Secret Thoughts of Angels :: Production Notes :: Writing with Dramatica
I developed the story using Dramatica software. For those interested, here's how I did it:
Working through the various settings in the Story Engine I came up with a Storyform that I was happy with and more or less fitted in with the rough idea I had in my head.
Then, having created the characters and assigned the various story elements to them, I exported the Plot Sequence Report. In his book, Dramatica for Screenwriters, Armando Saldaña Mora has developed a very neat method for translating the PSR into a usable structure template. I took this and stripped it down a little so that I ended up with 16 sequences (rather than the 48 that Armando has for a full screenplay). I then combined this with the details of the characters involved and what they might be primarily concerned with.
Then it was simply a case of working through and weaving the story around the template...
- Andy
OS1 - "engaging in a physical activity" (Doing)
Prediction: Inertia (Dr Crabtree) vs. Change (Jess)
Vs.
Interdiction: Equity (Dr Crabtree) vs. Inequity (Mr Widdershins)Inertia vs. Change as they relate to Prediction – Jess needs the book. She can't finish her PhD without it. Dr Crabtree tries to dissuade Jess, but she is having none of it. Dr Crabtree is very resistant to the idea, which upsets Jess. He tries to argue that it will take along the wrong path, but she misunderstands and thinks he’s just being annoying.
Equity vs. Inequity as they relate to Interdiction – Mr Widdershins wants his Mistress, Gertrude Stump, to return, and to do so he must find someone special, one who will understand what is required to perform a very special ritual at a specific time. Dr Crabtree is worried that Jess is the one Mr Widdershins is looking for, especially as the news reports are talking of rare astrological conjunctions and unusual solar activity.
o Jess announces to Dr Crabtree that she is stuck, and cannot complete her thesis unless she has a copy of the Secret Thoughts of Angels, by little known 17th Century Alchemist Gertrude Stump. Her thesis in on the power of words in late medieval rituals.
o She asks him if he will help her and he says no.
o Dr Crabtree tries to talk her out of it, saying that he doesn’t think the book exists and even if it did, he felt that she was changing the emphasis of her argument and she should pursue an alternative course, reminding her that it is due in very soon and she shouldn’t pin her hopes on pipe dreams. He tells her he doesn’t think the book will help, at least not at this stage.
o Jess remains unconvinced.
MC1 - "recollections" (Memories)
Situation: Order (Dr Crabtree) vs. Chaos (Jess)
Vs.
Circumstances: Equity (Dr Crabtree) vs. Inequity (Mr Widdershins)Order vs. Chaos as they relate to Situation – When Dr Crabtree realised Jess’ potential he made sure that he protected her from Mr Widdershins, but ensuring he never mentioned Mr Widdershins shop. However, in the jumble of Jess’ graduate notes she has scribbled the name of his shop, having heard Dr Crabtree mention it in passing.
Equity vs. Inequity as they relate to Circumstances – As OS1.
o Jess returns to her messy, chaotic flat and ploughs into her old graduate notes. There in one corner of the page is scrawled the name and place of Mr Widdershins shop.
o We also learn that she is in debt.
MI1 - "visualizing how an existing idea might be implemented" (Developing a Plan)
Strategy: Inaction (Mr Widdershins) vs. Protection (Jess)
Vs.
Analysis: Reduction (Dr Crabtree) vs. Production (Mr Widdershins)Inaction vs. Protection as they relate to Strategy – Mr Widdershins does nothing, because Dr Crabtree has not made him aware of Jess, so he is not expecting her. Dr Crabtree has protected Jess by not telling Mr Widdershins about her, so initially she is saved. However, her efforts to contact the man and get a copy of the book outside of Dr Crabtree’s knowledge puts Dr Crabtree in trouble, as Mr Widdershins senses that she
Reduction vs. Production as they relate to Analysis – Mr Widdershins is waiting for ‘the one’. He is expecting Dr Crabtree, as one of his ‘men’, to alert him to the fact that Jess is ripe for the picking as ‘twere. Dr Crabtree has realised that Jess may well be a suitable candidate for the one, but likes her and does not want her to have to go through the ordeal that Mr Widdershins has in mind for her.
o Jess pays a visit to Mr Widdershins (in his antiquarian bookshop). Mr Widdershins is confused by her asking for the book and lies, saying he doesn’t have it.
o He makes a comment that it is more than just a book, something altogether more… elegant. Jess, a little confused, leaves.
o Mr Widdershins goes to his safe and removes the book; he leafs through the fragile pages to the end where there is a picture of a young lady not to dissimilar to Jess.
