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"The most powerful tool in my new tool box."
"A total game changer. The Moral Premise gets your story (and all your characters) working for you, instead of the other way around."
"The Moral Premise dares to suggest that movies might actually mean something."
"Thanks for the great book. I will recommend it to all my classes."
"An incredibly practical and helpful tool that should be taught in every film school."
"Stan, You are a light and an incredible gift! Thank you for your insight and innovation.The Moral Premise: It's Amazing!"
"Should be required reading, retroactively, for every working Hollywood screenwriter."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you for your wonderful Moral Premise, and for all you've done for me and my writing, Stan."
"This is really an important book."
"Drop all of your 'to-do' lists, get this book, and curl up for the read of your screenwriting lifetime."
Aspiring or working screenwriters - I have a tip for you. Buy the THE MORAL PREMISE by Stanley D. Williams and read it twice.
"More than a must-read; it is groundbreaking."
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Moral Premise Statements
The Moral Premise Statement (MPS) is what your story is REALLY ABOUT. A singular story or movie, if it is to be successful, is about a single idea articulated in a MPS, which describes the true and natural relationship between character motivations, decisions, action and consequence.
The MPS is a misnomer of sorts. It is more accurate (but also more awkward) to call it The Moral-Physical Premise Statement (MPPS). You'll find both in my blogs and workshops. They refer to exactly the same thing.
This page is the idea of William Fitzpatrick who created and manages WikiScreenplay, a site "committed to supporting the enterprise of quality storytelling - particularly through the medium of film." Thank you William, a webpage where MPS's for the stories I've had the privilege to analyze can be a great benefit, and I am indebted to you for your suggestion. More importantly, however, is William's offer to create a place at WikiScreenplay where anyone can contribute MPS for the stories that they have analyzed. Here's the link to the Moral Premise page at WikiScreenplay
With any effort like this there are some assumptions and clarificaitons that need to be made. They are listed here and then the list below. Thank you all for your contribution to this list and William's, of which I will be a part as time allows.
Explanatory Notes:
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300 (F, 2007, Zack Snyder)
Vainglory in service of self leads to enslavement; but
Humility in service of others leads to freedom.
Moral compromise, even if politically expedient, leads to enslavement and dread; but
Executing justice, even if politically suicidal, leads to liberty, and hope.
42 (F, 2013, Brian Helgeland (W-D)
Having the guts to fight back leads to disrespect and ridicule; but
Having the guts NOT to fight back leads to respect and honor.
500 DAYS OF SUMMER (F, 2009, Marc Webb...with Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon-Levitt)
Patronizing yourself and others leads to superficial, disposable, friendships; but
Honesty to yourself and others leads to meaningful, forever relationships.
7th HEAVEN: The Fine Art of Parenting (TV, 3/14/2005, Brenda Hampton)
Proper involvement with your children leads to safety and happiness; but
not being properly involved with your children leads to danger and unhappiness
A BEAUTIFUL MIND (F, 2001, Ron Howard)
Depending only on others for our well-being leads to impotency; but
Taking personal responsibility for our well-being leads to productivity
A CHARLIE BROWN'S CHRISTMAS (TV, 1965)
Looking forward to "getting" leads to ambiguity; but
Looking to forward to "giving" leads to significance.
AMAZING GRACE (F, 2006, Michael Apted)
Hiding evil by the darkness of ignorance leads to
injustice and a society's enslavement;
but
Revealing evil by the light of knowledge leads to justice and society's freedom.
ANNIE (F, 2014, Will Gluck...with Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhane Wallis)
Pessimism leads to rejection of your Moment (of Grace) and squandering what's in front of you; but
Optimism leads to the acceptance of your Moment (of Grace) and not wasting a golden opportunity.
AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (F, 1982, Taylor Hackford)
In order to be better human beings, we must give ourselves honestly to others, but
never sacrifice ourselves for others (Michael Hauge).
Arrogance and dishonesty with others leads to despair and a life not worth living; but
Giving ourselves honestly to others leads to hope and a better life.
Deceiving ourselves and others leads to despair and death; but
Truthfulness to ourselves and others leads to hope and life.
Honest friendships and counselors lead to hope and life; but
Dishonest friendships and counselors lead to despair and death.
A PASSION DENIED (N, 2009, Julie Lessman)
Denying God's gifts of passion in our lives leads to separation and dread; but
Embracing God's gifts of passion in our lives leads to community and vitality.
Bitterness leads to isoaltion and malaise; but
Forgiveness leads to friendship and health.
APOCALYPTO (F, 2006, Mel Gibson)
Succumbing to fear leads to destruction; but
Chasing courage leads to a new beginning.
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (F, 2004, Kay Pollak)
Pursuit of one's passion with obsession leads to demise; but
Pursuit of one's passion with balance leads to love.
A SOLDIER'S PROMISE (N, 2008, Cheryl Wyatt)
Commitment without compromise (out of timidity or stubbornness) leads to isolation; but
Commitment with compromise (out of sacrifice and love) leads to relationship.
AUTUMN RAINS (N, 2009, MYRA JOHNSON)
Trusting in your own wisdom and knowledge leads to a dreadful imprisonment; but
Trusting in God's wisdom and knowledge leads to a pleasant freedom.
AVATAR (F, 2009, James Cameron)
Greed, abuse and disrespect for life and creation
leads to dread and destruction;
but
generosity, kindness and respect for life leads to hope and progress.
BABEL (F, 2006, Alejandro González Iñárritu)
Not listening leads to loss, confusion, and prejudice; but
Listening leads to connection, understanding, and love.
Not listening leads to becoming profoundly lost and confused; but
Listening leads to deep connection and understanding.
BRAVEHEART (F, 1995, Mel Gibson)
Compromise of liberty leads to tyranny; but
Being willing to die for liberty leads to freedom.
The willingness of leaders to compromise liberty leads to tyranny; but
the willingness of leaders to die for liberty leads to freedom.
BLOOD DIAMOND (F, 2006, Edward Zwick)
Selfish greed leads to conflict, wounds, and death; but
Selfless sacrifice leads to peace, healing, and life.
BRIDGE TO TERABIRTHIA (F, 2006, Gabor Csupo)
Meanness leads to a curse of rejection; but
Compassion leads to the grace of acceptance.
Skepticism leads to dread of a dark tomorrow; but
Faith leads to the hope of a bright future.
BRUCE ALMIGHTY (F, 2003, Tom Shadyac)
Expecting miracles, or others to labor with their gifts on our behalf,
leads to frustration, anger, and chaos; but laboring to be the miracle for others using our own gifts for them leads to contentment, happiness, and peace. Expecting a miracle leads to frustration; but
being a miracle leads to peace.
CASABLANCA (F, 1942, Michael Curtiz)
Hate leads to rejection; but
love leads in involvement.
Ambivalence leads to neutrality; but
Selfishness leads to isolation; but
CITY SLICKERS II: THE LEGEND OF CURLY'S GOLD (F, 1994, Paul Weiland)
Not pursuing illicit weath leads to sadness; but
obtaining illicit wealth leads to happiness. CINDERRELLA (F, 2015, Kenneth Branagh)
Cruelty & Cowardice lead to hopelessness and misfortune; but
Kindess and Courage lead to hope and opportunity.
Obfuscation leads to failed schemes; but
Scheming for selfish advantage leads to bannishment; but
CITY SLICKERS II: THE LEGEND OF CURLY'S GOLD (F, 1994, Paul Weiland)
Not pursuing illicit weath leads to sadness; but
obtaining illicit wealth leads to happiness. CHARLOTTE'S WEB (F, 2006, Gary Winick)
Disrespect for life's miracles leads to lonliness and sadness; but
Respect for life's miracles leads to friendships & joy.
CLOVERFIELD (F, 2008, Matt Reeves)
Avoiding love selfishly and silently, even in the face of death
leads to fear and lost purpose; but
Pursuing love sacrificially and verbally, even in the face of death leads to hope and heroic purpose.
CUTTHROAT ISLAND (F, 1995, Renny Harlin) - FAIL
Greed leads to dangers; but
More greed leads to freedom to be more greedy. (FALSE PREMISE)
DIE HARD (F, 1990, Renny Harlin)
Arrogance & self-preservation lead to frustration and defeat; but
Humility & sacrifice lead to peace and victory. Covetous hatred leads to death and destruction, but
sacrificial love leads to life and celebration. A vulnerable man’s good triumphs over a vicious man’s evil.
Passing OUR responsibility to others leads to failure; but Taking responsibility for what is OURS leads to success.
D'JANGO (F, 2012, Quentin Tarantino)
Having no plan leads to brutal times (slavery); but
Having a good plan lead to thriving times (freedom).
Acceptance of fate leads to enslavement; but
FINDING NEMO (F, 2003, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich)
Overprotective anxiety leads to losing those we love, but
Releasing those we love leads to finding them again.
GENERIC EXAMPLES
Selfishness leads to isolation; but
Selflessness leads to community.
Prejudice leads to misunderstanding and war; but
Compassion leads to understanding and peace.
Bragging leads to humiliation; but
Humility leads to honor.
Foolishness leads to death; but
Wisdom leads to life.
Unbridled passion leads to risk; but
Reasoned discernment leads to safety.
