As Good As It Gets

Storyform for the Neighbors Story

As Good As It Gets has two stories in it--the Romance Story and the Neighbors Story. In the Romance Story Melvin Udall is the Main Character and Carol Connelly is his Influence Character. In the Neighbors Story (shown below) Melvin plays Influence Character to Simon Bishop's Main Character. SYNOPSIS: "A single mother/waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is in an accident." Synopsis source: IMDB.com

Story Dynamics

8 of the 12 essential questions

Main Character Resolve: Change
Main Character Growth: Stop
Main Character Approach: Do-er
Main Character Mental Sex: Male
Story Driver: Action
Story Limit: Optionlock
Story Outcome: Success
Story Judgment: Good

Overall Story Throughline

Simon's Recovery & Career

Overall Story Throughline: Universe
Overall Story Concern: Obtaining
Overall Story Issue: Morality vs. Ability
Overall Story Problem: Temptation
Overall Story Solution: Conscience
Overall Story Symptom: Disbelief
Overall Story Response: Faith
Overall Story Catalyst: Approach
Overall Story Inhibitor: Obligation
Overall Story Benchmark: Doing
Overall Story Signpost 1: Learning
Overall Story Signpost 2: Doing
Overall Story Signpost 3: Obtaining
Overall Story Signpost 4: Understanding

Main Character Throughline

Simon Bishop

Main Character Throughline: Universe
Main Character Concern: Future
Main Character Issue: Choice vs. Delay
Main Character Problem: Temptation
Main Character Solution: Conscience
Main Character Symptom: Feeling
Main Character Response: Logic
Main Character Unique Ability: Openness
Main Character Critical Flaw: Denial
Main Character Benchmark: Progress
Main Character Signpost 1: Past
Main Character Signpost 2: Progress
Main Character Signpost 3: Future
Main Character Signpost 4: Present

Influence Character Throughline

Melvin Udall

Influence Character Throughline: Universe
Influence Character Concern: Subconscious
Influence Character Issue: Dream vs. Hope
Influence Character Problem: Oppose
Influence Character Solution: Support
Influence Character Symptom: Disbelief
Influence Character Response: Faith
Influence Character Unique Ability: Closure
Influence Character Critical Flaw: Preconception
Influence Character Benchmark: Preconscious
Influence Character Signpost 1: Memory
Influence Character Signpost 2: Preconscious
Influence Character Signpost 3: Subconscious
Influence Character Signpost 4: Conscious

Relationship Story Throughline

Neighbors

Relationship Story Throughline: Universe
Relationship Story Concern: Becoming
Relationship Story Issue: Responsibility vs. Commitment
Relationship Story Problem: Avoid
Relationship Story Solution: Pursuit
Relationship Story Symptom: Disbelief
Relationship Story Response: Faith
Relationship Story Catalyst: Rationalization
Relationship Story Inhibitor: Attitude
Relationship Story Benchmark: Being
Relationship Story Signpost 1: Conceiving
Relationship Story Signpost 2: Conceptualizing
Relationship Story Signpost 3: Being
Relationship Story Signpost 4: Becoming

Addditional Story Points

Key Structural Appreciations

Overall Story Goal: Obtaining
Overall Story Consequence: Becoming
Overall Story Cost: Subconscious
Overall Story Dividend: Future
Overall Story Requirements: Doing
Overall Story Prerequisites: Being
Overall Story Preconditions: Preconscious
Overall Story Forewarnings: Progress