IC1 - "what has already happened" (The Past)
Confidence: Trust (Jess) vs. Test (Mr Widdershins)
Vs.
Worry: Result (Dr Crabtree) vs. Process (Jess)Trust vs. Test as they relate to Confidence – Jess trusts that Mr W will not let her down, and he feels he is failing. Mr Widdershins is angry (at Dr C?) for not being told about Jess, so he tests Dr C to see if he knows more than he’s letting on.
Result vs. Process as they relate to Worry – Jess is unaware that her hard work and studies will lead her into danger. She has pursued this course, mentored by Dr Crabtree, but the only result can be that eventually she will encounter Mr Widdershins. This has been Dr Crabtree’s concern the whole time, and he has gone out of his way to protect her from him.
o Dr Crabtree feels the nasty end of Mr Widdershins power as the old man tests him to find out whether he knows about Jess.
o Initially he tries to protect Jess, but Mr Widdershins is too powerful and he confesses that he does know about her and that he hadn’t said anything because he wasn’t sure.
o Dr Crabtree implores Mr Widdershins not to give Jess the book. Mr Widdershins remains angry and unconvinced.
OS2 - "achieving or possessing something" (Obtaining)
Security: Result (Dr Crabtree) vs. Process (Jess)
Vs.
Threat: Expectation (Dr Crabtree) vs. Determination (Mr Widdershins)Result vs. Process as they relate to Security – Jess has pushed the envelope in her studies and Dr Crabtree realises that she really must have the book, despite the fact that it will mean a nasty end to her if she is not careful. He thinks perhaps he can still help her and guide her.
Expectations vs. Determination as they relate to Threat – Mr Widdershins posts the book to Jess, having decided that she is the one. Dr Crabtree is upset as he thinks that Jess’ meeting with Gertrude is now unavoidable, and the result will not be in Jess’ favour.
o A mysterious package arrives at Jess’ flat. She opens it to find it is a copy of the book. It has a label that simply says ‘from a friend’.
o She assumes that it is Dr Crabtree and rings him. He is upset that she has been sent the book, but pretends it was in fact he who sent it (when his reaction shows it blatantly wasn’t).
o Jess suddenly realises somehow that he didn’t send it, and is upset with him? Or is she upset with him for some other reason? Perhaps that he hasn’t changed his tune that it probably won’t help.
MC2 - "basic drives and desires" (Innermost Desires)
Ability: Accurate (Dr Crabtree) vs. Non-accurate (Jess)
Vs.
Desire: Expectation (Dr Crabtree) vs. Determination (Mr Widdershins)Accurate vs. Inaccurate as they relate to Ability – As Dr Crabtree predicted, Jess struggles to read the book, a lot of it is indecipherable, and more is written in code. She begins to despair that it will still not reveal its secrets in time for her to complete her dissertation.
Expectation vs. Determination as they relate to Desire – as OS2.
o Jess studies the book hard, but cannot get to grips with it. She tries all manner of things; holding the book upside down, plotting out complex pictograms on her floor and pacing around them. She is beaten, frustrated and upset.
IC2 - "the way things are going" (How Things are Changing)
Hope: Control (Mr Widdershins) vs. Uncontrolled (Jess)
Vs.
Dream: Support (Dr Crabtree) vs. Oppose (Jess)Control vs. Uncontrolled as it relates to Hope – Dr Crabtree does not like the pressure exerted on him by Mr Widdershins, who is making life uncomfortable for him. He also feels that Jess is slipping through his fingers and losing her trust.
Support vs. Oppose as it relates to Dream – Jess has not come to him for help (why? Has he upset her?), and despite ringing her mobile, she switches it straight to answer phone.
o Mr Widdershins visits for an update on Jess and is not best pleased when he hears that Jess has not been seen or heard of for two days.
o Dr Crabtree tries to ring Jess but only gets her voicemail.
o Mr Widdershins tells Dr Crabtree to take control of the situation before it is too late. They are under a time limit and Jess must perform the ritual within a certain timeframe for it to be most effective.
