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It's the End of the World as We Know It
Last week, my Gunner totally pirated my blog’s theme with her awesome flippin’ blog about character—but I’m not going to punish her or anything for readin’ my mind and one-uppin’ me at every turn. I’m merely going to hold a grudge. The wench. But I’m not going to re-write my blog after I spent all this time being brilliant about it. You’re just going to have to suffer through a second dose of “why character is important”—which is ironic that we pirates spend so much time talking about just that topic. You know, because pirates don’t have char…never mind.
So I’ve been reading this writing book called “Emotional Structure” (by Peter Dunne), which is a screenwriting book, but I’ve found it quite handy already for my novel-writing. One of the first things he points out is that all books (movies) have both a Plot and a Story. The Plot is WHAT happens; and the Story is WHO it happens to.
Now here’s the kicker. Your Plot can be rather bad. It can be unrealistic, unbelievable, maybe even a bit boring—but your Story, if it’s good enough, will make your audience not care. The Story is the piece of magic the illusionist performs to wrap you so far into the scheme, you don’t even care that the coin was in his shirt sleeve the entire time.
Your Story must be kick-ass. People care about people, not plot. Readers usually won’t remember WHAT happened exactly in a book, but they’ll remember WHO it happened to. For example, Captain Jack Sparrow. They killed him off in the second--and had to locate him for the third! People (especially Jack) matter.
I’d say the other key to making your book work is Make Bad Things Happen To Your People All The Time. All the time. Don’t cut them any slack; don’t pull your punches; throw them a bomb and make them react. This works in conjunction to “Write People We Care About.” How people react to adversity is why we care about the people to begin with. We want to root for the underdog and watch him succeed. Plus, making bad things happen to your people all the time also insures your plot is not boring. So long as the bad things are BAD for your hero, it can be something as simply devastating as the girl he finally has the guts to woo is now dating someone else and she turns down his offer, after he’s made a fool of himself to impress her. We will be riveted.
Armageddon.
Now one would think that any movie with Bruce Willis is going to be good regardless of the Plot or the Story, but I have two words for you: Twelve Monkeys. (No one gave a rat’s ass about that movie, Bruce or no Bruce.) PLUS, Bruce also had to work with Ben Affleck, Mr. Gigli himself, who although I adore, I understand his idea of stretching as an actor is not sleeping with all the women he meets. It also features Billy Bob Thornton, who is an incredible actor, if you can get around the fact he carried around a vial of blood on a necklace in the name of love. (He’s a little creepy in real life. I’m sorry.)
Now think a moment about this movie. It’s about an asteroid that’s going to hit the earth and decimate all of mankind. That’s the urgency-plot factor every last writing article will tell you to have. Where’s the emergency? But how are our people going to react is actually the more important factor for the long haul.
So we have Bruce, our underdog OIL DRILLER, who’s been asked by the US Government to save the world by drilling a hole in the asteroid (once they LAND on it) and dropping a nuclear warhead into the bottom of it.
Yeah, that’s believable.
So he and his oil drilling buddies are given a crash course in NASA and launched into space. Two ships go up; but one immediately crashes (and is presumably lost). Bruce presses on with his team (since he was in the ship that didn’t crash and burn) and starts drilling. They burn through all their drill bits AND a transmission, but they’re still about 200 feet from their goal. Time is ticking. The President gives the order to start the bomb without putting it in the hole…or even caring if the guys remaining make it off the asteroid before the bomb explodes. More drama, more goofy-unbelievable-weirdo bad things occur, and still you’re on the edge of your seat.
Will the underdog get his chance to save the world? Will he make it back home to his daughter, Liv Tyler, who loves him? Will we all die?
Dark moment #1: 200 feet from goal and we’re all going to die! It’s been announced—and then lo and behold, a miracle happens, Ben the young swashbuckler (or the young Bruce), who was on the lost ship, shows up with another transmission and bit. They drill and voila!—they’ve made goal—with a couple of character growths where Ben is begging Bruce to trust him, even though it is a chance that may cost Ben’s life and a drill bit. Oh, and the end of the world obviously.
Dark moment #2: the nuclear warhead won’t go off unless someone stays behind to detonate it. Nice. Ben draws the short straw—and you could just die for him, since he was dating Bruce's daughter and all and you were hoping they'd work out.
Dark moment #3: Bruce being Bruce, he escorts Ben to the place below, rips the oxygen, and forces himself to be the sacrifice. (By now I’m already crying. After all, if you have to kill somebody, why can’t it be that stupid “genius” jerkoff who was humping the nuke warhead 20 minutes prior in the film?) Bruce does a bittersweet goodbye to his daughter, Liv, and she says one back, her hand touching the screen where his face was—but disappears.
Then Bruce, as he’s done countless times before, saves the world. Ben is reunited with Liv; Billy is given a NASA patch from Bruce—and we all cry into our Kleenex as the credits roll, relieved the world has managed not to be decimated by a piece of rock but very sad that a great man like Bruce had to die to do it.
