Scripts

STORY STRUCTURE

ACT 1

Pg. 1 SETUP: premise, story, characters, mood, tone and place. heroes motive.

Pg. 3 Present the central question of the movie. Begin to unfold story.

Pg. 10 Setup complete. What the story is...more information, more set ups to express what hero wants.

Pg. 11-20 Focus on Hero. What is hero after, it is difficult to get.

Pg. 21-30 Define Problem, goal, motive.

Pg. 25 Plot Point: Spin story in different direction.

Pg. 30 Turning Point:
An event occurs that moves the hero into new territory. Now the hero wants is challenged and hero reacts to the event.

ACT 2

Pg. 31-45 Hero confronts obstacles to what he wants. Obstacles to goal. Focus on conflict.

Pg. 45 PINCH: METAPHOR:
Symbolic overtones. A clue to the resolution. Show initial character growth of hero. Tell where hero is going. Keeps story on track.

Pg. 45-60 Hero initiate things, causes things to happen. Hero POV then opposite POV.

HALFWAY POINT

Pg. 60 Point of No Return: (Dramatic action)
Hero is in big trouble and hero reaffirms and makes deeper commitment to goal. Obstacles begin to escalate.

Pg. 61-75 Aftermath of Midpoint event:
Action that deals with the details before Plot Point. Dramatic Context and time frame.

Pg. 75 PINCH: New Development:
Show that it looks as everything is lost, hero almost ready to give up, then show something happens that changes everything -- show an event that give the hero a chance at a goal the hero didn’t know she had, something he needed all along, while until now she has been going after something else.

Pg. 85 Plot Point: An event that spins story around in different direction.

ACT 3

Pg. 90 CLIMAX: an Event raises the stakes. Hero very close. Must face final obstacle.

Pg. 90-120.Resolution of problem starts.
Breakup into separate elements, explain and make clear, isolate story elements, define key scene that holds everything together.

JEOPARDY: Dilemma with giving up everything left behind in pursuit of goal. This builds to crisis point that puts all in jeopardy. Its all or nothing.

Pg. 120 Resolve the story.

The Hero is the Story. The events in screenplay are going to happen as a result of who the characters are. The characters invent their own reality, therefore any circumstances that happen to the hero are circumstances brought on herself as a result of their views of the world. What events on the outside effect the hero on the inside.

Story structure is really a chronicle of the heroes growth.

Immediately arouse the audiences interest, but not by events which are so impressive as to prevent subsequent larger events. Give audience rest period just after the middle section, each event rises in importance and intensity, leaving increasingly shorter rest periods until we reach a quick and high intensity end.

Each element of the story must rise. Every characterization must grow and become clearer toward the end. Every emotion must gain in strength, every decision must become graver, every event more fascinating. In this respect it is important that each element in the story is strengthened. The strengthening of characterization and emotion should come gradually, without undue jumps. The highest point should be reached at the end.

The end of each Act is a significant twist. Some conditions changed, showing new information, thus the story does change direction.

ACT ONE

Goal for hero and Counter Goal for nemesis

The goals clash we have struggle and conflict.

Where and When.

ACT TWO - Confrontation

The hero’s steps or sub-goals to reach main goal against counter goal.

Middle

Events become more dangerous, counter goals more sinister, goal and counter goal have equal chance to succeed.

Each event/scene must: Give new information, Confirm or denounce previous information, Follow the interest, and develop anticipation.

Forward movement: new sub-goal starts before previous sub-goal has been satisfied or frustrated. Each sub-goal must be in accordance with the main goal. Steadily increase audiences interest and raise their feelings of suspense.

Audience anticipates of a certain happening. The event occurs as anticipated - fulfilled expectancy.

Audience anticipates of a certain happening. Another event takes place - surprise.

Audience does not expect anything to happen. An event takes place - shock.

ACT THREE - The Ending

Is the resolution logical?

It is believable?

It is clearly stated?

Have I left any questions unanswered?

Identification

Empathy for story and characters

Relationship between story and life of audience

Relationship to audience interest at a given time

Sympathetic characters

Characters that an audience can identify with favorably

Understandability

Probability

Sufficient information

Structure

A tangible main goal

Counter goal

Intro. main goal and counter goal early

Build up

Switches at conclusion of each Act.

Overlapping sub-goals

Sequence of scenes must follow interest

Suspense

Equal chance for goals of success

Expose difficulty

Surprise

Anticipation

Satisfy or frustrate sub-intention

Focus counter-intention on same goal

Characterization

Probable traits

Sufficient and interesting tags

Contrast characters

Varied individual dialogue

Develop character through action

interesting environment

Audience must know Character

Age

Environment

Occupation

Relating to others

Side actions into something big

Juxtaposition with other characters

Hero has 3 traits

Minor role 1 trait

Reveal step by step subtly and constantly, until all factors are exposed

Traits

Physical

Personal

Emotional