OS3 - "gathering information or experience" (Gathering Information)
Attraction: Acceptance (Dr Crabtree) vs. Non-acceptance (Jess)
Vs.
Repulsion: Reduction (Dr Crabtree) vs. Production (Mr Widdershins)Acceptance vs. Non-acceptance as it relates to Attraction – Dr Crabtree is challenged by Mr Widdershins directly to show that he has helped ‘the cause’. Jess at this stage has not yet found the secret, and Dr Crabtree feels she perhaps won’t.
Reduction vs. Production as it relates to Repulsion – Mr Widdershins starts to make his own plans for the ritual, but Dr Crabtree is sceptical that the plans will work with Jess still in a state of Non-acceptance.
o Dr Crabtree is sceptical that the return of Gertrude will actually do any good. Mr Widdershins reprimands him for his doubts, but confesses that it has been so long, he had almost quite forgotten the true nature of the woman.
o Mr Widdershins is quite excited by the turn of events and goes into overdrive, bullying Dr Crabtree into helping more with thinly veiled threats.
MI2 - "temporarily adopting a lifestyle" (Playing a Role)
Senses: Aware (Mr Widdershins) vs. Self-Aware (Jess)
Vs.
Interpretation: Equity (Dr Crabtree) vs. Inequity (Mr Widdershins)Aware vs. Self-Aware as they relate to Senses – Jess turns to Dr Crabtree for help, who must go against his better judgement and give her some pointers to cracking the puzzle of the book.
Equity vs. Inequity as they relate to Interpretation – Dr Crabtree figures if he can tell Jess enough about the book to help her with her work, without finding it’s true secret, perhaps things will be OK.
o Dr Crabtree visits Jess as home, which she finds a bit odd. He is uncomfortable, and she is aloof to him.
o He is a little upset by her appearance – she has become completely obsessed by the book, and has not eaten or washed in days.
o Jess has become convinced that the book contains some kind of code, a secret message to Gertrude’s followers.
o He tells her it’s just a book and to look beyond the text (metaphorically) and try to understand what it was intended to do. This should help her with her dissertation.
o She remembers words Mr Widdershins said in the shop, which contradict what Dr Crabtree said.
o Takes Dr Crabtree’s point literally and physically looks beyond the book, discovering a secret code in the ornate footers of each page.
MC3 - "innate responses" (Impulsive Responses)
Commitment: Faith (Dr Crabtree) vs. Disbelief (Jess)
Vs.
Responsibility: Conscience (Dr Crabtree) vs. Temptation (Dr Crabtree)Faith vs. Disbelief as it relates to Commitment – Jess’ response to the secrets she has unearthed in the book are shock and disbelief.
Conscience vs. Temptation as it relates to Responsibility – Dr Crabtree tempts Jess to continue.
o Jess goes to Dr Crabtree with her tail between her legs. She is worried by the language and tone of the ritual, and worries that it might be, for the first time, something quite serious that may have some power to it.
o She is scared by what she has discovered and decides she doesn’t want to carry on with that line of investigation.
o Dr Crabtree encourages her to persist in her efforts, and Jess promises to do so, but is not happy about it.
o He realises that she may be onto something that even Mr Widdershins had not thought of and encourages her to pursue her goal, telling her the reward will be greater than simply a PhD.
MI3 - "transforming one's nature" (Changing One's Nature)
Skill: Trust (Mr Widdershins) vs. Test (Jess)
Vs.
Experience: Expectation (Dr Crabtree) vs. Determination (Mr Widdershins)Trust vs. Test as it relates to Skill – Jess really wants to believe that the book is her only hope and it will help her. Dr Crabtree decides that it is inevitable she will try a ritual at some point, but how to speed up the process to keep Mr Widdershins happy?
Expectation vs. Determination as it relates to Experience – The cycle is complete – Mr Widdershins has completed the process and Dr Crabtree reduces it down to its final conclusion.
o Jess balks at the idea of leaving the book alone; remaining convinced that what she really needs to know is contained inside.
o Dr Crabtree suggests that she hasn’t verified the authenticity of the book.
o Jess doesn’t know how in the short pace of time.
o Dr Crabtree suggests Jess tries the rituals.
