Rewriting Course Ep. 4 - Fixing Your Structure

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Today I'm taking a look at how to fix problems with your structure.
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Instagram: @mowery
#Rewriting #Storytelling

[@TylerMowery]

Get Practical Tools to Write Your Great Screenplay: www.practicalscreenwriting.com

[@guidenprime503]

I'm subscribed to a lot of screenwriting channels. And i can tell that you are the best at explaining complex things in a simple way. I can't stess enough how thankful im that you are not hiding the most important videos by paywall of your course ( which im gonna buy eventually). Pls keep doing your work. Wish you all the best, have a great holydays!

[@benjaminread5287]

Structure is most definitely key to a solid narrative and very important to understand, but Dan Harmon's story circle (or the heroes journey, as the story circle is a simplified version of it) is not the only valid way to structure a story. It is the most common in the west and therefore the easiest and most basic for westerners to understand, but there are other basic story structures (such as Kishōtenketsu, which is the most basic structure in China and Japan) and anyone wanting a firm grasp on story will see the value in studying the different basic story structures, see what makes them different and how they work best with certain types of stories. Structure is not limiting, it's helpful, but to say the heroes journey is the only valid story structure IS limiting.

[@southparkxanime]

I definitely agree, its definitely not the only valid story structure. But if youre already having issues due to your lack of understanding of structure in general, trying to use other kinds of story structures may be even more difficult if you havent even mastered the "basics" yet. Though all in all I do agree with you I just feel like a lot of his videos are for people who still need help with the basics so the speak. It might be cool if he did some videos on other types of story structures like you mentioned above for like "advanced" students.

[@OlgaKuznetsova]

Love this! I finished storyboarding a screenplay recently and I realized that the protagonist changes over the story, but the change isn't as strongly intertwined into the story as I would like. This totally solved my problem, and I'm going to re-work some beats to make the want-get-cost cycles more present. Thank you!!

[@TheLight965]

Id love it if you did a 48hr rewrite to your 48hr screenplay!

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

That would be interesting.

[@vinayak5159]

Harmon’s story circle is hands down the best structural tool I’ve ever used.

[@KenyaWright]

This is one of the most important channels on writing ever. Thanks Tyler!

[@moesharaf]

Man, I can't thank you enough for all of the help you provide for us❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@purpledudeanimates9030]

Yeay! :D Great video, thank you Tyler for this!

[@Taylor_Bassett]

I would like to see an analysis of The Room (2003) with you talking about what NOT to do with storytelling and screenwriting

[@ivanrakk]

Tyler, absolutely love the content. It could be just me, but please check video at 8 minutes 41 secs: Act Two Part One 2. should be "...Act Two Part One..." 5. should be "...they want in Act Two Part One, while...?" Act Two Part Two 2. should be "...entire story as well as Act Two Part Two?)" 5. should be "...they want in Act Two Part Two, while...?" Act Three 5. should be "How do they get they want in Act Three?"

[@ivanrakk]

Top man, best videos I've watched. Keep it simple. Just to think, I could have saved a fortune on books.

[@jboushka]

The fact that the desired object in the first scene of the Indiana Jones movie is an idol is itself interesting, to me at least. ("Idol worship" vs. "faith"?? a real potential philosophical conflict for movies that I can imagine.)

[@juju10683]

The show Ozark is really good at dilemmas and cost

[@nathanb5921]

This is really amazing. Such a great resource

[@kennttudara9544]

I never thought rewriting is before this.

[@kadmielherbert7596]

@Tyler Mowery Your analysis is amazing. Please do an analysis of the new series Arcane. Help us understand why it is so good. This series is very helpful.

[@prodmowery]

Hey man! I like your last name! If you're ever in need of background music, I'm your guy. Cool videos!

[@sandramangarella5156]

Would you be able to have a virtual session with my high school screenwriting students? I teach two screenwriting classes, and we love your videos! Thanks--let me know details if possible as I could possibly arrange a virtual "field trip" for them to ask questions.

