Used with permission.
The Megaplotter
by Andrew Ferguson
These are the story steps (see full version on Internet for explanations)[URL]:
- ACT ONE: The hero at home and the call to adventure.
- THE MAIN PROBLEM IS INTRODUCED.
- WE MEET THE HERO and find out the hero's PERSONAL GOAL.
- THE SITUATION IS ESTABLISHED.
- THE HERO RECEIVES HIS CALL TO ADVENTURE.
THE HERO TRIES TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
- ** CRISIS ** :
The hero again reacts to the crisis according to his INHIBITING
CHARACTERISTIC, but not quite as strongly -- because it has already begun
its reversal.
- THE HERO IS LURED, CARRIED AWAY, OR SENT INTO EXILE
by benign or malignant forces, otherwise he proceeds voluntarily.
- ACT TWO:
The hero commences his search and moves into the netherworld where he
encounters tests, obstacles, learning, discovery, and preparation.
- THE HERO HEEDS THE CALL TO ADVENTURE
- THE HERO BEGINS HIS QUEST FOR THE OBJECT
- THE HERO CONFRONTS THE THRESHOLD GUARDIANS
as his first test, beyond whom lies the unknown.
- THE HERO ENCOUNTERS A SERIES OF TESTS, TRIALS AND OBSTACLES,
which must be overcome in order to achieve his goals and defeat the enemy.
- THE HERO'S GROUP RELY ON TEAMWORK AND INDIVIDUAL SKILLS.
ARCHETYPES THAT MAY APPEAR ARE:
the nurturing, intuitive Earth Mother; the Shadow Figures/Reflections
(positive and negative); the mischievous Trickster archetype, who revels
in creating chaos through its wit and cunning, and who sometimes helps,
sometimes opposes (but eventually aligns himself with the forces of good);
animal archetypes, both good and evil; the Anima and Animus, the female
reflection of the male and the male reflection of the female.
- *** MIDPOINT CRISIS *** :
In attempting an all-out solution, a catastrophe tosses the hero out of the
frying pan into the fire. His prospects plummet instantaneously from
terrible to hopeless.
- ACT THREE: THE HERO HAS A NARROW ESCAPE
to emerge from the catastrophe of Act Two in one piece.
- THE SUPREME ENEMY
begins to take a personal interest in the hero and his friends now that
they have proven themselves to be a more serious threat than he at first
supposed.
- *** CRISIS *** :
For the first time, the hero's inhibiting characteristic is now an
enhancing characteristic, mild though it may be right now.
- THE SUBSIDIARY ENEMY
tempts the champions of good to join him in deposing the Supreme Enemy and
ruling the kingdom together in peace. This is summarily rejected as a
false solution: it would amount to the heroes doing the right deed for the
wrong reason.
- *** CRISIS *** :
Although his enhancing characteristic is now strongly positive, an ironic
tragedy befalls the hero when he is tested for the second time. Despite
the hero's newfound confidence, a tiny unforeseen element of failure wrecks
his plans. All his efforts and achievements appear wasted.
- THE GOOD SIDE IS BATTERED
and in danger of losing all.
- ACT FOUR: THE HERO IS FORCED TO CONFRONT HIS FLAWS,
his greatest fears, the nature of his deeds, and the true nature of the
situation. He may learn the true identity and motivations of the people
he is dealing with. The QUESTION may appear to have been solved, with only
the CHASE remaining.
- THE HERO IS PRESENTED WITH A TRAPDOOR:
a quick way to bail out of the quest and thereby cut his losses. Or he may
be tempted with a SHORTCUT: a way to achieve his personal goals without the
need to resolve his inner conflict -- this at the expense of his global
goal. This is the dilemma: the choice between his personal needs and those
of society.
- AT LAST, DEEPLY AFFECTED AND CHANGED BY HIS AWFUL EXPERIENCES,
the hero learns a GLOBAL LESSON or TRUTH about his situation, and he now
understands what must be done.
- THE HERO GAINS THE BOON HE HAS SOUGHT AFTER --
it may be treasure, the princess, recognition, knowledge, the Truth -- and
flees. The forces of evil give chase.
- THE HERO GOES AFTER THE SOLUTION
one last, desperate time, doing the things he knows how to do, using props
and skills and knowledge foreshadowed earlier in the story.
- *** CRISIS *** :
The hero's enhancing characteristic (formerly the inhibiting
characteristic) is now only one step away from completing its full
reversal.
- THE HERO IS RESCUED FROM PURSUIT.
He arrives home, sometimes unrecognized by his family.
- *** CRISIS/CLIMAX *** :
The conflict splits into two arenas: a one-on-one fight between the hero
and the Supreme Enemy, and a battle between the forces of good (led by the
allied shadow figure) and the forces of evil.
If the QUESTION still has not been answered truthfully, it is answered
here.
The hero is tested for the third and final time.
-
RESOLUTION: The false hero is exposed.
The hero applies the Personal Lesson or Truth he has learned. It
"heals" him or enables him to achieve self-worth. He is given a new
appearance and is recognized by his family.
The guilty are punished, demeaned and demoted.
[BACK TO TEXT]
MODULE 4:
SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting
8/97