Embedded Files
The Premise
The Premise
Alien, Scott,1979
Alien, Scott,1979
The Premise
The Premise
‘Everything has a purpose, or premise.
‘Everything has a purpose, or premise.
Every second of our lives has it’s own premise, whether or not we are conscious of it at the time. That premise might be as simple as breathing or as complex as a vital emotional decision, but it is always there.’
Every second of our lives has it’s own premise, whether or not we are conscious of it at the time. That premise might be as simple as breathing or as complex as a vital emotional decision, but it is always there.’
Lajos Egri, The Art of Dramatic Writing
Lajos Egri, The Art of Dramatic Writing
Ideal stories for storytelling are short and have simple plots.
Ideal stories for storytelling are short and have simple plots.
Story premises serve as both a hook for the reader and a guiding light for the writer, providing a storytelling roadmap from the first page to the last.
Story premises serve as both a hook for the reader and a guiding light for the writer, providing a storytelling roadmap from the first page to the last.
A story's premise is the foundational idea that expresses the plot in simple terms. A good premise will communicate your story's essence in a one-sentence or two-sentence statement.
A story's premise is the foundational idea that expresses the plot in simple terms. A good premise will communicate your story's essence in a one-sentence or two-sentence statement.
Masterclass, 2019
Start, of course, with a protagonist, your main character. The protagonist must encounter a conflict – with another character, society, nature, themselves, or some combination of these things – and undergo some kind of change as a result.
Start, of course, with a protagonist, your main character. The protagonist must encounter a conflict – with another character, society, nature, themselves, or some combination of these things – and undergo some kind of change as a result.
“Conflict” is also known as the “major dramatic question.”
“Conflict” is also known as the “major dramatic question.”
The major dramatic question “is generally a straightforward yes/no question, one that can be answered by the end of the story.
The major dramatic question “is generally a straightforward yes/no question, one that can be answered by the end of the story.
In the case of Alien the 'major dramatic question' could be stated as -
In the case of Alien the 'major dramatic question' could be stated as -
'Can the protagonist survive being trapped in a space ship with an apex predator?'
'Can the protagonist survive being trapped in a space ship with an apex predator?'
Yes
Yes
What sorts of changes will the ensuing conflicts bring about for the protagonist, in order for them to survive?
What sorts of changes will the ensuing conflicts bring about for the protagonist, in order for them to survive?
“Micro-changes in air density, my ass.”
So, the character will face various impediments to the achievement of his or her goal.
So, the character will face various impediments to the achievement of his or her goal.
Known as rising action or development, this is part of the story’s satisfaction.
Known as rising action or development, this is part of the story’s satisfaction.
Audiences like to see struggle, like to feel as though the payoff at the end is deserved.
Audiences like to see struggle, like to feel as though the payoff at the end is deserved.
“Well, it’s an interesting combination of elements, making him a tough little son-of-a-bitch.”
The rising action leads to the climax, the turning point in the story, which in turn leads to the resolution.
The rising action leads to the climax, the turning point in the story, which in turn leads to the resolution.
The central dramatic question is solved one way or another.
The central dramatic question is solved one way or another.
How to write a Premise;
How to write a Premise;
Essential Elements
Essential Elements
The layout/structure of a Premise - it should be no more than 40 words and contain the following:
The layout/structure of a Premise - it should be no more than 40 words and contain the following:
Form (e.g, a 2 min short film)
Genre (Drama, Horror, Thriller etc)
Central character Name and age, time period
Location Where is your story set?
Dramatic Conflict What’s their problem, what would they like to do about it and what’s stopping them?
Active Question An unanswered question posed by the dramatic conflict, which engages the reader’s interest
Writing a Premise;
Writing a Premise;
A Process of Distilment
A Process of Distilment
The process of writing a premise is to start with an initial broad description that includes all of the key points, as outlined above, which we have to then whittle down, step by step, to 40 words, without loosing the 'tone' of story.
The process of writing a premise is to start with an initial broad description that includes all of the key points, as outlined above, which we have to then whittle down, step by step, to 40 words, without loosing the 'tone' of story.
Let's take Alien, by Ridley Scott as an example.
Let's take Alien, by Ridley Scott as an example.
