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Lesson 10
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11 Replies
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Benita. Lesson 10 …….. INCITING INCIDENT. This made me add an important scene – a reaction. And I love the idea of an arc for each scene.
INCITING INCIDENT, Tracy sees a notice for an apprentice in Locksmith’s window.
INT. SHOP – DAY
BEGINNING: Tracy enters the shop. She stands watching MARTY grinding a key for a customer. Another customer waits in the queue.
MIDDLE: The customers depart. Tracy tells Marty she thinks she’s interested in the apprenticeship vacancy. He scrutinises her and doesn’t look impressed. She apologises for her appearance. It’s midmorning. Marty takes a risk and asks Trace if she fancies a cuppa at the café and a chat.
END: Tracy agrees. Tracy and Marty leave the shop.
EXT. MARKET – DAY
BEGINNING: Tracy walks through the bustling market with Marty.
MIDDLE: Tracy notices how popular Marty is, as stallholders greet him along the way. She is watched by vegetable stall assistant JIM. Jim stands behind his stall twisting a rubric cube. He drops the cube, grabs an orange and holds it out to Tracy as she passes. Tracy ignores him.
END. Marty and Tracy reach the market café and enter.
INT. CAFÉ – DAY
BEGINNING: While drinking coffee, Tracy tells Marty a little about herself.
MIDDLE: Marty explains that he doesn’t just want someone to serve behind the counter, he wants someone to learn the trade and help him. And that much of their work will be outside away from the shop with customers.
END: Tracy says that she’s willing to give it a go. They arrange that she will start on trial, on Monday.
TRACY’S REACTION SCENE
EXT. MARKET – DAY
Tracy walks through the market, her head held high and with a lighter step. She smiles at Jim and gives him a half-wave.
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Act 1 Inciting Incident
What I learned is there is a lot more to write!
EXT. HORSE RIDING STABLES – DAY
Frank (18) pulls up in his black ’54 Ford and approaches the grounds where the riding stables were. It’s now a massive construction site for new Levittown affordable housing. Fat, DUMPY CONSTRUCTION MAN is getting ready to pour a concrete slab. He’s the Joe six pack kind of guy who likely sits around watching reruns of Gunsmoke and Rawhide when not working.
FRANK
What’s going on? What happened to the horse stables?
The man throws his cigarette on the ground and eyeballs Frank, who’s wearing his leather riding gear.
DUMPY
Heya…Rowdy. New affordable housing…it’s called progress.
FRANK
What happened to the horses? (looking around) and all the potato fields?
DUMPY
Horses in the country. Getcha potatoes at the store…the feds approved all this so that’s the law of the land, so to speak.
FRANK
It also appears to be a law that simple men who lead lives of quiet desperation cannot have any sympathy with both man and nature.
DUMPY
Guess so kid…have a good day. I gotta slab to pour…
Frank stares in disbelief – looking at a hundred acres where the stables, fields, and woods once stood; no longer than a few weeks ago. He SLAMS the car door and PEELS off.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by Chris Spizuoco.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by Chris Spizuoco.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by Chris Spizuoco.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by
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Doug – Day 10 – Inciting Incident – I’m really glad to be getting this down on paper, in screenplay form. My beat sheet has been pretty close to an outline, so far – it will be interesting to see how it goes, going forward! PS – I wish the Forums would be able to hold the “Final Draft Screenplay Formatting” – but so it goes!
INCITING INCIDENT – DAY 10
CLOSE ON FRONT ENTRYWAY KEYPAD
Nick uses the building key fob (from his real estate company) to let himself into the lobby.
INT. PRE-WAR APARTMENT BUILDING LOBBY – DAY
Marble floors, ornate plaster designs on the lofty ceiling – bright, big, and nice! Nick takes it in appreciatively.
Feeling a vibration, he checks his phone. INSERT – TEXT MESSAGE
“Be there momentarily!”
INT. ELEVATOR – CONTINUOUS
Nick rides it up to the 6th floor.
