STORY OF THEME AND PLOT

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STORY OF THEME AND PLOT

• JOHN RAINEY MFA
• RAINEY SCRIPT CONSULTING

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INTRODUCTION

• Relationship between plot and theme
• Holistic process of screenwriting
• Character vs story idea
• Inspirational bits and pieces
• Audience participation exercise
• Dispelling a misperception
• Point-of-view character in a film

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STORY POINTS OF VIEW 1 MAIN CHARACTER THAT
TRANSFORMS

• EXAMPLES
• CASABLANCA - Rick
• ADAPTATION - Charlie
• A FEW GOOD MEN - Danny
• THUNDERHEART - Ray
• JERRY McGUIRE - Jerry
• PULP FICTION Jules
• STAR WARS Luke
• GOOD WILL HUNTING - Will
• ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE George
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY - Frankie
• AND A ZILLION MORE

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STORY POINTS OF VIEW 2MAIN CHARACTER THAT
MAINTAINS STEADFAST VALUES

• EXAMPLES
• LEONES SPAGHETTI WESTERNS
• BRAVEHEART - William
• GLADIATOR - Maximus
• SPARTACUS - Spartacus
• BILLY JACK - Billy
• HIGH NOON Marshal Will Kane
• SHANE - Shane
• PULP FICTION - Butch
• BEVERLY HILLS COP - Axel

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STORY POINTS OF VIEW 3MAIN CHARACTER THAT
TAKES A DESTRUCTIVE PATH

• EXAMPLES
• CITIZEN KANE Charles Foster Kane
• ANGEL HEART - Harry
• SCARFACE - Tony
• LOOKING FOR MISTER GOODBAR - Theresa
• MACBETH - Macbeth
• PULP FICTION - Vincent
• MEMENTO - Leonard
• TAXI DRIVER - Travis
• THE WILD BUNCH - Pike

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STORY POINTS OF VIEW 42 main characters
(ROMANTIC COMEDIES BUDDY FILMS)

• EXAMPLES
• -WHEN HARRY MET SALLY Harry Sally
• -MOONSTRUCK Loretta Ronny
• -YOUVE GOT MAIL Joe Kathleen
• - SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE Sam Annie
• -TWO WEEKS NOTICE Lucy George
• -HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS Ben Andie
• -PRETTY WOMAN Edward Vivian
• -MIDNIGHT RUN Jack Jonathan
• -48 HOURS Jack Reggie
• -PLANES, TRAINS, AUTOMOBILES Neal Del
• -ODD COUPLE Felix Oscar
• -THELMA AND LOUISE Thelma Louise

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STORY POINTS OF VIEW 5 MULTIPLE CHARACTER
PERSPECTIVE

• EXAMPLES
• TRAFFIC
• PULP FICTION
• THE BIG CHILL
• GRAND CANYON
• LOVE ACTUALLY
• SHORT CUTS
• NASHVILLE
• WELCOME TO L.A.
• AMERICAN BEAUTY
• SYRIANA

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INTRODUCTION TOMAIN CHARACTER THAT TRANSFORMS

• HERO(INE)S JOURNEY STORY
• WHAT HOLLYWOOD LOOKS FOR IN SPECS
• THE TEMPLATE FOR MOST FILMS
• BEST FOR WRITING SAMPLE
• COHESIVE PLOT
• EMOTIONAL THEMATIC CENTER
• SOURCE OF STORY SPINE (STRUCTURE)

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DEFINITION OFMAIN CHARACTER THAT TRANSFORMS

• TAKES THE QUESTING JOURNEY
• MAKES EMOTIONALLY RISKY DECISIONS
• EXPERIENCES EXPANSION OF CONSCIOUSNESS
• BRINGS VALUES BACK INTO BALANCE
• REACHES A SATISFACTORY GOAL

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Main Character 1 AS PROTAGONIST

• CALLED HERO(INE)
• Examples
• A FEW GOOD MEN
• AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
• THUNDERHEART
• CASABLANCA
• ON THE WATERFRONT
• THE WIZARD OF OZ
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY
• STAR WARS
• GOOD WILL HUNTING
• DIE HARD

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Main Character 2DIFFERENT FROM PROTAGONIST

