Rising Action: This portion of the narrative makes up the majority of the Major Dramatic Curve. It is the uphill battle during which time the protagonist fights to win the goal. During this time, the protagonist will use a number of tactics as they encounter multiple obstacles that stand in their way. This is also the time where the character will learn the lessons needed or collect the items required to have a chance to win the final goal.
Save the Cat Beat Sheet: In screenplay writing, an underlying structure developed by Blake Snyder as a “paint-by-numbers” method of screenplay writing.
Scene goal: A tangible/visual objective for a character to fight for in an individual scene. Scene goals are usually tactics the characters uses towards winning their ultimate narrative goal.
Secret Item in the Closet: A physical object a character hides in their closet from their closest friends that reveals a secret which helps to define the character’s core and create additional obstacles for the character. This Item in the closet is also useful in the creation of subtext.
Subtext: The hidden meaning existing under a line of dialogue, which is not directly stated by the character.
Syntax: the grammatical makeup of a sentence that reflects cultural and linguistic attitudes of the character speaking
Tactic: A strategy used by the protagonist to win his or her goal. When the tactic becomes the core of a scene, this tactic is usually also a scene goal (see definition above)
The Three Act Structure: In screenwriting, an updated model of Aristotle’s narrative structure of beginning-middle-end. This structure, developed by Syd Field, divides a screenplay into four equal components (Act One, the beginning of Act Two, the end of Act Two, Act Three).
Villain: A character defined by his or her evil intentions. This character is not necessarily the story’s antagonist, but the actions of this character will have an antagonistic impact on the protagonist’s pursuit of winning the main goal.
Acknowledgments
A very special thanks to all the students I’ve taught, in my classrooms or attending my workshops, who helped me fine tune the information in this book over the years. Without their feedback, I would never have been able to grow and adapt these theories into the textbook you have before you. My students are my everything. I hope they all know how much they allow me to feel useful in this world.
Thank you also to Dr. Lee Beger and Michael Higgins, the two geniuses who first introduced me to the Major Dramatic Curve in my theater analysis and directing classes over twenty years ago.
Taking these concepts and creating this textbook couldn’t have been possible without the assistance of several wonderful people. First of all, thank you to Matt Peters at Beating Windward Press - oh Editor my Editor - for believing in this book so completely and spending countless hours assisting me in getting it ready for publication. Next, thank you to the best writing group in the world: Allen Gorney, Julie Anne Wight and Heather Startup. I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have the three of you to lean on and grow with each month. Thank you also to the others who have supported this project along the way, including Kristi Peters, Saritza Hernandez, Joshua Carlton, and those who have just generally supported me along the way, including Madeline Jarvis, Bud Jarvis (RIP Daddy), Stacy, Carlos and the Mejia clan, Lynda and Mike Mitchem, Tracy and Jeremy Reinhard, Jessica Straw, Tami Polansky, and my fellow writers at 5writers.com: Brad Windhauser, Darlene Cah, Linda Price, Ron Hayes and Emilia Fuentes Grant.
Finally, thanks to my beloved husband Phil, my wonderful partner in life that possesses the sense to get our fur-baby Tucker to leave me alone when I’m trying to write. Phil - nothing warms my heart more than knowing you fully and completely support me as a writer. I love you. I’m so grateful Murder by Death brought us together.
About the Author
Jennie Jarvis worked in the film and television industry in several major cities around the world including Los Angeles, New York, London and San Francisco. While working in Beverly Hills, she served as a script analyst, producing coverage for producers, investors, actors and writers. She worked as a freelance script consultant for over fifteen years working with clients around the world, and wrote and directed a number of short narrative and documentary films. Major credits include The Matrix: Reloaded, The Matrix: Revolutions, Accepted, American Idol and more.
Since moving to Florida, Jennie successfully built and coordinated screenwriting competitions as well as served as a judge for literary, film and theater competitions. She earned an MA in English from the University of North Florida and an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte. She teaches screenwriting at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
As a published literary writer, she is a co-owner of the blog 5writers.com and has an active social media platform. She won awards for her screenplays, essays, poetry and short fiction, and has appeared in Writer’s Digest Magazine and The Florida Writer. She is the Faculty Chairperson for the Florida Writers Association Annual Conference and regularly conducts networking and writing workshops.
More lessons on the Writing Craft and Publishing Industry by Jennie can be found at 5Writers.com
Jennie can be contacted via:
http://www.jenniejarvis.com
www.facebook.com/JarvisWrites
twitter.com/JarvisWrites
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