Michael Without Apology

Michael Woodbine gets a call from his adoptive mother, Judy Woodbine, while walking to his first film-workshop class. He’s annoyed that she’s already asking how his first day of college has gone. He ends the call when he arrives early at Professor Robert Dunning’s classroom. Michael is surprised by the burn scars all over Dunning’s face and apologizes for staring. Dunning urges him not to go through life apologizing.

Mr. Dunning starts the class by talking about self-acceptance. He acknowledges his scars and invites his students to look at them. He then urges the class to always have something to say in their work, as film “is a form of communication” (9).

Michael stays after class to talk to Mr. Dunning. He shows him his scars on his chest, and Dunning suggests that they get coffee. Over coffee, Michael tells Dunning about his reasons for studying film. He wanted to be an actor but decided against this path since he’d eventually have to show his scars to the world; he prefers to cover them with his clothing. Dunning encourages him not to give up on life because of his scars and urges him to try hard things even if he doesn’t feel ready.