• Examples
• SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - Red
• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD - Scout
• PRIMARY COLORS Henry Burton
• ROSEMARYS BABY - Rosemary
• MILLION-DOLLAR BABY Frankie
• TERMINATOR Sarah Conners
• V FOR VENDETTA - Evey

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MAIN CHARACTERS JOURNEYS CREATE PLOT AND THEME

• OUTER JOURNEY CREATES THE PLOT
• Decisions Actions
• Creates Antagonist
• Creates Story Structure
• INNER JOURNEY CREATES THE THEME
• Storys Emotional Engine
• Moral Dilemma
• Main Characters arc
• PLOT THEME COMBINE TO CREATE STORY SPINE

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THEME?

• UNIVERSAL SUBJECT?
• TRAFFIC drugs
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY boxing
• STAR WARS oppression
• PERSONAL VALUE?
• TRAFFIC family connection
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY emotional vulnerability
• STAR WARS personal power

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DEFINITION OF THEME

• Theme is implied as a result of the inner
  emotional transformational journey that the
  point-of-view character takes, which is initiated
  by a Life-Challenging Decision toward an outer
  quest.
• The THEME is a resolution of the main characters
  needs and yearnings as the result of some past
  experience, or ghost, that throws a value out of
  balance in his/her psyche -- the Theme goal.

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PLOT SPINE

• LIFE-CHALLENGING DECISIONS
• SERIES OF ACTIONS AND OBSTACLES
• APOTHEOSIS
• ATONEMENT
• SELF-REALIZATION

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DEFINITION OF PLOT

• A coordinated series of actions taken by the main
  character in the direction toward accomplishing
  an outer quest.
• The PLOT shows us what the main character will do
  to fulfill his needs -- the Plot goal.

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MC BACK-STORY LAYERS

• Pet the puppy

REDEEMING QUALITY
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DEFINITION OF REDEEMING QUALITY

• A soul quality manifested in a characters action
  that has life-supporting, life-enhancing value.
  Hollywood has coined the phrase pet the puppy
  scene where a character does something positive
  early in the story that bonds the audience to
  him. This action of pure, positive energy shows
  the audience for whom to root, and gives it the
  impression that this character deserves to
  succeed in a quest.

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EXAMPLES OF REDEEMING QUALITY

• ALADDIN Steals his breakfast only to give it
  away to two street urchins.
• A FEW GOOD MEN Dan shows intelligent humor when
  he plea bargains a case during batting practice.
• ROCKY Rocky doesnt break the guys thumbs he
  walks the girl home whos hanging out with hoods.
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Frankie pays for Willies
  wifes car.
• STAR WARS Luke takes pity on R2D2 urges his
  uncle to purchase him along with C3PO.
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Will solves the theorem and
  tells no one.
• WIZARD OF OZ Dorothy smothers Toto with love.
• DIE HARD John carries a huge teddy bear through
  the airport.
• CASABLANCA Ricks kind to his employees.

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MC BACK-STORY LAYERS
REDEEMING QUALITY

• EMOTIONAL WOUND

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DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL WOUND

• Blow to ones ego in formative years, like
  rejection, emotional abandonment, result of
  physical injury or abuse, psychic abuse, birth
  trauma, etc.

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MC BACK-STORY LAYERS
REDEEMING QUALITY

• EMOTIONAL WOUND

SHADOW/GHOST
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DEFINITION OF SHADOW/GHOST

• From the Emotional Wound arises a shadowy
  specter of the psyche, which blocks the light of
  consciousness. It is an inner phantom that
  haunts and distorts ones perception.

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MC BACK-STORY LAYERS
REDEEMING QUALITY

• EMOTIONAL WOUND

SHADOW/ GHOST
EMOTIONAL ARMOR
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DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL ARMOR

• Feeling the fear from the haunting specter of an
  Emotional Wound, one creates a persona that
  attempts to protect the being and ward off any
  further attacks on ones vulnerability. Some
  build muscles some grow fat some develop skills
  (social, physical, intellectual, artistic) some
  accumulate knowledge. A belief system is
  constructed that manifests as mannerisms and
  attitudes presenting a mask that hides the ghost
  of the wound even from the being wearing the mask
  of emotional armor.

