18+ secrets of successful story writing · a young man falls in love with a real mermaid. a monster...

from THE MORAL PREMISE

Harnessing Virtue & Vice for Box Office Success

Stanley D. Williams, Ph.D.

Secrets of Successful Story Writing for films and novels

Copyright © 2014, Stanley D. Williams. All Rights Reserved. !1

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The Cup Holder

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9:00-10:30 Critical Story Elements10:30-10:45 Break10:45-12:15 Structural Elements12:15-1:00 Lunch & Awards1:00 - 2:30 Plots, Goals & Irony2:30 - 2:45 Break2:45 - 4:30 Analysis & Examples4:30 - 5:00 Q&A

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Secrets of Successful Story Writing for films and novels

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Natural Law ASuccessful Stories are about

CHARACTER TRANSFORMATION

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Natural Law A

IRONIC Transformation: Impossible into Probable !

PHYSICAL Transformation: Obstacle into Opportunity !

PSYCHOLOGICAL Transformation: Weakness into Strength

Successful Stories are about CHARACTER TRANSFORMATION

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Natural Law B

Physical Psychological

Successful Stories have TWO STRUCTURAL SPINES (Visible, Invisible)

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What you can’t see holds together what

you can see. !

PSYCHOLOGICAL motivation

for PHYSICAL

action

Natural Law BSuccessful Stories have

TWO STRUCTURAL SPINES (Visible, Invisible)

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!Physical Realm gravity, inertia, magnetism, momentum

!Psychological Realm

guilt, confidence, kindness, truth telling, lying, adultery, sacrifice, murder, humility, arrogance, charity, greed, slander, honor

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Natural Law CSuccessful Stories are

DEPENDENT ON CAUSE & EFFECT

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CAUSE: Agrees with NatLaw = EFFECT: True, Strong $ Performance CAUSE: Disagrees with NatLaw = EFFECT: False, Poor $ Performance

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Successful Stories are DEPENDENT ON CAUSE & EFFECT

Natural Law C

CAUSE: Ambiguous/Inconsistent with NatLaw = EFFECT: Weak, Mediocre $ Performance

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6 Pillars of a Great StorySe

tting

Plot

Cha

ract

ers

Them

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Styl

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Tone

Spectacle Plot Character Thought Diction Song

Aristotle (Poetics)

Aristotle’sNatural Law D

“Parts should work together harmoniously”

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6 Pillars of a Great Story

Setti

ng

Plot

Cha

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Them

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Styl

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Tone

Aristotle’s

Spectacle Plot Character Thought Diction Song

Natural Law D

Probable Impossibilities are preferred to Improbable Possibilities

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Setti

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Plot

Cha

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Them

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Styl

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Tone

Aristotle’s

UBIQUITOUS IRONY

Natural Law D

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tting

Plot

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Them

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Styl

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Tone

Aristotle’s

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• Democratic Kingdom v Autocratic Dictatorship • Bigoted Uneducated South v Enlightened Educated Europe • Space v Earth • Gutter Garbage v French Cuisine

UBIQUITOUS IRONY GRAVITY RATATOUILLE

KINGS SPEECH DJANGO

Natural Law D

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Setti

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Plot

Cha

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Them

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Styl

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Tone

Aristotle’s

• Sarcastic v Earnest • Slow v Fast • Foolish v Smart • Depressing v Hopeful

TONE Attitude


KINGS SPEECH DJANGO

Natural Law D

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Setti

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Plot

Cha

ract

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Them

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Styl

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Tone

Aristotle’s

• Structured v Disoriented • Depressing v Liberating • Fear v Celebration • Reticent v Courageous

STYLE Craft


KINGS SPEECH DJANGO

Natural Law D

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tting

Plot

Cha

ract

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Them

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Styl

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Tone

Aristotle’s

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• Vice v Virtue • Strength v Weakness • Timidity v Courageous • React v Scheme • Procedure v Instinct • Individuality v Teamwork

THEME Moral Premise

CRUX


KINGS SPEECH DJANGO

Natural Law D

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Setti

ng

Plot

Cha

ract

ers

Them

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Styl

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Tone

Aristotle’s


KINGS SPEECH DJANGO

• King v Commoner • Slave & Dentist v Abusive

Slave Owners • Procedurally Trained Scientist

v Gut & Intuition • Freelance Rat v Biased

Establishment

CHARACTERS Moral Agents of

Change

FOCUS

Natural Law D

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Setti

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Plot

Cha

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Them

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Styl

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Tone

Aristotle’s


KINGS SPEECH DJANGO

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!

