STORY OF THEME AND PLOT : STORY OF THEME AND PLOT JOHN RAINEY MFA
RAINEY SCRIPT CONSULTING
INTRODUCTION: INTRODUCTION Relationship between plot and theme
Holistic process of screenwriting
Character vs story idea
Inspirational bits and pieces
Audience participation exercise
Dispelling a misperception
Point-of-view character in a film
STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 1 MAIN CHARACTER THAT TRANSFORMS: STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 1 MAIN CHARACTER THAT TRANSFORMS EXAMPLES
CASABLANCA - Rick
ADAPTATION - Charlie
A FEW GOOD MEN - Danny
THUNDERHEART - Ray
JERRY McGUIRE - Jerry
PULP FICTION – Jules
STAR WARS – Luke
GOOD WILL HUNTING - Will
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – George
MILLION DOLLAR BABY - Frankie
…AND A ZILLION MORE
STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 2 MAIN CHARACTER THAT MAINTAINS STEADFAST VALUES : STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 2 MAIN CHARACTER THAT MAINTAINS STEADFAST VALUES EXAMPLES
LEONE’S SPAGHETTI WESTERNS
BRAVEHEART - William
GLADIATOR - Maximus
SPARTACUS - Spartacus
BILLY JACK - Billy
HIGH NOON – Marshal Will Kane
SHANE - Shane
PULP FICTION - Butch
BEVERLY HILLS COP - Axel
STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 3 MAIN CHARACTER THAT TAKES A DESTRUCTIVE PATH : STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 3 MAIN CHARACTER THAT TAKES A DESTRUCTIVE PATH EXAMPLES
CITIZEN KANE – Charles Foster Kane
ANGEL HEART - Harry
SCARFACE - Tony
LOOKING FOR MISTER GOODBAR - Theresa
MACBETH - Macbeth
PULP FICTION - Vincent
MEMENTO - Leonard
TAXI DRIVER - Travis
THE WILD BUNCH - Pike
STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 4 2 main characters (ROMANTIC COMEDIES & BUDDY FILMS): STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 4 2 main characters (ROMANTIC COMEDIES & BUDDY FILMS)
EXAMPLES
-WHEN HARRY MET SALLY – Harry & Sally
-MOONSTRUCK – Loretta & Ronny
-YOU’VE GOT MAIL – Joe & Kathleen
- SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE – Sam & Annie
-TWO WEEKS NOTICE – Lucy & George
-HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS – Ben & Andie
-PRETTY WOMAN – Edward & Vivian
-MIDNIGHT RUN – Jack & Jonathan
-48 HOURS – Jack & Reggie
-PLANES, TRAINS, & AUTOMOBILES – Neal & Del
-ODD COUPLE – Felix & Oscar
-THELMA AND LOUISE – Thelma & Louise
STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 5 MULTIPLE CHARACTER PERSPECTIVE: STORY POINTS OF VIEW – 5 MULTIPLE CHARACTER PERSPECTIVE EXAMPLES
TRAFFIC
PULP FICTION
THE BIG CHILL
GRAND CANYON
LOVE ACTUALLY
SHORT CUTS
NASHVILLE
WELCOME TO L.A.
AMERICAN BEAUTY
SYRIANA
INTRODUCTION TO MAIN CHARACTER THAT TRANSFORMS: INTRODUCTION TO MAIN CHARACTER THAT TRANSFORMS HERO(INE)’S JOURNEY STORY
WHAT HOLLYWOOD LOOKS FOR IN SPECS
THE TEMPLATE FOR MOST FILMS
BEST FOR WRITING SAMPLE
COHESIVE PLOT
EMOTIONAL THEMATIC CENTER
SOURCE OF STORY SPINE (STRUCTURE)
DEFINITION OF MAIN CHARACTER THAT TRANSFORMS: DEFINITION OF MAIN CHARACTER THAT TRANSFORMS TAKES THE QUESTING JOURNEY
MAKES EMOTIONALLY RISKY DECISIONS
EXPERIENCES EXPANSION OF CONSCIOUSNESS
BRINGS VALUES BACK INTO BALANCE
REACHES A SATISFACTORY GOAL
Main Character – 1 AS PROTAGONIST: Main Character – 1 AS PROTAGONIST
CALLED HERO(INE)
Examples
A FEW GOOD MEN
AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
THUNDERHEART
CASABLANCA
ON THE WATERFRONT
THE WIZARD OF OZ
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
STAR WARS
GOOD WILL HUNTING
DIE HARD
Main Character – 2 DIFFERENT FROM PROTAGONIST: Main Character – 2 DIFFERENT FROM PROTAGONIST Examples
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - Red
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD - Scout
PRIMARY COLORS – Henry Burton
ROSEMARY’S BABY - Rosemary
MILLION-DOLLAR BABY – Frankie
TERMINATOR – Sarah Conners
V FOR VENDETTA - Evey
MAIN CHARACTER’S JOURNEYS CREATE PLOT AND THEME: MAIN CHARACTER’S JOURNEYS CREATE PLOT AND THEME OUTER JOURNEY CREATES THE PLOT
Decisions & Actions
Creates Antagonist
Creates Story Structure
INNER JOURNEY CREATES THE THEME
Story’s Emotional Engine
Moral Dilemma
Main Character’s arc
PLOT & THEME COMBINE TO CREATE STORY SPINE
THEME?: THEME? UNIVERSAL SUBJECT?
TRAFFIC: drugs
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: boxing
STAR WARS: oppression
PERSONAL VALUE?
TRAFFIC: family connection
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: emotional vulnerability
STAR WARS: personal power
DEFINITION OF THEME: DEFINITION OF THEME Theme is implied as a result of the inner emotional transformational journey that the point-of-view character takes, which is initiated by a Life-Challenging Decision toward an outer quest.
The THEME is a resolution of the main character’s needs and yearnings as the result of some past experience, or ghost, that throws a value out of balance in his/her psyche -- the Theme goal.
PLOT SPINE: PLOT SPINE LIFE-CHALLENGING DECISIONS
SERIES OF ACTIONS AND OBSTACLES
APOTHEOSIS
ATONEMENT
SELF-REALIZATION
DEFINITION OF PLOT: DEFINITION OF PLOT A coordinated series of actions taken by the main character in the direction toward accomplishing an outer quest.
The PLOT shows us what the main character will do to fulfill his needs -- the Plot goal.
MC BACK-STORY LAYERS: MC BACK-STORY LAYERS “Pet the puppy” REDEEMING QUALITY
DEFINITION OF REDEEMING QUALITY: DEFINITION OF REDEEMING QUALITY A soul quality manifested in a character’s action that has life-supporting, life-enhancing value. Hollywood has coined the phrase “pet the puppy scene” where a character does something positive early in the story that bonds the audience to him. This action of pure, positive energy shows the audience for whom to root, and gives it the impression that this character deserves to succeed in a quest.
EXAMPLES OF REDEEMING QUALITY: EXAMPLES OF REDEEMING QUALITY ALADDIN: Steals his breakfast only to give it away to two street urchins.
A FEW GOOD MEN: Dan shows intelligent humor when he plea bargains a case during batting practice.
ROCKY: Rocky doesn’t break the guy’s thumbs; he walks the girl home who’s hanging out with hoods.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Frankie pays for Willie’s wife’s car.
STAR WARS: Luke takes pity on R2D2 & urges his uncle to purchase him along with C3PO.
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Will solves the theorem and tells no one.
WIZARD OF OZ: Dorothy smothers Toto with love.
DIE HARD: John carries a huge teddy bear through the airport.
CASABLANCA: Rick’s kind to his employees.
MC BACK-STORY LAYERS: MC BACK-STORY LAYERS REDEEMING QUALITY EMOTIONAL WOUND
DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL WOUND: DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL WOUND Blow to one’s ego in formative years, like rejection, emotional abandonment, result of physical injury or abuse, psychic abuse, birth trauma, etc.
MC BACK-STORY LAYERS: MC BACK-STORY LAYERS REDEEMING QUALITY EMOTIONAL WOUND SHADOW/GHOST
DEFINITION OF SHADOW/GHOST: DEFINITION OF SHADOW/GHOST From the Emotional Wound arises a shadowy specter of the psyche, which blocks the light of consciousness. It is an inner phantom that haunts and distorts one’s perception.
MC BACK-STORY LAYERS: MC BACK-STORY LAYERS REDEEMING QUALITY EMOTIONAL WOUND SHADOW/
GHOST EMOTIONAL ARMOR
DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL ARMOR: DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL ARMOR Feeling the fear from the haunting specter of an Emotional Wound, one creates a persona that attempts to protect the being and ward off any further attacks on one’s vulnerability. Some build muscles; some grow fat; some develop skills (social, physical, intellectual, artistic); some accumulate knowledge. A belief system is constructed that manifests as mannerisms and attitudes presenting a mask that hides the ghost of the wound even from the being wearing the mask of emotional armor.
