Pixar’s 4th Rule of Story Telling: The Story Spine

Once upon a time there was ____________.

Every day, __________________________________.

One day _____________________________________.

Because of that, ____________________________________.

Because of that, _____________________________________.

Until finally ________________________________________.

And ever since that day ___________________________________.

Pixar’s 4th Rule of Story Telling: The Story Spine

Once upon a time there was a girl named Rapunzel.

Every day, she lived in a tower and did the same thing.

One day it was her 16th birthday.

Because of that, she wanted to see the flying balls of light.

Because of that, she kidnapped Eugene and left her tower.

Until finally she saw what they were and realized they were for her and that she was a princess. And ever since that day she lived happily ever after.

Pixar’s 4th Rule of Story Telling: The Story Spine

Once upon a time there were two girls named Elsa and Ana.Every day, they lived in a castle and did the same thing. One day Elsa and Ana were playing and she almost killed her sister by freezing her to death. Because of that, her parents left to find a cure and died. Because of that, the two sisters were stupid and the place was taken over. Until finally Elsa realized that she is not a monster and used her frozenPowers to stop the evil people.And ever since that day she lived happily ever after as queen.

Plot Develop

-all the events are tied together-everything happens for a reason-everything leads to the next development in the plot

The Plot Pyramid

Every Story Begins with the Exposition

-main characters are introduced -setting is described-exposition is over when the inciting incident

happens

The Exposition

• Once upon a time…Whether you use these exact words or not, this opening reminds us that our first responsibility as storytellers is to introduce our characters and setting – i.e., to fix the story in time and space. Instinctively, your audience wants to know: Who is the story about? Where are they, and when is all this taking place? You don’t have to provide every detail, but you must supply enough information, says McDonald, “so the audience has everything it needs to know to understand the story that is to follow.”

Exposition in Finding Nemo

Marlin’s cautious nature is shown when he goes in and out of the home indefinitely

Nemo’s ‘lucky fin’ is revealed, showing that he was physically affected by the barracuda attack.

We also see that Nemo is a regular kid, annoyed by his father’s worrying.

Marlin is socially awkward, revealed through his terribly unfunny joke.

Characters and Setting Introduced in the Exposition

• And every day…With characters and setting established, you can begin to tell the audience what life is like in this world every day. • Every day Nemo and Marlin swim together in the

ocean and live with the other fish.

Inciting Incident

-They live life every day happy and normal until?

-first action of the story-begins the plot (action)-everything changes from here on it-nothing will ever, EVER, go back to the way it

was

The Inciting Incident-everything changes now

• Until one day…Something happens that throws the main character’s world out of balance, forcing them to do something, change something, attain something that will either restore the old balance or establish a new equilibrium. In story structure, this moment is referred to as the inciting incident, and it’s the pivotal event that launches the story..

Finding Nemo-Inciting Incident

The inciting incident begins when Nemo is taken by the divers. This becomes the start to all the conflicts that will be introduced into the story.