Story Structure Analysis: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Format: Movie

Released: 2022

Written and Directed By: Rian Johnson

Run Time: 131 minutes

Character:  Benoit Blanc. Helen “Andi” Brand

New Role: Blanc becomes an observer to Miles Bron’s group of disruptors. Helen becomes an undercover detective and avenger of her sister.

Continue reading

Story Structure Analysis: The Royal Tenenbaums

Format: Movie

Released: 2001

Screenplay By: Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson

Directed By: Wes Anderson

Run Time: 103 minutes

Character(s): Royal, Etheline, Richie, Chas and Margot Tenenbaum. And Eli Cash. And Henry Sherman. And Raleigh St. Clair.

New Role: A Family Man

Continue reading

Zootopia and Book Update

Movie Poster for ZootopiaFormat: Film

Released: 2016

Screenplay By: Jared Bush & Phil Johnston

Directed By: Byron Howard and Rich Moore

Run Time: 96 minutes

Character(s): Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde

New Role: A police officer in Zootopia

Salutations, storytellers. Yes, I know it’s been a while. Longer than either of us would prefer. My lack of attention to updating the website (and my YouTube channel) is due entirely to my focus on The Story Structure Blueprint over the last year or so. The good news is the Sixteen Episode paradigm to compliment the Six Acts is complete. I think.
Because it delves so deep into the character’s implicit motivations, it has required a bit more finesse than the overt nature of the  Six Acts. As such, I have been rigorously testing the paradigm by developing a screenplay with a producer friend my journey in storytelling has connected me with.  There is something magical on the horizon.  In the meantime, rest assured I’m striving to ensure the expansion of the Six Act paradigm into Sixteen Episodes is as groundbreaking as its predecessor.

Stay tuned.

Continue reading

Story Structure Analysis: Ralph Breaks the Internet

Ralph Breaks the Internet AnalysisStory Structure Analysis: Ralph Breaks the Internet
Format: Movie
Released: 2018
Screenplay By: Phil Johnston and Pamela Ribon
Directed By: Rich Moore and Phil Johnston
Run Time: 98 minutes
Character: Wreck-it-Ralph
New Role: An internet explorer

Plot summary of the 2018 computer-animated comedy film Ralph Breaks the Internet continues below… 

Continue reading

How to Outline Your Story Using Character Actions: Pt. 3 (Video)

Part 3 of 4 on How to Outline your Story Using Character Actions is live. This video focuses on the Confrontation phase of the story (Dramatic Phase 2) and covers the Central Conflict and Doomed Plan of Acts 3 and 4 in Six Act Structure. Be sure to like and subscribe to the YouTube channel to stay up to date with new video posts! And as always, if you have any questions or comments drop them below or under the video on YouTube!

MD