[@alwayspositive999]

Nice vid - clearly explained- thanks

[@TokiEraaa]

Working on Draft 2 of my pilot and these videos are helping me so much!! Also,am developing a huge crush on Tyler 😭

[@Godgoatsandguitar]

How would you suggest to structure a TV series? Would you treat each episode like an act?

[@elinapiller3313]

Indiana Jones is an action movie, is this principle "want and get" applies to all types of movies? What if the story not a action type, more philosophical/psychosocial.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

Yeah, I suppose he really should use more than one movie as an example per video. Though, I do feel like this can apply to multiple other films.

[@insearchofahillworthdyingon]

Almost all stories are driven by characters having goals that they are trying to achieve. This is true of ancient stories like 'The Odyssey' where Odyseus is trying to get home. It's true of fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood where she is to get to her sick Grandmother's house. And of course, it's true of most modern stories. Focusing on philosophical themes or social commentary doesn't mean that a story shouldn't follow this same principle. The themes are explored through the action. There are some stories in modern literature that employ more passive protagonists who observe more than they act or just let the current of life push them here and there. These kinds of stories are mostly just found in "literary fiction". There are examples of it being done well, like Nick in 'The Great Gatsby'. For the most part though, it's quite dull.

[@figuerofilms4424]

All of em

[@aldoandreu]

This is so great content

[@naziminterstingly2227]

Keep it up man!

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

Alright!

[@MarkusGjengaar]

Very helpful!

[@albertmailyan9680]

awesome

[@chavinchacon5517]

Is this the final one in the series?

[@bowtiesarecool1011]

thank so much for this course! question. My inciting incident I realized comes in more like two pushes, the final one changing everything, but there's a "pre-push" that nudges the character into the scenario that causes the huge change that basically ruins all their plans. is this okay (story examples??) or should I really try to keep the inciting incident to one, big moment? thank you

[@tayballtop]

I'm curious when it comes to this Act 1, 2, parts 2, and 3 structure with the story circle do you beat this out with each leading role or only your protagonist?

[@spencernielsen392]

Your insights on story theory are great, but so far this series feels redundant. I don’t see how any of these are specifically relevant for rewriting.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

How can you not? Like, that makes no sense. Pretty much everything in this series is relevant to rewriting. Thematic conflict, character, structure, all of that.

[@spencernielsen392]

Yes, all of these factors play a role in rewriting a screenplay. But the way Tyler is explaining these elements of storytelling is virtually identical to how he’s explained them in the past. How is this video on Story Structure any different than the last? How is this specific to rewriting a screenplay? He doesn’t provide any examples of story structure before a rewrite and after. I think Tyler makes great videos, and he does sell his services for more advanced screenwriting help, but I don’t see the purpose of making a rewriting series if it’s going to be the same as all his other story theory videos.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

@@spencernielsen392 but it's not entirely the same. Sure it talks about Dan Harmon's Circle, but it also talks about three important aspects of structure. Want, Find, and Cost.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

@@sacha7958 yeah.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

@@sacha7958 I think you're thinking of the Want and Cost idea from his video on Story Momentum, his later version of How to Create Conflict, and his video on South Park.

[@takes2knowgames900]

Could you make a video similar to this more tailored to short films?

[@anthonywritesfantasy]

I love your content as a rule, but tossing around words like "idiot" and "worthless" degrades the quality of these videos a LOT. Yikes.

[@aaron4647]

Tyler has no references he is a newbie and tries you to sell his own course. It is a making money strategy and you will learn crap from him. It works like a placebo you think you making progress but really you only learn techniques which are not worth to learn and also brings you up from learning your own style of creating new ideas and stories. He only made 1 script, he has not won any Filmfestival/Oscar etc. It is the same for most of the courses. You do not need any paid courses to get good in writing. Do not listen to this bullshit!!!