Storyform for "A Face in the Crowd"

(Dramatica Users Group Movie Analysis)

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

• MC RESOLVE: Change
• MC GROWTH: Stop
• MC APPROACH: Be-er
• MC PROBLEM-SOLVING STYLE: Intuitive
• IC RESOLVE: Steadfast

PLOT DYNAMICS:

• DRIVER: Action
• LIMIT: Optionlock
• OUTCOME: Failure
• JUDGMENT: Bad

IMPACT CHARACTER: Larry (Lonesome) Rhodes

• THROUGHLINE: Situation
• CONCERN: The Present
• ISSUE: Work vs. Attempt
• PROBLEM: Reaction
• SOLUTION: Proaction
• SYMPTOM: Nonacceptance
• RESPONSE: Acceptance
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Repulsion
• CRITICAL FLAW: Appraisal
• BENCHMARK: The Future
• SIGNPOST 1: The Past
• SIGNPOST 2: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 3: The Future
• SIGNPOST 4: The Present

OVERALL STORY: The Meteoric Rise of a Folk Celebrity

• THROUGHLINE: Manipulation
• CONCERN: Conceiving an Idea
• ISSUE: Permission vs. Deficiency
• PROBLEM: Potentiality
• SOLUTION: Certainty
• SYMPTOM: Nonacceptance
• RESPONSE: Acceptance
• CATALYST: Expediency
• INHIBITOR: Strategy
• BENCHMARK: Changing One's Nature
• SIGNPOST 1: Developing a Plan
• SIGNPOST 2: Changing One's Nature
• SIGNPOST 3: Playing a Role
• SIGNPOST 4: Conceiving an Idea

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY: Romantic Entanglments

• THROUGHLINE: Activity
• CONCERN: Gathering Information
• ISSUE: Prerequisites vs. Preconditions
• PROBLEM: Potentiality
• SOLUTION: Certainty
• SYMPTOM: Possibility
• RESPONSE: Probability
• CATALYST: Analysis
• INHIBITOR: Need
• BENCHMARK: Obtaining
• SIGNPOST 1: Understanding
• SIGNPOST 2: Doing
• SIGNPOST 3: Obtaining
• SIGNPOST 4: Gathering Information

MAIN CHARACTER: Marcia Jeffries

• THROUGHLINE: Fixed Attitude
• CONCERN: Contemplation
• ISSUE: Investigation vs. Doubt
• PROBLEM: Potentiality
• SOLUTION: Certainty
• SYMPTOM: Reaction
• RESPONSE: Proaction
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Reappraisal
• CRITICAL FLAW: Attraction
• BENCHMARK: Innermost Desires
• SIGNPOST 1: Impulsive Responses
• SIGNPOST 2: Innermost Desires
• SIGNPOST 3: Contemplation
• SIGNPOST 4: Memories

ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS

• GOAL: Conceiving an Idea
• CONSEQUENCE: Gathering Information
• COST: The Present
• DIVIDEND: Contemplation
• REQUIREMENT: Changing One's Nature
• PREREQUISITE: Obtaining
• PRECONDITION: The Future
• FOREWARNINGS: Innermost Desires

VOCABULARY:

Acceptance: a decision to allow, tolerate, or adapt, or not to oppose

Action: in terms of the Overall plot, actions force decisions

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Analysis: evaluation of the situation and/or circumstances

Appraisal: a limited initial assessment

Attempt: applying oneself to something not known to be within one's ability

Attraction: drawing or being drawn to something

Bad: Marcia Jeffries ultimately fails in resolving her personal problems

Be-er: Marcia Jeffries prefers to work things out internally

Certainty: the determination that something is absolutely true

Change: Marcia Jeffries changes her essential nature while attempting to solve the problem

Changing One's Nature: transforming one's nature

Conceiving an Idea: coming up with an idea

Contemplation: present considerations

Deficiency: appraisal of what is lacking

Developing a Plan: visualizing how an existing idea might be implemented

Doing: engaging in a physical activity

Doubt: questioning validity without investigating to be sure

Expediency: most efficient course considering repercussions

Failure: the original goal is not achieved

Fixed Attitude: a fixed attitude or outlook

Gathering Information: gathering information or experience

How Things are Changing: the way things are going

Impulsive Responses: innate responses

Innermost Desires: basic drives and desires

Intuitive: Marcia Jeffries uses intuitive problem solving techniques

Investigation: gathering evidence to resolve questions of validity

Manipulation: a manner of thinking or demeanor

Memories: recollections

Need: that which is required

Nonacceptance: a decision not to allow, tolerate, or adapt; a decision to oppose

Obtaining: achieving or possessing something

Optionlock: the story climax occurs because all options have been exhausted

Permission: what is allowed

Playing a Role: temporarily adopting a lifestyle

Possibility: a determination that something might be true

Potentiality: a determination that something might become true

Preconditions: restrictions imposed on an effort

Prerequisites: the essential preliminaries that must be met

Proaction: taking initiative action

Probability: likelihood

Reaction: actions made in response

Reappraisal: reconsideration of a previous determination

Repulsion: pushing or being pushed away from

Situation: a situation or environment

Steadfast: Marcia Jeffries ultimately retains her essential nature

Stop: regarding Marcia Jeffries, the audience is waiting for something to end

Strategy: a plan to achieve one's purpose or a plan of response

The Future: what will happen or what will be

The Past: what has already happened

The Present: the current situation and circumstances

Understanding: appreciating the meaning of something

Work: applying oneself to something known to be within one's ability