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Screenplay, Script & Story Writing Support Based on the book that explains the universal structural principles of all successful stories. | |||
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| by Stanley D. Williams, Ph.D. - published by Michael Wiese Productions | |||
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PO Box 29, Novi, MI 48376 Ph: 248-344-4423-x5 • Fx: 248-679-8893 Email: Stan@MoralPremise.com (Expect Spam Arrest Verification) Stan's Film Produciton: SWC Films. |
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"The most powerful tool in my new tool box."
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"The Moral Premise dares to suggest that movies might actually mean something."
"Thanks for the great book. I will recommend it to all my classes."
"Should be required reading, retroactively, for every working Hollywood screenwriter."
"WOW! This book is fantastic!"
"This is really an important book."
"Drop all of your 'to-do' lists, get this book, and curl up for the read of your screenwriting lifetime."
Aspiring or working screenwriters - I have a tip for you. Buy the THE MORAL PREMISE by Stanley D. Williams and read it twice. More Endorsements >> |
Moral Premise Statements
The Moral Premise Statement (MPS) is what your story is REALLY ABOUT. A singular story or movie, if it is to be successful, is about a single idea articulated in a MPS, which describes the true and natural relationship between character motivations, decisions, action and consequence.
The MPS is a misnomer of sorts. It is more accurate (but also more awkward) to call it The Moral-Physical Premise Statement (MPPS). You'll find both in my blogs and workshops. They refer to exactly the same thing.
This page is the idea of William Fitzpatrick who created and manages WikiScreenplay, a site "committed to supporting the enterprise of quality storytelling - particularly through the medium of film." Thank you William, a webpage where MPS's for the stories I've had the privilege to analyze can be a great benefit, and I am indebted to you for your suggestion. More importantly, however, is William's offer to create a place at WikiScreenplay where anyone can contribute MPS for the stories that they have analyzed. Here's the link to the Moral Premise page at WikiScreenplay
With any effort like this there are some assumptions and clarificaitons that need to be made. They are listed here and then the list below. Thank you all for your contribution to this list and William's, of which I will be a part as time allows.
Explanatory Notes:
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300 (F, 2007, Zack Snyder)
Vainglory in service of self leads to enslavement; but
Humility in service of others leads to freedom.
Moral compromise, even if politically expedient, leads to enslavement and dread; but
Executing justice, even if politically suicidal, leads to liberty, and hope.
7th HEAVEN: The Fine Art of Parenting (TV, 3/14/2005, Brenda Hampton)
Proper involvement with your children leads to safety and happiness; but
not being properly involved with your children leads to danger and unhappiness
A BEAUTIFUL MIND (F, 2001, Ron Howard)
Depending only on others for our well-being leads to impotency; but
Taking personal responsibility for our well-being leads to productivity
A CHARLIE BROWN'S CHRISTMAS (TV, 1965)
Looking forward to "getting" leads to ambiguity; but
Looking to forward to "giving" leads to significance.
AMAZING GRACE (F, 2006, Michael Apted)
Hiding evil by the darkness of ignorance leads to
injustice and a society's enslavement;
but
Revealing evil by the light of knowledge leads to justice and society's freedom.
AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (F, 1982, Taylor Hackford)
In order to be better human beings, we must give ourselves honestly to others, but
never sacrifice ourselves for others (Michael Hauge).
Arrogance and dishonesty with others leads to despair and a life not worth living; but
Giving ourselves honestly to others leads to hope and a better life.
Deceiving ourselves and others leads to despair and death; but
Truthfulness to ourselves and others leads to hope and life.
Honest friendships and counselors lead to hope and life; but
Dishonest friendships and counselors lead to despair and death.
A PASSION DENIED (N, 2009, Julie Lessman)
Denying God's gifts of passion in our lives leads to separation and dread; but
Embracing God's gifts of passion in our lives leads to community and vitality.
Bitterness leads to isoaltion and malaise; but
Forgiveness leads to friendship and health.
