Objective and Superobjectives

OBJECTIVES and SUPER OBJECTIVES:

Objectives are what you need right now, this moment.

Objectives are simple and immediate: the need to have someone open the door; the need to have someone look at you; the need to have someone listen to you and pay attention, etc.

Each objective met will combine to get you closer to realizing your super objective: what you really need to be happy, safe and content.

Super objectives are larger life needs: the need to live, to survive; the need to take care of your child; the need to love someone and to have that person love you back; the need to have meaningful work.

What does your character want or need to happen by the end of the scene?

What does your character need from the other character to make this happen?

What do you need to do to make that other character make you happy or get your objectives met?

Is the other character standing in your way? What do you need to do to make that character either get out of the way or to actively help you get your needs met?

How will these smaller objectives combine to help you realize your super objectives (larger life needs or dreams)?

PIVOTAL MOMENT:

In every scene there is conflict of some kind. What significant moment in your character’s life made your character choose a particular course of action (which is shown in your scene)?

Create a scene of a pivotal moment (important, crucial moment) in your character’s past in which your character decides to take a particular course of action.

In the scene, “The Witness”, it could be seeing someone brutally murdered in front of you in the past which propels you to become a detective or a cop, or it could be seeing someone murdered in front of you (in the recent past) and you decide not to come forward as a witness.

In “DMV Tyrant”, it could be something as trivial as being pulled over by a rude traffic cop who notices that your driver’s license has expired and you have to get it renewed. If you are the DMV clerk, it could be too many instances of too many rude, dumb people annoying you for too many years.

Your pivotal moment will be determined by your scene’s character. The pivotal moment should be based on your character and your character’s past. It should be a minimum of three minutes long and can include dialogue. You may use other people in the scene with you.