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• Stuttering Prince to Eloquent King • Beaten Slave to Freeman Judge • Lost in Space to Home on Earth • Secret Rat to Celebrated Chef

!

!

PLOT Physical Action &

Arc

HOOK

Natural Law D

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tting

Plot

Cha

ract

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Them

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Styl

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Tone

Aristotle’s

Making the Impossible Probable

Natural Law D

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The Secrets…not really, if used.1 2 3 4 5 18+

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Iterative Development Process

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1. Hook / Physical Premise (Physical Intrigue) 2. Log Line (Physical Premise/Plot) 3. Conflict of Values (Vice, Virtue, Extremes) 4. Moral-Physical Premise Statement (I/O Plot) 5. Turning Point Beat Sheet (13-16 points)

6. Synopsis (450 words) 7. Treatment (every scene) 8. Script / Manuscript

1 2 3 4 5 18+

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Describes what the story is ABOUT One per story - all else normal Intriguing physical awe An impossibility Ironic

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Strong Ironic Physical Hook

A convincing impossibility told truthfully

is better than an unconvincing possibility told falsely.

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A young man falls in love with a real mermaid.

A monster shark attacks a town.

A rat can cook better than a man.

A lawyer loses his ability to lie for 24-hours.

A special type of warrior uses psychokinesis in battle

A teenager takes on the Nazis

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Strong Ironic Physical Hook1

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Exercise (3 min)

HOOK !

As a small group, decide on an unlikely and intriguing situation.

!Describe in as few as works as possible (not a sentence) an impossible situation.

But what if?

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Writing Aid at www.MoralPremise.com

An imperfect PROTAGONIST

viscerally and ironically BATTLES

a powerful and ubiquitous ANTAGONIST for a visual and heartfelt

GOAL to escape grave and consequential

STAKES

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A shepherd boy fights a giant warrior.

Protag. - Conflict - Antag. - Goal - Stakes Setting, Ironic, Visual, Marketable, Hero on Offense, Visceral, Heartfelt

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A shepherd boy with only a sling shot, must battle a well-armored and vicious giant in order to save his defenseless tribe from destruction.

Engaging Log Line2

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A Parisian rat teams up with a man with no talent to battle convention prove that anyone can cook.

A rat can cook better than a man.

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Engaging Log Line


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A lawyer who who loses his ability to lie for 24-hours, clashes with his ex for the affection of their son.

A lawyer suddenly discovers that he can’t lie.

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Engaging Log Line


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Four Questions Jeffrey Alan Schechter Contour-At-The-Movies.com

Log Line Help

1. Who is your main character? 2. What is he trying to accomplish? 3. Who is trying to stop him? 4. What happens if he fails?

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Jeffrey Alan Schechter Contour-At-The-Movies.com

A sympathetic character, who is !

...trying to accomplish a compelling goal while being opposed by... !

...a powerful and committed opponent, over !

...life and death stakes.

Four QuestionsLog Line Help2

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The protagonist moves through four archetypes in the four “acts” of the movie: Act 1: ORPHAN Act 2A: WANDERER Act 2B: WARRIOR Act 3: MARTYR

From: My Story Can Beat Up Your Story


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Act 1: ORPHAN When our imperfect hero wants _____ Act 2A: WANDERER ... she tries to achieve goal by doing _____ Act 2B: WARRIOR ... only to discover that _____ happens. Act 3: MARTYR ... so she must now respond by doing ______.

From: My Story Can Beat Up Your Story


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Exercise (5 min)LOG LINE

!Begin with your previous

hook, now write a log line: !!!

The the impossible, probable.

An imperfect PROTAGONIST viscerally and ironically

BATTLES a powerful and ubiquitous

ANTAGONIST for a visual and heartfelt

GOAL to escape grave and consequential

STAKES

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VALUE: What character believes will lead to happiness

Humility • Pride • Arrogance • Self-worth • Self-hatred Liberality • Covetousness • Hope • Fear • Love • Hate

Chastity • Lust • Honesty • Lying • Respect • Disrespect Meekness • Anger • Trust • Distrust • TemperanceGluttony • Reason Fallacy • Brotherly Love • Envy

Freedom • Slavery • Diligence • Sloth • Honor • Ridicule Generosity • Greed• Selflessness • Selfishness

Backstory • Attitudes • Philosophy-Worldview

Where do values come from?QUESTION: !