GEORGE LUCAS IN LOVE (F, 1999, Joe Nussbaum)
RESPECT (active observation ) of what we should “know” leads to SUCCESSFUL STORIES; but
DISRESPECT (lack of observation) of what we should “know” leads to WRITER’S BLOCK.
GROUNDHOG DAY (F, 1993, Harold Ramis)
ARROGANCE and LIVING FOR SELF leads to LIFE IN PURGATORY'S PERPETUAL SHADOW and a STALE WINTER'S GRIP; but
HUMILITY and LIVING FOR OTHERS leads to a LIFE WITH HEAVEN'S PROMISE OF LIGHT and SPRING'S NEW GROWTH.
HITCH (F, 2005, Andy Tennant)
Keeping or exposing too many secrets leads to distrust and isolation; but
Sharing the truth in confidence leads to trust and companionship.
HURT LOCKER (F, 2008, Kathryn Bigelow)
Demanding arrogance leads to animosity and hatred; but
Competent teamwork leads to respect and honor. This is a TRUE PREMISE, but the movie faired poorly because the story ignored the natural law characteristics of a protagonist.
INCEPTION (F, 2020, Christopher Nolan)
Embracing dreams as reality or embracing reality as a dream
Leads to rejection of life and the death of a vision; but Using dreams as inspiration leads to a vision fulfilled. NESTED PREMISE:
Coddling undeserved guilt leads to destructive distractions; but Embracing acceptance and forgiveness Leads to inspiration that can transform our dreams into reality.
THE INCREDIBLES (F, 2004, Brad Bird)
Battling adversity alone leads to weakness and defeat; but
Battling adversity as a family leads to strength and victory.
IN THE BEDROOM (F, 2001, Todd Field)
Ignoring moral instruction leads to death and bitterness; but
Flaunting moral instruction leads to killing and dread. Watching over a child’s well-being leads to health and life; but
Undermining a child’s well-being leads to sickness and death.
JAMES BOND (F, any of them, Ian Flemming)
The pursuit of power leads to death and defeat;
While the pursuit of justice leads to life and success
KARATE KID (F, 2010, Harald Zwart)
Disrespect for what we don’t know leads to getting knocked down; but Respect for what we need to learn leads to getting back up.
KING'S SPEECH (THE) (F, 2010, Tom Hooper)
Fear leads to stuttering and no audience (abdication); but
Confidence leads to a clear voice and listeners (kingship).
LEVITY (F, 2003, Ed Solomon)
Truth leads to levity; but
Deception leads to despair.
LIAR! LIAR! (F, 1997, Tom Shadyac)
A deceptive heart leads to rejection; but
A truthful heart leads to acceptance. Lying leads to distrust and rejection; but
Telling the truth leads to trustworthiness and admiration.
If LIAR! LIAR! ... as a tragedy:
A secret heart leads to rejection; but
A lying heart leads to isolation. LIVING DEAD GIRL (F Short, YEAR?, Jon Springer)
Consuming what is only human leads to the walking dead; but
Consuming what is divine leads to waking up the dead.
Not eating the body of Christ leads to death; but
Eating the body of Christ leads to life. LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (F, 2001, Peter Jackson/J.R.R. Tolkien)
Avoiding life's divine call leads to distress and insecurity; but
Embracing life's divine call leads to resolution and focused purpose.
MEN IN BLACK 1 (F Short, 2002, Barry Sonnenfeld)
Too much knowledge leads to fear and unbearable responsibilities;
but Not knowing everything there is to know leads to the chance of a happy life and bearable responsibilities. MEN IN BLACK 2 (F Short, 2002, Barry Sonnenfeld)
Pursuing who you aren't or doing what you shouldn't
leads to danger for yourself and all of earth;
but Pursuing who are meant to be or doing what you should (by the book) leads to safety for yourself and all of earth.
Pretending who you are not, leads to danger; but
Being who truly are leads to safety.
NARNIA: VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER (F, 2-10, Michael Apted)
I have no idea what the moral premise is of this movie. It partially succeed becasue of C.S. Lewis' following and the huge popularity of The Chronicles of Narnia. But it did not reach its potetnial, principlally I think because the screen adaptation confused the natural law principles of a clear protagonist, the physical goal, the stakes, and an clear antagonist.
NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER (F, 1991, Brian Gilbert)
Suppression of the conscience leads to tyranny; but
Preservation of the conscience leads to freedom.
Suppression of an individuals will leads to tyranny; but
Preservation of an individual's will leads to freedom.
ORDINARY PEOPLE (F, 1980, Robert Redford)
Embracing idealism and demanding perfection
leads to the repression of feelings,
and the loss of love, friendship, and happiness;
but;
Embracing reality and allowing imperfection leads to the expression of feelings, and secures love, friendship, and happiness.
OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (F, 2013, Sam Rami)
Uisng one's skills for selfish dubious purpose leads to a life on the run without friends;
but;
Using one's skills for selfless and noble purpose leads to a life of purpose and friendship.
Demanding perfection leads the loss of love and friendship;
but;
Allowing imperfection leads to the gain of love and friendship.
PETTICOAT RANCH (N, 2006, Mary Connealy)
Seeking revenge leads to destitution; but
Seeking justice leads to satisfaction
RATATOUILLE (F, 2007, Brad Bird)
Living as if only an elite class can “cook;” leads to despair; but
Living as if anyone can “cook;” leads to hope.
SEVEN POUNDS (F, 2008, Gabriele Muccino) - FAIL
Hating self leads to suicide; but
Loving others (also) leads to suicide. (FALSE PREMISE) SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (F, 2012, David O. Russell)
Obsessing over dark clouds leads to disappointments and an unfulfilled life; but
Obsessing over silver linings leads to satisfaction and new hope. SUSPECT (F, 1987, Peter Yates)
Embracing the law for what is false leads to guilt; but
Breaking the law for what is true leads to innocence.
STAR WARS (F, 1977, George Lucas)
Disabling fear of the dark, or tyrannical dark rage, leads to imprisonment and extinction; but
Relying on strength under control (meekness) to pursue the light, leads to freedom and vitality. Paranoia or recklessness, leads to imprisonment; but purposeful courage leads to freedom and vitality. Skepticism and legalism lead to dread; but faith leads to freedom and a future.
ST. VINCENT (F, 2014, Ted Melfi)
Self-Centeredness leads to despising your neighbor and isolation; but
Others-centered leads to loving your neighbor and family.
TERMINATOR 2: Judgement Day (F, 1991, James Cameron)
Selfishness leads to death; but
Sacrifice leads to life.
THE BLIND SIDE (F, 2009, John Lee Hancock)
Courage to pursue what is foolish leads to death; but
Courage to pursue what is important leads to honor.
THE DARK KNIGHT (F, 2008, Christopher Nolan)
Revengeful, self-service leads to nihilistic desperation; but
Sacrificial public service leads to purposeful hope. THE DESCENT (F, 2005, Neil Marshall)
Feeding an inflated ego leads to danger; but
Following people with inflated egos leads to death.
THE FIFTH ESTATE (F, 2013, Bill Condon) - FAIL
Keeping any secrets leads to dystopian corruption and tyranny; but
Revealing all secrets leads to utopian justice and freedom. (FALSE PREMISE) THE HELP (F, 2005, Tate Taylor)
Cowardice (to love our enemies and tell the truth) leads to dread of tyranny; but
Courage (to love our enemies and tell the truth) leads to hope of freedom. THE HOBBIT: An Unexpected Journey (F, 2012, Peter Jackson)
Considering the needs of oneself at the exclusion of others leads to the dread of a lost home; but
Considering the needs of others and putting yourself at their service leads to the hope of gaining a home. Trusting in personal bias or prejudices leads to alienation and weakness; but
Trusting in a person's character leads to community and strength. Relying on war leads to weakness; but
Relying on acts of love leads to straighten. THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE (F, 2013, Don Scardino) - FAIL
Disrespecting your audience through a stale show and belligerent arrogance
leads to a cancelled act; but Disrespecting your audience through dangerous invention and kindness leads to renewed popularity. (FALSE PREMISE)
THE HURICANNE (F, 1999, Norman Jewison)
Hate put me in prison (but)
love’s gonna to bust me out.
THE KING'S SPEECH (F, 2010, Tom Hooper)
Fear leads to stuttering and no audience (abdication); but
Confidence leads to a clear voice and listeners (kingship).
THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH (N-TV, KEN FOLLETT, author; Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, director)
Wickedness leads to years of darkness; but
Holiness leads to years of blessing.
THE PLEDGE (F, 2001, Sean Penn) - FAIL
Child abuse and murder leads to a quick end in the fires of hell;
but Keeping your word to find justice leads to drunken insanity. (FALSE PREMISE)
WARRIOR (F, 2011, Gavin O'Connor)
Bitterness leads to confusion and separation; but
Forgiveness leads to love and relationship.
WHAT ABOUT BOB? (F, 1991, Frank Oz)
Presumptive arrogance leads to insanity but
Pursued humility leads to respect and sanity;
WHAT WOMEN WANT (F, 2000, Nancy Meyers)
Arrogantly listening to self leads to
superficial relationships (disrespect); but
Humbly listening to others leads to super "real" relationships (respect).
WINTER'S END (N, 2010, Ruth Logan Herne)
Bitterness toward those that hurt us leads to confusion and separation; but
Forgiveness of those that hurt us leads to purpose and attachment.
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