Story Expo writers!
It was getting late for me (in the UK!) for that second session last night and I feel like I wasn’t very clear on the PLAN in Raiders of the Lost Ark. So here’s a Recap of the PLAN from my ongoing online workshop, with examples from Raiders and other movies.
And if you’d like to see more Act I story analysis in action, here’s a breakdown of Sequence 1 of Selma, in honor of MLK Jr. this week. (You can also subscribe for weekly story structure blogs, delivered to your inbox.)
I’ll be happy to answer any questions here – just post in the comments.
- Alex
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ACT I WORKSHEET:
Essential Story Elements of Act I
Screenwriting Tricks for Authors, by Alexandra Sokoloff
Hero/ine – Main Character – Protagonist
- Their SKILLS/POWERS
- Their GHOST/WOUND
- Their CHARACTER ARC (how they change because of the story journey)
Protagonist’s INNER and OUTER DESIRE
- OUTER DESIRE: What they SAY they want
- INNER DESIRE: What we and they come to understand they really need
INCITING INCIDENT/EVENT or CALL TO ADVENTURE
- The event that starts the story and forces the protagonist to take action
(The murder, the job, the case, the invitation, meeting the lover…)
The Inciting Incident starts a FOCUSED, SPECIFIC DESIRE
The Protagonist FORMULATES A PLAN to get what they want
They go INTO THE SPECIAL WORLD to get it
But there are FORCES OF ANTAGONISM that will try to stop them
