COACH CARTER

Summary

"In 1999, Ken Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. After being dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, he immediately imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to being allowed to participate. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes a undefeated competitor in the games; however, the overconfident team's behavior begins to stray and Carter learns that too many players are doing poorly in class. He takes immediate action and cancels all team activities and locks the court until the team shows acceptable academic improvement. In the ensuing debate, Carter fights to keep his methods, determined to show the boys that they need to rely on more than sports for their futures and eventually finds he has affected them more profoundly than he ever expected."

                                        - Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393162/plotsummary

Application of OB Concepts

• States of Change: Coach Carter's team underwent a series of changes that has whipped his formerly disorderly team to a disciplined one. The first state of change, unfreezing, was evident when Coach Carter implemented new qualifications for being in the team. He required his players to attend all of their classes, sit in the front rows of those classes, wear dress shirts and ties on game days, refer to everyone as "sir", and maintain a 2.3 GPA. He did this to eliminate the unruliness in his team's attitude and replace it with respectfulness, whether in class, during games, or in their everyday lives and to make them realize that they need education to be able to have a good future.  Soon after his strict reinforcement of these requirements, his players were gradually changing and showing better plays and performances, after being faces with rebellious behavior many times. However, there was a relapse in the behavior in the players, specifically in their grades, as they grew overconfident with their undefeated record which made Coach Carter impose a gym lockout. After much issues about the lockout from the players, parents, and the school board, causing the coach to be nearly fired, Coach Carter was surprised to see the gym filled with desks and his players, along with their teachers, studying and trying to pull their grades up. The epilogue shows most of his players being able to graduate and get into college. At this point, the third stage, refreezing, is clearly seen, as what Coach Carter has tried to instill in his players are actually being practiced by them. 

Reflections

I think Coach Carter's methods were a bit too strict with his requirements and punishments that is why there was resistance at first. However, considering the brash attitude he was presented when he first met them, I begin to think that maybe what he did was right. He was able to make it up to his strictness by being the support his players needed when they had to solve their personal problems. Basing from the positive change that has transpired in his team, despite complaints about his methods, I believe Coach Carter has gotten my respect as a coach and an authoritative disciplinarian.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 1

Summary

"After Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez meet over winter break, Gabriella moves and they discover that they now go the the same school. However, while Gabriella fits in more with the brainiacs, Troy is a basketball jock. They try to be together among the challenges of high school and audition for the winter musical while challenging stereotypes and theater kids."

                                                      - Written by s-rosa-663-151549

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475293/plotsummary

Application of OB Concepts

• Interpersonal Conflict: Drama Club president Sharpay Evans, upon finding out that she has potential competition for the leading role in the winter musical, does everything in her power to prevent Gabriella Montez, her potential rival, from auditioning and from taking the lead role from her. She spies on Gabriella and tries to dig up some dirt on her. She is driven by her instinct to protect her status as the drama club president and being the best in drama that she took advantage of the fact that Gabriella has a competition in her scholastic decathlon team. She convinces Ms. Darbus, the club's faculty adviser, to move the auditions for the winter musical on the same day and time that Gabriella and her team will have their competition against another school. However, this is resolved by Gabriella and her friends and she was able to make it to the auditions. She gets the lead role and, simultaneously wins the scholastic decathlon competition. Sharpay eventually reconciles with Gabriella after acknowledging her defeat. 

Reflections

Even though Sharpay has already made peace with Gabriella, she can never erase the fact that their friendship and their relationship as drama club members are forever tainted by her over-competitiveness. She could have careened her over-competitiveness to a healthy competition with Gabriella improve her acting skills rather than to completely get rid of her competition. I think if she did that she would have earned Gabriella's respect as the drama club president and at the same time her friendship.

PITCH PERFECT

Summary

"The Barden Bellas are a collegiate, all-girls a cappella singing group thriving on female pop songs and their perfect looks. After a disastrous failing at last year's finals, they are forced to regroup. Among the new recruits is freshman Beca, an independent, aspiring DJ with no interest in the college life. But after she meets Jesse, from the rival all-male a cappella group, Beca has a new outlook and takes it upon herself to help the Bellas find their new look and sound and get back into the competition."

                                                     - Written by napierslogs

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1981677/plotsummary

Application of OB Concepts

• Informal Leaders: Beca Mitchell decided she had it when the Barden Belllas were faced with an uninterested audience when they were performing their traditional set list again at the semi-finals. She dared to insert an impromptu remix performance of her favorite song, which got the audience's interest back but, in turn, frustrates Aubrey, their leader. Not soon after, Chloe, Aubrey's co-leader, sees Beca's point in doing what she had done during the semi-finals and convinces Aubrey to listen to Beca. The Bellas had a falling out because Aubrey's unwillingness to break away from the Bellas' tradition. Beca quits; however, she returns and apologizes after taking a break. The Bellas, after having a heart-to-heart talk, decided to adopt Beca's modern style of music. From then, Beca steers the Bellas into a new direction and instills a new sense of unity among the members as they all participate in arranging the piece they are going to perform in the finals, which finally earned them the title of a champion. Beca then unanimously became their leader when it comes to performances; however, she made it clear through her actions that she still thinks Aubrey has the leadership to manage the Bellas.

Reflections

Beca became a big influence in the Bellas through her daring character and was able to lead the Bellas in a new path through her style of music. Her assuming the responsibility of their future performances and the new reputation of the Bellas might be a hard feat for Beca, as the Bellas already had a name for performing their traditional set list. However with her members' newfound vigor to perform a new style of music and an increased sense of unity in the group, I believe it would be not as challenging as it may seem to be for Beca to lead them to another win in the next championships.