Formula Adapted from Downs and Wright, Playwriting: From Formula to Form Houston Wood Wri 3320 Hawai’i Pacific University
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
Joseph Campbell’s Myth Model/Modern Formula(Wright & Downs, Fig. 2.1, p. 33)
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
Opening Event: • Hook, “bang” • “An event or moment of uniqueness in the character’s lives”
Basic Situation: • Beginning balance, status quo • The time, setting, location, who’s who • Characters’ existing relationships • Existing situation
Protagonist: • Chief character pushing the action forward • Not simply the “hero” • Can be a “victim” only if this forces the protagonist into taking action
Antagonist: • Opposes & blocks action • Stands in way of protagonist’s goals • May be • —a person • —environment • —part of the protagonist’s character
Disturbance: • Incident/event that disturbs the beginning balance • Changes the basic situation • Forces action
MDQ = Major Dramatic Question: • The “hook” • Creates curiosity • Fosters uncertainty • The big unknown • Is NOT the theme or message
End of the Beginning: • The protagonist makes a decision that will lead to conflict • Act One ends • Audience experiences the “take off”
The Middle = Act Two: • Conflicts • Crises • Obstacles • Complications
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
Crises: • Events – not conditions • Emergencies • Calamities • Turning points • Entanglements • Difficulties
Obstacles: • Helps build conflicts and crises • Creates barriers and hurdles in the way of the protagonist’s goals.
Complications: • Builds conflicts and crises • An unexpected obstacle
Dark Moment—End of the Middle • The ultimate obstacle has been revealed • The antagonist has won and the battle appears to be over
Enlightenment—The Beginning of the End: • Protagonist has a revelation • Protagonist sees anew • Protagonist discovers solution
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
Catharsis: • Final purging of emotions • Sometimes as credits roll
Summary, in Act One Establish: • All major characters • The main story problem • Necessary exposition • The MDQ
Summary, in Act Two Subplots emerge and may temporarily dominate The struggle escalates, complicates, deepens, turns Reaching a climax, dark moment
Summary, in Act Three The dark moment lightens The struggle climaxes The subplots resolve The protagonist achieves “success”—wisdom and/or satisfaction
From formula to form • Formula-driven plots versus • Character-driven plots • Use creative and logical deviation from all rules for best success
The End