INT. 6TH FLOOR HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
Nick leaves the elevator – noticing the staircase to the roof at one end of the hall as he goes to Apartment 6E and opens the door with his key.
INT. APARTMENT 6E – CONTINUOUS
Completely empty. Hardwood floors, freshly painted white walls. Nick slings his trusty duffle bag into a hall closet, just as the intercom by the entryway BUZZES.
Nick activates the “key” button to allow the person to enter the building.
NICK
Come on in! 6th Floor – Apartment
6E.
INT. APARTMENT 6E – MOMENTS LATER
DISSOLVE TO:
Nick is showing the first potential renter, a single guy, the sights of the apartment.
NICK
Great light! And check out the…
ANOTHER GROUP OF POTENTIAL RENTERS A couple this time.
NICK …totally new, high-end
appliances…
A GAY COUPLE (MALE OR FEMALE) THIS TIME
POTENTIAL RENTER …is the neighborhood safe?
NICK
I’ve never had a problem but check
in at the Precinct… ANOTHER COUPLE
NICK (CONT’D)
…They can tell you whatever you
need to know.
DISSOLVE TO:
(note to me: be sure to highlight “old ways”- tell ‘em anything to close the deal, even if it’s not entirely true)
AND…
Nick is now ushering the last group out the door.
NICK (CONT’D)
The application is on the website.
Looks like we’re getting a lot of interest.
(pretending to glance at his phone)
Looks like the first application has come in already! So… don’t let the grass grow!
He shuts the door behind them. Whew! It’s been a long day!
NICK (CONT’D) (sotto – exhausted)
Sure hope the first application has come in… or, at least, comes in soon!
2.
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW
The sun is starting to set.
NICK (CONT’D) (talking on his phone)
Yes! Buzz 6E – I’ll let you in and meet you in the lobby.
INT. LOBBY – EVENING
Nick takes his GrubHub food delivery order, gives the guy. As he heads back to the elevator – the lobby door labelled “Office” quietly clicks shut.
INT. APARTMENT 6E – MOMENTS LATER
Nick is using his duffle bag as a backrest – as he digs into his take-out Indian feast. Stops after a bite, takes out his phone, and makes a call.
NICK
Hey! This is Nick! Yeah! I.. I
spent some time with Alberto’s grandparents in Oaxaca. Yeah. I miss him a lot.
(beat)
But… New York City is keeping me busy! You know – the wonderful world of real estate…! I – I expect to make enough soon that I’ll be able to – No! Really – I’m not shitting you – you know me – Big time in the Big Apple, straight outta the box! Yeah. Don’t worry, Missy – it’s gonna be… yes! It’s gonna be fine!
OUT THE WINDOW
The sun is gone – it’s quite dark.
INSIDE
Nick stretches out on the floor, using the duffle bag as his pillow. Just as he’s getting uncomfortably comfortable…
NICK (CONT’D) (sotto – making the best
of it)
Mmmm. Way more comfortable than Jeb and Merrilee’s place!
3.
The intercom BUZZES harshly.
Nick stumbles over to the entry area, presses the “Talk” button.
NICK (CONT’D) (sleepily)
Yeah…?
VOICE (V.O.)
Just wanted to make sure the report
we got was correct.
NICK
What…? For the open house?
VOICE (V.O.)
No – that there’s a dipshit
unauthorized trespasser in 6E. But don’t discommode yourself, dipshit – we’re on our way up.
Nick wakes up in a hurry – as he releases the talk button and races back into the main room!
NICK Oh shit!
Grabs his duffle bag and stuffs all the remains of his take- out meal inside…
NICK (CONT’D) Oh shit, shit, shit!
(mimicking his earlier speech to his friend in an earlier scene)
Don’t worry about where I’m gonna stay! I’m a licensed real estate agent – with the keys to the City!
(beat)
I am so fucked!
