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Lesson 11
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Assignment 11
William Whiteford – Dramatic RevealsIn this assignment, I explored the essence and role of dramatic reveals and how to effectively create them. Generally, reveals are the culmination of mysteries or the unveiling of a villain’s secret plan. They bring surprise and tension to the story. To construct a compelling reveal, it’s important to distinguish between exposition and the reveal itself. Exposition provides information about the story’s elements but lacks dramatic impact. Its main drawback is that it can halt the action and disengage the audience, often offering unnecessary details. In contrast, a reveal brings something previously hidden to light in a dramatic and engaging way.
A well-executed reveal generates an emotional experience and strengthens the emotional connection between the hero and the audience.
Steps to Creating a Reveal
A reveal is created in three main steps:
1. Concealment: Something important is hidden or covered up.
2. Building Suspense: A desire for discovery is created in the audience. This is achieved through mystery, intrigue, and suspense (MIS).
3. The Reveal: The hidden truth is dramatically exposed, often in a powerful and unexpected way.
In summary, two key elements are essential for a successful reveal:
• Creating anticipation for the reveal (through MIS)
• Delivering the reveal with a dramatic impact.
Working Backward to Create a Reveal
When constructing a reveal, it’s often effective to work backward. Start with the reveal itself (what will be exposed?), then determine how it will be concealed, and finally decide how to build the audience’s desire to uncover the truth (which elements of MIS will you employ?). To heighten the audience’s anticipation, it’s beneficial to incorporate multiple layers of MIS that deepen the intrigue. The reveal should be emotionally charged, and its presentation should be both dramatic and meaningful. Ideally, the hero uncovers the truth at the worst possible moment or in the most challenging way.
As an example, I analyzed 29 reveals from The Bourne Identity, focusing on the various MIS elements used to build them.
Important Reveals
1. Jack H. died three months ago.
A. The villain, Jack H., assumed a false identity.
B. He used forged documents.
C. The hero, Glen, had never met Jack in person before.
D. Glen discovers a hanged cat, and his accounts and files are hacked.
2. Jack is behind the mysterious animal killings.
A. Jack is the perpetrator.
B. He disguised himself as a veteran and writer (Glen), submitting false reports to the police and manipulating witnesses and interviews.
C. The series of animal killings was staged.
D. When Glen discovers the truth, the police detain him in a clinic.
3. The suspect veteran is innocent.
A. The veteran, “the man with a rifle,” did not kill the animals.
B. The villain, Jack, disguised as the veteran, shot the bird.
C. Who actually shot the bird?
D. The veteran is wrongfully arrested.
4. The hero’s wife betrayed him.
A. Glen’s wife, Grace, is unfaithful.
B. She pretends to support Glen but conspires with Jack in secret.
C. Grace meets with Jack behind Glen’s back.
D. This betrayal is revealed during a police interrogation.
5. Grace also betrays her lover, Jack.
A. Grace turns out to be a double agent.
B. She sets up a fake meeting.
C. Will Grace escape with Jack?
D. The truth is revealed at the airport, where Glen, not Grace, shows up to confront Jack.
6. The hero’s brother, Dan, reveals his violent tendencies.
A. Dan is the secret attacker.
B. He attacks at night, disguised in a balaclava.
C. A balaclava-clad figure lurks in Glen’s yard.
D. Glen unmasks Dan by pulling off the balaclava.
Reveals Integrated Into My Thriller Map
1. The real identity of “Jack” is revealed by Glen.
2. ,Glen uncovers: Jack is behind the mysterious animal killings.
3. Dan reveals his murderous impulse, further complicating Glen’s situation.
4. Glen exposes Dan – a night attacker.# # #
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