EXAMPLES OF EMOTIONAL ARMOR: EXAMPLES OF EMOTIONAL ARMOR HAMLET: Hamlet’s scathing wit and probing analysis
A FEW GOOD MEN: Danny plea bargains
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Will slams people with brilliance and fists.
THUNDERHEART: Ray’s FBI suit and tie and ultra-short hair
CASABLANCA: Rick sticks his neck out for nobody.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Frankie doesn’t train girls. Tough ain’t enough. Always protect yourself.
ROCKY: Rocky maintains low expectations.
STAR WARS: Luke goes along with the program.
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION: Red goes along with the program.
DIE HARD: John needs to be in control.
MC BACK-STORY LAYERS: MC BACK-STORY LAYERS REDEEMING QUALITY EMOTIONAL WOUND SHADOW/
GHOST EMOTIONAL ARMOR CHARACTER FLAW/VALUE OUT OF BALANCE
DEFINITION OF CHARACTER FLAW: DEFINITION OF CHARACTER FLAW A DEFECT OR SHORTCOMING OF SOME INTANGIBLE HUMAN VALUE THAT MANIFESTS AS A NEGATIVE TRAIT, OR THE SHADOW SIDE OF A POSITIVE VALUE.
DEFINITION OF HUMAN VALUE: DEFINITION OF HUMAN VALUE A principle, standard, or quality considered worthwhile or desirable, such as faith, hope, charity, justice, prudence, fortitude, temperance, appreciation, humility, compassion, gratitude, honor, etc.
Boy Scout code.
DEFINITION OF VALUE OUT OF BALANCE: DEFINITION OF VALUE OUT OF BALANCE Some principle, standard, or human quality that has been compromised or neglected in the main character as a result of assuming the protective nature of emotional armor through beliefs, attitudes, and behavior that rule character choices.
MOVIE EXAMPLES OF VALUE OUT OF BALANCE: MOVIE EXAMPLES OF VALUE OUT OF BALANCE A FEW GOOD MEN: compromised integrity (Integrity)
THUNDERHEART: denial of ancestry (acceptance)
ADAPTATION: self-loathing (self-confidence/self-love)
STAR WARS: lack of personal power (personal power)
GOOD WILL HUNTING: rage (self-forgiveness)
OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN: distrust (trustworthy)
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION: hopelessness (hope)
THE AFRICAN QUEEN: self-serving (selfless service)
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: fear of intimacy (vulnerability)
WONDERFUL LIFE: feeling insignificant (feeling of value)
DIE HARD: fear of loss of control (allowing)
MC BACK-STORY LAYERS: MC BACK-STORY LAYERS REDEEMING QUALITY EMOTIONAL WOUND SHADOW/
GHOST EMOTIONAL ARMOR CHARACTER FLAW/VALUE OUT OF BALANCE EMOTIONAL
NEED
DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL NEED: DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL NEED An unconscious longing, or emotional condition that requires relief. Some emotional imbalance that creates vague discomfort. The psychological state that creates rockets of desire in a character.
EXAMPLES OF EMOTIONAL NEED: EXAMPLES OF EMOTIONAL NEED A FEW GOOD MEN: Dan needs to reconcile with father
CASABLANCA: Rick needs completion
OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN: Zack needs to belong
STAR WARS: Luke needs sense of identity
ROCKY: Rocky needs self-esteem
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION: Red needs to feel hope
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Frankie needs to nurture
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: George needs to feel valued
DIE HARD: John needs to bond with his wife & kids
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Will needs to feel self-love
MC BACK-STORY LAYERS: MC BACK-STORY LAYERS REDEEMING QUALITY EMOTIONAL WOUND SHADOW/
GHOST EMOTIONAL ARMOR CHARACTER FLAW/VALUE OUT OF BALANCE EMOTIONAL
NEED CONSCIOUS
DESIRE
DEFINITION OF CONSCIOUS DESIRE: DEFINITION OF CONSCIOUS DESIRE Stimulated by an unconscious inner need, desire rises up as a conscious wish, request, longing, or petition for something to be, do, or have. - To covet or crave something or some state of being in the hope that it will fulfill this vague inner need. Desire arouses reason for the Decision To Act and gives purpose and direction to behavior.