Looking out the window and down to the street – he sees two UNIFORMED SECURITY GUARDS – one looking up from the exterior intercom, the other already entering the building.
EXT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
Nick quickly leaves the apartment, duffle bag slung over his shoulder, just as he hears the arrival “DING” of the elevator on the 6th floor.
4.
The staircase to the roof is at the other end of the hallway, closer to him than the elevator. Nick rushes over to it, runs up the single flight of stairs and hits the access door to the roof at full speed – triggering the DOOR ALARM the minute the door flies open.
EXT. ROOF – CONTINUOUS
Nick rushes out onto the roof, slamming the door shut behind him, looking around wildly – as the ALARM CONTINUES to blare!
VOICES sound from below…
As Nick sees SOMEONE standing at the far end of the roof – silhouetted by ambient light but shrouded in shadow.
He REACTS as the figure gives him a little wave – and, by its screen light, he’s able to see her putting her phone back into her coat pocket.
Curious (as well as freaked-out), he moves closer, cautiously.
NICK
Do… I… do I know you?
He looks back to the closed access door, then comes closer. It turns out he does! (know her, that is)
NICK (CONT’D)
Wait a minute. You were at the
airport?
SHANIA
And your real estate graduation?
A look between the two. Nick accepts that things are moving to a new level – though where that is, exactly, he has no idea!
NICK
We’ve… we’ve gotta stop meeting
like this!
Just as the roof access door bursts open and the two burly Security Guards charge out onto the roof!
Unperturbed, Shania continues to look at Nick appraisingly.
SHANIA
Y’know, if they catch you, I’d say
your newly minted real estate license is…. “poof”!!!
5.
Nick starts to reply, but… it would probably take too long! The roof of the next building, at the other end of this building’s roof, is at the same level and the gap between the two is not all that great. Maybe…
He quickly shoulders his duffle bag – grins at Shania – and, with the two Security Guards bearing down on him..
NICK Later, m’dear!
Nick takes off at a dead run to the far side of the roof – hitting the top of the low bordering wall at full speed…
And leaps across the 15’ (or so) separating the two adjoining buildings.
The two Guards stop short –
As Nick’s feet hit the top of the roof-bordering wall of the other building – does a low altitude, unintentional front flip and high-speed roll onto the other side – springs to his feet – trips on his duffle bag shoulder strap but bounces back up the minute he hits the ground (again) and races away towards the far end of that building’s roof!
THE GUARDS exchange looks.
GUARD 1
Don’t know about you, but that’s
way above my pay grade.
GUARD 2
Word.
They turn back to Shania.
GUARD 2 (CONT’D) You okay, Ms. Blackwood?
Shania smiles.
SHANIA
Pretty good distance, right?
They give her a shared questioning look.
SHANIA (CONT’D) I mean for someone carrying
“luggage”, right? Maybe not so impressive if he was empty-handed, but, all in all…
6.
The Guards look at each other.
GUARD 1
I could probably make it…
(hoping it isn’t)
If it were really important…?
SHANIA (waving him off)
Nah – you guys were great! You got here in, like, 3 minutes flat? Herman is bound to be happy with that!
The Guards are heartened by this commendation!
GUARD 2
Hey! Maybe we can intercept him
when he hits the street!
GUARD 1 Let’s go!
Shania is laughing to herself.
EXT. BUILDING FIRE ESCAPE – CONTINUOUS
Nick is sliding, climbing, slipping down the 6 old fashioned fire escape on the opposite side adjoining building, down to the street.
CUT TO:
stories of the of this
When he gets to the last landing, one floor up – he looks up along the side of the building to the street…
And sees the two Guards just starting to round the corner, still quite some distance away, but heading in his direction.
Nick looks down into the space between buildings at ground level and spots…
A small trash dumpster with an open lid, one story below, not too far away.
He leaps – overshoots it – but luckily lands on some additional trash bags – and, from the far side, quickly (and painfully) clambers back up into the dumpster and pulls the lid closed over him.
