Dramatica Weekend Workshop Syllabus

5 STORYENCODING

 

Storyencoding: The process of developing scenarios and images to convey the underlying dramatic appreciations of a story.

* Video Clips: Various storyencoding examples from The Fugitive.

 

Examples of Storyencoding as found in the movie The Fugitive

OBJECTIVE STORY

THROUGHLINE EXAMPLES

 

OS Domain: Universe – a situation is the general area in which the objective story’s problem resides Dr. Richard Kimble has been wrongly convicted of Mrs. Kimble’s murder
OS Concern: The Future – what will happen or what will be is the area of shared concern in the objective story The public’s future safety
OS Range: Preconception – unwillingness to re-evaluate is the objective story’s thematic focus Guilty! Innocent!
OS Problem: Help – a direct assistance to another’s effort to achieve their goal is the source of the objective story’s difficulties When people help it messes things up
OS Solution: Hinder – a direct detraction from another’s effort to achieve their goal is the actual remedy for the objective story’s problem(s) Only by obstructing "Justice" will true justice be served -- impeding things long enough to let everything rebalance
OS Focus: Control – a method based on organization and constraint is the principal symptom of the objective story’s problem(s) Imprisoning bad guys; controlling (and falsifying) Provasic drug results
OS Direction: Uncontrolled – a disorganized response is the apparent remedy for the principal symptom of the objective story’s problem(s) Escaping prisoners; convicted murderers on the run; vigilante police; release of the Provasic drug into the public sector; etc.

 

 

MAIN CHARACTER

THROUGHLINE EXAMPLES

 

MC Domain: Physics – an activity is the general area which defines Dr. Richard Kimble’s attributes Stay free long enough to identify person responsible for Mrs. Kimble’s murder.
MC Concern: Obtaining – achieving or possessing something is the area of Dr. Richard Kimble’s greatest concern Discover (and obtain evidence indicating) who was responsible for wife’s death
MC Range: Self Interest – doing or being based on what is best for oneself is the area of Dr. Richard Kimble’s greatest sensitivity Exonerate his name
MC Problem: Pursuit – a directed effort to resolve a problem is the source of Dr. Richard Kimble’s drive Go after the “killer”
MC Solution: Avoidance – stepping around, preventing or escaping from a problem rather than solving it is the item, event, or process needed to truly satisfy Dr. Richard Kimble’s drive Go to Bermuda
MC Focus: Control – a method based on organization and constraint is the area or item Dr. Richard Kimble believes the problem to be Captivity
MC Direction: Uncontrolled – a disorganized response is the way Dr. Richard Kimble responds to problems Freedom

Dramatica Story Engine Settings for The Fugitive

 

STORY DYNAMICS

RESOLVE: Steadfast

DIRECTION: Stop

APPROACH: Do-er

SEX: Male

WORK: Decision

LIMIT: Optionlock

OUTCOME: Success

JUDGMENT: Good

OBJECTIVE STORY

DOMAIN: Universe

CONCERN: The Future

RANGE: Preconception

PROBLEM: Help

SOLUTION: Hinder

FOCUS: Control

DIRECTION: Uncontrolled

CATALYST: Openness

INHIBITOR: Self-Interest

STIPULATION: Progress

SUBJECTIVE STORY

DOMAIN: Mind

CONCERN: The Subconscious

RANGE: Denial

PROBLEM: Logic

SOLUTION: Feeling

FOCUS: Control

DIRECTION: Uncontrolled

CATALYST: Closure

INHIBITOR: Commitment

STIPULATION: The Preconscious

MAIN CHARACTER THROUGHLINE

DOMAIN: Physics

CONCERN: Obtaining

RANGE: Self-Interest

PROBLEM: Pursuit

SOLUTION: Avoidance

FOCUS: Control

DIRECTION: Uncontrolled

UNIQUE AB: Approach

C. FLAW: Delay

STIPULATION: Doing

OBSTACLE CHARACTER THROUGHLINE

DOMAIN: Psychology

CONCERN: Becoming

RANGE: Commitment

PROBLEM: Help

SOLUTION: Hinder

FOCUS: Logic

DIRECTION: Feeling

UNIQUE AB: Rationalization

C. FLAW: Hope

STIPULATION: Being

 

ADDITIONAL STORY APPRECIATIONS

GOAL: The Future

CONSEQUENCE: The Subconscious

COST: Becoming

DIVIDEND: Obtaining

REQUIREMENTS: Progress

PREREQUISITES: The Preconscious

PRECONDITIONS: Being

FOREWARNINGS: Doing

 

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Table of Contents

Index of Dramatica Theory Materials

Storymind.com is pleased to present this collection of materials about the Dramatica Theory of Story. We hope you find it both useful and through-provoking.

This information is divided into three sections:

The Dramatica Theory
A complete exploration of the theory in every detail

Historic Documents
The development of Dramatica from the beginning

Speculations
Dramatica applied to psychology, physics, religion and more

The Dramatica Theory

Dramatica Theory Book Online
Free online edition of the 400+ page book, Dramatica: A New theory of Story, in which Melanie Anne Phillips & Chris Huntley originally documented their work.

Dramatica Dictionary
Official definitions of all terms in the Dramatica theory and software.

Dramatica Writing Tips
Useful and informative articles on how to approach and employ both the Dramatica Theory and Software.

Constructive Criticisms
Practical illustrations of how applying the Dramatica theory could have made some well-known successful story's even better!

Dramatica Q & A
Answers to questions from users of the Dramatica Theory and Software.

Instant Dramatica
Even more directly practical essays on using Dramatica for real-world writing situations and problems provided by noted screenwriter Armando Saldaņa Mora.

Historic Documents

Dramatica - The Lost Theory Book
Early attempts to document the theory, including many unfinished conjectures and false starts.

Dramatica Development Archives
Early documents created during the development of the foundations of Dramatica.  Often later discarded, they show the roots of the thinking that ultimately evolved into the theory as it stands today.

Speculations

Deep Theory
Transcript of a class on the outer fringes of Dramatica Theory I taught as part of a now-defunct Dramatica Certification course.

Dramatica Math
A mathematician takes a stab at describing the Dramatica model in terms of dimensional distortions.

Mental Relativity
An exploration of the theory of psychology modeling which grew out of the development of Dramatica.

Dramatica I Ching
Several of our users have noticed a similarity between the character grid in Dramatica and the elements of the traditional I Ching.  Though unintentional, perhaps all models that look deeply into the mind will resemble each other.

Our Most Popular Products

StoryWeaver Story Development Software

By far, our most popular product, outselling all of our other products combined!  StoryWeaver takes you step by step through the entire process--from initial inspiration to completed novel or screenplay.  At just $29.95, StoryWeaver is affordable for any writer.  (Details)


Movie Magic Screenwriter

is one of two industry standard word processing screenplay formatters, the other being Final Draft.  Each of these programs offers a complete suite of screenwriting tools to make your next script a breeze to write.  (Details


Dramatica Pro

Unlike any other story development product, Dramatica Pro uses a patented Story Engine to interactively help you build a structure, find and fix dramatica holes and inconsistencies.  (Details)


20 Hour Writing Course on CD ROM

This intense program features 20 hours of video documenting the entire college-level course in creative writing given by Melanie Anne Phillips, creator of StoryWeaver and co-creator of Dramatica.  Just $19.95  (Details)

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