Watching Film, Writing Film

Watching Film, Writing FilmWatching Film, Writing Film

Introducing the Screenwriting CraftIntroducing the Screenwriting Craft

withGreg Nielsen

GenreGenre• Genre refers to various film typesGenre refers to various film types• A motion pictures such as a thriller, romance, musical, drama A motion pictures such as a thriller, romance, musical, drama

or comedy that plays on the expectations of the audience or comedy that plays on the expectations of the audience regarding familiar plot structure, characters, and setting.regarding familiar plot structure, characters, and setting.

GenreGenre Genre Conventions are Genre Conventions are

specific settings, roles, specific settings, roles, events and values that events and values that define individual genres define individual genres and their sub-genres.and their sub-genres.

Genre ConventionsGenre Conventions Crime Drama must have Crime Drama must have

a crime.a crime. A Love Story must have A Love Story must have

romance.romance. A Comedy must be A Comedy must be

funny.funny. A Social Drama must A Social Drama must

identify problems in identify problems in society.society.

Mastery of GenreMastery of Genre Study Your GenreStudy Your Genre Watch Your GenreWatch Your Genre Read Scripts from Your GenreRead Scripts from Your Genre Ask: What are the conventions of time, place, character and Ask: What are the conventions of time, place, character and

action?action?



Plot PointsPlot Points The Inciting IncidentThe Inciting Incident Progressive ComplicationsProgressive Complications CrisisCrisis ClimaxClimax ResolutionResolution

Robert Towne,Screenwriter ofChinatown

Inciting IncidentInciting Incident

Turns the Protagonist’s Life Upside DownTurns the Protagonist’s Life Upside Down Happens to or Caused by the ProtagonistHappens to or Caused by the Protagonist It Must Take Place on ScreenIt Must Take Place on Screen

Progressive ComplicationsProgressive Complications

Easy at FirstEasy at First Raise the StakesRaise the Stakes Seems ImpossibleSeems Impossible Tests the HeroTests the Hero Forces of AntagonismForces of Antagonism

CrisisCrisisAll Seems LostAll Seems LostThe Hero May Not Get What He WantsThe Hero May Not Get What He Wants It Must Be on ScreenIt Must Be on ScreenThe Hero Must Make a Decision The Hero Must Make a Decision (Dilemma)(Dilemma) It’s the End of the LineIt’s the End of the Line Face to Face with the Forces of AntagonismFace to Face with the Forces of Antagonism

ClimaxClimax Major Reversal Full of MeaningMajor Reversal Full of Meaning It Moves the AudienceIt Moves the Audience The Ending Is Unexpected and SatisfyingThe Ending Is Unexpected and Satisfying

ResolutionResolution

A Slow CurtainA Slow CurtainResolve SubplotsResolve SubplotsSatisfies CuriositySatisfies CuriosityCourtesyCourtesyLeave with DignityLeave with Dignity



CharactersCharacters ProtagonistProtagonist AntagonistAntagonist Character ArcCharacter Arc Character DimensionCharacter Dimension Character vs CharacterizationCharacter vs Characterization

ProtagonistProtagonist

Must EmpathizeMust Empathize A Conscious DesireA Conscious Desire An Unconscious DesireAn Unconscious Desire Able to Pursue DesireAble to Pursue Desire

AntagonistAntagonistEmbodies the Forces Embodies the Forces

of Antagonismof AntagonismAppears InvincibleAppears InvinciblePowerful & ComplexPowerful & ComplexOpposes the Will Opposes the Will

and Desire of and Desire of ProtagonistProtagonist

Character ArcCharacter Arc

TransformationTransformationNegative to PositiveNegative to PositivePositive to NegativePositive to NegativeChange thru ChoiceChange thru Choice

Story byStephen King

Written and Directed byFrank Darabont

Character DimensionCharacter DimensionAt Least Four DimensionsAt Least Four DimensionsDimensions Mean ContradictionsDimensions Mean ContradictionsProtagonist Is the Most DimensionalProtagonist Is the Most Dimensional

Character Character vs vs CharacterizationCharacterization

Characterization = traits: sex, dress, age, Characterization = traits: sex, dress, age, education, occupation, etc.education, occupation, etc.

