Plot and Format Flashcards
Prelap
Pre-lapping is when dialogue begins before we’ve cut to the scene in which it’s spoken.
Name each part of the Monomyth Story Structure?
- The character in a zone of comfort
- But needs something
- He goes to get it and enters an unfamiliar situation
- Then adapts
- Finds what he’s looking for
- But pays a price
- Then returns to where he started
- But is now capable of change
Describe the Four Act Structure
Act 1 - Hero as Orphan
Act 2A - Hero as Wanderer
Act 2B - Hero as Warrior
Act 3 - Hero as Martyr
Describe the five types of story structures
- Linear (typ of most Hollywood movies)
- Meandering (hero follows a windy path without apparent direction)
- Spiral (keeps returning to single event or memory an explores it on deeper levels)
- Branching (each branch represents complete societies that somehow intersect)
- Explosive (a combo of linear stories that imply an arc via comparative exploration of multiple characters/societies)
In TV, what is meant when referring to “the franchise” of a show?
What are your characters going to be doing each week? What are the story engines that will keep the plot lines moving?
What are the staff positions on a TV show?
- Staff writer
- Story Editor
- Executive Story Editor
- Co-producer
- Producer
- Supervising Producer
- Co-executive producer
- Executive producer (often same as showrunner)
- Showrunner
What shows are good to spec?
Shows that are popular in the industry (critically acclaimed and great ratings), where execs are watching them.
Shows that will be around for another few seasons.
Shows that aren’t family-oriented or particularly “soft.”
Ignore all these if you can write the HELL out of something else.
What should you do when you’re ready to go out with written (TV) material?
- Enter it into contests
- Get it to someone/anyone who can get it in front of
- Be in LA or at least ready to move
There’s more but it’s not in this question.
How does one develop a personal writing brand?
- Personal logline that answers the question “What do you do?”
- Personal A-story that answers the question “Who are you?”
- Personal nuggets that are the gold that make you interesting
All these things give you a story to tell when you meet folks that makes you interesting and memorable.
What are the five principal dramatic values?
Style, language, manners, plot, character
Examples Style: Greek political satire, Roman spectacles, modern FX-heavy blockbusters Language: Shakespeare Manners: Noel Coward's humor Plot: Jaws and other suspense thrillers Character: most Woody Allen movies
Why is it important to choose a dramatic value when setting forth to tell a story?
A director much choose his dramatic value, and make all his decisions accordingly.
Many scripts have be done in different styles–think of all the Shakespearean remakes. This is perfectly fine.
Films that don’t choose a value typically end up being boring.
Choosing the wrong value, commonly ends in failure if the material doesn’t support it.
However, it’s worth noting that often it takes a “strong handed” or “visionary” director–one who picks the right values and delivers on them–to make a good script great.
What is a ‘callback’?
Doing a joke based on something already in the scene.
What does it mean to ‘swing a character in on a rope’?
Side character enters screen, delivers joke, then leaves.
What is a ‘button’/’blow’?
Final joke of a scene.
What is ‘pipe’?
Exposition
