Formula

1. Formula Adapted from Downs and Wright, Playwriting: From Formula to Form Houston Wood Wri 3320 Hawai’i Pacific University

2. Formula = story structure Beginning, middle & end “The fundamental elements (event, disturbance, decision, conflict, crisis, obstacles, complication, dark moment, enlightenment, climax, and catharsis) all occur and in the exact same order.” (page 30) Formula  Form

3. Joseph Campbell’s Myth Model/Modern Formula(Wright & Downs, Fig. 2.1, p. 33)

4. Working title: • To sell the film • Tone/style over denotation • Need not be tightly connected to script • Sideways could be the title of many many films

5. Opening Event: • Hook, “bang” • “An event or moment of uniqueness in the character’s lives”

6. Basic Situation: • Beginning balance, status quo • The time, setting, location, who’s who • Characters’ existing relationships • Existing situation

7. Protagonist: • Chief character pushing the action forward • Not simply the “hero” • Can be a “victim” only if this forces the protagonist into taking action

8. Antagonist: • Opposes & blocks action • Stands in way of protagonist’s goals • May be • —a person • —environment • —part of the protagonist’s character

9. Disturbance: • Incident/event that disturbs the beginning balance • Changes the basic situation • Forces action

10. MDQ = Major Dramatic Question: • The “hook” • Creates curiosity • Fosters uncertainty • The big unknown • Is NOT the theme or message

11. End of the Beginning: • The protagonist makes a decision that will lead to conflict • Act One ends • Audience experiences the “take off”

12. The Middle = Act Two: • Conflicts • Crises • Obstacles • Complications

13. Conflicts: • Will thwarted • Goals obstructed • Actions frustrated and/or meeting unexpected results • Protagonist and antagonist clashing • This is NOT events or actions • This IS situations, conditions

14. Crises: • Events – not conditions • Emergencies • Calamities • Turning points • Entanglements • Difficulties

15. Obstacles: • Helps build conflicts and crises • Creates barriers and hurdles in the way of the protagonist’s goals.

16. Complications: • Builds conflicts and crises • An unexpected obstacle

17. Dark Moment—End of the Middle • The ultimate obstacle has been revealed • The antagonist has won and the battle appears to be over

18. Enlightenment—The Beginning of the End: • Protagonist has a revelation • Protagonist sees anew • Protagonist discovers solution

19. Climax: • The moment before (and during the time) the antagonist is defeated • The final conflict or point of highest tension • Protagonist is active, not passive • Climax is started, instigated by the protagonist

20. Catharsis: • Final purging of emotions • Sometimes as credits roll

21. Summary, in Act One Establish: • All major characters • The main story problem • Necessary exposition • The MDQ

22. Summary, in Act Two Subplots emerge and may temporarily dominate The struggle escalates, complicates, deepens, turns Reaching a climax, dark moment

23. Summary, in Act Three The dark moment lightens The struggle climaxes The subplots resolve The protagonist achieves “success”—wisdom and/or satisfaction

24. From formula to form • Formula-driven plots versus • Character-driven plots • Use creative and logical deviation from all rules for best success

25. The End