- [Michael] Hi, I'm Michael.
This is Lessons from the Screenplay.
Last year, Matt from Nando v Movies
assembled a team of YouTubers
to dissect their favorite scenes
from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This year, Matt's plans have mutated
to look at another franchise.
The X-Men films.
The midpoint sequence of "X-Men First Class"
is a particularly memorable one,
delivering a compelling twist
that launches the story into its second half.
But the sequence is powerful
not just because of what happens,
but also where it happens.
In his book, "The Anatomy of Story,"
John Truby writes,
"The meaning we take from physical forms and spaces
"seems to be deeper than culture and learning.
"It seems to be part of the human psyche.
"This is why it has profound effects on the audience."
Just as individuals and a story
can embody character archetypes,
such as hero, villain, mentor or ally,
the setting of a scene or sequence
can also function on an archetypal level.
So today, I want to examine how
the midpoint of "X-Men First Class"
uses the archetype of the warm house
to create a feeling of safety
and established the characters roles
to explore what happens when that space is attacked,
and to explain why its destruction
ultimately forces the mutants to mature and evolve.
Let's take a look at "X-Men First Class."
Returning to "The Anatomy of Story,"
Truby discusses different types
of archetypal settings and storytelling,
including the warm house.
"The warm house in storytelling is big,
"though usually not a mansion,
"with enough rooms, corners, and cubby holes
"for each inhabitant's uniqueness to thrive.
"Notice that the warm house has within it
"two additional opposing elements.
"The safety and coziness of the shell,
"and the diversity that is only possible
"within the large."
Be it Hogwarts in "Harry Potter,"
the Shire and "The Lord of The Rings,"
or the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek.
Many archetypal stories establish a space where both
the characters and the audience can feel safe.
in "First Class,"
which serves as a prequel
to most of the X-Men franchise,
the newly recruited mutants
find the space after being brought
to the Division X facility by a CIA agent.
While the compound is designed
with the sterility of a government facility,
the room assigned to the young mutants
feels more like a college dorm or student union.
Complete with a jukebox, a bar,
a supply of snacks, and a pinball machine.
During their playful--
(screeching)
(glass shattering)
If destructive time together,
the young mutants
learned to be comfortable with their powers,
find safety in their new space,
and start to relate to each other.
But when the adults see the destruction
the young mutants have caused,
they scold them.
- I expect more you.
- [Michael] The setting of the warm house
in which the young mutants
can bond, learn, and make mistakes
under the authority of experienced adults
highlights the archetypal roles
of student and teacher.
Now that the archetypal setting
has been established
along with the characters' roles within it,
the scene is set for the attack on the facility.
As the scene opens,
two CIA agents begin picking on the mutants.
- Oh, I didn't know the circus was in town.
- [Michael] Demonstrating again,
their position with little power
over authority figures.
- They're just guys being stupid.
- Guys being stupid, I can handle.
Okay, I've handled that my whole life.
But I'd rather a bunch of guys
stare at me with my clothes off
than the way these ones stare at me.
- At us.
- [Michael] Then the attack begins.
First, the agent who brought them to safety
is killed right in front of the group.
(screaming)
Stray gunfire causes the window
to shatter once again.
Only this time, it's not a game.
The traumatic psychological effect of the attack
on the young mutants is manifest
in the destruction of the warm house.
As each wall, window, and guard
that they thought protected them
is stripped away.
But when Sebastian Shaw,
the film's main antagonist,
finally approaches them,
the scene takes a surprising turn.
- Good evening.
My name is Sebastian Shaw
and I am not here to hurt you.
- [Michael] Instead of treating the mutants
like inexperienced students,
Shaw regard them as equals.
- My friends, there's a revolution coming.
- [Michael] Shaw's speech explains
the two main mutant ideologies
that emerge in the X-Men franchise.
- When mankind discovers who we are,
what we can do,
each of us will face a choice.
Be enslaved
or rise up to rule.
- [Michael] One side wants
to gain acceptance from humanity
to live in harmony with them.
While the other chooses to go to war with humanity,
believing that mutants will never be accepted.
Shaw offers the young mutants power and authority.
- Come on, we don't belong here.
- [Michael] Inviting them to evolve
by physically leaving the space
that defined their roles
as unequipped students.
That's when Darwin,
who has assumed the role
of the group's unofficial leader,
takes one last stand
to defend what's left of their warm house.
- Alex!
- Get out!
- Do it!
- [Michael] But here at the midpoint of the film.
- Adapt to this.
- [Michael] he team is not yet ready
to defeat their powerful antagonists.
Leaving both the physical and psychological
safety of this space destroyed
once and for all.
In the scene following the attack,
the decision about what the mutants will do next
is rooted in the question of where they will do it.
- We can't stay here.
Even if they reopen the department, it's not safe.
- [Michael] Xavier tries to send the mutants home,
but they refused.
- [Sean] We're not going home.
- What?
- He's not going back to prison.
- [Michael] Their experience has shown the students
that they won't be able
to hide behind anyone's protection.
It's time for them to grow out of the roles
that previously defined them.
- They're Just kids.
- No, they were kids.
Shaw has his army,
we need ours.
- [Michael] But with their safe haven taken away,
they need a new place
where they can train to become
empowered, fully realized versions of themselves.
- We've got nowhere to go.
- Yes, we do.
- [Michael] When Charles takes the team
to his mansion in Westchester,
we see the origins of
the X Mansion and Xavier Institute.
- This is yours.
- No, it's ours.
- [Michael] A space which will
still be subject to attack,
but which will be destined to serve
generations of X-Men as a safe haven
and the ultimate warm house.
"X-Men First Class"
demonstrates how the setting of a scene
can enrich the story
and evoke an emotional response from the audience.
Conveying feelings of safety in its design,
terror when it's attacked,
and hopelessness upon its destruction.
Ultimately forcing the heroes of the story
to adapt to a new environment,
one which will help them evolve
from students into X-Men.
Hey, guys.
Michael here.
Editing is one of the most important
and easily one of my favorite parts
of the filmmaking process.
The first time we put two shots back to back
and realize that suddenly you've created meaning
is a truly thrilling moment.
But one of the challenges of editing is that,
like anything else,
it takes a lot of practice.
So what do you do if you don't have a camera
to go out and shoot something?
Well, what I would often do
is just take footage from elsewhere
and then start to play with it
until I created something that I liked.
It's such a simple concept,
but it can be hard to know where to start.
Which is why I want to recommend the Skillshare class
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Penny's class is all about
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And I can say from experience
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The better you are
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The first 1,000 of my subscribers
to click the link in the description,
we'll get a two month free trial of premium membership.
So head to Skillshare
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Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring this video.
I hope you enjoyed the video.
I want to thank Matt from Nando v Movies
for organizing One Excellent Scene.
Make sure to check out the playlist
of all the other videos
and feel free to make your own.
Just make sure when you upload it,
that you tag it with One Excellent Scene.
Thank you as always to the patrons on Patreon
for making this channel possible.
Thank you for watching.