Storyform for "A History of Violence "

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

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

PLOT DYNAMICS:

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

MAIN CHARACTER (Tom Stall)

• THROUGHLINE: Situation
• CONCERN: The Past
• ISSUE: Prediction vs. Interdiction
• PROBLEM: Perception
• SOLUTION: Actuality
• SYMPTOM: Change
• RESPONSE: Inertia
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Interdiction
• CRITICAL FLAW: Conditioning
• BENCHMARK: The Present
• SIGNPOST 1: The Present
• SIGNPOST 2: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 3: The Past
• SIGNPOST 4: The Future

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY (Keeping a marriage together)

• THROUGHLINE: Manipulation
• CONCERN: Developing a Plan
• ISSUE: Sense of Self vs. State of Being
• PROBLEM: Thought
• SOLUTION: Knowledge
• SYMPTOM: Change
• RESPONSE: Inertia
• CATALYST: Circumstances
• INHIBITOR: Falsehood
• BENCHMARK: Conceiving an Idea
• SIGNPOST 1: Changing One's Nature
• SIGNPOST 2: Conceiving an Idea
• SIGNPOST 3: Developing a Plan
• SIGNPOST 4: Playing a Role

OVERALL STORY (Mobsters in Middle America)

• THROUGHLINE: Activity
• CONCERN: Understanding
• ISSUE: Conditioning vs. Instinct
• PROBLEM: Speculation
• SOLUTION: Projection
• SYMPTOM: Change
• RESPONSE: Inertia
• CATALYST: Interpretation
• INHIBITOR: Destiny
• BENCHMARK: Gathering Information
• SIGNPOST 1: Understanding
• SIGNPOST 2: Gathering Information
• SIGNPOST 3: Doing
• SIGNPOST 4: Obtaining

IMPACT CHARACTER (Edie Stall)

• THROUGHLINE: Fixed Attitude
• CONCERN: Memories
• ISSUE: Evidence vs. Suspicion
• PROBLEM: Speculation
• SOLUTION: Projection
• SYMPTOM: Inequity
• RESPONSE: Equity
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Suspicion
• CRITICAL FLAW: Sense of Self
• BENCHMARK: Contemplation
• SIGNPOST 1: Memories
• SIGNPOST 2: Impulsive Responses
• SIGNPOST 3: Innermost Desires
• SIGNPOST 4: Contemplation

ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS

• GOAL: Understanding
• CONSEQUENCE: Developing a Plan
• COST: Memories
• DIVIDEND: The Past
• REQUIREMENT: Gathering Information
• PREREQUISITE: Conceiving an Idea
• PRECONDITION: Contemplation
• FOREWARNINGS: The Present

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VOCABULARY:

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

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Actuality: objective reality; the way things are

Bad: Tom Stall ultimately fails in resolving his personal problems

Change: an alteration of a state or process

Change: Tom Stall changes his essential nature while attempting to solve the problem

Changing One's Nature: transforming one's nature

Circumstances: an emotional assessment of one's environment

Conceiving an Idea: coming up with an idea

Conditioning: responses based on experience or training

Contemplation: present considerations

Destiny: the future path an individual must take

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

Do-er: Tom Stall looks for a physical solution to his problem

Doing: engaging in a physical activity

Equity: a balance, fairness, or stability

Evidence: information supporting a belief

Falsehood: that which has been shown to be erroneous

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

Inequity: an unbalance, unfairness, or lack or equality

Inertia: a continuation of a state or process

Innermost Desires: basic drives and desires

Instinct: intrinsic unconditioned responses

Interdiction: an effort to change a predetermined course

Interpretation: determination of possible meaning

Knowledge: that which one holds to be true

Logical: Tom Stall uses inherently logical (linear) problem solving techniques

Manipulation: a manner of thinking or demeanor

Memories: recollections

Obtaining: achieving or possessing something

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

Perception: the way things seem to be

Playing a Role: temporarily adopting a lifestyle

Prediction: a predetermination of a future state of affairs

Projection: an extension of probability into the future

Sense of Self: one's perception of oneself

Situation: a situation or environment

Speculation: an extension of possibilities into the future

State of Being: one's true nature

Steadfast: Tom Stall ultimately retains his essential nature

Stop: regarding Tom Stall, the audience is waiting for something to end

Success: the original goal is achieved

Suspicion: questioning or forming a belief based on new evidence

The Future: what will happen or what will be

The Past: what has already happened

The Present: the current situation and circumstances

Thought: the process of consideration

Understanding: appreciating the meaning of something