Moral Premise · Harnessing Virtue and Vice for Box Office Success by Williams, Stanley D. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Copyright Dedication Contents Foreword Preface Introduction Part I — History and Theory

Chapter 1 — Premises and Values

Uses of “Premise” Lajos Egri’s Premise Message vs. Theme vs. Moral Premise Conflict of Values Identifying Values Premise Genres and Conflict of Values Exercises

Chapter 2 — What Socrates and Seinfeld Have in Common

Webster The Bible Aesop Socrates English Classics Criticism Modern Stories Exercises

Chapter 3 — The Moral Premise in Modern Writing Guides

Robert McKee’s Controlling Idea Michael Tierno’s The Action-Idea Michael Hauge’s Theme Syd Field’s Interior Life Field’s “Context” Field vs. Egri Other Authors Exercises

Chapter 4 — Storytelling’s Natural Law and Processes

A Natural Law Natural Processes Exercises

Chapter 5 — Structure of the Moral Premise

Form of the Moral Premise Themes vs. Moral Premises The Physical and Psychological Nature of Spines and Quests Moment of Grace: A Movie’s Fulcrum of Meaning Comedy Arcs Tragedy Arcs More on the Moment of Grace The Moral Premise in Multiple Story Lines Exercises

Chapter 6 — Identification and the Moral Premise

Suturing the Audience into the Story Physical Suturing Moral Suturing Identification Patterns Audience/Filmmaker Value Alignment What the Movie is Really About Exercises

Part II — Application

Chapter 7 — Strategic Processes

Begin with the End in Mind Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind Tactical Steps

Chapter 8 — Step 1. Determine the Controlling Virtue

The Story’s Virtuous Theme

Chapter 9 — Step 2. Determine the Controlling Vice

The Virtue’s Antagonist

Chapter 10 — Step 3. Determine the Moral Premise

The Story’s Ultimate Message

Chapter 11 — Step 4. Determine the Movie’s Genre

The Arc of Cultural Conflict and Resolution

Chapter 12 — Step 5. Determine the Protagonist’s Physical Goal

The Movie’s Physical Spine

Chapter 13 — Step 6. Determine the Protagonist’s Physical Obstacles

The Movie’s Physical Conflict

Chapter 14 — Arc Plots and Major Dramatic Beats

The Major Plot and Turning Points A Character’s Dramatic Arc Character Arc Plots Multiple Goals

Chapter 15 — Step 7. Determine the Major Dramatic Beats

Arc Depths Keep It About One Thing Later

Chapter 16 — Step 8. Sequence the Dramatic Beats

The Plot Timeline Beginning, Middle, and End Plotting Rules and Decisions Virtual Card Tricks Behavior Ramps Turning Point Characteristics Serendipitous Occurrences Three-Act Element Discussion

Chapter 17 — Braveheart: A Capstone Example

Braveheart’s Moral Premise Braveheart’s Arc Plots Braveheart’s Major Dramatic Beats

Part II Conclusion Epilogue Appendix — Research Abstract Films Cited Texts Cited Index of Moral Premises and Themes Topic Index About the Author