ANSWER:

Universal Conflict of Values

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" Hope (Fear) " Generosity (Greed) " Selflessness (Selfishness) " Self-worth (Self-hatred) " Reason (Fallacy) " Truth (Falsehood) " Freedom (Slavery) " Trust (Distrust) " Honor (Ridicule) " Respect (Disrespect) " Love (Hate)

" Humility (Pride/Arrogance) " Liberality (Covetousness) " Chastity (Lust) " Meekness (Anger) " Temperance (Gluttony) " Brotherly Love (Envy) " Diligence (Sloth)

7 CAPITAL Virtues (Sins)

All other values flow from these

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• A Virtue vs. Opposing Vice • The Conflict of these values IS the DRAMA • No Conflict = No Story • Tell Stories that use small value dipoles • Universal to Connect with General Audiences

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The Foundation of ALL Stories


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Vice Virtue

A deceptive heart turns to

A truthful heart.

Conflict of Values Redemptive Ending

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3

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Vice Virtue

Conflict of Values �Tr a g i c E n d i n g

A secret heart turns to

A lying heart

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Box Office HIT... ...and the Bomb

Fidelity to family leads to happiness; but infidelity leads to

sadness. TRUE Portrayal of

Natural Law

Not pursuing illicit weath leads to sadness; but

obtaining illicit wealth leads to happiness.

FALSE Portrayal of Natural Law !39

$116M (1991) $30M (1994)

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Ironic Conflict

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Mass murderer is freed on own recognizance.

Bad/False/Ugly vs. Good/True/Beautiful

Atretes, a Germanic slave trained by Rome to be a champion gladiator, has killed over 150 men in the arena to earn his freedom.

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How many times had he stood in this room, armor polished, sword sharpened, greave in place, waiting to step out into the glaring sunlight and face death and the impassioned throng crying out his name over and over? He had hated it, hated them. At times, he had even hated himself.

Why, then, did he miss it? (Ch. 17)


A year later, Atretes revisits the room where he used to wait to fight in the games.

3 Ironic Conflict

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For most people, sevens were lucky. But not for her (Novalee). She’d had a bad history with them, starting with her seventh birthday, the day Momma Nell ran away with a baseball umpire named Fred. Then, when Novalee was in the seventh grade, her only friend, Rhonda Talley, stole an ice cream truck for her boyfriend and got sent to the Tennessee State School for Girls in Tullahoma. (Ch. 1, paragh. 2)


3 Ironic Conflict

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! My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me. (PP)

! Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. (NA)

! I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve. (PP)

! I may have lost my heart, but not my self-control. (E)


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Jane Austen

Ironic Conflict

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the (historical) period was so far like the present period...

3 Ironic Conflict

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Exercise (5 min)

CONFLICT OF VALUES !

Select Two Values that are… !

• Naturally Opposing • Psychological • Motivational • Moral • Universal

!

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Integrate?

Verisimilitude The appearance of reality

that wins audience acceptance

Physical Improbability

Ironic CHARACTERS

Hook/Story Values/ConflictPsychological

Motivations

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The Audience MUST recognize your story’s reality

Is your story’s reality real

to your audience?

Psychological

Physical

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Reality

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All Thoughts Precede Action

(of all Real and Imagined Characters)

Moral Decisions / Values

Actions

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All Actions MUST stem from a Value

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Values are defined from experiences and explanations*

of the physical realm.

* Stories told of others and personal experiences.!49

Values Defined

Physical Experiences*

All Values Come from Physical Experience

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Psychological VALUES

Physical ACTIONS

The Values-Action-Values

Cycle

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Storytellers need a way to tie these together.

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...how can we understand and merge the physical and psychological stories.

The Moral Premise Moral-Physical Premise Statement (MPPS)

Psychological leads to Physical

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GENERAL FORMThe Moral-Physical Premise Statement

psychological vice

physical detrimentleads to

leads topsychological virtue

physical betterment

BUT

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[vice] leads to [physical detriment]; but [virtue] leads to [physical betterment.]

Psychological leads to Physical

A deceptive heart leads to rejection; but A truthful heart leads to acceptance.

LIAR! LIAR!

