Robert Mckee, screen story OG!
When I got out of college a million years ago and was looking to jump-start my scribbling skills, there was only one place to go – a classroom on the second floor of a nondescript building on Westwood Blvd in Los Angeles.
Any aspiring screenwriter looking to craft work that would captivate audiences and sell for millions of dollars on the spec market went there to hear what Robert Mckee had to say about story. I paid my three hundred bucks and spent three days listening to the master.
You should absolutely go to the source and buy Mckee’s excellent books. You can also watch countless YouTube summaries of his work or — peruse the following pillars of his teaching:
Character-Centered Stories – At the heart of any great screenplay are compelling characters. McKee encourages writers to breathe life into their fictional folks by endowing them with depth, flaws, and clear motivations. Remember, audiences connect with characters they can relate to or empathize with, so invest time developing your protagonist and supporting cast.
Conflict and Obstacles – Conflict drives the narrative forward. McKee emphasizes that a story without conflict is a story without interest. Create both internal and external obstacles for your characters to overcome. These challenges are the building blocks of tension and drama.
Structure and Three Acts – McKee loves his Aristotle and advocates hard for the classic three-act structure. Act 1 introduces the characters and the setup; Act 2 delves into the central conflict and character development, and Act 3 provides resolution and concludes the story. This structure offers a clear framework for your screenplay. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Inciting Incident – The inciting incident is the spark that sets your story in motion. It disrupts the protagonist's ordinary world and propels them into the narrative. Make it memorable and meaningful, as it's the event that catalyzes change. Mckee’s example back in the day was Ilsa walking into Rick’s cafe to kick off the plot of “Casablanca.”
Dialogue and Subtext – What characters say to each other is critical for your tale’s development and the tone of your storytelling. Craft dialogue that reveals character traits, relationships, and subtext. What characters say and don’t say creates depth and intrigue and conveys emotion.
Theme and Genre – Identify the theme of your story – the central idea or message you want to convey. Understanding your chosen genre's conventions and audience expectations is equally important. Genre guides your storytelling decisions. It can take time to find your theme; it might not even reveal itself until you’re deep into the writing process.
Character Arcs – Character growth is essential. McKee stresses the importance of challenges that force your characters to make choices and evolve. A well-defined hero's journey adds richness to your screenplay.
The Importance of Genre – Each genre has its own set of rules and conventions. Whether you're writing a thriller, romance, or sci-fi epic, respecting genre expectations helps create a story that resonates with the target audience.
Storytelling Craft – Learn techniques like setups and payoffs, reversals, and foreshadowing. These proven tools keep your audience engaged and eager to see what happens next.
Emotion and Catharsis – Craft moments that resonate with your audience's emotions and lead to catharsis—a release of pent-up feelings. A memorable emotional journey lingers with viewers. Track your characters emotionally, and let the audience feel what they feel.
Conflict Resolution – Every story needs a satisfying conclusion. McKee teaches that resolutions should address central conflicts and provide closure for character arcs. Tie up loose ends to leave your audience fulfilled. Save the ambiguity and cliffhangers for a post-credits tag.
By embracing the principles of OG McKee, you can scribble screenplays that will not only entertain your audience but warm their hearts and inspire their spirits.
But what about selling that spec for millions of bucks? It happened to at least two of my Mckee classmates: JJ Abrams hit the lottery with “Regarding Henry” and “Forever Young.” And Zak Penn launched his career with “The Last Action Hero.”
So quit procrastinating and get back to work!
