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Lesson 5
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Screen Lesson 5
4 Act Transformational Structure – Lesson 5
What I learned from doing this assignment is: How powerful it is to break down the challenge into smaller steps and increments. It supports the suspense and keeps the audience intrigued. I love how this is coming together.
PROTAGONIST
1. Give us the following:
Concept: After being told by her fiancé, Justin, that he is thinking of calling the engagement off unless Andrea genuinely forgives her father, Andrea insincerely attempts to satisfy his wishes, but she fails to convince him.
Main Conflict: Andrea does not want to forgive her father since she does not believe he deserves to be forgiven, but she wants to save her relationship with Justin.
Old Ways: Staying estranged- not communicating.
New Ways: Tries constructing an email; tries phoning and leaving a message; invites her father over for dinner, but she includes five other people and basically ignores her dad. Finally learns how to forgive and to experience the freedom forgiveness creates.
2. Fill in each of these with the answers you have right now.
Act 1
Opening: Andrea and her roommate Laura are riding bikes on a path and pass Odd Character (OC) sitting on a bench handing someone a red card. They notice they had seen him a few times, but they pay no more attention to him. Then Andrea and Laura get ready to go out to dinner with Justin to celebrate Andrea’s 27th birthday. Darin, Andrea’s cousin, whom Andrea hopes will hook up with Laura joins them for the birthday celebration. At dinner, Andrea starts talking about her father, whom she hates. Everyone gets quiet – they have been here before. Justin becomes distant. Darin tries to introduce the Odd Character (Change Agent) and how he helped Darin, but Andrea politely dismisses the conversation – Forgiving is impossible.
Inciting incident: (Weeks later) Andrea and Justin are on their way to a weekend together, Andrea starts in again about her father and how much she hates him, and that he keeps finding ways to make contact, which she keeps ignoring.
Turning Point: During the weekend, Justin tells Andrea that he is calling off the engagement. He finally reveals that she either has to genuinely forgive her father or their relationship is over.
Act 2
New Plan: After some time staying distant from Justin, in spite of his attempts to contact her, she decides that she can convince Justin that she has indeed forgiven her father even though she has not. Talks with cousin, Darin. Meets the Odd Character and decides he does not have the answer, and he is just playing games.
Plan in action: Show Justin an email that she plans to send her dad. He likes it; she does not send it. Tells Justin she phoned her dad, but she did at a time he was not going to answer and hung up.
Justin discovers the deceit and decides their relationship is over. He can’t trust her.
Midpoint Turning point: Andrea realizes that this is indeed very important to Justin and he means what he says.
Act 3
Rethink everything: Andrea begins to really explore how to forgive, but she doubts it is possible.
New Plan: Montage of visiting a psychologist, a minister, a guru, a mystic, etc.
Turning Point: huge failure/turning point: Nothing works. Andrea discovers that the OC has helped Laura to genuinely forgive her mother. Laura can’t tell Andrea how to do it. Andrea heads back to OC.
Act 4
Climax/ultimate expression of the conflict: Andrea goes back to OC.
Resolution: demonstrates true forgiveness and gets back together with Justin.
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Jeanne,
Love the inner conflict and the theme! Nice! Is there a physical journey (besides getting back with Justin)? Having one more thing “to do” would make this even stronger. 🙂 Margaret
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Thank you for your comments.
Yes, great question. There is a complex journey. Andrea will be given several steps to follow to come to her ability to forgive. Stay tuned and see if it works for you. I love honesty, so if it doesn’t work for you, please let me know.
I really appreciate the feedback. I am very, very new at this!
luv ya, Jeanne🤗
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Margaret’s 4 Act Transformational Structure
What I learned: the 4 act structure makes it easier to fill in the blanks
PROTAGONIST
Concept: After an earthquake, Jabe falls into another world, aligns himself with an alien clan, only to realize they are being targeted for destruction as he relives the Masada experience.
Main conflict: Jabe is in a spiritual and physical battle. His main conflict is to survive with the Dorek who are at war with the Hedeon.