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GENERAL FORMThe Moral-Physical Premise Statement4

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Selfishness leads to death; but Sacrifice leads to life.

The pursuit of power leads to defeat; but The pursuit of justice leads to success.

Relying on fate leads to despair; but Relying on free-will leads to hope.

WHERE THE HEART IS

JAMES BOND MOVIES

TERMINATOR 2

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GENERAL FORMThe Moral-Physical Premise Statement4

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Articulation

of the Moral Premise toward the end

Battling adversity alone leads to weakness and defeat; but Battling adversity as a family leads to strength and victory.

Play Clip INC-MP Articulation

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The Story’s Dramatic Thrust belongs to the Protagonist

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Moral STORY Physical STORYmetaphor

VALUES ACTIONmotivates

Protagonist'sTHOUGHTS

Protagonist's DECISIONS

precedes

Moral CAUSE Physical EFFECTleads to

To Reinforce

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Psychological Arc &

Physical Spine

GOALRedemptive Ending GOAL

Psychological Spine

rejectionacceptance

deceptive heart

truthful heart

Physical Arcs

Things MUST Change

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Psychological & Physical Arcs

GOAL

Tragic EndingGOAL

bitternessmurder

ignoring moral precepts

flaunting

moral precepts

Physical Spine

Anti-Goal

Psychological Spine

Anti-Goal

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Character Traits

Physical Spine

Psychological Spine

Imperfect

Psychological Need

Strives to Change

Obstacles

Visible Physical Goal

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GOAL

GOALPhysical Story Psychological Story

! Internal ! Implicit ! Inward ! Emotional ! Spiritual ! Invisible

! External ! Explicit ! Outward ! Objective ! Temporal ! Visible

Physical vs. Psychological Story Descriptors

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Exercise (10 min)

MPPS !

Based on your previous ideas, rough out a MPPS

[vice] leads to [physical detriment]; but [virtue] leads to [physical betterment.]

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John McClain’s love for

his wife, Holly, dies hard.

The Moral-Physical Premise Arrogance & Self-preservation lead to Separation and Defeat; but

Humility & Sacrifice lead to Victory and Marriage.

DIE HARD

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DIE HARD Moral-Physcial Premise

Arrogant !Clean !Separated !!!No Kiss !Watch

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Arrogance & Self-preservation lead to Separation and Defeat; but Humility & Sacrifice lead to Victory and Marriage.

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DIE HARD Act 1 Life Before

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Arrogant !Clean !Separated !!!No Kiss !Watch

Humble !

No Watch !!!

Messy !

United !

Kiss

Moral Premise applies to all main characters

even the antagonist, Hans Gruber


DIE HARD Moral & Physical Arc

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DIE HARD Act 3 Fight to the Death

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A story'sCONSISTENT APPLICATION

of a true Moral Premise improves success.

How do you spell "consistent"?

! Photography ! Music ! Sets ! Wardrobe ! Props

! Editing ! Packaging ! Marketing

! Character arc ! Act ! Sequence ! Scene ! Line

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IMPERFECT (mix virtue + vice)6

Persevering but dependent.

The Story MUST be about a a Protagonist (HERO) who is

PRECIOUS

Generous but prejudice Loving but self-sufficient

GRAN TORINO THE INCREDIBLES

THE BLIND SIDE

Uneducated but innocent

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Precious !

Monster Mom Mary

Leigh Anne Tuohy !Michael Oher

Walt Thao Sue

Bob Parr / Mr. I !Helen Parr / Elastigirl !Dash & Violet !Frozone !Buddy Pine / Syndrome

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7STRIVES TO CHANGE — “No” to the status quo

The Story MUST be about a Protagonist (HERO) who

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PRECIOUS


THE BLIND SIDE

Stays away from hoodBattles mother, goes to school

Protects Hmong neighbors Persists in being “super”

Precious !

Monster Mom Mary


Walt Thao Sue


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8VISIBLE PHYSICAL GOAL.

Get off welfare

The Story MUST be about a Protagonist (HERO) who has a

Play college football

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PRECIOUS

THE INCREDIBLES

THE BLIND SIDE

Be a public SUPER again

GRAN TORINO

Freedom for Thao and Sue

Precious !

Monster Mom Mary


Walt Thao Sue


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9PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED

Prejudice to sacrifice Self-sufficient to family

Story MUST be about a Protagonist who in order to reach his or her outer goal must first recognize their

Courage to Honor

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PRECIOUS


THE BLIND SIDE

Dependency to Self-Sufficiency

Precious !

