Dramatica Audio Tapes

Volume I: Theory Basics
Volume II: Character Development
Volume III: Plot Development

Originally recorded and produced in 1994 as a series of cassette tapes, these audio recordings of Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley leading an Early Dramatica discussion are now made available for free as downloadable Real Media audio files. The tapes have been broken down into segments to make downloading more convenient. The average length of each segment ranges between four and eight minutes long.

NOTE: Since these recordings were made in the mid-90's, they use some of the original Dramatica language instead of the terms introduced in v4.0.

These audio files were remastered (but the content was not revised) for the second time on August 4, 2003. They are in MP3 audio format and are much less than half the size of the previous version. In addition to the individual audio segements, we have added unsegmented versions of the A and B sides of each tape for those who wish to download the entire tapes.

Dramatica -- A New Theory of Story

Volume I: Theory Basics

1. Introduction to the Dramatica Theory and Software—5:39 minutes (download)
2. The Story Mind—6:23 minutes (download) or in MP4 format (download)
3. Objective & Subjective Perspectives; To Kill A Mockingbird—7:11 minutes (download)
4. Introduction to the 12 Essential Questions—5:11 minutes (download)
5. Main Character Resolve: Change or Steadfast?—4:19 minutes (download) Part 1 of 3
6. MC Resolve: A Christmas Carol; James Bond; The Fugitive—3:34 minutes (download) Part 2 of 3
7. MC Resolve: Superman, the Movie; Star Wars; Job—6:09 minutes (download) Part 3 of 3
8. Main Character Direction [Growth]: Stop or Start?—6:18 minutes (download)
9. Main Character Approach: Do-er or Be-er?—7:17 minutes (download)
10. Main Character Mental Sex: Male or Female?
    (now called MC Problem Solving Style)—8:35 minutes (download)
11. Plot Dynamics: Story Work: Action or Decision?
    (now called Story Driver)—4:10 minutes (download)
12. Plot Dynamics: Story Limit: Timelock or Optionlock?—4:58 minutes (download)
13. Plot Dynamics: Story Outcome: Success or Failure? and Story Judgment: Good or Bad?—7:32 minutes (download)
14. Story Thematics and Perspectives—3:59 minutes (download)
15. Domains & Classes: Universe, Physics, Mind, Psychology (now called Situation, Activities, Fixed Attitude, and Manipulation)—2:59 minutes (download)
16. Story Concerns and Thematic Ranges (Issues)—2:46 minutes (download)
17. Story Problem, Solution, Focus (Symptom), Direction (Response)—4:37 minutes (download)

Volume I: Theory Basics: Side A—44:47 minutes/40.92MB (download)
Volume I: Theory Basics: Side B—46:54 minutes/42.85MB (download)

Volume II: Character Development

1. Introduction to the Dramatica Character Development—2:44 minutes (download)
2. Objective and Subjective Views—5:11 minutes (download)
3. Objective and Subjective Characters—5:45 minutes (download)
4. Main and Impact Characters; "To Kill A Mockingbird" & "Witness"—7:04 minutes (download)
5. Main Character Resolve: Change or Steadfast—3:34 minutes (download)
6. Main Character Direction: Start or Stop—2:10 minutes (download)
7. Main Character Approach: Do-er or Be-er—2:34 minutes (download)
8. Main Character Mental Sex: Male or Female —1:58 minutes (download)
9. Character Archetypes Introduction—5:10 minutes (download)
10. Character Archetypes in Star Wars & The Wizard of OZ: Part 1—7:53 minutes (download)
11. Character Archetypes in Star Wars & The Wizard of OZ: Part 2—5:50 minutes (download)
12. Four Levels of Character—5:06 minutes (download)
13. Complex Characters—3:34 minutes (download)
14. Objective and Subjective Character wrap up—1:50 minutes (download)

Volume II: Character: Side A—31:06 minutes/28.42MB (download)
Volume II: Character: Side B—29:28 minutes/26.92MB (download)

Volume III: Plot Development

1. Introduction to the Dramatica Plot Development—3:07 minutes (download)
2. Plot vs. Storyweaving; Pulp Fiction example—4:13 minutes (download)
3. Story Driver; What Moves the Plot Forward?—4:06 minutes (download)
4. The Four Levels of Justification—7:17 minutes (download)
5. Main and Obstacle Character Justification—8:05 minutes (download)
6. Forestory and Backstory—3:19 minutes (download)
7. Character, Theme, and Genre with Plot—6:47 minutes (download)
8. Plot Questions and Answers—5:44 minutes (download)
9. Three and Four Act Structures—3:36 minutes (download)
10. More on Act Structures—2:18 minutes (download)
11. Sequences and Scenes—7:35 minutes (download)
12. Events and Scenes—3:14 minutes (download)

Volume III: Plot: Side A—30:09 minutes/27:55MB (download)
Volume III: Plot: Side B—29:21 minutes/26.81MB (download)

Supplemental recording:

Dramatica Act Structures & Aristotle—2:17 minutes/2.3MB (download)