Old Ways:
· Run
· Ignore the conflict
· Freeze – take no action
· Negotiate
New Ways:
· Plan
· Lead others to Action
· Fight
Act 1
· Opening: An earthquake in Whittier, CA. Jabe runs from a building as its facing crumbles. He hops over fallen bricks, trying to get away from the building. He struggles to keep his footing, jumps aside as a car veers towards him. He stumbles. A crack in the road widens, comes towards him.
· Inciting Incident: Wakes up in another world, runs with a horde of lizards, chased by snakes.
· Turning point: Given the choice between living with the Hedeon or the Dorek, Jabe chooses the Dorek.
Act 2
· New Plan: Jabe attempts to negotiate with Armann.
Midpoint
· Turning point: Jabe returns to the Dorek and encounters the Orb at their temple. He accepts the Orb and loses his purple aura. When Armann realizes the Dorek has “turned” Jabe, he burns the temple and vows to kill all of the Dorek so that none of the Hedeon will come under the influence of the Orb.
Act 3
· Rethink plan: After discussing the situation with Imara, Jabe comes up with an idea to leave the city and influences Alo to take the Dorek to Masada.
· New Plan: Settle into Masada
· Turning pt/huge failure: The Hedeon are breaching the walls. The Dorek form a suicide plan
Act 4
Climax: Jabe realizes the Dorek must survive to save future generations from remaining “purple”. He plans and assists Imara to escape, at the cost of his own life.
Resolution: Jabe falls off mountain fighting with Armann, lands back in his own world. Sees the same auras (purple) as the world he left. Realizes he cannot stay neutral in this fight.
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Hi Margaret,
I learned a lot from reading your work.
Your work is to the point, has a good message, exciting action, and great inner conflicts. I’m looking forward to reading more.
Jeanne
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Thank you, Jeanne! I started late so I didn’t think anyone would see the posts. I haven’t read anyone else’s. Now that I know someone is looking I’ll take a look 🙂
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Tim Barley’s 4 Act Transformational Structure
What I learned doing this assignment is that although I hate structure and planning everything in advance, I DO know that it is the best way to get this done and that this lesson is tantamount to success.
PASS #1: Protagonists Martin Sterling and Lucifer
MARTIN STERLING
Concept: Uber producer Martin Sterling accepts an offer from The Devil that leads to a night that neither was expecting. <div>
Main Conflict: Martin suffers from all the bridges he has burned on his way up in Hollywood, and it isn’t making the night any easier.
Old Ways: selfish, egotistical, narcissist, bullying to avoid actual confrontation, values money over all else
New Ways: open-minded, risk taker, compassionate, empathetic, team player
LUCIFER
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Concept: When Lucifer returns to Earth to collect Martin Sterling’s soul, he makes him another offer that leads to a night that neither will forget.
Main conflict: Lucifer’s boredom and restlessness in Hell has given an opening to those who would usurp his power, and one of them has followed him to Earth…
Old Ways: solitary, tempter, evil
New Ways: responsible, light-hearted, “kinder,” playful
Act 1:
Opening: while getting ready for his sure-fire win tonight at the Oscars, Martin is bullying delayed payments to a writer of another upcoming buzzed-about project</div><div>
Inciting Incident: After accepting his award(s), Martin finds Lucifer waiting on him in his limo to go to the parties.
Turning Point: Lucifer makes the offer asking Martin to let him into his world of debauchery.
Act 2:
New plan: embrace all of the debauchery and darkness that humanity can offer in one night</div><div>
Plan in action: partying, drug scoring, strip clubs, after hours parties
Midpoint: time doesn’t seem to exist, they are in the thick of it, Martin makes one too many mistakes with another producer in public
Turning Point: Azazel shows up as they realize that this kind of sucks
Act 3:
Rethink everything: Lucifer begins to realize that not all who subscribe to this life are “evil” and meant for Hell; Martin realizes this fake life has no future</div><div>
New plan: Martin begins to repair bridges, confronts others, listens to even more, Lucifer vows to limit exactly who goes to Hell
Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: Azazel confronts Lucifer and [what]?; Martin’s next project is cancelled
Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Martin repairs final bridges, Lucifer sends Azazel back to Hell.</div><div>
Resolution: Martin announces his next “Indie” project, while Lucifer learns his is locked out of Hell
PASS #2: Antagonist – Azazel
Azazel
Main Conflict: pissed that Lucifer is on Earth and becoming “soft”
<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Act 1:
She arrives to make sure that Lucifer is doing his job and not just taking a break.
