structurenotformula

JOHN J. HRUBY

STRUCTURE NOT FORMULA

Sunday, April 6th, 2008
at 2:30 pm
Raleigh Studios Hollywood
5300 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

What do the three films Spiderman 3, Little Miss Sunshine, and Knocked Up have in common?

Hollywood Studios produced them
They all grossed over 100 million world wide
They all have the same writing structure

What? The same writing structure? How can that be? They’re all so different.

Syd Field, best selling author of Screenplay, The Screenwriters Workbook, and Selling a Screenplay writes
in his book, Four Screenplays, “Structure is the foundation of all screenwriting – it’s the spine, the
skeleton that “holds” it all together.”

Let’s discuss skeletons. There is no man who ever looked at Pamela Anderson or Angelina Jolie and
thought of their skeletons. Just as no woman has ever dreamed of George Clooney or Brad Pitt and
envisioned their skulls or femurs.

Why is it that you and I and everyone we know have never considered the skeletons of George, Brad,
Pamela, and Angie? It is because Structure is not sexy.

Do you realize how similar Pamela Anderson’s skeleton is to Brad Pitts? They are not exactly the same
(one’s a little taller and someone has an extra rib) but they very similar. In fact, all human skeletons have
the same Structure.

Could it be that movies also have a Structure? Even movies as drastically different as Spiderman 3, Little,
Miss Sunshine, and Knocked Up? Could they all use the same Structure to tell their stories? Naw. They
couldn’t. Could they? Oh, yes they do.

But before we talk film Structure let’s talk about houses. Every house has a foundation and many of the
walls will have insulation, pipes, or electrical wiring. These are taken for granted, expected, and forgotten
about unless there is a problem with one of them. Then, no matter how great the rest of the house is, it
cannot be enjoyed if water is spurting out of a busted pipe.

The architects and builders are the only people who need to know about the structure of a house. Writers
and the builders of movies (producers, directors, actors and perhaps a few other key creative departments)
are the only people who need to know about the structure of a screenplay. My mother has no desire to
understand the 12 Structure Scenes of films. In fact, she would find it annoying and distracting to her
enjoyment of a movie.

If you want to talk sexy about a house then tell me about the hard wood floors, the theater room, or about
the shower that is big enough you can tango in. These are the sexy details that people focus on. Not the
fact that it’s wired for electricity.

On Sunday, April 6th, John Hruby will:

Show how Spiderman 3, Little Miss Sunshine, and Knocked Up all use the same
screenplay structure

Show how this screenplay Structure actually consists of 12 Structure Scenes that assist the
story with moving from beginning, to middle to end

Name and detail the characteristics of each of these 12 Structure Scenes so that you’ll see
how you can use this information to discuss movies with greater depth, as wells as, learn
how to use this information to assist you with writing your screenplay.

WHY WRITERS ENJOY WORKING WITH JOHN HRUBY:

"John Hruby is a terrific resource for screenwriters. His advice is generous, even presciriptive.
I've been a successful writer for television and other media. In every medium structure proved
to be fundamental. John gets structure and is able to explain it. His own enthusiasm for good
writing reawakens the creativity so often dulled by continuous editing."

Fred Knipe
Four Time Emmy Award Winner
BMI Songwriter Award Winner

"My writing partner and I have written 9 feature length screenplays. We have had scripts
optioned. We've taken meetings. We understand screenplay structure. Or at least we thought
we understood - until I met John Hruby. I can tell you that I have never spoken with someone
that understands and is able to explain screenplay structure with as much clarity and depth.
John's e-book, Structure Not Formula shines a bright light on the hidden structure of a
screenplay. I've worked with John for a while now - he's fun, he cares, and most importantly...
he knows his craft.

Kurt Christiansen
Screenwriter
Author of Inward and Upward: Living A Fully Engaged Life Beyond Ego

John Hruby will clarify how screenplay structure is used to deliver a story – whatever
story you choose to tell.

