Today we focused on two aspects of story: the gun on the mantle and the conflict becoming the solution.
We watched a brief animation called "Doodle of Doom" where a boy limping on a crutch fantasizes about becoming a mighty warrior and saving a damsel in distress. We used this scenario as event #2 in a three-event story.
Many of us came up with the idea that the protagonist could be kicked by a bully during a kick the can game, thus hurting the protagonist's leg and leading us to the events of the animation where the warrior defeats the dinosaur. We figured that the warrior represented the protagonist and the dinosaur represented the bully. The warrior was able to defeat the dinosaur using his spear.
Well, if the warrior represented the protagonist and the dinosaur represented the bully, what could the spear represent? How about the crutch?
So now, from the dream, the boy can get the idea to use the crutch as an extension of his arm in the kick the can game and thus become a legendary kick-the-can player, effectively overcoming his hurt leg and the bully.
The Gun
This story follows the rule articulated by Chekov, a Russian playwright, who stated: "The gun that is placed on the mantle in the first act must be shot in the third act."
The Buffalo
In other words, good storytellers are like Native Americans cleaning buffalo, not one part should be wasted. If we introduce a gun, it must be used. If we introduce a crutch, the audience expects us to use it. We prove our storytelling mettle when we not only use it, but use it creatively.
The conflict becomes the solution
This leads us to the idea that in a good story the conflict becomes the solution. The crutch, which represents the conflict the protagonist is having, becomes the solution. At first it holds him back, but then he finds a way to use it to his advantage.
Audiences love it when the conflict becomes the solution. We also had another plot where the girl is attracted to the protagonist because of his drawings, which he never would have drawn had he not been injured.