7.
INT. DUMPSTER – CONTINUOUS
Nick is trying not to make any noise…
NICK (sotto)
Ow, owie-ow, ow… As, from outside he hears…
GUARD 2 (O.S.)
Hahaha! Nowhere in sight! He must
be better than Rocky the Flying Squirrel! Probably flew all the way to St. Nicholas Park!
GUARD 1 (O.S.)
No big deal. I think Ms. Blackwood
just wanted to see if he’d really jump off the roof!
GUARD 2 (O.S.) I wonder why?
GUARD 1 (O.S.)
Like I said before, bro – waaay
above our pay grade!
Nick hears their LAUGHTER fade into the distance.
He takes out his phone and uses its light to illuminate his dingy environment when, suddenly, there’s a KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK on the lid covering him.
Startled, Nick shuts off the light…
As the lid opens. Shania’s face is framed by the security light overhead.
SHANIA
They’re gone. You can come out…
unless you’re more comfortable in here?
(beat)
Y’know, you can go back to the apartment. It’s safe now.
NICK
How do you know? That same person
could report me again.
8.
SHANIA (laughs)
I could, but I found out what I needed to know.
Off Nick’s reaction…
SHANIA (CONT’D) (matter-of-fact)
So… we’ll have your license transferred over to the parent company tomorrow and…
(giving him a look)
We’ll find you a more comfortable place to stay by the day’s end.
Nick is thinking fast, but, though he’s not quite catching up, he’s doing his best to stay cool. And, strangely, this whole situation is, er, kind of fun? But he can’t help himself and gives her an ironic questioning look (as he remains in the depths of the dumpster, not yet willing to relinquish its… safety?).
SHANIA (CONT’D) (reacting to his implied
question)
I would have thought it would be obvious. Before offering you – oh, let’s call it “a promotion” – we had to see how you performed under pressure.
Nick still isn’t sure where this is going to end up, but he’s beginning to like the overall direction.
NICK And…?
Shania reaches over to give Nick a friendly pat on the cheek.
SHANIA You passed.
She reaches into her shoulder bag for a business card, hands it to him…
SHANIA (CONT’D) Call me tomorrow.
…and leaves.
9.
SHANIA (CONT’D) (calling back over her
shoulder) But not too early.
Nick grins to himself.
NICK
(sotto – quoting himself
from his earlier phone call)
Like I said, Nicky, ole boy – “big time in the Big Apple – straight outta the box”!
10.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by Douglas Booth.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by
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Marilynne’s Inciting Incident
What I learned doing this assignment is… the story keeps unfolding
1. Outline Key Scenes 2 & 3 for Act 1.
SECOND SCENE OUTLINE
INT. VHP CONFERENCE ROOM – LATER SAME MORNING
BEGINNING: Dr. Isy and her team Benny, Monroe, and Zack meet around the conference table discussing the climbing scenario test scheduled for the next day.
MIDDLE: They argue about who should be the first tester. Benny has the most experience and makes the strongest case. Monroe and Zack are not convinced Benny is the best choice.
END: The team leaves the lab still disgruntled with Dr. Isy’s decision.
THIRD SCENE OUTLINE
EXT. ABC COFFEE SHOP – EARLY NEXT MORNING
BEGINNING: Benny waits outside the coffee shop with his morning coffee and bagel. A well dressed, sexy woman approaches him – not the kind he usually meets. She hands him her business card and introduces herself as Margo, a Global Techno Action (GTA) Human Resources representative.
MIDDLE: She strikes up a conversation and asks if Benny might be interested in working for a large R&D corporation, with a considerable salary increase. He is surprised by this sudden offer and says he’ll think about it. She thanks him and leaves him with her dazzling smile.
END: Monroe waves as she approaches Benny. He seems a bit “spaced out” as he tells Monroe about the strange conversation he just had and the job offer “out of the blue.”
