Storyform for "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Podcast of Dramatica Users Group Analysis

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

• MC RESOLVE: Steadfast
• MC GROWTH: Start
• MC APPROACH: Be-er
• MC PROBLEM-SOLVING STYLE: Logical
• IC RESOLVE: Change

PLOT DYNAMICS:

• DRIVER: Decision
• LIMIT: Optionlock
• OUTCOME: Failure
• JUDGMENT: Good

IMPACT CHARACTER (Holly Golightly)

• THROUGHLINE: Situation
• CONCERN: The Future
• ISSUE: Delay vs. Choice
• PROBLEM: Pursuit
• SOLUTION: Avoidance
• SYMPTOM: Oppose
• RESPONSE: Support
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Openness
• CRITICAL FLAW: Self Interest
• BENCHMARK: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 1: The Present
• SIGNPOST 2: The Past
• SIGNPOST 3: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 4: The Future

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY (Romance)

• THROUGHLINE: Manipulation
• CONCERN: Changing One's Nature
• ISSUE: Commitment vs. Responsibility
• PROBLEM: Pursuit
• SOLUTION: Avoidance
• SYMPTOM: Disbelief
• RESPONSE: Faith
• CATALYST: Rationalization
• INHIBITOR: Hope
• BENCHMARK: Playing a Role
• SIGNPOST 1: Developing a Plan
• SIGNPOST 2: Playing a Role
• SIGNPOST 3: Changing One's Nature
• SIGNPOST 4: Conceiving an Idea

OVERALL STORY (Living the Tiffany's Life/Social Climbing)

• THROUGHLINE: Activity
• CONCERN: Obtaining
• ISSUE: Self Interest vs. Morality
• PROBLEM: Pursuit
• SOLUTION: Avoidance
• SYMPTOM: Uncontrolled
• RESPONSE: Control
• CATALYST: Approach
• INHIBITOR: Delay
• BENCHMARK: Doing
• SIGNPOST 1: Gathering Information
• SIGNPOST 2: Doing
• SIGNPOST 3: Obtaining
• SIGNPOST 4: Understanding

MAIN CHARACTER (Paul Varjak)

• THROUGHLINE: Fixed Attitude
• CONCERN: Innermost Desires
• ISSUE: Hope vs. Dream
• PROBLEM: Logic
• SOLUTION: Feeling
• SYMPTOM: Uncontrolled
• RESPONSE: Control
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Closure
• CRITICAL FLAW: Commitment
• BENCHMARK: Impulsive Responses
• SIGNPOST 1: Impulsive Responses
• SIGNPOST 2: Innermost Desires
• SIGNPOST 3: Memories
• SIGNPOST 4: Contemplation

ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS

• GOAL: Obtaining
• CONSEQUENCE: Changing One's Nature
• COST: The Future
• DIVIDEND: Innermost Desires
• REQUIREMENT: Doing
• PREREQUISITE: Playing a Role
• PRECONDITION: How Things are Changing
• FOREWARNINGS: Impulsive Responses

VOCABULARY:

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Approach: one's methodology of doing or being

Avoidance: stepping around, preventing or escaping from a problem

Be-er: Paul Varjak prefers to work things out internally

Change: Paul Varjak changes his essential nature while attempting to solve the problem

Changing One's Nature: transforming one's nature

Choice: making a decision

Closure: bringing something to an end or to completion

Commitment: a decision to stick with something regardless of the consequences

Conceiving an Idea: coming up with an idea

Contemplation: present considerations

Control: directed, constrained

Decision: in the plot, decisions force actions

Delay: putting off until later

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

Disbelief: the belief that something is untrue

Doing: engaging in a physical activity

Dream: a desired future that does not fall within reasonable expectations

Failure: the original goal is not achieved

Faith: accepting something as certain without proof

Feeling: an emotional sense of how things are going

Fixed Attitude: a fixed attitude or outlook

Gathering Information: gathering information or experience

Good: Paul Varjak ultimately succeeds in resolving his personal problems

Hope: a desired future that falls within reasonable expectations

How Things are Changing: the way things are going

Impulsive Responses: innate responses

Innermost Desires: basic drives and desires

Logic: a rational sense of how things are related

Logical: Paul Varjak uses inherently logical (linear) problem solving techniques

Manipulation: a manner of thinking or demeanor

Memories: recollections

Morality: doing or being based on what is best for others

Obtaining: achieving or possessing something

Openness: willingness to reevaluate

Oppose: an indirect detraction from another's effort

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

Playing a Role: temporarily adopting a lifestyle

Pursuit: the drive to seek after

Rationalization: an alternative explanation used to mask the real reason

Responsibility: taking, accepting, or assuming control to the exclusion of others

Self Interest: doing or being based on what is best for oneself

Situation: a situation or environment

Start: regarding Paul Varjak, the audience is waiting for something to begin

Steadfast: Paul Varjak ultimately retains his essential nature

Support: indirect assistance given to another's efforts

The Future: what will happen or what will be

The Past: what has already happened

The Present: the current situation and circumstances

Uncontrolled: directionless, unconstrained

Understanding: appreciating the meaning of something