Act 2:
She lets Lucifer know that she’s there and that she has plans.
Act 3:
Acting as the innocent, young lady she’s pretending to me, she elicits help from everyone from cops, doormen, bar goers and anyone she can provoke to trip up Martin and Lucifer
Act 4:
She leaves, and locks the door to Hell behind her.
</div>
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Ed’s 4 Act Transformational Structure
What I learned doing this assignment is that movies have a specific structure that must be honored if you hope to attract producers.
Assignment 5: First Draft of 4 Act Transformational Structure
1. Give us the following:
Concept – On the very day he graduates college with honors, a young man’s life is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of three letters, two of which bear the worst possible news and the third a slim thread of hope. He also discovers he has the divine protection of an angel assigned to accompany him while he transitions to the next step towards his true destiny.
Main Conflict – His whole life he’s planned and prepared for his future, now he has to trust that the only door left open to him is where his future lies.
Old Ways –
New Ways
2. Fill in each of these with the answers you have right now.
Act 1:
Opening – Five or six guys around a table at a diner in a remote town out West. While clearly from diverse backgrounds, yet they speak like old friends, and their conversation suggests they’re about to embark on various missions. Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, it’s graduation day for Dave, the weather is beautiful and he sets off on his motorcycle, graduation robes flying in the breeze. Through the mail slot three envelopes drop to the floor. Graduation day proceeds as planned, commencement addresses are given, diplomas handed out, photos are taken, etc, etc. A fine day is had by all.
Inciting Incident – Dave arrives home, fairly glowing with well-deserved pride. His roommate hands him his mail. He opens the first letter, from his potential employer, withdrawing the job offer. The second from his girlfriend calling off their engagement. Feeling furious and betrayed, he doesn’t bother opening the third. He whips the “for sale” sign off his motorcycle and takes off like a bat out of heck.
Turning Point – While blasting heedlessly down the highway, weaving in and out of traffic, a minivan swerves out of his way, exposing a slow-moving dump truck. Dave brakes. The truck is impossible to avoid. At the last possible instant, Dave is snatched from his bike just before it explodes into the rear of the dump truck. One of the men from the diner, an angel, has rescued him. A police car returns Dave to his apartment where he opens the third letter, offering him a full graduate scholarship to Tall Pines College in Northern California..
Act 2:
New plan – Accept the scholarship or get a job at the tire factory back home.
Plan in action – Since Sam had to reveal himself to Dave to save him, he accompanies Dave on his trip West. They begin their trip and Dave gets to know Sam and discovers there is more to life than simply ‘winning’.
Midpoint Turning Point – After leaving Las Vegas, on a dark desert highway, Dave runs over a roofing nail and gets a flat. They camp just off the road. After Dave falls asleep, several angels visit Sam. They talk, but we can’t hear the conversation. In the morning a pickup truck arrives to take Dave’s motorcycle to be repaired. They stop at an unusual town, not on the map, that looks like it hasn’t changed in 100 years. Together they experience a convergence between Heaven and Earth that makes a huge impression on Dave.
Act 3:
A new opportunity presents itself, but it depends on Dave’s willingness.
They stop at the lonely repair garage where Dave’s bike is being repaired. It’s not quite ready, but they loan him one to continue his trip, promising to deliver his later.
Sam presents Dave with an opportunity to extend himself on behalf of others he probably will never meet. The alternative is to take the long, safe way.
Act 4:
Dave accepts the risk and joins them. After a long, tiring night of battle, the quest succeeds. The following day dawns bright and clear. Sam and Dave stop for gas, Dave goes into the store for a cold drink. When he comes out, Sam is gone, leaving a note explaining that he no longer needs an escort and can continue alone. His motorcycle is returned to him, in perfect shape.
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