tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923290903857471076.post4846506283562851994..comments2024-01-14T12:15:40.968-08:00Comments on Let's Schmooze - Doug Eboch on Screenwriting: The Structure of ElfDoug Ebochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04345404649576399837noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923290903857471076.post-87295357699463377842015-12-26T18:31:06.488-08:002015-12-26T18:31:06.488-08:00Very much agree you simply need a problem to be so...Very much agree you simply need a problem to be solved. But it's always a dilemma at least a little bit because the hero could NOT try to solve the problem. McClain could run away!<br /><br />And in Elf, it's all the more dilemma-y because he LIKES being an elf, he wants to stay in his comfort zone. He HAS an elf father. But he's a human. He's caught between worlds.<br /><br />Two unacceptable alternatives: live as an outcast in the North Pole or live as a human without his beloved elf identity!Christmastopher Fordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16189639095498894408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923290903857471076.post-57429698494478915912012-12-28T05:22:16.193-08:002012-12-28T05:22:16.193-08:00this was terribly helpful! thank you so much! it...this was terribly helpful! thank you so much! it is an extremely sophisticated primer for study on a hit movie that was structurally sound and hit all the beats and was incredibly satisfying and entertaining...what this analysis does is force me to look at a story from a different angle and the perspective allows you to test the strength of your layers... I'm desperate for the next blog!!! because I can already tell that how you analyze it will become yet another primer for developing the inner journey!! You've no idea how often I quote you in writers groups meetings...and you were spot on about Notorious and the way the relationship is built in that... Hitchcock was the master of suspense- as such he took his time allowing the audience to get to know the characters and in doing so...you totally bought into the romance... and I think the same can be said of Elf...we spent just enough time getting to know Buddy so that when his father rejects him...we root for Buddy and then totally buy it when the father finally accepts him...Austin Cat! Leadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705965946341814421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923290903857471076.post-1520364203867503662012-12-26T16:22:19.835-08:002012-12-26T16:22:19.835-08:00John: Choices are good. Forcing the character to m...John: Choices are good. Forcing the character to make a choice tells us if he's changed. And specifics are also good so the more specific the choice the better. But I don't think all dilemmas necessarily have to be a choice. In "Die Hard," for example, John McClane's dilemma is that terrorists have taken his wife hostage. There's not exactly a choice there, rather there's a problem to be solved. In "Elf" I'd say Buddy has a problem that he needs to solve. (Interestingly, Walter is forced to make a choice - save his job or save his family.)Doug Ebochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04345404649576399837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923290903857471076.post-32954486533750201882012-12-21T11:37:16.096-08:002012-12-21T11:37:16.096-08:00That was a helpful way to look at it, thanks.
One...That was a helpful way to look at it, thanks.<br /><br />One question - you say Buddy's dilemma is that he doesn't fit in. That's definitely his problem, but I've heard from a number of sources that for something to be a true dilemma, it should involve a choice between 2 equally unacceptable alternatives, not just a problem to be solved.<br /><br />So in this case, would you say the dilemma is a choice between living a life where he doesn't fit in at the North Pole, vs. living a life where he doesn't fit in in N.Y.?<br /><br />In reality, I don't see it as a real dilemma (where he's faced with it from early on and eventually forced to make a choice at the climax). But then it's a feel-good comedy, not a drama, so a "real" dilemma isn't really required.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14459142965364550325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923290903857471076.post-44763849906790024162012-12-21T09:01:52.326-08:002012-12-21T09:01:52.326-08:00Very helpful! Now I'm just trying to double ch...Very helpful! Now I'm just trying to double check my own story, which I worry isn't quite as clear.naomihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905775520619715588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7923290903857471076.post-47270399358695324912012-12-20T18:27:18.721-08:002012-12-20T18:27:18.721-08:00This was a super helpful way to look at the struct...This was a super helpful way to look at the structure, Doug. It really brought some things into focus that have seemed slippery to me before. Thanks so much!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15131999963255182952noreply@blogger.com