Storyform for "Serenity"

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: Good

MAIN CHARACTER (Malcome Reynolds)

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

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY (Hunter & Hunted)

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

OVERALL STORY (Revealing the Alliance's dark secret)

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

IMPACT CHARACTER (The Operative)

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

ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS

  • GOAL: Obtaining
  • CONSEQUENCE: Changing One's Nature
  • COST: Innermost Desires
  • DIVIDEND: The Future
  • REQUIREMENT: Understanding
  • PREREQUISITE: Developing a Plan
  • PRECONDITION: Memories
  • FOREWARNINGS: The Past

VOCABULARY:

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

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Approach: one's methodology of doing or being

Avoidance: stepping around, preventing or escaping from a problem

Change: Malcome Reynolds 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

Delay: putting off until later

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

Disbelief: the belief that something is untrue

Do-er: Malcome Reynolds looks for a physical solution to his problem

Doing: engaging in a physical activity

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

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: Malcome Reynolds 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: Malcome Reynolds 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

Steadfast: Malcome Reynolds ultimately retains his essential nature

Stop: regarding Malcome Reynolds, the audience is waiting for something to end

Success: the original goal is achieved

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

 

 

Copyright © 1994-2006 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