The power of Story, crew. That has to be what it is—at one point during the flick, they say the asteroid is now spinning on all three axis, and even I went: OH, COME ON!—but I didn’t care because I wanted to know if Bruce won. And I cried like a Daddy’s girl when he said goodbye to his baby…and when he closed his eyes (after pushing the button) and when he saw Liv playing on a swing, growing up, walking down the aisle. *sob*
With characters like that, I’ll believe any plot you give me.
What movies/books have you seen that the plot was way out there but the story (people) was so incredible, it didn’t matter?
Books by the Crew
28 comments:
Mangoes? Cute.
I just watched the end of this movie like two days ago. Wild. *cues Aerosmith singing "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"* I know there are a ton of movies that would fit this question but my teeth are still stinging and I can't concentrate. I'll be back.
Oh, that last line fits the movie topic. Ha! I didn't even do that on purpose.
Very very good topic once again with a different spin. We should have theme week where we all have to talk about the same thing and it wouldn't even be a close race. At least yet. We've not been brainwashed to the Capt'n's way of thinkin' yet. *cheeky grin*
How about every time I open a JE book about Stephanie Plum I have the feeling and scoff "Ha! This would NEVER happen" but I still read it. Darn it. And yes, I just said darn it, scrap your jaws off the floor.
The last movie I watched that was like that was that Bruce movie, the Die Hard movie.. Oh, the last one. What was the name of it? Yeah, you can really tell I was into it. LOL. Those Die Hard movies are just so ridiculous. Cars flying into helicoptors and jumping onto moving vehicles.. Yeesh.
Die Hard and Live Free. Still want to see that.
I love Bruce films. So long as it's not 12 Monkeys.
Yeah, the explosive teams for these films are jacked up on crack and Mountain Dew--but for some reason, I still care about Bruce's character. He does pretty good, I think, of making you care, even though it's a ridiculous plot.
For instance, Arnold in the Terminator movies--totally don't care. The man truly is a cyborg. I don't care about him in Kindergarten Cop. He has the emotional range of a teaspoon.
But not my Pisces, Bruce. Give him the most ridiculous plot ever and my heart is torn up for him.
Why are your teeth stinging, Terr? What are you doing?
Had them cleaned this morning. Those pirate doctors are rough but they were nice enough to offer a little rum to relax me. LOL!
Just kidding....sort of. Smile looks much better but I can still feel grainy stuff floating around in here.
http://www.freerice.com/index.php
Play this. The best my vocab ever does is a 41. *pouts* But it's funny how you can usually figure out the meaning to strange words by the "root". Who knew my English teachers were onto something!
I can only get as high as 39 but the good thing is I've donated 2200 grains of rice. *g*
Excellent blog Cap'n! Just smokin!
I agree with Sin, Evanovich has unbelievable plots, but her characters absolutely shine. (except when she castrated MY Ranger.) I know I need to let it go.
The last movie I saw that I saw that had an unbelievable amount of angst was an oldie but a goodie in my opinion. Legends of the Fall. There was so much drama in that film. You ask yourself how could so much tradegy happen to one family. A fourth of the movie was filmed in the family graveyard. But it's hard to cast a movie with Anthony Hopkins that doesn't work. A supporting cast that included Julia Ormond and Brad Pitt made that movie. Of course I have to admit I loved Brad with the long hair and the tortured image, the boy can act, even though he dumped our girl Jenn for Angie the skank...but that's another blog.
I love the idea of angst carrying a story, I can write angst all day so this means I'm doing something right:)
I apologize for the cheek, Cap'n. Though, I must agree with Sin, you definitely can add your own unique twist to every topic. It's brilliance, I say.
I LOVE Armageddon. But, you're right, wow, what an unbelievable plot.
But, then again, think about some romantic movies that are probably just as unbelievable. Like, Sixteen Candles. I mean, Molly Ringwald's character seriously wouldn't had a chance on this round world of getting that guy at my high school. Yet, the story definitely makes me believe she does. And I root for her all the way.
I have to agree with Marnee on Sixteen Candles though I LOVE that movie. The real unbelievable part is that Anthony Michael Hall's character could come out on top in the end. LOL!
I've been trying to think of an example but they are all those over the top action flicks I don't usually watch. Then I thought of The Lake House. Yeah, you definitely have to suspend belief for that one but I still wanted them to find a way to get together. I know many people didn't like the acting but you have to admit the characters made that one.
Oh, Marnee, we don't apologize for cheek on this ship. We REVEL in it.
You do have one though...the quirky plain Jane who gets the Brad Pitt--yeah, that is UNBELIEVABLE as a plot by itself.