2. Write your Inciting Incident scene.
INCITING INCIDENT: An androgenous figure dressed in black apparently randomly robs a local convenience store. Roberto, Isy’s 10 year-old son, is shot and sustains a life threatening spinal injury. She suspects the Saboteur is behind it.
Inciting Incident Scene Outline
INT. LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE – EVENING
BEGINNING: In preparation for watching their favorite movie. Dr. Isy and her 10-year-old son ROBERTO look for junk food for theirspecial treat night.
MIDDLE: Dr. Isy is at the back of the store getting beverages, Roberto can’t decide in the snack aisle. An androgenous figure dressed in black enters the convenience store. He pauses, then starts shouting “get down” and shooting randomly around the store. Dr. Isy looks up at the figure.
END: Dr. Isy has been shot and she crawls over to Roberto. He’s covered in blood and moaning.
3. Write the scene for the Reaction to the Inciting Incident.
Inciting Incident Scene Reaction
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM – LATER THAT EVENING
BEGINNING: Monroe distractedly looks for Dr. Isy.
MIDDLE: Dr. Isy confirms she is OK but Roberto has a serious spinal cord injury.
END: Dr. Isy confides in Monroe there was something off about the shooter – almost not human. She vows to track him/it down.
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The Sacred Kingdom
In this exercise I noted that the process is about creating the perfect arc for each Act and significant scene by putting a step-by-step planned structure in place so that each scene hits the right points and the intermediary scenes are used to set-up structural elements as well as character development/introductory elements.
ACT 1 – DETAILED OUTLINE.
EXT. FOREST – DAY
1.Crown Prince AKAASH(20) takes aim at a magnificent stag. As his arrow strikes, the animal leaps in the air and falls. A GROUP OF HUNTER FRIENDS cheer loudly. Akaash accepts their praise as his due. He rides on, followed by the others.
On the way, he spots an OLD MAN weighed under a heavy bundle of logs and a YOUNG GIRL carrying a water pot. He motions to one of his GUARDS to help him. The Old Man praises Akaash extravagantly, falls to the ground, prostrates himself before Akaash who accepts it, again, as his due, and rides on. The girl helps the Old Man up, and says loudly, that it’s the soldier who’s carrying the log who should be praised and not the an who gives the order. One of his party tells the girl off. Akaash is stung but rides on. One member of the group, disguised as a man, slips away.
2. EXT. PALACE ENTRANCE – LATER
The WAR MINISTER greets Akaash as he enters. Avanti’s arch-enemy King Shalivahan of the South is preparing his army to attack. According to cosmic law the Sacred Kingdom can only be attacked if there is no monarch on the throne. Akaash must be crowned king urgently.
The COURT GURU is doubtful, Akaash is not ready for kingship.
3. INT. QUEEN’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS
Akaash goes to visit his mother and get her blessing.
4. INT. A SMALL SPACE IN THE APARTMENT – SIMULTANEOUS
The disguised figure strips of her hunting garb and picks up a voile garment.
5. QUEEN’S APARTMENT
The figure is MOHINI (19) daughter of the QUEEN’s late companion she joings them. The QUEEN tells AKAASH he is not ready to be king. He will dishonor his father and the throne if he is crowned. It’s like a slap in the face.
6. EXT. GARDEN – LATER
Akaash confesses secret doubts about his own worthiness to Mohini. Mohini tries to convince Akaash that there’s still time and if he works hard on the principles and values set out from ancient times, he will be an excellent ruler. But Akaash chooses to avoid that option. He decides to go in search of his father who may still be alive and ask about his doubts about him. Mohini gives him a little box containing the ‘memory gem’ made from the tears of her mother who was a celestial nymph.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by Shahrukh Shackle.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by Shahrukh Shackle.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by
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The Sacred Kingdom
This lesson allowed me to develop the ACT 1 scenes more fully and to lead me sequentially to writing the full scene.
