Final Film – Autonomy – Story Review

Notes from listening to The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr

The human brain is fascinated by change. Either the change itself or the threat or suspense of change. Maybe I should consider opening with something that can be called back later.

Human curiosity of a complete information set. Crave to know what comes next.

Cause and effect…

Flaws…for a character to correct them we need to see them

Naive realism…we are right about everything…he thinks he’s right but he is wrong. He doesn’t know he is wrong but he is about to find out.

Neuroticism –

Extroversion

Agreeableness

Openness

Conscientiousness

Identity claims…clothes, possessions

Environment – rooms are supposed to tell us what a person is like.

Open with a fully formed character…flawed, fascinating, specific and real.

Cultural norms

We overlook the protagonists deviances despite ourselves.

All protagonists are anti heroes. They become heroes if and when they change.

Origin damage

Goal direction

Keep asking dramatic questions.

Rampant irrationality…things we make sacred. This defines who they are. Drama and plot test, retest and ultimately break these ideas apart.

Major Beats of current story

1. Once upon a time there was a competitive Financial Adviser called Russell whose car is his office.

2. Every day Russell goes to see clients and sells them investments. He brags to colleagues about his deals and regularly wins sales person of the month.

3. Until one day he is late to get his deals booked and gets caught speeding. He blames everyone but himself and is oblivious to the dangers of speeding.

4. Because of that his car annoys him by repeatedly turning up the volume.

5. Because of the speeding offence Russell will lose his driving licence and his job so he gets Gary, a colleague who owes him a favour, to admit to the offence on his behalf.

6. Because of Russell’s dishonesty the car refuses to drive away at a set of traffic lights.

7. Because Russell has become increasingly stressed he is rude to an elderly client who has called to complain.

8. Because of that the car turns up the heat in the car and locks the windows scaring Russell until he is able to open the car doors.

9. Because Gary has to attend a training awareness he asks Russell to pay for it which Russell refuses to do.

10. Finally the car locks the doors, takes control of the car and speaks to Russell. The car drives fast off the waters edge and Russell has a near death experience.

11. And since then…