IC3 - "what will happen or what will be" (The Future)
Appraisal: Inaction (Mr Widdershins) vs. Protection (Jess)
Vs.
Reappraisal: Acceptance (Dr Crabtree) vs. Non-acceptance (Jess)Inaction vs. Protection as it relates to Appraisal – Jess believes that she will come to harm if she tries the ritual and tries to get rid of the book. She tries desperately to think of another way, but there is none.
Acceptance vs. Non-acceptance as it relates to Reappraisal – Dr Crabtree has done the deed now and accepts that he must encourage her to do the ritual; Jess is remaining intent on not doing it.
o Dr Crabtree suggests that if she is serious she should go away and think about it.
o Jess is horrified, and leaves utterly defeated.
MI4 - "coming up with an idea" (Conceiving an Idea)
Self Interest: Control (Mr Widdershins) vs. Uncontrolled (Jess)
Vs.
Morality: Conscience (Mr Widdershins) vs. Temptation (Dr Crabtree)Control vs. Uncontrolled as it relates to Self Interest – Jess is still not buying it and Mr Widdershins wants her to do it.
Conscience vs. Temptation as it relates to Morality – Mr Widdershins wonders whether there might be a way to encourage her to do it that would appeal to her. Dr Crabtree suggests they pay her.
o As Jess walks up the road in tears, Mr Widdershins watches from his car. He rings Dr Crabtree and they discuss the fact that she is not playing the game.
o Mr Widdershins notes that Jess doesn’t have a coat. Dr Crabtree suggests they could offer to buy her a new one.
OS4 - "appreciating the meaning of something" (Understanding)
Delay: Support (Dr Crabtree) vs. Oppose (Jess)
Vs.
Choice: Conscience (Dr Crabtree) vs. Temptation (Mr Widdershins)Support vs. Oppose as it relates to Delay – Dr Crabtree knows how strongly Jess feels and tries to buy her some time with Mr Widdershins. He feels that time is wasting and she should be encouraged to do the ritual by whatever means.
Conscience vs. Temptation as it relates to Choice – Dr Crabtree tells Jess that if she does the ritual, the people who sent her the book will pay her handsomely. Jess realises that she has possibly been set up, Dr Crabtree does not deny it.
o Jess receives another package – a large wodge of cash, with the note, five thousand more when you have completed the ritual – from a friend.
o Jess is torn, the money is needed, and if she does the ritual and it works – whatever it does (she’s still not sure) it will mean she can complete her PhD, and it would seem some people might be happy.
MC4 - "present considerations" (Contemplation)
Need: Deduction (Dr Crabtree) vs. Induction (Jess)
Vs.
Expediency: Reduction (Dr Crabtree) vs. Production (Mr Widdershins)Deduction vs. Induction as it relates to Need – Jess tells Dr Crabtree she will do the ritual, perceiving that there is probably nothing in it and she will be OK, and that she’s just being a bit silly about the tone and style of the ritual. Dr Crabtree is sad that she is going to do it, but promises to help her. She asks if he will be with her in case the worst happens (which he is sure it will).
Reduction vs. Production as it relates to Expediency – The situation reaches its climax as Mr Widdershins years of patience pay off. Dr Crabtree has to think fast to ensure Jess doesn’t change her mind.
o Jess looks around the flat and at the bin with the unpaid bills.
o Jess picks up the phone – ‘OK, I’ll do it’
IC4 - "the current situation and circumstances" (The Present)
Evidence: Aware (Mr Widdershins) vs. Self-Aware (Jess)
Vs.
Suspicion: Inertia (Dr Crabtree) vs. Change (Jess)Aware vs. Self-Aware as it relates to Evidence – Jess does the ritual with Dr Crabtree. She falls unconscious. Mr Widdershins is outside waiting. Dr Crabtree calls him in and they await the results of the ritual…
Inertia vs. Change as it relates to Suspicion – Dr Crabtree sits in on the ritual with Jess as she performs it to makes sure it goes ahead.
o Jess does the ritual in the presence of Dr Crabtree.
o She falls unconscious.
o A knock at the door heralds the arrival of Mr Widdershins.
o They pop Jess up onto the sofa and await her waking – tense moments pass.
o Jess finally awakes with a start. Mr Widdershins, almost beside himself with excitement blurts ‘Mistress?’
o Fade Out.