ACT 1 – DETAILED OUTLINE+TP SCENE
EXT. FOREST – DAY
Crown Prince AKAASH(20) takes aim at a magnificent stag. As his arrow strikes, the animal leaps in the air and falls. A GROUP OF HUNTER FRIENDS cheer loudly. Akaash accepts their praise as his due. He rides on, followed by the others.
On the way, he spots an OLD MAN weighed under a heavy bundle of logs and a YOUNG GIRL carrying a water pot. He motions to one of his GUARDS to help him. The Old Man praises Akaash extravagantly, falls to the ground, prostrates himself before Akaash who accepts it, again, as his due, and rides on. The girl helps the Old Man up, and says loudly, that it’s the soldier who’s carrying the log who should be praised and not the an who gives the order. One of his party tells the girl off. Akaash is stung but rides on. One member of the group, disguised as a man, slips away.
EXT. PALACE ENTRANCE – LATER
The WAR MINISTER greets Akaash as he enters. Avanti’s arch-enemy King Shalivahan of the South is preparing his army to attack. According to cosmic law the Sacred Kingdom can only be attacked if there is no monarch on the throne. Akaash must be crowned king urgently.
The COURT GURU is doubtful, Akaash is not ready for kingship.
INT. QUEEN’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS
Akaash goes to visit his mother and get her blessing.
INT. A SMALL SPACE IN THE APARTMENT – SIMULTANEOUS
The disguised figure strips of her hunting garb and picks up a voile garment.
QUEEN’S APARTMENT
The figure is MOHINI (19) daughter of the QUEEN’s late companion she joings them. The QUEEN tells AKAASH he is not ready to be king. He will dishonor his father and the throne if he is crowned. It’s like a slap in the face.
EXT. GARDEN – LATER
Akaash confesses secret doubts about his own worthiness to Mohini. Mohini tries to convince Akaash that there’s still time and if he works hard on the principles and values set out from ancient times, he will be an excellent ruler. But Akaash chooses to avoid that option. He decides to go in search of his father who may still be alive and ask about his doubts.
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Lesson 11
EXT. BATTLE-PRACTICE ARENA – NIGHT
Akaash swings a massive axe with the full power of his body, repeatedly attacking a tree-like block of wood. Mohini comes in dressed in armour watches for a moment and calls out. He swings around with his axe seeing her in full armour and she stops his axe with hers. She challenges him about his fury saying everyone knows his skill and might with an axe. If he spent the same energy on the rules of kingship, he would very quickly make a worthy king. Akaash says that it was his father’s duty to develop the qualities he needed but he preferred to go off on adventurous missions with his kid brother.
He confesses he has always had secret doubts about his own worthiness because his father focused on what should try to achieve without ever validating is actual achievements.
Mohini tries to convince Akaash there’s still time. He has all the qualities of a warrior and an athlete. He just needs is to work on the time-honoured values and principles of rulership. She points out that a worthy king would get off his horse immediately and helping the Old Man rather than wait to summon a soldier to do it. Akaash rejects her advice option. He decides to go in search of his father who may still be alive. Mohini gives him a ‘memory-gem’- a gift from her by her mother before she died.
……
ACT 1 Turning Point
EXT. BATTLE-PRACTICE ARENA – NIGHT
Akaash swings a massive axe with the full power of his body, repeatedly attacking a tree-like block of wood. Mohini comes in dressed in full armor watches for a moment and calls out.
MOHINI
(in a deep voice)
Prince Akaash! Use that axe on someone who can fight back!
Akaash hears the challenge and seeing her in full armor he swings his axe. She stops his axe with hers. He is about to swing again. Mohini has taken off her helmet.
AKAASH
Mohini!
MOHINI
Everyone knows your might with an axe. Use the energy to learn the ancient rules of king-ship? They say wisdom is mightier than the axe.
AKAASH
My father should have been here to teach me. But he left me behind and went adventuring with my little brother.
Mohini snorts.
MOHINI
Vital rule of kingship. The eldest son remains to protect the kingdom and take over if, heaven forbid, he’s killed on a mission.
