Storyform for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

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

PLOT DYNAMICS:

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

IMPACT CHARACTER (Ian)

  • THROUGHLINE:  Situation
  • CONCERN:  The Present
  • ISSUE:  Repulsion vs. Attraction
  • PROBLEM:  Induction
  • SOLUTION:  Deduction
  • SYMPTOM:  Potentiality
  • RESPONSE:  Certainty
  • UNIQUE ABILITY:  Attempt
  • CRITICAL FLAW:  Investigation
  • BENCHMARK:  The Past
  • SIGNPOST 1:  The Past
  • SIGNPOST 2:  The Present
  • SIGNPOST 3:  How Things are Changing
  • SIGNPOST 4:  The Future

OVERALL STORY (Marrying off Tula)

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

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY (Awkward Romance)

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

MAIN CHARACTER (Tula)

  • THROUGHLINE:  Fixed Attitude
  • CONCERN:  Contemplation
  • ISSUE:  Reappraisal vs. Appraisal
  • PROBLEM:  Nonacceptance
  • SOLUTION:  Acceptance
  • SYMPTOM:  Induction
  • RESPONSE:  Deduction
  • UNIQUE ABILITY:  Doubt
  • CRITICAL FLAW:  Work
  • BENCHMARK:  Memories
  • SIGNPOST 1:  Innermost Desires
  • SIGNPOST 2:  Contemplation
  • SIGNPOST 3:  Memories
  • SIGNPOST 4:  Impulsive Responses

ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS

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

VOCABULARY:

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

  • Activity:  an activity or endeavor

  • 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

  • Be-er:  Tula prefers to work things out internally

  • Certainty:  the determination that something is absolutely true

  • Change:  Tula 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

  • Decision:  in the plot, decisions force actions

  • Deduction:  a method of thought that determines certainty

  • 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

  • Fixed Attitude:  a fixed attitude or outlook

  • Gathering Information:  gathering information or experience

  • Good:  Tula ultimately succeeds in resolving her personal problems

  • How Things are Changing:  the way things are going

  • Impulsive Responses:  innate responses

  • Induction:  a method of thought that determines possibility

  • Innermost Desires:  basic drives and desires

  • Investigation:  gathering evidence to resolve questions of validity

  • Logical:  Tula uses inherently logical (linear) problem solving techniques

  • Manipulation:  a manner of thinking or demeanor

  • Memories:  recollections

  • 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

  • Probability:  likelihood

  • Reappraisal:  reconsideration of a previous determination

  • Repulsion:  pushing or being pushed away from

  • Situation:  a situation or environment

  • Steadfast:  Tula ultimately retains her essential nature

  • Stop:  regarding Tula, the audience is waiting for something to end

  • Success:  the original goal is achieved

  • 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

 

 

 

Copyright © 1994-2009 Write Brothers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Based on theories and materials developed by Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley
Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated. Patent #5,734,916; #6,105,046