The Screenwriter’s The Screenwriter’s storytelling artstorytelling art

A presentation to Mr. Kaufman’s Film A presentation to Mr. Kaufman’s Film ClassClass

By Rick WeissBy Rick WeissTrident Productions, IncTrident Productions, Inc

““You have to ask yourselfYou have to ask yourselfDo you feel lucky punk? …”Do you feel lucky punk? …”

• The life of a screenwriterThe life of a screenwriter• The art/work of screenwritingThe art/work of screenwriting• Three act structureThree act structure• Class exerciseClass exercise• Other important elementsOther important elements

““Do you…”Do you…”

Let me tell you Let me tell you a storya story

• Stories in lifeStories in life• Stories on paperStories on paper• Stories on filmStories on film

The story formulaThe story formulaThe Three ActThe Three Act

StructureStructure• AristotleAristotle• The Hollywood Formula:The Hollywood Formula:

120 page script~1 min./page120 page script~1 min./page2 hrs. screentime2 hrs. screentime

• Act IAct I = 1 = 1stst ¼ = 30 minutes ¼ = 30 minutes• Act IIAct II = 2 = 2ndnd ½ = 60 minutes ½ = 60 minutes• Act IIIAct III = 4 = 4thth ¼ = 30 minutes ¼ = 30 minutes• The formula—Why it worksThe formula—Why it works

1. plot (mythos) 2. character (ethos) 3. theme (dianoia)4. performance (lexis) 5. melody (melos) 6. setting (opsis)

The Three ActThe Three ActStructureStructure

Act 1Act 1 Act 2Act 2 Act 3Act 3

BeginningBeginning MiddleMiddle EndEnd

SetupSetup ConflictConflict ResolutionResolution

Rising ActionRising Action• Characters are not plot driven.Characters are not plot driven.• Plot is character driven.Plot is character driven.

120 min.

30 min. 60 min. 30 min.

Character development Character development drives conflict!!!drives conflict!!!

Bs ???

Dante

Action is the

mirror of character.

HeroesHeroes

• The person or team we root forThe person or team we root for– Why we root for them– Making good heroes

• The hero’s journeyThe hero’s journey– The Myth of the hero

• The hero’s tragic flaw/ghosts/backstoryThe hero’s tragic flaw/ghosts/backstory• The flaws in a hero are always more The flaws in a hero are always more

interesting than the strengths.interesting than the strengths.

VillainsVillains

• Yin to the Hero’s YangYin to the Hero’s Yang• BelievabilityBelievability• Human motivationHuman motivation• The strengths in a villain are always more The strengths in a villain are always more

interesting than the flaws. interesting than the flaws.

Character Arc Character Arc in Story Structurein Story Structure

• Act 1 Act 1 Beginning—Establishes Beginning—Establishes – Exposition– Main character– Dramatic premise– Dramatic situation– Inciting Incident– Hero will resist change (inner conflict). – Plot Point 1 Something happens to throw everything off balance.

Character ArcCharacter Arcin Story Structurein Story Structure

• Act 2Act 2 – Begins character’s emotional journey – Gives characters challenges to overcome– Make them struggle– The key to Act Two is conflict--Midpoint

• Continually raise the stakes of your character’s emotional journey. • Simultaneous inner and outer conflicts.    • Reversals of fortune and unexpected setbacks

– The Black Moment• All is lost / the hero appears beaten

– Plot Point 2 • Thrusts the story in another unexpected direction. • The hero's goal becomes reachable but

she must draw on new strengths. • Act Two ends

Character ArcCharacter Arcin Story Structurein Story Structure

• Act 3 Act 3 – Shows how the character is able

to succeed – Climax– outcome of the main character’s

decision at the climax. – Resolution/denouement ties

together the loose ends of the story

• Character arcCharacter arc

ExerciseExercise• Watch and discover Watch and discover

ExerciseExercise

• Rewatch and Analyze for:Rewatch and Analyze for:– Act 1 Act 1 – SetupSetup– Inciting incidentInciting incident– Plot Point 1Plot Point 1– Act 2Act 2– MidpointMidpoint– The Black MomentThe Black Moment– Plot Point 2Plot Point 2– Act 3Act 3– ClimaxClimax– ResolutionResolution

DialogueDialogue

• Naturalistic vs. NaturalNaturalistic vs. Natural• CompressionCompression• ResearchResearchAuthenticityAuthenticity• Listening for: Listening for:

– cadence, tones, inflections, slang, beats, the music of language

On scripts and script formatsOn scripts and script formats

Two columnTwo column, news, , news, documentary, TV script formatdocumentary, TV script format

Film/studio / Hollywood Film/studio / Hollywood screenplayscreenplay format format

What we see.What we see.What we hear.What we hear.

Go West Go West young wo/man? young wo/man?

• HollywoodHollywood• IndependentIndependent• New YorkNew York• Corporate workCorporate work

GameGame Changers Changers

• In the business of makingIn the business of making and distributing media and distributing media

• In the storytelling artsIn the storytelling arts

1976 2004 2009

FADE IN: … FADE OUTFADE IN: … FADE OUTIt’s a wrapIt’s a wrap

• Nothing in a good storyNothing in a good story is left to chance is left to chance

• Scripts are highly specialized documents Scripts are highly specialized documents • The first step to creating a movieThe first step to creating a movie• Collaboration – Collaboration –

Deal with it!Deal with it!• The Song remains the sameThe Song remains the same• Final thoughtsFinal thoughts

"I like a good story well told.That is the reason I am sometimesforced to tell them myself."—Mark Twain

Questions?Questions?

Thank you and

good luck!

Thanks also to:

Mr. KaufmanDan Wisniewski Isaiah Price