Moral Premise : Harnessing Virtue and Vice for Box Office Success,9781932907131

Moral Premise : Harnessing Virtue and Vice for Box Office Success

by
ISBN13: 9781932907131
ISBN10: 1932907130
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2006-06-15
Publisher(s): Ingram Pub Services
List Price: $24.95

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Summary

This book explains how the Moral Premise a statement of truth about the protagonists psychological predicament is a fundamental part of every successful movies structure. It is also a book about how you, the filmmaker, can appropriate the Moral Premise to create great motion pictures that resonate with large audiences.You will learn:The history and theory of the Moral PremiseIts components and structureIts use in creating remarkable character arcs, act breaks, turning points, and dramatic beatsA step-by-step method for embedding a true Moral Premise into a three-act screenplayUnderstand and embrace one of the most fundamental structural aspects of storytelling, the basis for the most popular movies of all time. Use what has proven to be successful in the process entertain, delight, challenge, and uplift this generation and the ones to come.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii
Preface xv
Introduction xix
Part I History and Theory 1(100)
Chapter 1 Premises and Values
3(16)
Uses of "Premise"
3(1)
Lajos Egri's Premise
4(2)
Message vs. Theme vs. Moral Premise
6(2)
Conflict of Values
8(1)
Identifying Values
9(5)
Premise Genres and Conflict of Values
14(4)
Exercises
18(1)
Chapter 2 What Socrates and Seinfeld Have in Common
19(14)
Webster
19(1)
The Bible
20(3)
Aesop
23(2)
Socrates
25(1)
English Classics
26(2)
Criticism
28(1)
Modern Stories
29(2)
Exercises
31(2)
Chapter 3 The Moral Premise in Modern Writing Guides
33(16)
Robert McKee's Controlling Idea
33(1)
Michael Tierno's The Action-Idea
34(3)
Michael Hauge's Theme
37(2)
Syd Field's Interior Life
39(2)
Field's "Context"
41(2)
Field vs. Egri
43(1)
Other Authors
44(4)
Exercises
48(1)
Chapter 4 Storytelling's Natural Law and Processes
49(12)
A Natural Law
49(2)
Natural Processes
51(9)
Exercises
60(1)
Chapter 5 Structure of the Moral Premise
61(24)
Form of the Moral Premise
61(1)
Themes vs. Moral Premises
61(5)
The Physical and Psychological Nature of Spines and Quests
66(2)
Moment of Grace: A Movie's Fulcrum of Meaning
68(1)
Comedy Arcs
69(5)
Tragedy Arcs
74(3)
More on the Moment of Grace
77(4)
The Moral Premise in Multiple Story Lines
81(3)
Exercises
84(1)
Chapter 6 Identification and the Moral Premise
85(16)
Suturing the Audience into the Story
85(1)
Physical Suturing
86(2)
Moral Suturing
88(2)
Identification Patterns
90(3)
Audience/Filmmaker Value Alignment
93(2)
What the Movie is Really About
95(4)
Exercises
99(2)
Part II Application 101(58)
Chapter 7 Strategic Processes
103(4)
Begin with the End in Mind
103(1)
Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind
104(1)
Tactical Steps
105(2)
Chapter 8 Step 1. Determine the Controlling Virtue
107(2)
The Story's Virtuous Theme
107(2)
Chapter 9 Step 2. Determine the Controlling Vice
109(2)
The Virtue's Antagonist
109(2)
Chapter 10 Step 3. Determine the Moral Premise
111(2)
The Story's Ultimate Message
111(2)
Chapter 11 Step 4. Determine the Movie's Genre
113(4)
The Arc of Cultural Conflict and Resolution
113(4)
Chapter 12 Step 5. Determine the Protagonist's Physical Goal
117(2)
The Movie's Physical Spine
117(2)
Chapter 13 Step 6. Determine the Protagonist's Physical Obstacles
119(2)
The Movie's Physical Conflict
119(2)
Chapter 14 Arc Plots and Major Dramatic Beats
121(14)
The Major Plot and Turning Points
121(1)
A Character's Dramatic Arc
121(1)
Character Arc Plots
122(5)
Multiple Goals
127(8)
Chapter 15 Step 7. Determine the Major Dramatic Beats
135(2)
Arc Depths
136(1)
Keep It About One Thing
136(1)
Later
136(1)
Chapter 16 Step 8. Sequence the Dramatic Beats
137(10)
The Plot Timeline
137(1)
Beginning, Middle, and End
138(1)
Plotting Rules and Decisions
139(1)
Virtual Card Tricks
140(1)
Behavior Ramps
141(1)
Turning Point Characteristics
141(1)
Serendipitous Occurrences
142(1)
Three-Act Element Discussion
142(5)
Chapter 17 Braveheart: A Capstone Example
147(12)
Braveheart's Moral Premise
147(2)
Braveheart's Arc Plots
149(3)
Braveheart's Major Dramatic Beats
152(7)
Part II Conclusion 159(2)
Epilogue 161(2)
Appendix Research Abstract 163(2)
Films Cited 165(6)
Texts Cited 171(4)
Index of Moral Premises and Themes 175(4)
Topic Index 179(17)
About the Author 196

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