Storyform for "On the Waterfront"

Podcast of Dramatica Users Group Analysis

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

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

PLOT DYNAMICS:

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

MAIN CHARACTER (Terry Malloy)

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

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY (Romance between Thug and Catholic School Girl)

• THROUGHLINE: Manipulation
• CONCERN: Developing a Plan
• ISSUE: Sense of Self vs. State of Being
• PROBLEM: Ability
• SOLUTION: Desire
• SYMPTOM: Projection
• RESPONSE: Speculation
• CATALYST: State of Being
• INHIBITOR: Conditioning
• 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 (Bring Down the Waterfront Mobsters)

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

IMPACT CHARACTER (Edie Doyle / Father Barry)

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

VOCABULARY:

Ability: being suited to handle a task; the innate capacity to do or be

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

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Actuality: objective reality; the way things are

Change: an alteration of a state or process

Change: Terry Malloy changes his essential nature while attempting to solve the problem

Changing One's Nature: transforming one's nature

Conceiving an Idea: coming up with an idea

Conditioning: responses based on experience or training

Contemplation: present considerations

Desire: the motivation toward something better

Destiny: the future path an individual must take

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

Do-er: Terry Malloy 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

Fate: a future situation that will befall an individual

Fixed Attitude: a fixed attitude or outlook

Gathering Information: gathering information or experience

Good: Terry Malloy ultimately succeeds in resolving his personal problems

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

Logical: Terry Malloy 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: Terry Malloy ultimately retains his essential nature

Stop: regarding Terry Malloy, 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

Truth: that which is actually correct

Understanding: appreciating the meaning of something