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EXAMPLES OF EMOTIONAL ARMOR

• HAMLET Hamlets scathing wit and probing
  analysis
• A FEW GOOD MEN Danny plea bargains
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Will slams people with
  brilliance and fists.
• THUNDERHEART Rays FBI suit and tie and
  ultra-short hair
• CASABLANCA Rick sticks his neck out for nobody.
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Frankie doesnt train girls.
  Tough aint enough. Always protect yourself.
• ROCKY Rocky maintains low expectations.
• STAR WARS Luke goes along with the program.
• SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION Red goes along with the
  program.
• DIE HARD John needs to be in control.

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MC BACK-STORY LAYERS
REDEEMING QUALITY

• EMOTIONAL WOUND

SHADOW/ GHOST
EMOTIONAL ARMOR
CHARACTER FLAW/VALUE OUT OF BALANCE
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DEFINITION OF CHARACTER FLAW

• A DEFECT OR SHORTCOMING OF SOME INTANGIBLE HUMAN
  VALUE THAT MANIFESTS AS A NEGATIVE TRAIT, OR THE
  SHADOW SIDE OF A POSITIVE VALUE.

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DEFINITION OF HUMAN VALUE

• A principle, standard, or quality considered
  worthwhile or desirable, such as faith, hope,
  charity, justice, prudence, fortitude,
  temperance, appreciation, humility, compassion,
  gratitude, honor, etc.
• Boy Scout code.

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DEFINITION OFVALUE OUT OF BALANCE

• Some principle, standard, or human quality that
  has been compromised or neglected in the main
  character as a result of assuming the protective
  nature of emotional armor through beliefs,
  attitudes, and behavior that rule character
  choices.

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MOVIE EXAMPLES OFVALUE OUT OF BALANCE

• A FEW GOOD MEN compromised integrity (Integrity)
• THUNDERHEART denial of ancestry (acceptance)
• ADAPTATION self-loathing (self-confidence/self-lo
  ve)
• STAR WARS lack of personal power (personal
  power)
• GOOD WILL HUNTING rage (self-forgiveness)
• OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN distrust (trustworthy)
• SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION hopelessness (hope)
• THE AFRICAN QUEEN self-serving (selfless
  service)
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY fear of intimacy
  (vulnerability)
• WONDERFUL LIFE feeling insignificant (feeling of
  value)
• DIE HARD fear of loss of control (allowing)

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MC BACK-STORY LAYERS
REDEEMING QUALITY

• EMOTIONAL WOUND

SHADOW/ GHOST
EMOTIONAL ARMOR
CHARACTER FLAW/VALUE OUT OF BALANCE
EMOTIONAL NEED
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DEFINITION OFEMOTIONAL NEED

• An unconscious longing, or emotional condition
  that requires relief. Some emotional imbalance
  that creates vague discomfort. The psychological
  state that creates rockets of desire in a
  character.

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EXAMPLES OF EMOTIONAL NEED

• A FEW GOOD MEN Dan needs to reconcile with
  father
• CASABLANCA Rick needs completion
• OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN Zack needs to belong
• STAR WARS Luke needs sense of identity
• ROCKY Rocky needs self-esteem
• SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION Red needs to feel hope
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Frankie needs to nurture
• ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE George needs to feel
  valued
• DIE HARD John needs to bond with his wife kids
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Will needs to feel self-love

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MC BACK-STORY LAYERS
REDEEMING QUALITY

• EMOTIONAL WOUND

SHADOW/ GHOST
EMOTIONAL ARMOR
CHARACTER FLAW/VALUE OUT OF BALANCE
EMOTIONAL NEED
CONSCIOUS DESIRE
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DEFINITION OFCONSCIOUS DESIRE

• Stimulated by an unconscious inner need, desire
  rises up as a conscious wish, request, longing,
  or petition for something to be, do, or have. -
  To covet or crave something or some state of
  being in the hope that it will fulfill this
  vague inner need. Desire arouses reason for the
  Decision To Act and gives purpose and direction
  to behavior.

