How does this threshold manifest itself? What challenges do you face? What is holding you back from change? Join Devin and Adam as they explore the Second Threshold of your story – Crossing into the Danger Zone.
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What are the rules of your story’s mythology? What tools is your hero introduced to in order to deal with the unknown world of Act 2?
Though the Watering Hole event may raises the stakes by touching on the dangers of the Unknown World, the Rules & Tools event is our opportunity to equip our hero with some specific knowledge and tools they will need along the way.
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We celebrate our 50th episode by discussing one of our favorite story events…The Watering Hole!
The Watering Hole event provides the opportunity to introduce the creatures who inhabit this Unknown World, whether they are humans, monsters or a variety of species like in the cantina scene of
“Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”
How can this communal setting take shape? As a cafeteria, mess hall, coffee shop, restaurant, bar, a family dinner? How can this been an example of the community at large?
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The First Day of School is the first story event in Act 2 and Movement 2. How does your hero respond to the contrast of Act 2’s Unknown World they have just entered? Are they shy, afraid, boastful, foolish? What does this tell us about them?
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Now that your Hero has agreed to go on the journey, what is the Threshold from Act One to Act Two of your story? What contrasting elements help your audience to understand the difference between the known world and the unknown world?
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What quest, challenge, or invitation is presented to your Hero? What choices? How does it highlight the overall dramatic question of your story?
Our hero must be presented with a challenge, and one that will create a necessity for our hero to have to decide, on their own, if they want to embark on such an adventure. The Call to Quest is often presented to our hero by a Herald character, though it doesn’t necessarily need to be a human or creature character, it could also be an incident, or potentially occur within the Inciting Incident.
The Call to Quest forces our hero into a major decision: To refuse the call to quest and continue on in the comfort of their known world; or, heed the call to quest, thrusting themselves into the Unknown World, which they know little or nothing about…especially the dangers that lurk in the shadows of the Unknown World.
| Join Adam and Devin on their quest to breakdown the Call to Quest story event! |
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What is the Inciting (or Exciting) Incident of your story? How does it set the entire story in motion or tip the first domino in your story’s chain of events?
| Our Inciting Incident is the moment the story “officially” begins and is set in motion. The Inciting Incident is the moment that changes everything for our hero, and perhaps the other main character(s), and puts them on our stories path. The first domino is tipped and the story is set into motion. |
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We’re kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and listen to a couple story-lovin’ dudes talk about one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time…
In this special holiday Story Breakdown episode, Devin and Adam discuss the comedy classic, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” What is the basis and history of the screenplay and film? What about its first act makes for such a strong foundation?
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Devin and Adam conclude their conversation with special guest Youssef Kerkour (“Nightflyers.”) He discusses his work on the “Jack Ryan” series, Woody Harrelson’s “Lost in London,” and the new ScyFy series “Nightflyers.”
Born and raised in Rabat, Morocco, Youssef speaks four languages fluently, including English, French, Italian, and Moroccan Arabic. In 1996 he attended Bard College in upstate New York where he majored in Drama/Dance under Joanne Akalitis. Upon graduating in 2000 he moved to New York City where he joined the theater company Division 13 headed by Joanna Settle. His past jobs have included stints at the Arden Theater in Philadelphia, Richard Foreman’s Maria Del Bosco, as well as a vast body of work within the downtown New York theater scene. He also worked extensively on independent film projects with various directors in and around New York city. After 9/11, Youssef chose to move to London, England where he currently lives and works as a full time actor. He returns to New York City during the summer, and always for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
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Special guest Youssef Kerkour (Nightflyers) talks about his early film and stage work in New York and in London with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Born and raised in Rabat, Morocco, Youssef speaks four languages fluently, including English, French, Italian, and Moroccan Arabic. In 1996 he attended Bard College in upstate New York where he majored in Drama/Dance under Joanne Akalitis. Upon graduating in 2000 he moved to New York City where he joined the theater company Division 13 headed by Joanna Settle. His past jobs have included stints at the Arden Theater in Philadelphia, Richard Foreman’s Maria Del Bosco, as well as a vast body of work within the downtown New York theater scene. He also worked extensively on independent film projects with various directors in and around New York city. After 9/11, Youssef chose to move to London, England where he currently lives and works as a full time actor. He returns to New York City during the summer, and always for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
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