What? No one is going to reference Pirates of the Caribbean? *shakes head* Haven't I taught you better? Without a tortured and long-unrequited Will Turner, a sassy and bold pre-feminist Elizabeth Swann, and of course, JACK SPARROW--would that plot have been a bit believable? Ghost pirate ship? Cursed Aztec gold? Davy Jones who looks like a squid?
Seriously.
Lissa, between you and Terri (and Sin at times), I'm surprised you guys haven't blogged about angst. *LOL*
It's too big a topic. I wouldn't know where to begin. My angst is all organic and just comes out on its own. I'll have to see if I can *harness* it into something coherent. LOL!
I apologize for the apology over the cheek captain.... Wait a minute. What the hell. I'm a pirate. Suffer through my cheek. :) LOL!!
Angst.... *sound of gears grinding as MJ's brain kicks into gear*
Awesome Blog, Hellion! All sorts of stuff I've been talking about this past week have been mentioned (Bruce Willis, Die Hard, Sixteen Candles and teeth cleaning, yeah - who da thought!?)
Anyway, I LOVE Bruce Willis. And the best examples are of course the Die Hard movies. I hate action/adventure movies. Too much gore and violence. Not a big Arnold fan. But almost 20 years ago (yep it's been that long!) my friend forced me to sit down and watch the original Die Hard and then threatened to turn it off in the middle cause "I didn't like these kinds of movies". I almost killed her. And it was all because I wanted to see Bruce save the day and see his wife again!
I know there are tons of books where I have suspended my belief and just went with the story. A lot of the historicals that deal with spys can get pretty over the top.
Marnee - Sixteen Candles is one of my favorites and ITA with you about it being totally unbelievable.
I've only gotten to 39 on my vocab, but like Terri have donated tons of rice! I was thinking the same thing except with a lot of the prefixes, Hellion. My DD has vocab tests with just prefixes - it's increasing her vocab understanding tenfold!
Look at all our little rice donaters! Keep it up! Usually you only get 10 grains of rice per word, but they've upped it for the season.
I see too this is the "I love Bruce Willis Action Flicks" blog. Awesome! I felt the same way about die-hard.
Another goofy ass plot--The Last Boy Scout. I loved this movie. I *loathe* football, but I love this movie--and the best part, at the end when he hugs his estranged wife and says, "I hate you, Sara, you're a fucking bitch, Sara..."
Well, that doesn't sound very romantic, but you'd have to watch the rest of the movie to get it.
I LOVED The Last Boyscout. And I do love Bruce but I can't do all the Die Hards. I did like the one with SLJ. Which one was that? And the catch phrase which I won't attempt to type because I'm sure I'll spell it wrong.
But I've been a fan of Bruce since Moonlighting. That's right, back when he had hair! Not that he doesn't still look good....
I loved Moonlighting, too. Everyone slams that show now, but I thought it was amazing writing and acting. I'm not a huge Cybill Shepherd fan, but he was hilarious in that show.
*high fives Irish*
Sometimes I think we could have grown up in the same house. LOL! Tuesday night was my parent's bowling night and the only one I was allowed to stay up late to watch Moonlighting and Remington Steel. Man, they don't make 'em like that anymore.
Too bad both shows fell apart when they put the main characters together. Classic Hollywood mistake.
Yeah, it's amazing once you give them a happy ending--how quickly the romance burns out and the story lapses into jokes about whose turn it is to take out the trash or pick the kids up from daycare.
No one wants that much realism in their TV dramas.
I love Last Boy Scout too!! What a good one!!
And Bruce Willis is awesome. He just always looks like he's laughing at the world behind his eyes. I think that's soooo hawt.
:)
*high five right back atcha!*
Remington Steele was another of my must sees! Pierce was my man! I wanted to marry a mysterious Irishman! Although, as it turned out I wound up with a guy more like David Addison than Remington Steele.
Interesting. Do you think that's why most romances end right at the HEA? I mean, we like the little epi to tell us how happy they are for a moment in the future but it's rare to keep the story going once you've put them together.
JD Robb would be the exception and I'm thinking that's a great reason why Plum will never get her HEA. At least not until Janet is ready to hang up the keyboard.
Irish - you have to stop making Mr. Irish sound so darn good. It's just not fair. LOL!
Oh, can you imagine living with a man with that accent? *sigh*
LOL, Ter! This week Mr. Irish was anything but good! I meant the David Addison comparison as a criticism not compliment. He was a smart aleck pain in the ass all week! I could have used sauve, sophisticated Remington Steele to sweep me away.
I'd so much rather have David than Remington. But I like the look of rumpled hair and a wife-beater shirt than the suit. So much more approachable...and a whole naughty quality I enjoy.
I'm a blue-collar girl. I want a blue-collar man with a Harvard mind...and hands like a card sharp.
Hey, did anyone ever watch this hokey PI show called Sweating Bullets? The guy was called Nick Slaughter...and she was called Sylvie? I loved that show!
Yeah, yeah, Irish...we know you're not "bragging", sure, sure. *LOL*
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