Opening Scene
- What do we learn about Cady right away? What is the exposition?
We learn that Cady Heron is a kind, smart girl who has been homeschooled in Africa by her parents and is entering an American public high school for the first time.
- How does the film introduce its world? What techniques are used (voiceover, camera, music, dialogue)?
The film uses Cady’s first-person view to introduce the 3 main characters and their specialties. Also there’s a monitoring view that shows around the cafeteria which explains the small groups within this high school. There are also a lot of different introduction scenes and most of them are during dialogue so it makes audiences enjoy this film deeply without other unrelated explanation.
Character Motivation
- What drives Cady’s choices?
At first, the desire to she wanted to make friends and get into this school. After Regina betrays her over Aaron, she is driven by revenge.
- What does Regina want?
She wants to control and everything and be the “queen bee” of the school. She Basically wants to manage her image so that she can achieve her goal.
- What do Gretchen and Karen want?
Gretchen wants to be approved from others.
Karen wants others attention and to be included.
- How do Janis, Damian, and Aaron shape the story?
Janis provides the plan to revenge.
Damian offers support to them.
Aaron is just an observer.
- Where do motivations shift during the film?
The main motivation shifts from belonging to revenge, then to the control of power, and finally to accountability.
Act Structure
- Act I (Setup): How are characters and conflicts introduced? What “problem” does Cady face? What is the inciting incident?
Cady wants the belonging to a certain group. Regina seems to help Cady with Aaron but actually takes him for herself
- Act II (Rising Action): What events escalate the conflict? How does Cady first go about solving the conflict?
They want to destroy Regina’s three main points: body, army, and boyfriend.
- Act III (Complications & Climax): What changes Cady’s original plan? What events follow? What is the climax?
She replaces Regina as the “queen bee”, betrays Janis/Damian, and alienates Aaron. Regina retaliates by distributing the Book Page that is actually written by her.
- Act IV (Resolution): What are the effects of the climax? How is the conflict resolved?
Cady reconciles with friends and everyone returns to their own original places.
Narrative Elements
- Voiceover narration: What does it add to the story?
It supplies Cady’s perspective and explains a lot of different concepts in the world that cannot be explained in person.
- Recurring motifs/symbols (Burn Book, pink clothes, mathletes, etc.): What do they represent?
Burn Book - The representation of the severe consequence of fake information.
Pink Cloth - The representation of belonging.
Mathletes - The true identity of Cady.
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Conflict: Identify examples of
`1.Character vs. Self
Cady’s conflict between honesty and the rewards of popularity.
2.Character vs. Character
Cady vs. Regina (The “Queen Bee”)
3.Character vs. Society
Cady vs. the high-school culture of groups