11 Questions You MUST Answer BEFORE You Start To Write Your Screenplay!

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1 11 Questions You MUST Answer BEFORE You Start To Write Your Screenplay! In this worksheet you will find the most important questions you can ask about your story or idea for a screenplay. There are other questions that one can ask, but all other questions can and should be answered only AFTER a writer knows the answer to these questions, because the information learned from answering these questions will determine everything else one must know about a story for a movie. Failure to identify the answers to these questions will result in a poorly thought out screenplay that will usually have a flat story and lack proper structure, focus & direction. It will also have trivial depth & meaning, with bland characters and ZERO chance for success. Here s the GOOD NEWS: The reverse is also true. If a writer can find creative answers to these questions, they will have laid the groundwork for a dynamic story with the potential to create a properly structured screenplay, with a clear focus & direction, that has relevant depth & meaning, true three-dimensional characters, and of course, a REAL potential for success. Now be warned. These question are NOT so easy to answer. In fact, some of them can be VERY difficult. DO NOT take shortcuts. Brainstorm, be creative and search for answers. DO NOT be or allow yourself to become discouraged, intimidated or overwhelmed by these questions. You are not expected to know the answers to all the questions at first and finding the proper answers can take some time. IMPORTANT TIP: Start with BASIC and SIMPLE answers. Start with what you know. Don t worry about cliché. Build on your answers to add more depth and detail, which in turn will lead to a better understanding of your story and therefore clearer answers to the questions. This circular pattern will reveal an ever greater and better story as you develop it. Lastly, these questions DO NOT need to be answered in order, rather answer them in the order dictated by your story. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS PLEASE VISIT: Copyright 2011 Reelwriting LLC Reelwritng.com & PlotControl.com All Right Reserved

2 MAIN STORY RELATED QUESTIONS 1) What is the significant event that is happening to the main character? (This is your PRIMARY SITUATION and indicates your INCITING INCIDENT.) Explanation: The foundation of any story is that there is a unique or significant occurrence or event that is taking place in the life of the main character. This event does not need to be universally unique or significant, it only needs to be significant for the main character in relation to their ordinary, everyday life. Examples: The main character has a problem when terrorists raid a building and take everyone hostage. (Die Hard) The main character has an opportunity to become a partner in his law firm if he can win a specific case. (Liar Liar) 2) What does the main character try to do to resolve, overcome or achieve the unique or significant event that is happening? (This is your PLOT MOTIVATION and indicates your MOVEMENT TO RESOLUTION.) Explanation: The unique or significant event that is happening requires the main character to do something about it. The actions the main character takes should be very obvious and logical. Ask yourself what is required of the main character given the circumstances dictated by the event. Please Note: This first course of action NEVER succeeds in overcoming, resolving or achieving the goal (whether or not the main character successfully completes these actions or not see questions 4 & 5.) Examples: The main character tries to alert the authorities about what is happening. To become a partner, the main character must lie to win the case.

3 3) What is the main complication, failure or journey that the main character must FIRST overcome before they can deal directly with the primary situation? (This is your PRIMARY OBSTACLE and indicates your FIRST PLOT POINT.) Explanation: In every movie there is a compelling or significant complication, failure or journey that the main character must first deal with before they can resolve the Primary Situation. This obstacle should be defined as a complication, failure or journey that impedes the main character from accomplishing the actions dictated by their Plot Motivation. Try and identify the 2 parts: 1) The specific obstacle and 2) The reason it is an impediment to his Plot Motivation. Please Note: This obstacle will the be the primary focus of Act 2. Examples: The main character is trapped in the building and the terrorists have complete control, plus they are trying to kill him. The main character's son makes a wish that his father can't tell a lie and the wish comes true and if the main character can't lie he won't win the case and therefore he won't become a partner in the firm. 4) Does the main character SUCCEED or FAIL in their initial effort? (This indicates your MIDPOINT.) Explanation: In every movie the initial effort to resolve, overcome or achieve the Primary Situation ends in success or failure, BUT even if they are successful they still have not resolved, overcome or achieved their goal. You should identify 1) if they succeed or fail, 2) what they do to succeed or fail and 3) why the Primary Obstacle is the reason they still have not overcome the Primary Situation. Examples: The main character kills one of the terrorists and throws his body onto a police car. At this point, he has successfully alerted the authorities (which was his goal), BUT the terrorist STILL control the building and they are STILL trying to kill him. The main character realizes that he can't tell a lie because of his son's wish, but his efforts to be able to lie somehow end when he can't get his son to make an 'unwish', so he STILL can't tell a lie.