Monster Mom Mary


Walt Thao Sue


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10 !

INSURMOUNTABLE PHYSICAL OBSTACLES.

Monster mother

Lethal Gangs Technological menace

The Story MUST be about a Protagonist (HERO) whose psychological need creates

Hert Village & education

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PRECIOUS


THE BLIND SIDE

Precious !

Monster Mom Mary


Walt Thao Sue


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Story Breaks & Turning Points Follow Natural Structure�

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•3 Acts/13 Beats - Traditional • 5-7 Acts - Stages of Grief • 5 Acts - Fisher Purchase Funnel • 15 Beats - Blake Snyder • 12 Stages Mythic Hero - Campbell & Vogler • 12 Steps - A.A.

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!1. Denial 2. Pain & Guilt 3. Anger 4. Bargaining 5. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness 6. The Upward Turn & Reconstruction 7. Acceptance & Hope

7 Acts Based on Stages of Grief

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5 Act Romantic Comedy Structure based on Alison Fisher Purchase Funnel

Awareness Buyer needs definition

Familiarity Buyer needs additional information

Consideration Buyer narrows alternatives

Trial Buyer tries out

Purchase Buyer commits

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1.Ordinary World

2.Call to Adventure

3.Refusal of Call

4.Meeting the Mentor

5.Crossing the Threshold

6. Tests, Allies & Enemies

7. Approach the Inmost Cave

8. The Ordeal

9. Reward

10.Road Back

11.Resurrection

12.Return with Elixir

Act 1 Act 2 Act 3

12 Stages of the Mythic Hero (Chris Vogler)

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CHANGE: Antagonist + Special World

Special World Antagonist’s World

Ordinary World Protagonist’s World

Thesis

Antithesis

Synthesis

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12 Stages of the Mythic Hero (Chris Vogler)Other Story Structures

Ordinary World Conscious Mind

Special World Unconscious Mind

Different Values

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Act 1 Act 3

Act 2A Act 2B

Ordinary World

Special World

1. Ordinary World

2. Call to Adventure

3. Refusal of the Call

4. Meeting the Mentor

6. Tests, Allies, Enemies

7. Approach the Inmost Cave

8. The Ordeal

9. The Reward

11. Resurrection

12. Return with Elixir

5. Crossing the Threshold

10. The Road Back

12 Stages of the Mythic Hero (Chris Vogler/Joseph Campbell)

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8. The Ordeal

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“The 12 Steps” as Story Structure

The Character: 1. Realizes he is powerless over the force against him. 2. Recognizes a power greater and trustworthy than himself to fix the problem. 3. Turns his will and life over to the transcendent power who demands moral uprightness. 4. Makes a fearless moral inventory of his life and character. 5. Admits to the transcendent power, and to another human being, the exact nature of his

character defects. 6. Prepares to have the defects removed. 7. Humble asks the power and other around him to help him remove the defects. 8. Makes a list of all persons he has harmed. 9. Makes direct amends to such people wherever possible, except if it would injure them or

others. 10. Continues to take personal inventory and when he is wrong he promptly admits it. 11. Through communication with the transcendent power and others he continually seeks to

know what is right and find the power to carry it out. 12. Passes on the learning to others and practices the principles in all his affairs.

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“The 12 Steps” as Story Structure

The Character: 1. Realizes he is powerless over the force against him. 2. Recognizes a power greater and trustworthy than himself to fix the problem. 3. Turns his will and life over to the transcendent power who demands moral uprightness. 4. Makes a fearless moral inventory of his life and character. 5. Admits to the transcendent power, and to another human being, the exact nature of his

character defects. 6. Prepares to have the defects removed. 7. Humble asks the power and other around him to help him remove the defects. 8. Makes a list of all persons he has harmed. 9. Makes direct amends to such people wherever possible, except if it would injure them or

others. 10. Continues to take personal inventory and when he is wrong he promptly admits it. 11. Through communication with the transcendent power and others he continually seeks to

know what is right and find the power to carry it out. 12. Passes on the learning to others and practices the principles in all his affairs.

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BREAK - 15 MINUTES

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Next Up !

STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

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18+ secrets of successful story writing · a young man falls in love with a real mermaid. a monster...

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