RANDOM THOUGHTS ON DIRECTING

What is the story? Write it down in ONE sentence.1. Ideas can be distilled to one central

conflict. And in that central conflict lies the germ of the plot.

2. Ideas can usually be expressed as a simple sentence.

“Frightened wife falls in love with a ghost.” “Woman commits crime to be with lover.”

Story: Content & PlausibilityMeasures the strength of the premise and the

ability of the writer to help the audience believe the story in how it was set up within

the context of the world created.

Story Arc/Plot pointsAre the actions in the story escalating in

nature with dramatic and plausible impact? Conflict: Desire Vs. Danger Is the conflict strong enough to lead to a

“Good Fight” when choices have to be made?

Is the climax well set up?

Main Character complexityIs the protagonist imbued with enough likeable traits to allow the audience “root” for him/her? Is there a human flaw that adds complexity to the character?

Visual possibilitiesHow visual is the story? Can we “see” it?  

 

1.1. POINT OF ATTACKPOINT OF ATTACK

2.2. INCITING INCIDENT INCITING INCIDENT

3.3. CONFLICT…BALANCE becomes CONFLICT…BALANCE becomes IMBALANCEIMBALANCE

4.4. TENSION…RISING ACTIONTENSION…RISING ACTION

5.5. CRISIS AND CHOICECRISIS AND CHOICE

6.6. RESOLUTION.RESOLUTION.

CHARACTER + OCCUPATION + WHAT THEY WANT MOST + WHAT OR WHO

COULD STOP THEM

VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL DIALOGUE VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL DIALOGUE

One is information given verbally. One is information given verbally.

Second is the information the viewer Second is the information the viewer accesses through visual stimuli. accesses through visual stimuli.