4 5) What is the main character s second effort that finally does overcome, resolve or achieve their goal? (This is your RESOLUTION GOAL and indicates your SECOND PLOT POINT & CLIMAX.) Explanation: This should be some type of new REALIZATION or REVELATION that requires the main character to take actions that are unforeseen. These actions are usually the conceptual or even exact opposite of their Plot Motivation. At this point their initial effort to overcome the Primary Situation has failed and now they must do things radically different to resolve, overcome or achieve the Primary Situation. You should indicate 1) The specific REALIZATION or REVELATION (oftentimes bases on new information), 2) the new actions that are NOW required by the main character. Examples: The main character realizes the terrorists are going to blow up the building and kill ALL the hostages. This means that the authorities (that he tries so hard to alert in the first place) are not going to be able to stop them he now realizes that HE MUST stop the terrorists himself and not rely on the authorities. The main character realizes that he can win the case by telling the TRUTH, because his client has LIED about her age when she got married. SUBPLOT RELATED QUESTION 6) What does the main character want most intrinsically? (This is the PERSONAL GOAL and indicates the THEME and SUBPLOTS (as well as the Thematic Gap see Quick Start training and/or Mega Course Module 3.) Explanation: This should be a specific desire that is not directly related to the Primary Situation, rather it should be indirectly related. This should also reveal the character s real depth. You should also identify HOW or WHY the Primary Situation and/or Primary Obstacle impacts this desire. Examples: The main character wants to mend with his wife from who he is separated, but when the terrorists raid the building and take everyone hostage, they ALSO take his wife. The main character wants to get ahead in business, but when his son makes the wish that he can't tell a lie, it forces him to have a relationship with his son and re evaluate his priorities.

5 7) What is the underlying idea or concept that is expressed by the main character s PERSONAL GOAL? (This indicates your THEME which is the conceptual opposite of the Personal Goal.) Explanation: Every movie has numerous thematic layers. One of those layers is represented by the main character s Personal Goal. Underlying that Personal Goal is a thematic idea or concept that is being expressed by the main character s pursuit of that Personal Goal. Typically this thematic idea reflects negatively on a main character even if they are a good and likable guy (this is what gives them the depth and ability to change). Examples would include the pursuit of wealth, career, bad relationships, etc. Try and identify the specific theme associated with the main character and whether or not it reflects negatively on them. Examples: The main character wants to mend with his wife who is pursuing her career in LA. She has even gone as far as using her maiden name. This idea reflects POSITVELY on the main character. The main character is much more interested in his career and the opportunities that it offers over that of his family (ex wife and son). Plus, he will LIE at every chance to get ahead. This reflects NEGATIVELY on the main character. 8) What is the underlying idea or concept that is expressed by the PLOT or even the TITLE of your movie? Explanation: In every movie there are numerous thematic ideas that are expressed. One of these themes is expressed as part of the overall plot. The ideas or concepts expressed by this Theme directly influence the main character in relation to their Personal Goal. In fact, this idea or concept should be the conceptual opposite of the main character s Personal Goal. This does not need to be directly related to the Primary Situation and/or Primary Obstacle, but should be closely related to key story points that will be part of the subplots. You should try to indicate specific ways in which the Theme is expressed by the subplots. Examples: The concept of identity will be expressed by the main character's wife through the use of her maiden name, and by the main character s own identity which is going to be a mystery to everyone. The main character is going to be in pursuit of a career opportunity at any cost, even if it costs him his relationship with his own son and the specific case he must win will require him to lie in order to do so.

