Storyform for "Brokeback Mountain"

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

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

PLOT DYNAMICS:

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

IMPACT CHARACTER (Jack Twist)

• THROUGHLINE: Situation
• CONCERN: The Future
• ISSUE: Delay vs. Choice
• PROBLEM: Temptation
• SOLUTION: Conscience
• SYMPTOM: Feeling
• RESPONSE: Logic
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Delay
• CRITICAL FLAW: Approach
• BENCHMARK: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 1: The Past
• SIGNPOST 2: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 3: The Future
• SIGNPOST 4: The Present

OVERALL STORY (Being Gay in a Hostile World)

• THROUGHLINE: Manipulation
• CONCERN: Changing One's Nature
• ISSUE: Responsibility vs. Commitment
• PROBLEM: Temptation
• SOLUTION: Conscience
• SYMPTOM: Uncontrolled
• RESPONSE: Control
• CATALYST: Commitment
• INHIBITOR: Closure
• BENCHMARK: Playing a Role
• SIGNPOST 1: Playing a Role
• SIGNPOST 2: Changing One's Nature
• SIGNPOST 3: Conceiving an Idea
• SIGNPOST 4: Developing a Plan

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY (Going "Fishing")

• THROUGHLINE: Activity
• CONCERN: Obtaining
• ISSUE: Morality vs. Self Interest
• PROBLEM: Temptation
• SOLUTION: Conscience
• SYMPTOM: Disbelief
• RESPONSE: Faith
• CATALYST: Self Interest
• INHIBITOR: Openness
• BENCHMARK: Doing
• SIGNPOST 1: Understanding
• SIGNPOST 2: Doing
• SIGNPOST 3: Obtaining
• SIGNPOST 4: Gathering Information

MAIN CHARACTER (Ennis Del Mar)

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

ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS

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

VOCABULARY:

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

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Approach: one's methodology of doing or being

Bad: Ennis Del Mar ultimately fails in resolving his personal problems

Be-er: Ennis Del Mar prefers to work things out internally

Change: Ennis Del Mar 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

Conscience: forgoing an immediate pleasure or benefit because of future consequences

Contemplation: present considerations

Control: directed, constrained

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

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: Ennis Del Mar 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

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

Playing a Role: temporarily adopting a lifestyle

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

Steadfast: Ennis Del Mar ultimately retains his essential nature

Stop: regarding Ennis Del Mar, the audience is waiting for something to end

Temptation: the urge to embrace immediate benefits despite possible consequences

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