1. Remember the Titans Directed by: Boaz Yakin Film Study
Inspiration and resources at times taken from…
and
Judy Lewis’ ‘Remember the Titans’ Artemis Teaching Guide

2. Plot Summary
Plot the storyline from one of the following characters’ POV.
Coach Herman Boone
Coach Bill Yoast
Julius Campbell
Gerry Bertier
Mrs Bertier
Coach Tyrell
Identify the key moment/event, that led to a change in the character, and plot their story based on the format below
BEFORE
KEY EVENT
AFTER

3. Conflict - Narrative
Conflict in literature refers to the different drives of the characters or forces involved.
Conflict may be internal or external—that is, it may occur within a character's mind or between a character and exterior forces.
Conflict is most visible between two or more characters, usually a protagonist and an antagonist/enemy/villain, but can occur in many different forms.

4. Conflict - Narrative
There may be multiple points of conflict in a single story, as characters may have more than one desire or may struggle against more than one opposing force.
When a conflict is resolved and the reader discovers which force or character succeeds, it creates a sense of closure.
Conflicts may resolve at any point in a story, particularly where more than one conflict exists, but stories do not always resolve every conflict.
If a story ends without resolving the main or major conflict(s), it is said to have an "open" ending.

5. Conflict - Types
The basic types of conflict in fiction have been commonly codified as "man against man", "man against nature", "man against self“, and "man against society ". In each case, "man" is the universal and refers to women as well.

6. Man Against Man
"Man against man" conflict involves stories where characters are against each other.This is an external conflict.
The conflict may be direct opposition, as in a gunfight or a robbery, or it may be a more subtle conflict between the desires of two or more characters, as in a romance or a family epic.
This type of conflict is very common in traditional literature, fairy tales and myths.

7. Man Against Nature
"Man against nature" conflict is an external struggle positioning the hero against an animal or a force of nature, such as a storm or tornado or snow

8. Man Against Self
With "man against self" conflict, the struggle is internal.
This is a conflict that is usually associated with an external conflict.
A character must overcome his own nature or make a choice between two or more paths - good and evil; logic and emotion.

9. Man Against Society
Where man stands against a man-made institution (such as slavery or bullying), "man against man" conflict may shade into "man against society".
In such stories, characters are forced to make moral choices or frustrated by social rules in meeting their own goals.

10. Conflict in ‘Titans’
The main element that drives any film story is conflict. As well as introducing characters and setting the scene, early scenes must set up the plot, providing the basis for future conflict.

11. Conflict in ‘Titans’
What are the conflicts that provide the basis for the plot? What kind of conflict would each one be?
What other conflicts develop as the story develops?
Are these conflicts resolved by the end of the film? If so, how?

12. Conflict driving the plot….
The enforced integration of the two high schools has meant the integration of two football teams. The replacement of the successful and popular Yoast by a black outsider is a cause of great conflict among the white players, the parents and between the two coaches. The white community's hostility is also made clear early on.

13. Other conflicts…
The general racial divide becomes personalised: Julius and Gerry; Blue and Alan etc. Ray remains the intransigent white team member.
Sheryl v Nicky – minimal
Mrs Bertier and Emma v Gerry over his friendship with Julius – peripheral
Yoast is forced to choose between his white supporters and Boone and the team.
* Intransigent - unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something

14. Resolution
The team becomes one – Ray is cut. Gerry and Julius become great friends.
Boone and Yoast become friends, as do Nicky and Sheryl.
Yoast chooses the team over his supporters.
The community accepts the winning team - shown by the reaction of Boone's initially hostile neighbours and by the police officer stopping to congratulate Julius.
Mrs Bertier accepts Julius as Gerry's friend. Emma shakes Julius's hand; Mrs B holds Julius's hand at the funeral.