EXAMPLES OF CONSCIOUS DESIRE: EXAMPLES OF CONSCIOUS DESIRE A FEW GOOD MEN: Dan desires to be best at what he does.
OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN: Zack desires to impress others.
STAR WARS: Luke desires to fight the Imperial Forces.
ROCKY: Rocky desires to prove he’s no bum.
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION: Red desires to find something to believe in.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Frankie desires to manage a fighter to a championship.
WIZARD OF OZ: Dorothy desires to find a trouble-free place.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: George desires to do something great.
DIE HARD: John desires to spend Christmas with his family.
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Will desires to prove to himself he’s superior to others.
MC BACK-STORY LAYERS: MC BACK-STORY LAYERS REDEEMING QUALITY EMOTIONAL WOUND SHADOW/
GHOST EMOTIONAL ARMOR CHARACTER FLAW/VALUE OUT OF BALANCE EMOTIONAL
NEED CONSCIOUS
DESIRE LIFE-CHALLENGING
DECISION
LIFE-CHALLENGING DECISION : LIFE-CHALLENGING DECISION A Life-Challenging Decision is one where the main character steps beyond the safety of his/her Emotional Armor for some lofty goal. S/he acts according to his/her current beliefs, which dictate reactive behavior, but a Life-Challenging Decision assumes risk as a result of the established Emotional Armor.
STAGES IN ACT ONE: STAGES IN ACT ONE ORDINARY WORLD
Redeeming Quality
Emotional Armor
Character Flaw/Value out of balance
CALL TO ADVENTURE/INCITING INCIDENT
REFUSAL OF THE CALL
NEW INFORMATION
FIRST DECISION TO ACT/CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
Stepping outside of Emotional Armor
Start of Questing Journey
CALL TO ADVENTURE (INCITING INCIDENT): CALL TO ADVENTURE (INCITING INCIDENT) The Call To Adventure offers the opportunity to the main character to pursue his conscious desire.
EXAMPLES OF CALL TO ADVENTURE: EXAMPLES OF CALL TO ADVENTURE A FEW GOOD MEN: Kaffee receives the case assignment of defending Dawson and Downey.
STAR WARS: Obi-Wan solicits Luke to battle the Empire.
ROCKY: Apollo’s manager offers Rocky a shot at the title.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Maggie begs Frankie to train her.
WIZARD OF OZ: Auntie Em tells Dorothy to find some place where she won’t get into trouble.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: Pa Bailey urges George to follow in his footsteps at the Bailey bank.
DIE HARD: Holly offers John her spare bedroom.
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Lambeau rescues Will, tells him to see a therapist.
REFUSAL OF THE CALL: REFUSAL OF THE CALL Refusal of the call shows the reactive behavior of the main character as a result of living out of his Emotional Armor, and sets up the intensity of the emotional risk when the character finally makes the Decision To Act that sends him on his quest.
EXAMPLES OF REFUSAL OF THE CALL: EXAMPLES OF REFUSAL OF THE CALL A FEW GOOD MEN: Kaffee offers a plea bargain of 12 years with no investigation.
STAR WARS: Luke feels obligated to stay on the farm.
ROCKY: Rocky plays along with Apollo’s publicity, but doesn’t take the challenge seriously.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Frankie says “I don’t train girls. Girlie, tough ain’t enough.”
WIZARD OF OZ: Lets Professor Marvel talk her into returning home.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: George sets off for college.
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Will blows off five therapists.
DIE HARD: John creates an argument because Holly changed her name.
NEW INFORMATION (MENTOR BEAT): NEW INFORMATION (MENTOR BEAT) The New Information beat appeals to the Main Character’s redeeming quality and offers a new perspective on the Call To Adventure.
EXAMPLES OF NEW INFORMATION: EXAMPLES OF NEW INFORMATION A FEW GOOD MEN: Danny discovers that the military is willing to bargain too easily.
STAR WARS: Luke’s Aunt & Uncle are killed by the Imperial Forces.
ROCKY: Mickey wants to manage Rocky because he has potential.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Frankie’s main fighter leaves him and wins the championship belt; letter returned.
WIZARD OF OZ: Tornado takes the house away and lands it in Oz.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: Pa Bailey has a fatal stroke and Potter’s primed to close down the Building & Loan.
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Sean has a heart to heart with Will and pierces his intellect with some truth.
DIE HARD: (potential) Talk with Chauffeur makes John realize that he’s denying his kids on Christmas.