Version 1:
Version 1:
Sci-fi/Horror feature set aboard a commercial space tug called the Nostromo which diverts from it's course back to Earth to respond to a distress call, waking the seven-member crew from hyper-sleep to investigate. As a result their ship is invaded by a monstrous creature of unknown origin, The Xenomorph, a killing machine that bleeds corrosive acid whenever anyone tries to hurt it. The crew and warrant officer Ripley (30) desperately try to fight back as the alien picks them off one by one. How will they survive? 90 words
Sci-fi/Horror feature set aboard a commercial space tug called the Nostromo which diverts from it's course back to Earth to respond to a distress call, waking the seven-member crew from hyper-sleep to investigate. As a result their ship is invaded by a monstrous creature of unknown origin, The Xenomorph, a killing machine that bleeds corrosive acid whenever anyone tries to hurt it. The crew and warrant officer Ripley (30) desperately try to fight back as the alien picks them off one by one. How will they survive? 90 words
NOTE: Now cut and paste version 1 and look at how you can adapt the words, wording and punctuation to condense the text.
NOTE: Now cut and paste version 1 and look at how you can adapt the words, wording and punctuation to condense the text.
Version 2:
Version 2:
Sci-fi/Horror feature; The commercial space tug, Nostromo, diverts from it's return to Earth, responding to a distress call, waking the crew from hyper-sleep to investigate. As a result their ship is invaded by a monstrous creature, The Xenomorph, a killing machine that bleeds corrosive acid. The crew and warrant officer Ripley (30) desperately try to fight back as the alien picks them off one by one. How will they survive? 67 words
Sci-fi/Horror feature; The commercial space tug, Nostromo, diverts from it's return to Earth, responding to a distress call, waking the crew from hyper-sleep to investigate. As a result their ship is invaded by a monstrous creature, The Xenomorph, a killing machine that bleeds corrosive acid. The crew and warrant officer Ripley (30) desperately try to fight back as the alien picks them off one by one. How will they survive? 67 words
NOTE: Consider if one thing implies the same as another, for example, 'returning to Earth' implies 'space', so we can get rid of the reference to 'space'.
NOTE: Consider if one thing implies the same as another, for example, 'returning to Earth' implies 'space', so we can get rid of the reference to 'space'.
Version 3:
Version 3:
Sci-fi/Horror feature; A commercial tug diverts from it's return to Earth, responding to a distress call. As a result their ship, the Nostromo, is invaded by an alien Xenomorph, a killing machine that bleeds corrosive acid. Officer Ripley (30) desperately try to fight back with her crew, as the alien picks them off one by one. How will they survive? 61 words
Sci-fi/Horror feature; A commercial tug diverts from it's return to Earth, responding to a distress call. As a result their ship, the Nostromo, is invaded by an alien Xenomorph, a killing machine that bleeds corrosive acid. Officer Ripley (30) desperately try to fight back with her crew, as the alien picks them off one by one. How will they survive? 61 words
NOTE: You need to be brutal, even if the name of the ship or the alien is evocative, if it isn't essential, get rid of it. Also, 'officer' isn't needed if we say that the crew is Ripley's crew she must be in charge.
NOTE: You need to be brutal, even if the name of the ship or the alien is evocative, if it isn't essential, get rid of it. Also, 'officer' isn't needed if we say that the crew is Ripley's crew she must be in charge.
Version 4:
Version 4:
Sci-fi/Horror feature; Returning to Earth, a commercial tug responds to a distress call but their ship is invaded by a monstrous alien. Ripley (30) and her crew fight for their lives as the alien picks them off. Can they overcome something that's born to kill and to survive, anything? 50 words
Sci-fi/Horror feature; Returning to Earth, a commercial tug responds to a distress call but their ship is invaded by a monstrous alien. Ripley (30) and her crew fight for their lives as the alien picks them off. Can they overcome something that's born to kill and to survive, anything? 50 words
NOTE: Change 'responds' to 'responding' and you can condense the sentence.
NOTE: Change 'responds' to 'responding' and you can condense the sentence.
Version 5:
Version 5:
Sci-fi/Horror feature; Returning to Earth a commercial tug, responding to a distress call, is invaded by an alien.
Sci-fi/Horror feature; Returning to Earth a commercial tug, responding to a distress call, is invaded by an alien.
Ripley (30) and her crew fight to survive but how can they overcome an enemy that seems born to kill, and to survive, anything? 43 words
Ripley (30) and her crew fight to survive but how can they overcome an enemy that seems born to kill, and to survive, anything? 43 words
NOTE: We don't need 'an enemy that seems' if we use 'something that's' = minus 3 words...
NOTE: We don't need 'an enemy that seems' if we use 'something that's' = minus 3 words...
Version 6:
Version 6:
Sci-fi/Horror feature; Returning to Earth a commercial tug, responding to a distress call, is invaded by an alien.
Sci-fi/Horror feature; Returning to Earth a commercial tug, responding to a distress call, is invaded by an alien.
Ripley (30) and her crew fight to survive but how can they overcome something that's born to kill, and survive... anything? 40 words
Ripley (30) and her crew fight to survive but how can they overcome something that's born to kill, and survive... anything? 40 words
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse