commanding officer of SG-1. He’s accompanied by Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), the brilliant professor whose investigations originally helped uncover the existence of the stargates, and fellow teammates Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Teal’c (Christopher Judge). Together, they face numerous obstacles as they attempt to uncover the many mysteries of the universe…
The Stargate SG-1 (Season 6) DVD features a number of exciting episodes including the season premiere “Redemption” in which the Earth comes under attack from Anubis. Using a device that allows him to destroy one stargate using another, the planet is once again threatened by the Goa’uld. Meanwhile, Teal’c is away from Earth attending his wife’s funeral. His son believes she would still be alive had Teal’c not joined the fight against the Goa’uld. He asks Teal’c to let him join him in battle so that he can see firsthand that the Goa’uld are not gods… Other notable episodes from Season 6 include “Shadow Play” in which SG-1 encounters Jonas’ old mentor who hallucinates an entire underground resistance, and “Prophecy” in which Jona has visions of the future where Lord Maat annihilates SG-1…
Below is a list of episodes included on the Stargate SG-1 (Season 6) DVD:
Episode 111 (Redemption: Part 1) Air Date: 06-07-2002
Episode 112 (Redemption: Part 2) Air Date: 06-14-2002
Episode 113 (Descent) Air Date: 06-21-2002
Episode 114 (Frozen) Air Date: 06-28-2002
Episode 115 (Nightwalkers) Air Date: 07-12-2002
Episode 116 (Abyss) Air Date: 07-19-2002
Episode 117 (Shadow Play) Air Date: 07-26-2002
Episode 118 (The Other Guys) Air Date: 08-02-2002
Episode 119 (Allegiance) Air Date: 08-09-2002
Episode 120 (Cure) Air Date: 08-16-2002
Episode 121 (Prometheus) Air Date: 08-23-2002
Episode 122 (Unnatural Selection) Air Date: 01-10-2003
Episode 123 (Sight Unseen) Air Date: 01-17-2003
Episode 124 (Smoke & Mirrors) Air Date: 01-24-2003
Episode 125 (Paradise Lost) Air Date: 01-31-2003
Episode 126 (Metamorphosis) Air Date: 02-07-2003
Episode 127 (Disclosure) Air Date: 02-14-2003
Episode 128 (Forsaken) Air Date: 02-21-2003
Episode 129 (The Changeling) Air Date: 02-28-2003
Episode 130 (Memento) Air Date: 03-07-2003
Episode 131 (Prophecy) Air Date: 02-14-2003
Episode 132 (Full Circle) Air Date: 03-21-2003
About the Author
Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Stargate SG-1 (Season 6) DVD.
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