Note: John will also compare and contrast the Structure Scenes in the Festivals
Thursday, April 3rd, 7:30 PM screening of the fantastic film, Yesterday Was A Lie.
You may choose to rent Spiderman 3, Little Miss Sunshine, and/or Knocked Up if you
have not seen them as well as attend the screening of Yesterday Was a Lie on
Thursday evening. This may assist you with gaining the most value from Sunday’s
Structure Event.

John is currently adapting the novel, Emissary of Light by James Twyman for the
screen. Emissary of Light is a true-life story of James (Jimmy) Twyman. Jimmy went to
Sarajevo during the Bosnia Serbian war. Jimmy’s intention was to sing a peace concert.

While in the Bosnian Serbian mountains (and in the middle of a war zone), Jimmy
“stumbles” upon a spiritual community. He learns that the Emissaries of Light have
been channeling divine peace to our planet for the past 2000 years. The Emissaries
have two messages for every human, “You are ready,” and, “You are holy.” (Even if
you don’t think you are.)

The Emissaries have a mission for Jimmy. It’s something bigger and more important
than he ever imagined.

Hollywood Good Times

John has served as a reader and an assistant to a producer. He has also worked both on the
set and in the office on low budget films. It was here that he embraced his mantra, “If you’re
going to spend that much money to make a movie, you might as well make it good.” John
can even be seen in the cable-embraced movie, Silk Degrees (box cover tagline: Sometimes
You Survive by Degrees… Sometimes You Die by Them). He has no lines in this film but he
does give a pink bottle of anti-acid to a screaming Gilbert Gottfried.

John Hruby has a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology with an Emphasis in
Consciousness, Health, and Healing. He has learned how to work with himself, as well as
how to assist others with getting in touch with the part of themselves that is “bigger” than their
every day personalities.

In addition to being a Screenplay Structure Coach, John also assists writers with moving
beyond fear (of success, failure, squirrels, etc.) and with “trading their addictions” for
increased creativity with the intention of living their life’s goals and mission.

John lives in Los Angeles with his lovely wife (they have been together for over 16 years) and
his two sons. His five year old is a climber and wrestler. His newborn is a burper and
sleeper.

“I was watching The Incredibles when it happened. All of a sudden, I saw the Structure of the
film under the scenes while I was watching the movie. I had been learning about screenplay
writing for some time. And…this was about the 60th time (literally) that I was watching The
Incredibles with my five-year old son. It doesn’t surprise me that this happened but it certainly
surprised me that morning. I hit the Display button on the DVD remote many times to check
where we were in the movie. Each time I confirmed my realization of how the movie was
using Structure as it unfolded. With great excitement, I shared my awareness with my five-
year old. He replied, “Papa, play the movie.” I realized right then that many people do not
want to see ‘the man behind the curtain,’ they want to enjoy the film.”

“I pulled information from different screenwriting books as well as adding my own
observations. I determined there are 12 Structure Scenes that are used to move stories from
beginning, to middle, to end. To tell you the truth, I first couldn’t believe that all movies used
this same Structure. So…I created a Structure Scene chart and gave names and
approximate minute counts to these 12 Structure Scenes. I then watched 30 Movies in 30
Days. I learned there are variations. That is why I call my workshop and e-book
STRUCTURE NOT FORMULA. If there were no variations, we’d be talking formula.
However, let’s be clear. The variations are minor. There are variations with human
skeletons. I’m either taller or shorter then you but we both still have skeletons that are very
similar. And, these skeletons support us all day long without everyone ever thinking about
them or acknowledging them. Some movies use this Structure in 90 pages (1 hour 30
minutes long) and other movies use this Structure in 120 pages (2 hrs long). Some of the
variations that I have noted have to do with the films length. I understand Structure now.
And, so can you. The question is, “Are you ready to see ‘the man behind the curtain?’”