AKAASH
He never took the time to guide me. Or validated my achievements.
MOHINI
The gurus wait for you every day. Put your mind to it and you’ll soon become worthy of the throne.
AKAASH
Where do I begin?
MOHINI
With compassion. The next time you see someone who needs help, get off your horse and help instead of waiting for your guard?
Akaash is taken aback.
MOHINI
Just the little things. A true king is a servant to his people.
Akaash has a light bulb moment.
AKAASH
I’m going to find my father.
It’s Mohini’s turn to be taken aback.
MOHINI
You’d abandon Avanti to that demon Shalivahana?
AKAASH
I have a question for him.
Akaash feels a movement and looks behind him.
THE QUEEN MOTHER
Go with my blessing.
AKAASH
What of you and Mohini?
THE QUEEN MOTHER
We hav the entire Avant army to protect us.
MOHINI
We women know how to protect ourselves.
She feels around inside her armour and hands Akaash a small box.
MOHINI
The Memory Gem. Made from my mother’s tears. Her last gift.
Akaash bows deeply to his mother. She raises her hand in blessing and leaves.
Akaash comes close to Mohini. She leans her cheek against his. He strokes her hair, then turns and walks into the night.
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Lesson 10 Pam Ewing’s Inciting Incident
I learned to add more stress on the character but what I confronted in me is my lack of commitment. I can’t commit to a script decision so I don’t finish. So this is me making a non-decision and fumbling forward anyway. This is more like a 5% there draft.
Inciting Incident in concept
Pre incident:
· Natalie is a phony working online with a greenscreen background that she’s really somewhere else.
· It has been 2 years since her mother died. She must go to the will reading – the attorney insists.
· Her ex shows up to take her to the reading. She’s happy to see him but it comes out as anger.
· He says the attorney ‘hired’ him to get her to the reading – nothing virtual.
· He literally kidnaps her to get her to the reading.
Inciting Incident:
· AT reading Natalie is given charge to go to her homeland and claim her birthright within a the next month/during a period of full moon/blue moon (happen about every 2 years)/??
· She is given a necklace she recalled her mother wearing when she was a child
· She’s given travel instructions and a travel coordinator
· Her ex is also given a letter but we don’t yet know what’s in the letter
· She starts wearing the necklace
Reaction to Incident:
· Natalie connects with the travel coordinator
· Coordinator has luckily found a translator guide for her
· Natalie experiences weird sensations and faints in a hot spell
· She thinks she’s getting menopause
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INCITING INCIDENT
DAVID BRUNO
“What I learned doing this assignment is…?”
I realized how powerful an inciting incident can propel a story.
———–
ASSIGNMENT:
1. Outline key scenes 2 and 3 for act 1.
-Key scene: (inciting incident)
Beginning: students travel to Mojave Desert to see the Nevada Triangle.
Middle: arrival at the Mojave Desert and see the environment.
End: An actual alien spacecraft is sighted.
-Key scene: (protagonist reacts emotionally)
Beginning: Varied reactions to the alien spacecraft sighting.
Middle: Alistar is overwhelmed with the sighting and so are the students. All are hysterical.
End: Returning to campus, different rationalization are asserted in an argumentative fashion, no one is at peace.
2. Write your Inciting Incident scene.
EXT. TRAVELING TO MOJAVE DESERT – DAY
Alistar offers further insight into the FERMI PARADOX and students’ reactions are uniformly skeptical.
EXT. MOJAVE DESERT – DAY
All at once the students see the bright flash of light coming from a spacecraft they cannot identify. Hovering over the students it pulsates and moves at incredible speeds and stops as fast. Maneuvering at 90 degree angles it beams a light on each of the students and shocks them in turn. Alistar is trying to cope with something out of his control and is at his wits end. The spacecraft exist vertically in an instance and disappears.