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EXAMPLES OFCONSCIOUS DESIRE

• A FEW GOOD MEN Dan desires to be best at what he
  does.
• OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN Zack desires to impress
  others.
• STAR WARS Luke desires to fight the Imperial
  Forces.
• ROCKY Rocky desires to prove hes no bum.
• SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION Red desires to find
  something to believe in.
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Frankie desires to manage a
  fighter to a championship.
• WIZARD OF OZ Dorothy desires to find a
  trouble-free place.
• ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE George desires to do
  something great.
• DIE HARD John desires to spend Christmas with
  his family.
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Will desires to prove to
  himself hes superior to others.

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MC BACK-STORY LAYERS
REDEEMING QUALITY

• EMOTIONAL WOUND

SHADOW/ GHOST
EMOTIONAL ARMOR
CHARACTER FLAW/VALUE OUT OF BALANCE
EMOTIONAL NEED
CONSCIOUS DESIRE
LIFE-CHALLENGING DECISION
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LIFE-CHALLENGING DECISION

• A Life-Challenging Decision is one where the main
  character steps beyond the safety of his/her
  Emotional Armor for some lofty goal. S/he acts
  according to his/her current beliefs, which
  dictate reactive behavior, but a Life-Challenging
  Decision assumes risk as a result of the
  established Emotional Armor.

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STAGES IN ACT ONE

• ORDINARY WORLD
• Redeeming Quality
• Emotional Armor
• Character Flaw/Value out of balance
• CALL TO ADVENTURE/INCITING INCIDENT
• REFUSAL OF THE CALL
• NEW INFORMATION
• FIRST DECISION TO ACT/CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
• Stepping outside of Emotional Armor
• Start of Questing Journey

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CALL TO ADVENTURE(INCITING INCIDENT)

• The Call To Adventure offers the opportunity to
  the main character to pursue his conscious desire.

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EXAMPLES OF CALL TO ADVENTURE

• A FEW GOOD MEN Kaffee receives the case
  assignment of defending Dawson and Downey.
• STAR WARS Obi-Wan solicits Luke to battle the
  Empire.
• ROCKY Apollos manager offers Rocky a shot at
  the title.
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Maggie begs Frankie to train
  her.
• WIZARD OF OZ Auntie Em tells Dorothy to find
  some place where she wont get into trouble.
• ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE Pa Bailey urges George to
  follow in his footsteps at the Bailey bank.
• DIE HARD Holly offers John her spare bedroom.
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Lambeau rescues Will, tells
  him to see a therapist.

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REFUSAL OF THE CALL

• Refusal of the call shows the reactive behavior
  of the main character as a result of living out
  of his Emotional Armor, and sets up the intensity
  of the emotional risk when the character finally
  makes the Decision To Act that sends him on his
  quest.

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EXAMPLES OFREFUSAL OF THE CALL

• A FEW GOOD MEN Kaffee offers a plea bargain of
  12 years with no investigation.
• STAR WARS Luke feels obligated to stay on the
  farm.
• ROCKY Rocky plays along with Apollos publicity,
  but doesnt take the challenge seriously.
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Frankie says I dont train
  girls. Girlie, tough aint enough.
• WIZARD OF OZ Lets Professor Marvel talk her into
  returning home.
• ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE George sets off for
  college.
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Will blows off five
  therapists.
• DIE HARD John creates an argument because Holly
  changed her name.

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NEW INFORMATION(MENTOR BEAT)

• The New Information beat appeals to the Main
  Characters redeeming quality and offers a new
  perspective on the Call To Adventure.

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EXAMPLES OFNEW INFORMATION

• A FEW GOOD MEN Danny discovers that the military
  is willing to bargain too easily.
• STAR WARS Lukes Aunt Uncle are killed by the
  Imperial Forces.
• ROCKY Mickey wants to manage Rocky because he
  has potential.
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Frankies main fighter
  leaves him and wins the championship belt letter
  returned.
• WIZARD OF OZ Tornado takes the house away and
  lands it in Oz.
• ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE Pa Bailey has a fatal
  stroke and Potters primed to close down the
  Building Loan.
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Sean has a heart to heart with
  Will and pierces his intellect with some truth.
• DIE HARD (potential) Talk with Chauffeur makes
  John realize that hes denying his kids on
  Christmas.