APOCALYPTO (F, 2006, Mel Gibson)
Succumbing to fear leads to destruction; but
Chasing courage leads to a new beginning.
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (F, 2004, Kay Pollak)
Pursuit of one's passion with obsession leads to demise; but
Pursuit of one's passion with balance leads to love.
A SOLDIER'S PROMISE (N, 2008, Cheryl Wyatt)
Commitment without compromise (out of timidity or stubbornness) leads to isolation; but
Commitment with compromise (out of sacrifice and love) leads to relationship.
AUTUMN RAINS (N, 2009, MYRA JOHNSON)
Trusting in your own wisdom and knowledge leads to a dreadful imprisonment; but
Trusting in God's wisdom and knowledge leads to a pleasant freedom.
AVATAR (F, 2009, James Cameron)
Greed, abuse and disrespect for life and creation
leads to dread and destruction;
but
generosity, kindness and respect for life leads to hope and progress.
BABEL (F, 2006, Alejandro González Iñárritu)
Not listening leads to loss, confusion, and prejudice; but
Listening leads to connection, understanding, and love.
Not listening leads to becoming profoundly lost and confused; but
Listening leads to deep connection and understanding.
BRAVEHEART (F, 1995, Mel Gibson)
Compromise of liberty leads to tyranny; but
Being willing to die for liberty leads to freedom.
The willingness of leaders to compromise liberty leads to tyranny; but
the willingness of leaders to die for liberty leads to freedom.
BRIDGE TO TERABIRTHIA (F, 2006, Gabor Csupo)
Meanness leads to a curse of rejection; but
Compassion leads to the grace of acceptance.
Skepticism leads to dread of a dark tomorrow; but
Faith leads to the hope of a bright future.
BRUCE ALMIGHTY (F, 2003, Tom Shadyac)
Expecting miracles, or others to labor with their gifts on our behalf, leads to frustration, anger, and chaos; but
laboring to be the miracle for others using our own gifts for them leads to contentment, happiness, and peace. Expecting a miracle leads to frustration; but
being a miracle leads to peace.
CITY SLICKERS (F, 1991, Gary Winick)
Selfishness leads to sadness and frowns, but
Selflessness leads to happiness and smiles.
CHARLOTTE'S WEB (F, 2006, Ron Underwood)
Disrespect for life's miracles leads to lonliness and sadness; but
Respect for life's miracles leads to friendships & joy.
CLOVERFIELD (F, 2008, Matt Reeves)
Avoiding love selfishly and silently, even in the face of death
leads to fear and lost purpose; but
Pursuing love sacrificially and verbally, even in the face of death leads to hope and heroic purpose.
DIE HARD (F, 1990, Renny Harlin)
Arrogance & self-preservation lead to frustration and defeat; but
Humility & sacrifice lead to peace and victory. Covetous hatred leads to death and destruction, but
sacrificial love leads to life and celebration. A vulnerable man’s good triumphs over a vicious man’s evil.
Passing OUR responsibility to others leads to failure; but
Taking responsibility for what is OURS leads to success.
GENERIC EXAMPLES
Selfishness leads to isolation; but
Selflessness leads to community.
Prejudice leads to misunderstanding and war; but
Compassion leads to understanding and peace.
Bragging leads to humiliation; but
Humility leads to honor.
Foolishness leads to death; but
Wisdom leads to life.
Unbridled passion leads to risk; but
Reasoned discernment leads to safety.
GEORGE LUCAS IN LOVE (F, 1999, Joe Nussbaum)
RESPECT (active observation ) of what we should “know” leads to SUCCESSFUL STORIES; but
DISRESPECT (lack of observation) of what we should “know” leads to WRITER’S BLOCK.
INCEPTION (F, 2020, Christopher Nolan)
Embracing dreams as reality leads to death of a vision; but
Using dreams as inspiration leads to a vision fulfilled; and Embracing reality as a dream leads to a rejection of life. NESTED PREMISE:
Coddling undeserved guilt leads to destructive distractions; but Embracing acceptance and forgiveness leads to constructive focus; and A constructive focus leads (allows) inspiration to transform our visions into reality.