15. Stereotypes
There are a number of stereotypes that are present in the film
Describe how the following characters play into a stereotype, and explain what the purpose of their role is in the film.
Ronnie ‘Sunshine’ Bass
Lewis ‘Louie’ Lastik
Then describe their attitudes towards
People
Race
Sport

16. Service Refused
Ronnie invites them into a bar – and they are all thrown out – ‘hippy boy’ as well as the blacks.
It splits them – black and white go in opposite directions.
Bar owner has bad teeth, is unshaven = cliché signifiers that he is a bad guy.
Character point: Ronnie is thoughtless, and maybe patronising. Doesn't listen to Petey – this is Virginia, not California.
Even meaning well can get you in a lot more trouble than not. Taking things for granted.

17. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
Louie was from an integrated area, a singer and dancer, and was so charismatic and funny, everyone liked him. The real Louie was half the size.
INT. DINING ROOM – DAY
Louie breaks the colour division and sits down with black guys. Challenged by Julius, he says,
I don’t have any people. I’m with everyone, Julius.
Blue hums "Amazing Grace".
The blacks accept him but Ray condemns him as ‘a traitor’.

18. Obstacles in ‘Titans’
Narratives often involve a series of problems to be met and solved, or obstacles to be overcome, like taking two steps forward and one step back, until the resolution is reached.

19. Boone (initially personal, then public)
His reluctance to take another man's position
The opposition of the white boys and their parents
Gerry's demands
The hostility between the races
His reluctance to listen to Yoast
He is told that he was appointed with an expectation that he would fail
Cheating referee and unco-operative opposition coach
Gerry's injury
Very strong opposition in the final game

20. Yoast (initially personal, then public)
his pride at taking second place
his unhappiness at Boone's methods
the plot to oust Boone
loss of Gerry in defence

21. Obstacles and Revelation for Gerry and Julius
For Gerry and Julius, list the main obstacles and/or problems they faced in the story in coming to accept each other (think attitudes, influences, family, experiences)
Describe and explain how are their minds/attitudes are changed?
Complete ‘Relationship Development’ worksheet

22. How do people become prejudiced?
How did Julius and Gerry become racist?

23. What does it cause? How does it manifest itself?
How did Julius and Gerry behave?

24. How can we stop being prejudiced?
Insightful and perceptive (E type stuff)
How did they overcome their prejudice?

25. Purpose of ‘Titans’
After exploring what we have, we should be able to identify what the purpose of the director is…
Exploring how racism can become such a destructive force
Recognising the importance of acknowledging that it does exist
Demonstrating that it can be overcome, if we work to overcome it by:
Walking a mile in some one else’s shoes
Listening
Recognising that we are just like each other– just like YOU!
Finally, this is a universal battle – not just an American issue – such as…..

26. “People say it can’t work, black and white
“People say it can’t work, black and white. Well, here we make it work everyday. We have our disagreements, of course, but before we reach for hate, we remember the Titans” – Sheryl Yoast

27. Importance of Setting
In April of 1971, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that ended all state imposed segregation in public schools. This was the same year that T. C. Williams High School located in Alexandria, Virginia was integrated.
How did locating the film here, help support the ideas explored in the film?

28. Gettysburg Setting 1. Complete comparison chart for the two speeches
2. How can the messages from these speeches be applied today?

29. Close Scene Analysis - ‘Lessons from the Dead’
DO NOW: Complete analysis sheet – remember to explain the effect, and how this helps to support the ideas in the film
In the very next scene ‘Left Side, Strong Side’, it becomes apparent that ‘Lessons from the Dead’, was a scene in which many of the characters experienced an important revelation.
Explain how we, the audience, know this…
Explain how the words of both Lincoln and Boone, are slowly becoming a reality

30. Close Scene Analysis – Opening and Closing Sequences
Complete Close Analysis table for both sequences
In your books answer the following:
What are the links between the beginning and the end? How do these two sequences deal with the ideas of the film?

31. Music – A significant feature of this film
Identify the way music is used as a plot device….
Blue says the team will be fuelled by ‘soul power’ – which it is, eventually
Blue starts to sing on bus; Julius shuts him up.
Alan plays his pop music to Blue who hates it.
Louie sings in dining room.
The Louie and the blacks sing in the locker room; Alan joins in.
They all sing on the way back in the bus.
The meeting in the gym uses singing to re-establish their unity.
They come onto the field singing – "The Singing Titans"
They sing 'Goodbye" to Gerry at his funeral.