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FIRST DECISION TO ACTCROSSING THE THRESHOLD

• A FEW GOOD MEN Dan pleads clients not guilty.
• STAR WARS Luke decides to go with Obiwan.
• ROCKY Rocky accepts Mickey as Manager.
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Frankie decides to train
  Maggie.
• WIZARD OF OZ Dorothy steps through the door into
  Munchkin land.
• ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE George assumes leadership
  of Building Loan.
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Will shows up after Sean
  challenges him, and finally starts talking.
• DIE HARD (missed beat) John decides hell risk
  apologizing to Holly so he can see his kids on
  Christmas goes toward the door hears gunfire.

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STEPS TOLIFE-CHALLENGING DECISIONS

• Major obstacle to the quest
• Self-doubt and falling back on reactive behavior
• Intercession by the Conscience Character
• New Information
• Beat of silence contemplating the risk
• Taking the action of risk

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ACT TWO ELEMENTS

• SPECIAL WORLD BELLY OF THE BEAST
  TRANSFORMATIONAL ARENA
• ENEMIES AND ALLIES
• CONSCIENCE TEMPTER
• BUILDING SKILLS NEEDED FOR QUEST
• TOTAL COMMITMENT TO QUEST
• APOTHEOSIS
• ATONEMENT
• NEW INFORMATION

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EXAMPLES OF SPECIAL WORLD

• A FEW GOOD MEN Courtroom
• SHALL WE DANCE Dance Studio
• ROCKY Training
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Relationship
• WONDERFUL LIFE Building Loan
• CASABLANCA Reconnecting w/ past
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Seans office
• Wizard of Oz Land of Oz

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ACT TWO L-C DECISIONS

• HAPPEN ABOUT EVERY 15 PAGES
• 45 - CREATING CHARACTER GROWTH (adjusting to the
  Special World) Adaptation
• 60 TOTAL COMMITMENT TO QUEST (approach to the
  inmost cave) MillionDollarBaby
• 75 LEADS TO CENTRAL CRISIS (ordeal
  apotheosis death of quest) MDB
• 90 THRESHOLD INTO FINAL BATTLE (reward
  atonement) A Few Good Men
• DECISIONS CREATE THE STORY SPINE

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DEFINITION OF APOTHEOSIS

• The Apotheosis beat is the seeming death of the
  quest. The Main Character sees no way to
  proceed. He has made every risky decision, taken
  every risky action and finds himself without
  options. The situation looks hopeless.

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DEFINITION OF ATONEMENT

• Atonement is a rite of passage that happens when
  the Main Character comes face to face with the
  beliefs that have run his life until now. Now is
  the time to see them as limitations that stop him
  from his present goal. He must embrace and
  transcend his shadow side and expand into a new
  belief paradigm before he can move forward.

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EXAMPLES OF ATONEMENT

• A FEW GOOD MEN Danny confronts his fear of being
  compared to his father.
• ADAPTATION Charlie realizes that he cant
  control what other people think of him.
• DIE HARD John admits that hes been a jerk with
  Holly.
• GOOD WILL HUNTING Will realizes that its not
  his fault.
• CASABLANCA Rick realizes that his personal
  feelings have little to do with the big picture.
• ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE George sees the effect
  hes had on the whole town of Bedford Falls.

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ACT THREE ELEMENTS

• FINAL BATTLE
• SELF-REALIZATION
• Awareness of Redeeming Quality
• Value in balance
• Theme revealed/implied
• NEW MORAL/LIFE ORDER
• New Ordinary World
• New rockets of desire

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EXAMPLES OF THEMATIC STATEMENT

• A FEW GOOD MEN Integrity brings honor.
• SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION Hope leads to freedom.
• THUNDERHEART Acceptance allows integration.
• ADAPTATION Self-confidence leads to success.
• STAR WARS Personal power leads to trusting the
  force/intuition.

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MORE EXAMPLES

• GOOD WILL HUNTING Self-forgiveness leads to
  love.
• OFFICER A GENT Trustworthiness leads to sense
  of belonging.
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY Vulnerability leads to
  letting go.
• WONDERFUL LIFE Feeling of value leads to
  accepting ones fate.
• DIE HARD Allowing leads to self-awareness.

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• QUESTIONS?