tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post6212526912878795755..comments2024-03-27T12:13:34.159-05:00Comments on The Moral Premise Blog: Story Structure Craft: CLOVERFIELD: Is There Danger in Helping Those We Care Most About?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-39066792361516727862011-12-29T06:37:17.331-05:002011-12-29T06:37:17.331-05:00In re-reading my last comment, "He learns wha...In re-reading my last comment, "He learns what it (being a hero) means in his own death" brings to mind the ending of STRANGER THAN FICTION. (Enuf said on that.)Stan Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12084603289444240062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-72174034456865254632011-03-23T16:20:30.319-05:002011-03-23T16:20:30.319-05:00Ray,
Sounds like a good story. "Compelling&q...Ray,<br /><br />Sounds like a good story. "Compelling" implies a number of issues. But let me answer, or comment on a few things, having only your post to go by.<br /><br />1. Beware of trying to fit an existing story (e.g. a true story), into a structure that will satisfy an audience. It is nearly impossible. Usually the story has to change to fit the structure. This is one reason why bio pics do poorly at the box office -- they're written to honor the deceased, not satisfy the audience with a structure they can follow and then apply to their personal lives.<br /><br />2. A young man who stays in the U.S. for reasons of safety is struggling with selfishness, cowardice, or something like that. When he finally goes to war (an assumption on my part, as opposed to just going to England to see his girl), he may do so for reasons of courage or selflessness. That is compelling the stuff of which heroes are made. <br /><br />3. If you want a redemptive movie, then you establish in Act 1 his selfishness and cowardice, and then see him change so that he willingly gives his life for something bigger than himself. If you aim for a tragedy, then he dies in vain, not achieving anything of value, except the death of his self-importance. In the redemptive story, early in the story establish an altruistic goal, which he doesn't think he'll ever achieve. (Have you read Lord Tennyson's poem THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, which is about the conflict between courage and honor?) When his girlfriend rejects him, perhaps that's the Moment of Grace for him. Why? Because she sees that the war is about more than herself or him. Since he can only think of his safety, she rejects him. (Good for her.) It's then that he sees there are people suffering around him far greater than he is with a broken heart. He begins to help others, and in so doing is transformed into a hero. His death is then redemptive, especially if he dies in helping others. That reaches back to the altruistic goal from Act 1 about what it means to be heroic. He learns what it means in his own death.Stan Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12084603289444240062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3841939281455717340.post-69226855753269799782011-03-23T15:47:28.176-05:002011-03-23T15:47:28.176-05:00Thank you for this! I read the MP book and have b...Thank you for this! I read the MP book and have been trying to apply the principles to my own project, but I've had a bit of difficulty in trying to get it "just right." The story I am working on is a true story about a young man who can safely sit out the war in the U.S., but his family, friends and especially his girlfriend are being attacked in England. It takes awhile, but he decides he has to return to England, and must overcome many obstacles before he can do so. He runs TOWARD danger. Once back in England, he is reunited with his girlfriend only to find that she is not romantically interested in him (only as a "friend"). Six months later he is killed in an accident, <b>but only after he wrote one of the most famous poems ever written</b>. The question I had: how to make this a compelling story when the protaganist overcomes all obstacles, achieves his goal, but a) doesn't get the girl, and b) is killed. That is why this post gave me some important clues on how to handle my story. Thanks!Rayhttp://ray@highflightproductions.comnoreply@blogger.com