Memo from the Story Department. Christopher Vogler

      

      “Vogler's The Writer's Journey is the Bible for screenwriters. I think it's the best book on how to write a screenplay ever written. It helped me get through so many roadblocks as a writer. Vogler's approach to screenwriting was based on Joseph Campbell's theory that, because of myths, the arc of a hero's journey was a story ingrained deeply inside all of us. I really incorporated his ideas and techniques into how I structured films—I referred to it a lot.”

      —Darren Aronofsky, Academy Award-nominated director of Black Swan

      “Story structure is 90% of the game in screenwriting, though it's invisible on the page. Great movies have great structure—period. Nobody understands that better, and communicates it more brilliantly, than Mr. McKenna. His insight is a key reason I'm a working writer today.”

      —Mark Fergus, Oscar-nominated co-screenwriter, Children of Men and Iron Man

      “Just finished reading Memo from the Story Dept. (so I could write this blurb) and it's already saved my ass. I needed to come up with a pitch for a rewrite and this book helped me figure out a way to crack it. No shit.”

      —Scott Silver, screenwriter (8 Mile, Oscar-nominated for The Fighter)

      “The way that Vogler and McKenna tag-team this book—it keeps you on your toes. Sometimes when you're yelling in the wilderness, it's good to have two voices. Certainly they'll give you perspectives on screenwriting that you've never seen before—and in this world of multiple screenwriting book choices, that's a good thing.”

      —Matthew Terry, filmmaker/screenwriter/teacher, columnist for www.hollywoodlitsales.com

      “Make no mistake: this book is completely inaccurate. Why? Because no story department has ever given notes this good. This book is such a wonderful walk through story, theme, and character that every writer—and development exec—should keep a copy on their desk.”

      —Chad Gervich, writer/producer (Wipeout, Reality Binge, Speeders, Foody Call), author of Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writer's Guide to the TV Business

      “With his encyclopedic recall of movies, plays, novels, et al., David McKenna offers real-world examples to guide the writer through the murky morass that is screenwriting. He's funny, insightful, and makes the impossible mission of writing a great script feel (dare we hope?) possible.”

      —Susan Dansby, Emmy Award-winning television writer, author of How Did You Get That Job?

      “There are at least two sides to every good story, and when it comes to writers grasping an element in the storytelling craft, it can take two or more points of view sometimes to really understand it. Chris and David accomplish giving you many new perspectives and that ‘aha' feeling of clarity. They get you started with the ‘Want' List, things that drive you through life and your characters through your story (without a driver, no one goes anywhere). Memo from the Story Dept. is highly recommended for all writers who wish to gain the focused attention of their audience, one of the rarest and most valuable commodities of all time.”

      —Ann Baldwin, screenwriter (The Power of Dreams)

      “Co-written by Christopher Vogler and David McKenna, this is a book that deserves a spot on any writer's shelf, as well as providing a nice companion to Vogler's previous book, The Writer's Journey. The style in which Memo from the Story Dept. is written (chapters from each author and short critiques on each other's ideas) is fresh and interesting to read.”

      —Erin Corrado, www.onemoviefiveviews.com

      “Memo from the Story Department is a deeply human exploration of the art of sharing life through movie stories. This book is a profound and inspirational road map. But it uses humor, heart and creativity to open us to its messages. A fantastic must-read for all screenwriters.”

      —Pen Densham, Hollywood producer/writer/director including Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Moll Flanders and over 300 hours of TV including the Outer Limits and Twilight Zone revivals

       MEMO

       FROM THE STORY DEPT.

       SECRETS OF STRUCTURE AND CHARACTER

      CHRISTOPHER VOGLER

      &

      DAVID MCKENNA

      Published by Michael Wiese Productions

      12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111

      Studio City, CA 91604

      tel. [phone] | fax [phone]

      [email protected] | www.mwp.com

      Cover design: Johnny Ink www.johnnyink.com

      Interior book design: Gina Mansfield Design

      Illustrations: Michele Montez and Fritz Springmeyer

      Editor: Paul Norlen

      Printed by McNaughton & Gunn, Inc., Saline, Michigan

      Manufactured in the United States of America

      © 2011 by Christopher Vogler and David McKenna

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Vogler, Christopher, 1949-

      Memo from the story department : secrets of structure and character / Christopher Vogler and David McKenna.

      p. cm.

      ISBN 978-1-932907-97-1

      1. Motion picture authorship. I. McKenna, David, 1949- II. Title.

      PN1996.V62 2011

      808.2'3--dc22

      2011003012

      Dedication

      —Vogler—

      For Alice, cara mia

      Dedication

      —McKenna—

      For Jie…

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

       ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

       INTRODUCTION (VOGLER)

       MY TIME IN THE STORY DEPARTMENT (MCKENNA)

       WHO ARE THOSE GUYS? (VOGLER)

       Chapter 1. YOU GOTTA HAVE A THEME (VOGLER)

       Chapter 2. THE “WANT” LIST (MCKENNA)

       Chapter 3. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? (VOGLER)

       Chapter 4. THE CONTRACT WITH THE AUDIENCE (VOGLER)

       Chapter 5. POLAR OPPOSITES (MCKENNA)

       Chapter 6. THE MEMO THAT STARTED IT ALL: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES (VOGLER)

       Chapter