The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna 263 | Feature Film Story Engine Checklist: 8 Elements to Turn a Situation Into a Movie (REBROADCAST)
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Sep 18, 2025 Dive into the essential elements that fuel a feature film's story engine. Discover the vital difference between situation and story, as well as the eight core components that drive your narrative forward. Gain insights into the importance of your main relationship and how it serves as the emotional heart. Learn to differentiate between external wants and internal needs, plus strategies for escalating conflict. Finally, get practical tips to diagnose and refine your story engine through the drafting process.
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Early Career Lesson On Situation Vs Story
- Meg recalled an executive who told her to understand the difference between a situation and a story early in her career.
- That lesson stuck: Hollywood wants ideas that have become movies, not mere situations.
Eight Elements Power A Feature
- A strong feature story needs eight engine elements: theme, tone, main character, plot goal, conflict, stakes, a plan, and a main relationship.
- These elements should be established in Act One so they can evolve and drive Acts Two and Three.
Raise Internal And External Stakes
- Define both external and internal stakes so the audience cares about the outcome and the character's growth.
- Raise those stakes progressively to keep momentum through Act Two and the midpoint.