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Lecture 14:Lecture 14:The Climax and the ResolutionThe Climax and the Resolution

Professor Christopher Bradley

Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Screenplay

by Adolph Green and

Betty Comden Suggested by

the song “Singin’ in the Rain” by Arthur Freed

and Nacio Herb Brown

Previous LessonPrevious Lesson• The Epiphany

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Jaws (1975)Screenplay by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb

Based on the novel by Peter Benchley

In this LessonIn this Lesson

• The Final Showdown with the Antagonist

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Taxi Driver (1973) Screenplay by Paul Schrader

• Tying Up the Loose Ends

The Climax!The Climax!

4Lesson 14: Part I

Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Screenplay by Adolph Green and Betty Comden

Suggested by the song “Singin’ in the Rain” by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown

Increasing the PressureIncreasing the Pressure• We’ve been increasing the pressures on

the characters for the entire story, and now is the moment when everything cracks open!

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Taxi Driver (1973) Screenplay by Paul

Schrader

Just Before the ClimaxJust Before the Climax

• The protagonist has had an epiphany. What he or she must do becomes clear.

• The protagonist has created a new plan.

• The stakes are higher than ever.

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The ClimaxThe Climax

• If there was a bomb with a ticking clock, now is the time the bomb explodes!

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Taxi Driver (1973) Screenplay by Paul

Schrader

The ClimaxThe Climax

• The protagonist has his final showdown with the Antagonist.

• The new plan works, or in some cases, it does not, depending on your story. In some of the best stories, the protagonist fails or succeeds in an unexpected way.

• The climax should resolve plot and subplots simultaneously, if possible.

• A greater truth emerges.8

The Climax:The Climax:“A Greater Truth”“A Greater Truth”

• All great films have a broader subject matter, a theme or, as McKee calls it, a Controlling Idea. It extends beyond the particular story a screenwriter tells.

• A Controlling Idea is the unifying idea of a story. It is concerned with a universal concept such as love, honor, identity, ambition, greed, etc.

• The universality of themes ensures that the audience will relate to a story on a deeper level.

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Example 1: Singin’ in the RainExample 1: Singin’ in the Rain

• If this doesn’t work, Kathy’s career will be ruined, Don’s love life will be ruined, and R.F. will have lost his soul (and control of his studio).

• Let’s watch the climax of Singin’ in the Rain.

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Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Screenplay by Adolph Green and Betty Comden

Suggested by the song “Singin’ in the Rain” by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown

Example 2: Taxi DriverExample 2: Taxi Driver

• If Travis fails, he will forever be a nobody, a mediocrity, never a hero (or at least his flawed idea of what a hero is).

• Let’s watch the climax from Taxi Driver. 11

Taxi Driver (1973) Screenplay by Paul

Schrader

The ResolutionThe Resolution

Lesson 14: Part II 12

Jaws (1975)Screenplay by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb

Based on the novel by Peter Benchley

Your Theme orYour Theme orControlling IdeaControlling Idea

• You might not know your theme beforehand. You might discover it as you write.

• Your theme might surprise you. • Themes grow out of what you believe to be

true. They grow out of your experiences and discoveries.

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Discovering Your Discovering Your Controlling IdeaControlling Idea

• “The most personal stories are, conversely, the most universal.” --Bob Rosen, the Dean of the School of Theatre, Film and Television at UCLA

• “If you’re moved, the audience will be moved.” -- Aristotle

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ResolutionResolution

• Providing an opportunity to resolve any unresolved subplots. (How do you do this and not overstay your welcome?)– Providing an opportunity to show some of the

results of the climax in the larger world– Giving the audience a moment to collect their

emotions and reflect

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Example 1: JawsExample 1: Jaws

• As far as Chief Brody knows, everyone but him is dead.

• The film’s theme, “Arrogance kills” is underlined by the fact that Hooper survives.

• Let’s watch the resolution of Jaws.

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Jaws (1975)Screenplay by Peter Benchley

and Carl GottliebBased on the novel by Peter Benchley

Example 2: Example 2: Little Miss SunshineLittle Miss Sunshine

• Olive has lost the contest, but the family has been set free.

• The film’s theme, “You make your own rules” is underlined by their exit from the parking lot.

• Let’s watch the resolution of Little Miss Sunshine.

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Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Screenplay by Michael

Arndt

AssignmentsAssignments

18Lesson 14: Part III

Taxi Driver (1973) Screenplay by Paul Schrader

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E-Board PostE-Board Post

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• Post the final 15 pages of your Second Act, including (most likely) your protagonist’s Epiphany, the Climactic Moment of your story and a brief (1- to 5-page) Resolution.

• As always, remember to continue developing your subplots and to be re-writing your earlier pages!

End of Lecture 14End of Lecture 14

Next Lecture: The Re-Write and The Business

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Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Screenplay by Michael

Arndt