6 9) Describe how the THEME is expressed and represented in the subplots of your movie? Explanation: This should be specific characters that are related to the main character s Personal Goal, but represent and express the conceptual opposite idea. You should try and indentify ONE MAIN RELATIONSHIP CHARACTER who fits this role, plus 1 to 2 more secondary relationship characters as well. Examples: The Theme of 'identity' is expressed by the main character's wife who is changing her name she is also the main love interest. Also, another cop who becomes his confidant, but doesn't know who the main character is or that he's a cop, and a news reporter who will reveal the main character's identity to the terrorists. Plus, the terrorists themselves won't know who the main character is. The themes of family and lying will be represented by the main character's son and exwife, and his co workers, specifically his own secretary. Plus, the very case he needs to win to get the promotion is going to be a divorce case in which children and custody are involved. 10) Describe the relationship between the main character and each of the Theme Characters and how that relationship relates to the Personal Goal and the Theme: Explanation: These relationships are not the focus of the story, the Primary Situation is, but these relationships revea l the true depth of the main character and the plot. Explanation: These relationships are NOT the focus of the story (the Primary Situation is) but these relationships reveal the true depth of the main character and the plot. Examples: The Theme of 'identity' is expressed by the subplot between the main character and his wife, since she is changing her name and that is a significant issue between

7 them. Also, there is a subplot between the main character and another cop who becomes his confidant, but this cop doesn't know who he is or that he's a cop, but he suspects he is and he defends the main character from other cops on the outside who are suspicious of him. There is also the unscrupulous news reporter who reveals the identity of the main character and the main character's wife, and because of this the main character's wife ends up being a 'special' hostage. Plus, the hostages are going to be playing a continuous 'cat and mouse game' with the main character, but they don't know who he is. The themes of family and honesty are related mainly by the relationship between the main character and his son. It is the son that makes the wish that his father can't tell a lie. He does this because the father misses his birthday party, which the father promised to be there (and the father misses it because he is 'working' on the case). Also, the relationship between the main character and his ex wife will show that she left him because he lied and cheated on her. The relationship with the secretary will show that she is one of the people who generally helped him until she finds out that he lied about everything. 11) Describe how your main character (or the main relationship character) changes because of the subplots and influence of the Thematic Gap? Explanation: At the conclusion of most movies the main character changes. This change is called the Character Arc which is typically caused by the theme having an influence on the main character s Personal Goal. This influence makes the main character reassess their value system and specifically reassess their Personal Goal. It is this reassessment that causes them to change. Sometimes the main character does NOT change, rather they are shown to be correct in their Personal Goal and its value. In these cases, at least one of the theme-related characters (typically the main relationship character) must undergo a change instead. Examples: The main character's identity is finally discovered (and so is his wife's). She is taken as a special hostage that he must save. Once he has overcome the terrorists and resolved the Primary Situation, his wife realizes that her job and career ambitions might not be worth it and she even changes her name back. The main character realizes the damage he has done when he wins the legal case and now he holds himself in contempt. He goes so far as to ruin his chance for the promotion he worked so hard for and gets thrown in jail. In the end, he has to save the relationship with his son (and ex wife) by rushing to the airport to stop them from leaving in some dramatic way.

8 2 BONUS STORY QUESTIONS 12. Describe details about your main character that are specifically relevant to the story: (This is CHARACTERIZATION and indicates details for your SETUP.) These are the specific details and information about your main character that makes them RELEVANT to the specific story you are telling. NOTE: The answer to this question should become clear as other questions are answered first. Examples: The main character is a tough New York cop. He is estranged from his wife and kids, who are living in LA, because she had a job opportunity. He could not move with them because of a backlog of work in NY. He is visiting his family for Christmas and really hopes that he can save their marriage. The main character is an ambitious lawyer who will do anything to get ahead. He is divorced from his wife and estranged from his only son because of his career ambitions. He is completely incapable of telling the truth and lies about EVERYTHING! 13. Describe details about the world in which your movie takes place that are specifically RELEVANT to the story: (This is SETTING and indicates details for your overall story.) These are the specific details and information about the world in which your movie takes place that are important and relevant to both the main character and the overall story. Examples: The story takes place in an LA high rise building in downtown. This allows for the terrorists to keep the entire place locked down. The building also has the specific vault with the bonds that the terrorists are really after. The building will also set the stage for a tremendous amount of action oriented scenes. The story takes place mainly in the law offices and courthouse where the main character normally thrives, but once he is unable to tell a lie he might as well be from another planet, and it is the contrast in the main character's ability to lie that provides the arena for the comedy and humor.