3. Write the scene for the Reaction to the Inciting Incident.
EXT. RETURNING TO CAMPUS – DAY
Alistar is without skill to calm the students hysteria and can hardly calm down himself. The students assert different arguments to explain their experience, none are similar in any way. Some express seeing colors, other say they heard voices from people in their past. Much confusion prevails.
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Aina’s Inciting Incident
What I learned doing this assignment is to make sure the theme does not get lost as I outline the scenes. Also keeping the theme in mind helps with developing scenes which are not fleshed out yet.
INT. APARTMENT – DAY – SPRING
BEGINNING: Urr lost among towers of boxes, but sticks to his cleaning routine.
MIDDLE: Talk of moving, and excitement about the house. Let Urr physically trip over something – action!!! Urr puzzled – moving, moving where? Listens in. FEAR: what will happen to me when they leave? They cannot leave without me? Dramatic: life will never be the same again – but when it ever is? PLACEHOLDER: Urr frets about, takes things out of boxes, this causes arguments among family members, and they pack faster than he can take things out.
END: Beaten, Urr realises he must go with the change. Begins to pack packing must be all about holding onto the old. They cannot go without me, without me they will loose all their luck, and without them I don’t know what will happen to me. OR is it better if he is still in denial?
INT. APARTMENT – DAY – SUMMER
INCITING INCIDENT:
BEGINNING: Movers move out furniture and boxes – family dog going bonkers.
MIDDLE: Urr flaps about, does not know what to take along. He does not want to go. But must. Box with his things is taken out. What now? FEAR: physically afraid now. Daughter asks if Family Elf comes along. Mother says yes. But what if there is an house elf already there. Mom: they will have to get along then. Urr shivers just at the thought of it. How to catch the ride? Almost falls behind.
END: pulls himself together and climbs into one of the other boxes or takes a ride with the Dog – he must be in such a place that he can have a conversation with himself and also see out when we get to the farm – lamp shade? Mia’s doll box – he does not want company, so arranges dolls not to look at him? But then do bring the dolls in earlier or later, too.
INT. BOX – DAY – CONTINUOUS
BEGINNING: Urr in the box – freaking out. Fear – refusal.
MIDDLE: clears the corner for himself from toys – give me some space!
END: I hope the new place is nice and quiet and small – it will be fine – but he does not believe in it himself?
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Sorry, pasted a wrong lesson here and am not sure how to delete the reply 🙁
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ACT 2 BEAT SHEET
EXT. CEMETERY – DAY
Monique is shunned by her friends and coworkers, and is effectively run out of town.
EXT. LIQUOR STORE – NIGHT
Monique goes on a liquor run and overhears former friends trashing her. She decides to leave town.
ACT 2 OUTLINE
EXT. CEMETERY – DAY
BEGINNING: Monique stumbles out the car, acting like a stereotypical grieving widow. She is wearing full black, a hat with veil, and sobbing dramatically into a handkerchief.
MIDDLE: Monique turns to Kira and attempts to lean on her for support, but Kira quickly turns away.
END: Monique is left alone at the graveside. No one attempts to comfort her.
EXT. LIQUOR STORE – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Monique stumbles around the store, accidentally breaking a bottle.
MIDDLE: The store clerk disgustedly starts cleaning up as Monique arrogantly tosses a few bills at him.
END: Monique looks up to see a few former friends and coworkers openly laughing at her. She has a rare moment of self-awareness, and realizes she has to leave town and turn over a new leaf.
ACT 3 BEAT SHEET
INT. HOUSE – DAY
Monique arrives at her house in San Clemente, and tries to settle in, but is confronted by a squatter.
BEGINNING: Monique struts around her new house, planning an over-the-top remodel. She immediately gets off on the wrong foot with her new neighbors.
MIDDLE: Coming back home, Monique is confronted with an unfamiliar car blocking her driveway, and a stranger who claims the house is his.
END: The police are called, and when Monique can’t
prove her identity, she is arrested and charged with trespassing.
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