The Process Diary: using the rules

Well the fifth draft is now complete, and not a moment too soon. It is my favorite draft so far, and while I don't want to give too much away, I will detail below how I used the standard 3 act structure in order to make it easier for me, while still maintaining a coherent and original action story.

I don't shy away from structure, despite the trend I was subject to throughout my university career. I did a lot of textual analysis at university, and the subjects on narrative were always the most fascinating. I learned about everything from the basic structure of the hero's quest, to the experimental structures of feminist literature - an unusual genre that deconstructed the conventional 3 acts because many claimed it was developed under patriarchal systems, and therefore was inherently male.

Throughout the subjects where I learned about the film making process, I was surrounded by many students who wanted to break the rules before they had learned them, and would often make nonsensical films that lacked any sort of narrative, but was just a collection of shots based on random streams of consciousness.

My opinion: this was lazy film making, where there were excuses for not learning the rules. If you go out and shoot a bunch of stuff, edit it together and throw some funky color filters on it, the audience will interpret it anyway they wish and therefore, it is "art" of the purest kind - or so they claimed. Personally, I thought it was an easy way to earn a credit without taking full advantage of the tools and opportunity we were presented with.

I happen to like the rules. I happen to like the 3 act structure because it is by far the best way to tell a story that people will be entertained by. Many of the students I would have studied with saw structure as a crutch and believed that it was more difficult to come up with your own way of telling a story, and so claimed that was more artistic.

I claim that the structure is merely a platform. If you learn how to use it, you can tell an effective story with a message and communicate with your audience on a level that allows them to discover your message.

We are inherently creatures who are obsessed with patterns, symbols, signs and meaning. To produce something devoid of meaning and without structure is to make something that will not capture interest and will go unnoticed in the annals of story telling.

Here is a link to a good outline of the 3 Act Structure

An the outline as put out in one of my "bibles" Character Design Studio:

ACT 1:
Ordinary World
Call to Adventure
Refusal of Call
Mentor
First Threshold (first turning point)
ACT 2:

Tests, Allies, Enemies
Approach to the innermost cave
Ordeal
Reward
The road back (second turning point)
ACT 3:

Resurrection
Return with Elixir

I have used some plot points to change the sets around, because I thought it would be good to be literal. For example, I was originally going to have Aziz in a tent in one of the furthest corners of Market, then I read the line "approach to the innermost cave" and it is a perfect description of what happens to Marcus before we get to the first turning point, where the hero's path is altered forever. And so... I made Aziz' tent a cave. There, Marcus learns something of the mission he was on, and of himself, too, and there is great temptation to abandon his friends, which only heightens the conflict, and makes us aware of the stakes.

Other points of description helped me write key scenes too. Combined with a terrific exploration of possible religions that could help motivate our characters, this really helped me get plot points laid out in the right order, and then finish the pilot script to my satisfaction.

I now have a great little piece that works all on its own, and also function as a platform to kick-start the series. It introduces not only characters, but the world, key events that are important to the overall script of 13 episodes, and it tests our heroes so we understand where their loyalties lie.

So the story is going to begin to happen. It would be great if all of you could begin to spread the word about the process diary and Character Development. Here are a couple of banners you can use to post on your own blogs, websites, or sigs on forums.

I am also going to be ready to record a read through in July, so I am beginning the process of looking for voice actors. If you are, know, or wannabe a voice actor, get in touch with me: flawedprefect@gmail.com and I'll send you a character outline, some script excerpt, and notes on how I wish them to sound. Preferably, I am looking for Aussies, but since the dawning of the age of the internet, we are all part of a global village, now. All I require is the ability to do as culturally neutral an accent as you can.

There's going to be a bonus episode this week before I leave for Vietnam. It's the short film "Just a Thought", which I mention in the podcast this week. I will return min-June with the Process Diary with character concepts - the part I've really been waiting for.

Thanks for listening these past few months. Your numbers have increased to a minor cult following, but I am hoping to reach a wider audience.