Opinion ID: 3038576
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Characters

Text: Although appellants attempt to link up the various characters of the two works, there are very few real similarities between any of them. John Funk, Sr., is a minor character who vanishes at the start of “The Funk Parlor” and does not reappear except during one quick flashback scene; his relationships with the other characters are not consciously 3 “The Funk Parlor” contains a number of scenes with no equivalent in “Six Feet Under” — a surgical blood-transfusion procedure that John executes at the funeral parlor; a discussion regarding the extraction of ejaculatory material from a corpse; and numerous scenes involving groupdrinking, a techno-rave party that generates money for the ailing funeral home, and recurring references to the band Led Zeppelin. FUNKY FILMS v. TIME WARNER ENTERTAINMENT 10453 explored. Nathaniel Fisher, Sr., by contrast, appears throughout the drama and continues to interact with each character separately. In that regard, “Six Feet Under” traces each character’s unique set of relationships with the deceased father, exploring issues that were apparently not resolvable during life. [8] The “prodigal son” characters of the two works, while similar at the abstract level, are markedly different in the two scripts. Nate Fisher’s search for meaning originally led him away from the family business; prior to his return home, he remained somewhat adrift in Seattle. Although he reluctantly agrees to remain in Los Angeles to help his brother David run the business, he shows little interest or skill. John Funk, Jr., by contrast, is a talented and creative businessperson whose efforts quickly restore the moribund business. Unlike Nate, John graduated from mortuary school and took on an active role in the business before decamping for Los Angeles to become a club promoter. [9] The characters of David Fisher and Tom Funk, both younger brothers, are remarkably different. Tom’s role in “The Funk Parlor” is less developed (in part because he is killed roughly midway through the story), though he is clearly less skilled than his brother at maintaining the family business. Although Tom is rumored to be gay, his homosexuality remains a matter of speculation and is never pursued through any relationship or meaningful dialogue. David, by contrast, is deeply enmeshed in a struggle with sexual identity, which he hides from his family and explores privately. His comingout process and his relationship with Keith occupy a central plot-line of the story. The complexity of David’s character has no equivalent in “The Funk Parlor.” Appellants equate Sophie Zemlaskas with Brenda Chenowith, both of whom are romantically involved with the older brother in each story. However, the two have little in common. Sophie, a devout and obsessive Catholic who plans 10454 FUNKY FILMS v. TIME WARNER ENTERTAINMENT to enter the convent, is a psychopathic killer. Unlike Sophie, Brenda is not homicidal. Brenda, a massage therapist, is psychologically astute and expresses no interest in religion. While Sophie expresses deep conflict over her sexuality, Brenda engages in an apparently conflict-free sexual life with Nate (and others). Appellants also try to draw connections between Jamie, a twelve- or thirteen-year-old cousin who works at the funeral home, and Claire Fisher, the younger sister in “Six Feet Under.” But Jamie is a very minor character; Claire, by contrast, is a central character who develops relationships of her own. Her struggle to define herself within the family, while rejecting any place within the family business, is a recurring theme in “Six Feet Under.” [10] Completely missing from “The Funk Parlor” is any character similar to Ruth Fisher, the mother and one of the central characters of “Six Feet Under.” Ruth is presented as a strong-willed woman who struggles to overcome her lingering maternal instincts over her now-grown children. Her own romantic attachments and relationships form an important part of the plot-line as well. [11] Additional characters within “Six Feet Under” that have no counterpart in “The Funk Parlor” are Fredrico Diaz, an employee of the Fisher business who eventually becomes a partner, and Keith Charles, David’s boyfriend who struggles to remain in the relationship despite David’s conflicts in coming to terms with his sexuality.