What Makes Story Work

We've done an exercise on getting 3 people to write each act following on from the last.


ACT 1:

In a world based in 1980's Britain, crime is the currency. People steal, speed and kill to gain credit. An outlaw merchant spends his days locking up criminals before they can earn their credit. All he's wanted is a quiet life but has not found anyone to settle down with. One day, someone come along and offers him a trail to a small fortune. However he is reluctant because he thinks it's fraud.

ACT 2:

The person who gave him the offer is a criminal minded young woman. He eventually accepts her offer and begins to research how the bank heist will go. He works with his criminal minded partner into the night and they eventually come up with a plan. Yet, he has grown feelings for her and no longer wants her to be involved as she will be in danger. Now it's all a question of money and glory or love and comfort. The bank heist has begun and the vigilantes are waiting outside to rob the bank and take away the glory

ACT 3:

The vigilantes end up robbing the criminal bank robbers and take their money bag, the bag has a camera attached that is streaming live on Facebook and if enough viewers click the link, the police are notified. The viewers reach the required target and instead of notifying the police, they all get blown up.


What I learnt from the exercise was that simple character arcs work best; establishing their wants and needs in act one is important so that the audience can then follow the character on their journey to achieve those wants and needs or not.