Adams Prac Report
SCENARIO: Setting: An upscale Casino in Las Vegas. Inside a theatre restaurant where people have very rare tickets to the best night of excitement on the strip: the famous Elvis Impersonator. It’s eight o’clock and everyone has gathered into the swanky casino bar for the star performer. As the show starts, a gunshot echoes throughout the bar. The curtain comes up, and Elvis goes down. The casino’s bar doors slam shut and everyone in the bar is now a suspect.
CHOOSE YOUR HERO: You can choose your main hero/heroine from the characters listed on page 3. Copy-and-paste which character type you have chosen and given them a name. Then think of some character traits, using the prompts.
| HERO | |
| NAME | |
| Who is the Hero/Describe them |
HERO’S THREE-ACT JOURNEY: You are now going to sketch out the three-act structure of your story’s plot using the table on the next page. After that you will work out who the supporting characters will be (typically you will need 4-6) For the plot, work on simplicity.
THE SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:Choose the supporting characters you’ll need to fill out the story from the characters listed on page 3. (You don’t need to use all of the characters, but you must assign each one with an archetype!)
Make sure the characters all pay off.
Use the table provided to help you
| Supporting Character Name | Character Description | Which Archetype?
How do they pay off? |
| #1
|
||
| #2 | ||
| #3 | ||
| #4 | ||
| #5 | ||
| #6 |
CHARACTERS TO CHOOSE FROM:
Investigator/reporter: A resident bad boy and has earned quite a reputation for his ability to try any underhanded trick he can think of to get the latest scoop. Of course, his methods aren’t always legal…but that only matters if you get caught, right? Clue: You have been following Elvis for a story and you know that he was in a relationship with someone who was married.
The Gun Nut: Owns several guns. He and his wife are die-hard Elvis fans and believe this Elvis impersonator is terrible since they have seen him before. They have been to several of his other shows and heckle him on and off stage. Clue: You lost your gun at the casino bar last week.
Recently Fired Gladiator Actor: used to be best friends with Elvis. Previously employed by the casino to entertain the gamblers. Elvis ratted him out to the owner for drinking on the job. One night in a drunken stupor he told the dancer that he was going to stab Elvis in the back, like Brutus stabbed Caesar.
The Singing Coach: A singing coach who has been coaching Elvis with his voice. Gives him private lessons and is frequently at the casino to critique and watch him. They were in a sexual relationship with Elvis. They promised Elvis they would leave their partner for him but never intended to. Elvis learns the singing coach won’t ever leave their partner and threatens to expose the love affair.
Dancer: Has been a dancer since she was three years old. She is a showgirl for the hotel who dreams of being an opening act because she longs for Broadway. Carries pictures of herself from plays and pageants. This character always lets anyone know when she enters or leaves a room, and sometimes throws in a little dance step for good measure.
Scuba Diver / The Assassin: They are a hitman. Their cover is a scuba diver. They were NOT hired to kill Elvis or anyone else at the casino. They are simply here to gamble and have a relaxing weekend. They have a gun with them. Clue: You were talking with the bartender during the shooting. This is your alibi for not shooting Elvis.
The Professor: A professor at a local college trying his/her luck at card counting. At the casino quite regularly and has made friends with the bouncer.
Bouncer: Takes care of a good majority of the owner`s dirty work. Although loyal, not very bright but very friendly. He is a bachelor. Is friends with the professor who is a regular at the casino.
Do not forget that the Elvis impersonator is also a character. It is acceptable to have the police or ambulance officers appear in your story as long as they are not major players.
BEFORE YOU START TO WRITE, have a think about:
AUDIENCE: Who is your story aimed at?
PURPOSE: What is your reason for writing?
| ACT 1: SET UP | |
| What is the Status Quo? | |
| What is the Inciting Incident? | |
| What is the Call to Adventure? | |
| What happens at Plot Point 1? | |
| ACT 2: CONFRONTATION | |
| What is the Complication? | |
| What is the Pinch Point? | |
| What is the Mid-Point? | |
| What happens at Plot Point 2? | |
| ACT 3: RESOLUTION | |
| What is the Crisis? | |
| What is the Resolution? | |
| Is there a Twist in The Tale? |
STORY
FIRST DRAFT (300 Word)
| Act One: 75 words
Preparation act for the reader. Establish the Status Quo, the Inciting Incident and, after they answer the Call To Adventure, give your hero a reversal of some kind at Plot Point 1. SOME THINGS TO ASK YOURSELF: Do I care about the relationships? What is the problem for the hero? Is the problem gripping?
|
| Act Two: 150 words
THE COMPLICATION & NEAR DESTRUCTION OF HERO (The hero attempts to resolve the problem, but things get worse.) The first intensification is after there has been a Complication, leading to a trial of some sort will occur at Pinch Point 1 leading to the story’s Mid-Point intensification where the hero understands a little bit more about their problem. End your second act with Plot Point 2 where things seem most hopeless and dangerous for the hero leading to a second reversal. |
| Act Three: 75 words
THE RESOLUTION. The main tensions of the story are brought to their highest intensity as they reach the Crisis and Resolution |
FINAL PIECE (500 word)
Type your final piece here. Remember to format it according to the appropriate conventions.
| Act One: 125 words
Preparation act for the reader. Establish the Status Quo, the Inciting Incident and, after they answer the Call To Adventure, give your hero a reversal of some kind at Plot Point 1. SOME THINGS TO ASK YOURSELF: Do I care about the relationships? What is the problem for the hero? Is the problem gripping? |
| Act Two: 250 words
THE COMPLICATION & NEAR DESTRUCTION OF HERO (The hero attempts to resolve the problem, but things get worse.) The first intensification is after there has been a Complication, leading to a trial of some sort will occur at Pinch Point 1 leading to the story’s Mid-Point intensification where the hero understands a little bit more about their problem. End your second act with Plot Point 2 where things seem most hopeless and dangerous for the hero leading to a second reversal. |
| Act Three: 125 words
THE RESOLUTION. The main tensions of the story are brought to their highest intensity as they reach the Crisis and Resolution |