Character = Revealed by Choices Under Character = Revealed by Choices Under Pressure.Pressure.



Story StructureStory Structure

BeatBeatScene Scene (Story Event)(Story Event)

SequenceSequenceActActStoryStory

AlfredHitchcock,Director of North by Northwest

The AlfredHitchcockCollection

BeatBeatActionActionReactionReactionReaction to the ReactionReaction to the Reaction

Scene (story event)Scene (story event)

A Value ChangeA Value Change + to -, - to ++ to -, - to + - to more -- to more - + to more ++ to more + Meaningful ChangeMeaningful Change Achieved thru ConflictAchieved thru Conflict

SequenceSequenceA Series of ScenesA Series of ScenesUsually Two to Five ScenesUsually Two to Five ScenesA Major ChangeA Major Change

ActActA Major ReversalA Major ReversalClimactic SceneClimactic SceneMore PowerfulMore PowerfulHero’s Life Changed Hero’s Life Changed

For Better or WorseFor Better or Worse

StoryStory““A story is a series of acts that build to a last A story is a series of acts that build to a last

act climax or story climax which brings about act climax or story climax which brings about absolute and irreversible change.”absolute and irreversible change.”

Robert McKeeRobert McKee



Story EndingsStory Endings ValueValue Theme Theme Final ActionFinal Action Point / CounterpointPoint / Counterpoint Up / Down / Ironic EndingsUp / Down / Ironic Endings

Story ValueStory ValueLook at the final Look at the final

action of the story.action of the story.Then look at the Then look at the

beginning of the beginning of the story.story.

Ask: What has Ask: What has changed?changed?

Story ThemeStory ThemeValue Plus Action Value Plus Action

Equals ThemeEquals ThemeExample: Crime Example: Crime

Pays or Crime Pays or Crime Doesn’t PayDoesn’t Pay

Theme Arises Theme Arises Organically Out the Organically Out the Last Act ClimaxLast Act Climax

Final ActionFinal ActionMust Excite the Must Excite the

AudienceAudienceMust Move the Must Move the

AudienceAudienceMust Feel CompleteMust Feel CompleteMust Be SatisfyingMust Be Satisfying

Run Forrest RunRun Forrest Run

Point / CounterpointPoint / CounterpointResonate with Resonate with

ThemeThemeContradict ThemeContradict ThemePlay Point Against Play Point Against

CounterpointCounterpointBuilds Intensity to Builds Intensity to

Final Act ClimaxFinal Act Climax

Up / Down / Ironic EndingsUp / Down / Ironic EndingsUp: Optimistic, Hopeful, Dreams Come TrueUp: Optimistic, Hopeful, Dreams Come TrueDown: Pessimistic, Cynical, MisfortuneDown: Pessimistic, Cynical, MisfortuneIronic: Optimism/Idealism and Pessimism/ Ironic: Optimism/Idealism and Pessimism/

Cynicism MergeCynicism Merge

Life is like a box of chocolLife is like a box of chocolateate

TheEndTheEnd

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements Robert McKee, author of Robert McKee, author of Story. Story.

http://www.mckeestory.com/http://www.mckeestory.com/

Richard Krevolin, author of Richard Krevolin, author of Screenwriting from Screenwriting from the Soulthe Soul & professor USC. & professor USC. http://www.profk.com/bio.htmlhttp://www.profk.com/bio.html

Joseph Campbell: The Hero’s Journey.Joseph Campbell: The Hero’s Journey.www.netflix.comwww.netflix.comstreaming 1 hour introductionstreaming 1 hour introduction

Presented At:Presented At:

Truckee Meadows Community CollegeTruckee Meadows Community CollegePepperdine UniversityPepperdine UniversityUniversity of Nevada, RenoUniversity of Nevada, RenoUniversity of Costa RicaUniversity of Costa Rica

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Watching Film, Writing Film