story structure – Page 3 – The Story Department

Structure: The Untouchables

November 3, 2009 by Karel FG Segers

David Mamet has never equaled the tremendous power of his eighties screenplays. The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Verdict, The Untouchables and even his own directorial debut House of Games, starring his then wife Lindsay Crouse.

The Untouchables has always been my favorite. De Palma turned the script into the most cinematic of Mamet’s writing.

Karel Segers wrote his first produced screenplay at age 17. Today he is a story analyst with experience in acquisition, development and production. He has trained students worldwide, and worked with half a dozen Academy Award nominees. Karel speaks more European languages than he has fingers on his left hand, which he is still trying to find a use for in his hometown of Sydney, Australia. The languages, not the fingers.

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Structure: Up

May 8, 2017September 22, 2009 by Karel FG Segers

A structural overview of UP (Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Thomas McCarthy 2009 I’ve been a big Pixar fan since stupidly missing out on the theatrical run of The Incredibles. In 2008 the festival potential of my own short animation Tin Can Heart – wr/dir. by Rod March – vaporised when Wall-E appeared weeks after the … Read more

When the script and story gurus speak

August 25, 2009 by Karel FG Segers

Most ‘gurus’ each have their own area of expertise and angle of attack, they each follow their own agenda. And with every new light shed on the craft, different people may see that light. Don’t they ever contradict each other? And if they do, which truth do YOU choose? Screenwriting is a dynamic craft. What … Read more

Events vs. Actions

March 6, 2020July 14, 2009 by Karel FG Segers

In the context of story I often speak of EVENTS and ACTIONS. In essence it’s a very simple and at the same time hugely important concept. Among many other things it can save you from the dreaded ‘passive protagonist’ syndrome. Simply put, it’s about Action and Re-action. In the context of story however, this will make … Read more

Plot => Character (Rituals => Tribe)

June 14, 2009 by Karel FG Segers

Character or plot. Which comes first? Some say character prevails, others say it’s a chicken and egg thing. But … how do you define a character? In film, you can only reveal what a character is about by showing its actions. Dialogue doesn’t work, because it sounds false, ‘on the nose’. As a matter of … Read more