The Matrix Screenplay Analysis Story Map by Dan Calvisi Act Four Screenplays

Story Maps: Wri.ng the GREAT Screenplay A Story Map is my own method for structuring a screenplay by crea9ng a simple, yet powerful outline that contains the building blocks of your concept, characters and plot; the main drama9c elements and drama9c beats of the narra9ve and the order and crucial page range of those beats, no ma>er the genre. 95% of great movies follow the Story Map. I dene it down to the page. Because thats how the pros do it and thats exactly what I was looking for as a Senior Story Analyst working for major studios and produc9on companies in the movie industry, evalua9ng incoming submissions hoping to get the greenlight to be made into a movie. In short, the Story Map outlines the protagonist, his/her goals, what keeps him/her from the goals, the theme, the arc of change and how it ends. I nd it tremendously helpful to look at produced lms and note their elements in a Story Map, crea9ng a quick-reference library of maps to compare and contrast. It is a tremendous help to study how professional screenwriters take characters along the journey from point A to Z. I encourage you to write Story Maps of all your favorite movies. If you work with me, I will provide you with a primer on my Story Map method and several sample Story Maps from successful Hollywood movies, like the one below. These materials will give you a clear, powerful road to success on both a craO and commercial level with your wri9ng. Remember, the Story Map is a form, not a formula. It is a story structure that is followed by almost every popular Hollywood lm. It does not dictate your choices it does not tell you what to write -- it only provides a framework to hold your choices. The screenplay is s9ll undeniably yours, but it now comes wrapped in the shiny coa9ng that covers pre>y much all major studio movies and is recognized by every Agent, Manager and Producer in the business. If you follow the Story Map and execute an ac9ve story in the proper page ranges, your script will FEEL like a modern hit movie. I hope we can work together so I can introduce you to this powerful wri9ng method. Good luck and Happy Wri9ng! -Dan

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The Matrix Screenplay Analysis Story Map by Dan Calvisi Act Four Screenplays

THE MATRIX (1999)

Wri>en and Directed by Andy Wachowski & Larry Wachowski

THE BASIC STORY MAP: The Main Drama.c Elements

Protagonist: NEO, early 30's, computer programmer/hacker and reluctant hero. He's rebellious and has issues with authority. External Goal: To defeat Agent Smith and overthrow the AI that has enslaved humanity. Internal Goal: To believe in himself, accept his role as the One and love Trinity. Main Drama.c Conict: Agent Smith. Neo's own self-doubt. Theme: Free Will vs. Des9ny Central Drama.c Ques.on: Will Neo overcome his fears and doubts in 9me to defeat Agent Smith and save Morpheus and the Nebuchadnezzar? Ending: Neo defeats Agent Smith, paving the way for a future in which mankind is no longer imprisoned within the Matrix. Arc: Neo begins as a self-doub9ng introvert who, although he's rebellious, shuns conict. He ends as a seasoned warrior, fully in command of his powers and unafraid to face his doubts. LOGLINE: In a post-apocalyp9c future, a rebellious hacker must overthrow the AI that has imprisoned humanity in a computer-generated dream world. General structure of story: The One Heros Journey (Origin story). A seemingly normal person transforms into a super-hero. (e.g., Hancock, Wanted, Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace) Neo is taken into a new world, trained by a Mentor and a team and given successive trials that escalate in stakes to test not only his physical skills but his belief in himself as the des9ned hero: The One. The One archetype is dierent from a standard Heros cycle in that the protagonist is told from the beginning that they are a special hero des9ned for greatness but they ini9ally reject this iden9ty and call to ba>le and must persist through several failures to achieve their goal. Their arc becomes the steps toward them fullling the prophecy and accep9ng themselves as the protector/messiah/champion.

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THE STORY ENGINES

The Matrix Screenplay Analysis Story Map by Dan Calvisi Act Four Screenplays

ACT 1: Pursued by mysterious computer criminals and sinister AGENTS, hacker NEO searches for the answer to the ques9on "What is the Matrix?" MORPHEUS oers to show him. ACT 2A: Neo trains to fulll his role as "the One," a man who can save humanity by altering the Matrix as he wishes. ACT 2B: Neo is forced into a posi9on in which he can save Morpheus--and Zion, the last free human outpost--only by sacricing himself. ACT 3: Neo ba>les the Agents. With TRINITY's love, he rises from death, defeats the Agents and fullls his des9ny as the One.

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THE FULL STORY MAP: Major Story Beats

The Matrix Screenplay Analysis Story Map by Dan Calvisi Act Four Screenplays

1) Opening: 1- 5 - TRINITY and MORPHEUS evade the evil AGENTS. The Agents begin to look for NEO, a reclusive hacker, who is being watched by MORPHEUS. 6 Meet John Anderson, a.k.a. Neo 2) Inci.ng Incident: Neo meets Trinity, who tells him that he has the ability to nd the answer to the ques9on What is the Matrix? but it must be his choice. 3) Strong Movement Forward: Neo is caught by the Agents and bugged by AGENT SMITH so Neo will lead them to Morpheus. 4) End of Act One EVENT/TURN: Neo meets Morpheus, is given the op9on to return to his normal life or nd out about The Matrix. 28 - DECISION: Neo chooses the red pill, accep9ng the challenge and sending him to the real world, a post-apocalyp9c wasteland where a few freedom ghters struggle to bring down the AI overlords. 5) First Trial/Casualty: 39 Morpheus tells Neo the truth about the AI enslaving almost all of humanity. Neo gets scared, ill, and he begins to doubt everything, most of all himself. 45 - 53 Combat: Neo is told he is The One, the only person who can defeat the AI and free humanity. He begins his combat training and spars with Morpheus. 6) Midpoint: 60 63 SENTINELS threaten the Nebuchadnezzar; the crew escapes by using the EMP device. CYPHER betrays Morpheus to Agent Smith. 7) Declara.on of War/Assump.on of Power: 74 THE ORACLE tells Neo that hes the only one that can save Morpheus but it will be at the cost of his own life. 82 Neo ghts Agent Smith. 8) End of Act Two TURN: 88 Cypher sabotages the ship, trapping Neo, Trinity and Morpheus in The Matrix. 96 DECISION: Neo decides to risk all to rescue Morpheus. Trinity goes with him. (note: this decision comes later than normal, but with a longer running 9me it balances out so Act Three can be approx. 30 pages/minutes, crea9ng bookends with the 30 page/ minutes Act One.)

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The Matrix Screenplay Analysis Story Map by Dan Calvisi Act Four Screenplays

9) True Point of No Return: 100 - Neo and Trinity shoot their way into the building where the Agents are holding Morpheus 105 - Neo dodges bullets by moving like the Agents do. 10) Climax: 122 126 Neo is killed by Agent Smith, but strengthened by Trinitys love he rises from death, controls the Matrix and stop bullets, and defeats Agent Smith. Once Neo is safely back, Morpheus res the EMP to destroy the Sen9nels and save the Nebuchadnezzar. 11) Epilogue: 128 - Neo issues a warning to the AIand ies.

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