Finding Theme in the Inciting Incident
Considering the importance of theme to a story, it behooves you to practice finding its hiding places and identifying its species—not to coax it into a cage, but so that you can fully explore the story environment in which it lives. Members-only Content This article...
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
A young boy attempts to hold onto a friendship that he forms with a creature from another planet. Medium: Film Writer(s): Melissa Mathison Director: Steven Spielberg Production Co.(s): Universal Pictures; Amblin Entertainment Members-only Content This article is...
Babette’s Feast (1987)
A pair of never-married sisters attempt to keep true to the religious teachings of their father and maintain the health and spirit of remote Danish community he helped create, even at the cost of their own desires. Medium: Film Writer(s): Gabriel Axel Director:...
Yesterday (2004)
A young Zulu woman perseveres nobly through the hardship of a personal AIDS diagnosis and attempts to make a significant difference in the lives of her daughter and husband before she dies. Medium: Film Writer(s): Darrell Roodt Director: Darrell Roodt Production...
The Gold Rush (1925)
A likeable prospector in the Klondike Gold Rush attempts to survive the elements and pursue love. Medium: Film Writer(s): Charles Chaplin Director: Charles Chaplin Production Co.(s): Charles Chaplin Productions Members-only Content This article is available only to...
Noontime in the Garden of Characters
When you get the idea for a story, characters may come calling in droves, begging to be let in and put to work. The question is: How do you identify which one is the main character—and who is her supporting staff? Finding and Supporting Your Main Character It's not...
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
A young man from the slums of Mumbai attempts to achieve the life that he feels destined to live with the girl whose love he feels destined to share. Medium: Film Writer(s): Simon Beaufoy Director(s): Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan Production Co.(s): Celador Films,...
Stories from Idioms | Numbers
Some idioms contain a quality or value that can provide an easily extractable basis for a story theme. But even those that are merely descriptors can serve as excellent story starters if you know how to find them. Members-only Content This article is available only to...