FIRST DECISION TO ACT CROSSING THE THRESHOLD: FIRST DECISION TO ACT CROSSING THE THRESHOLD A FEW GOOD MEN: Dan pleads clients not guilty.
STAR WARS: Luke decides to go with Obiwan.
ROCKY: Rocky accepts Mickey as Manager.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Frankie decides to train Maggie.
WIZARD OF OZ: Dorothy steps through the door into Munchkin land.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: George assumes leadership of Building & Loan.
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Will shows up after Sean challenges him, and finally starts talking.
DIE HARD: (missed beat) John decides he’ll risk apologizing to Holly so he can see his kids on Christmas; goes toward the door; hears gunfire.
STEPS TO LIFE-CHALLENGING DECISIONS: STEPS TO LIFE-CHALLENGING DECISIONS Major obstacle to the quest
Self-doubt and falling back on reactive behavior
Intercession by the Conscience Character
New Information
Beat of silence contemplating the risk
Taking the action of risk
ACT TWO ELEMENTS: ACT TWO ELEMENTS SPECIAL WORLD – BELLY OF THE BEAST – TRANSFORMATIONAL ARENA
ENEMIES AND ALLIES
CONSCIENCE & TEMPTER
BUILDING SKILLS NEEDED FOR QUEST
TOTAL COMMITMENT TO QUEST
APOTHEOSIS
ATONEMENT
NEW INFORMATION
EXAMPLES OF SPECIAL WORLD: EXAMPLES OF SPECIAL WORLD A FEW GOOD MEN: Courtroom
SHALL WE DANCE: Dance Studio
ROCKY: Training
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Relationship
WONDERFUL LIFE: Building & Loan
CASABLANCA: Reconnecting w/ past
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Sean’s office
Wizard of Oz: Land of Oz
ACT TWO L-C DECISIONS: ACT TWO L-C DECISIONS HAPPEN ABOUT EVERY 15 PAGES
45 - CREATING CHARACTER GROWTH (adjusting to the Special World) Adaptation
60 – TOTAL COMMITMENT TO QUEST (approach to the inmost cave) MillionDollarBaby
75 – LEADS TO CENTRAL CRISIS (ordeal; apotheosis; death of quest) MDB
90 – THRESHOLD INTO FINAL BATTLE (reward; atonement) A Few Good Men
DECISIONS CREATE THE STORY SPINE
DEFINITION OF APOTHEOSIS: DEFINITION OF APOTHEOSIS The Apotheosis beat is the seeming death of the quest. The Main Character sees no way to proceed. He has made every risky decision, taken every risky action and finds himself without options. The situation looks hopeless.
DEFINITION OF ATONEMENT: DEFINITION OF ATONEMENT Atonement is a rite of passage that happens when the Main Character comes face to face with the beliefs that have run his life until now. Now is the time to see them as limitations that stop him from his present goal. He must embrace and transcend his shadow side and expand into a new belief paradigm before he can move forward.
EXAMPLES OF ATONEMENT: EXAMPLES OF ATONEMENT A FEW GOOD MEN: Danny confronts his fear of being compared to his father.
ADAPTATION: Charlie realizes that he can’t control what other people think of him.
DIE HARD: John admits that he’s been a jerk with Holly.
GOOD WILL HUNTING: Will realizes that it’s not his fault.
CASABLANCA: Rick realizes that his personal feelings have little to do with the big picture.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: George sees the effect he’s had on the whole town of Bedford Falls.
ACT THREE ELEMENTS: ACT THREE ELEMENTS FINAL BATTLE
SELF-REALIZATION
Awareness of Redeeming Quality
Value in balance
Theme revealed/implied
NEW MORAL/LIFE ORDER
New Ordinary World
New rockets of desire
EXAMPLES OF THEMATIC STATEMENT: EXAMPLES OF THEMATIC STATEMENT A FEW GOOD MEN: Integrity brings honor.
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION: Hope leads to freedom.
THUNDERHEART: Acceptance allows integration.
ADAPTATION: Self-confidence leads to success.
STAR WARS: Personal power leads to trusting the force/intuition.
MORE EXAMPLES: MORE EXAMPLES GOOD WILL HUNTING: Self-forgiveness leads to love.
OFFICER & A GENT: Trustworthiness leads to sense of belonging.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Vulnerability leads to letting go.
WONDERFUL LIFE: Feeling of value leads to accepting one’s fate.
DIE HARD: Allowing leads to self-awareness.
Slide58: QUESTIONS?