THE INCREDIBLES (F, 2004, Brad Bird)
Battling adversity alone leads to weakness and defeat; but
Battling adversity as a family leads to strength and victory.
IN THE BEDROOM (F, 2001, Todd Field)
Ignoring moral instruction leads to death and bitterness; but
Flaunting moral instruction leads to killing and dread. Watching over a child’s well-being leads to health and life; but
Undermining a child’s well-being leads to sickness and death.
JAMES BOND (F, any of them, Ian Flemming)
The pursuit of power leads to death and defeat;
While the pursuit of justice leads to life and success
KARATE KID (F, 2010, Harald Zwart)
Disrespect for what we don’t know leads to getting knocked down; but
Respect for what we need to learn leads to getting back up.
Not eating the body of Christ leads to death; but
Eating the body of Christ leads to life.
LEVITY (F, 2003, Ed Solomon)
Truth leads to levity; but
Deception leads to despair.
LIAR! LIAR! (F, 1997, Tom Shadyac)
A deceptive heart leads to rejection; but
A truthful heart leads to acceptance. Lying leads to distrust and rejection; but
Telling the truth leads to trustworthiness and admiration.
If LIAR! LIAR! ... as a tragedy:
A secret heart leads to rejection; but
A lying heart leads to isolation. LIVING DEAD GIRL (F Short, YEAR?, Jon Springer)
Consuming what is only human leads to the walking dead; but
Consuming what is divine leads to waking up the dead.
Not eating the body of Christ leads to death; but
Eating the body of Christ leads to life.
MEN IN BLACK 2 (F Short, 2002, Barry Sonnenfeld)
Pursuing who you aren't or doing what you shouldn't
leads to danger for yourself and all of earth;
but Pursuing who are meant to be or doing what you should (by the book) leads to safety for yourself and all of earth.
Pretending who you are not, leads to danger; but
Being who truly are leads to safety.
ORDINARY PEOPLE (F, 1980, Robert Redford)
Embracing idealism and demanding perfection
leads to the repression of feelings,
and the loss of love, friendship, and happiness;
but;
Embracing reality and allowing imperfection leads to the expression of feelings, and secures love, friendship, and happiness.
Demanding perfection leads the loss of love and friendship;
but;
Allowing imperfection leads to the gain of love and friendship.
PETTICOAT RANCH (N, 2006, Mary Connealy)
Seeking revenge leads to destitution; but
Seeking justice leads to satisfaction
RATATOUILLE (F, 2007, Brad Bird)
Living as if only an elite class can “cook;” leads to despair; but
Living as if anyone can “cook;” leads to hope.
TERMINATOR 2: Judgement Day (F, 1991, James Cameron)
Selfishness leads to death; but
Sacrifice leads to life.
THE BLIND SIDE (F, 2009, John Lee Hancock)
Courage to pursue what is foolish leads to death; but
Courage to pursue what is important leads to honor.
THE DARK KNIGHT (F, 2008, Christopher Nolan)
Revengeful, self-service leads to nihilistic desperation; but
Sacrificial public service leads to purposeful hope. THE DESCENT (F, 2005, Neil Marshall)
Feeding an inflated ego leads to danger; but
Following people with inflated egos leads to death.
THE HURICANNE (F, 1999, Norman Jewison)
Hate put me in prison (but)
love’s gonna to bust me out.
THE PLEDGE (F, 2001, Sean Penn)
Child abuse and murder leads to a quick end in the fires of hell;
but Keeping your word to find justice leads to drunken insanity. (FALSE PREMISE)
WHAT WOMEN WANT (F, 2000, Nancy Meyers)
Arrogantly listening to self leads to
superficial relationships (disrespect); but
Humbly listening to others leads to super "real" relationships (respect).
WINTER'S END (N, 2010, Ruth Logan Herne)
Bitterness toward those that hurt us leads to confusion and separation; but
Forgiveness of those that hurt us leads to purpose and attachment.
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