As a script consultant one of my concerns is whether the story is going to give the audience a rollercoaster ride, vs. some dull, slow spots. There are several kids of rollercoasters possible: (1) action, (2) goal progress, (3) dialogue, or (4) emotional tension. Here is how you can quickly CHART and SEE what your script is doing. For a Goal Progress chart (like the one below) open a blank sheet in a spreadsheet program like Excel and do the following:
1. Create a series of numbers in a column corresponding to each page of the script (e.g. 1-106)
2. Step through the script and for each PAGE (not scene) determine whether your hero/protagonist is making progress toward his/her goal or is being pushed away from his goal by the antagonist. Score the whole page on a scale from -5 (regression) to +5 (progression).
3. When you're satisfied that your numbers reflect the hero's progress, select the two columns (page number on left, and values of progress on right) and...
4. INSERT an x-y scatter line chart. When the chart appears, if you see any flat areas where there is no progress, or too much progress back-to-back, you know where to revise your script to get a good roller coaster for the variable evaluated.
The chart above is from a script I've been working on with a write for the past 4 years, and we seem to have a good roller coaster going. Charts like this can be easily correlated to a story's beats such as turning points, pinch points, and act breaks, to say nothing of the mid-point's Moment of Grace.
You'll find other posts about this topic at this link:
http://moralpremise.blogspot.com/search/label/Rollercoaster%20Charts
1. Create a series of numbers in a column corresponding to each page of the script (e.g. 1-106)
2. Step through the script and for each PAGE (not scene) determine whether your hero/protagonist is making progress toward his/her goal or is being pushed away from his goal by the antagonist. Score the whole page on a scale from -5 (regression) to +5 (progression).
3. When you're satisfied that your numbers reflect the hero's progress, select the two columns (page number on left, and values of progress on right) and...
4. INSERT an x-y scatter line chart. When the chart appears, if you see any flat areas where there is no progress, or too much progress back-to-back, you know where to revise your script to get a good roller coaster for the variable evaluated.
The chart above is from a script I've been working on with a write for the past 4 years, and we seem to have a good roller coaster going. Charts like this can be easily correlated to a story's beats such as turning points, pinch points, and act breaks, to say nothing of the mid-point's Moment of Grace.
You'll find other posts about this topic at this link:
http://moralpremise.blogspot.com/search/label/Rollercoaster%20Charts
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