Mariner Software Contour for Windows - Manual (Page 6)

In all of the top movies, the main character moves through 4 distinct
archetypes during the course of the movie:
In act one, the main character is or becomes an orphan.
In the first half of act two, the main character is a wanderer.
In the second half of act two, the main character becomes a warrior.
In act three, the main character becomes a martyr.
Act one ends and act two begins with the clear statement of something called
the central question. The central question is the question that, once
answered definitively “yes” or “no”, the movie is over.
All of the top films can tell their full story using a very simple formula. More than just
a logline, this formula totally lays out all three acts in 60 to 80 words.
Contour uses a liberating system of plot points which are discreet, unique, and
essential chunks of story information. These plot points work for absolutely every
genre and are specific enough to guide you while general enough to ensure your
stories are unique and special.
And incredibly, that's all the theory you need to know to start using Contour.
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