What is an Inciting Incident - And How to Write a Great One
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- čas přidán 30. 05. 2024
- How to Write an Inciting Incident - a screenwriter’s guide to one of the most important story beats in the entire screenplay, including the types of inciting incidents and when they should occur.
What is an Inciting Incident? ►► bit.ly/wi-ii
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Inciting Incidents
00:57 - Why the Inciting Incident Matters
02:26 - Chapter 1: What Should Happen
10:00 - Chapter 2: When It Should Happen
14:25 - Chapter 3: Filmmaking Techniques
18:45 - Takeaways
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HOW TO WRITE AN INCITING INCIDENT
Most screenplays have something that kickstarts the story, otherwise known as the inciting incident. Some stories depend on a clear and dramatic inciting incident while others can occur without the audience even realizing it. There is no right or wrong way to do it - whatever works best for your screenplay. In this video, we’re breaking down how to write an inciting incident.
WHAT IS AN INCITING INCIDENT
The inciting incident definition is quite simple - an event that sets the story in motion. It can be as big and dramatic as the shark’s first kill in Jaws, or it can be barely noticeable like characters meeting for the first time in movies like When Harry Met Sally. Either way, this event steers the course of the narrative thereafter. Writer K.M. Weiland likens it to the first domino to fall.
TYPES OF INCITING INCIDENTS
Of course, since every story is different, there are different types of inciting incidents. There is no formula to it but certain genres often employ the same story catalysts. Rom-Coms, for example, are known for the “meet-cute” where the couple meets for the first time. Horror movies will often use an initial clue that evil is present. For dramas, a personal loss or death of someone dear is a strong type of inciting incident. No matter what type you choose, it should have an irrevocable effect on the character and plot.
WHERE DOES THE INCITING INCIDENT GO?
There are always exceptions to the rule but most inciting incidents mark the halfway point in Act One. This is after we’ve met the main characters, and been familiarized with their world. If we take the basic three act structure where the story is divided into quarters, this means the inciting incident should occur roughly 12.5% into the screenplay.
These are just the basics on how to write an inciting incident. Once you know your characters and the story you’re trying to tell, it’s all a matter of finding the right beat to send them on their journey.
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Inciting Incidents
00:57 - Why the Inciting Incident Matters
02:26 - Chapter 1: What Should Happen
10:00 - Chapter 2: When It Should Happen
14:25 - Chapter 3: Filmmaking Techniques
18:45 - Takeaways
U😅
@studiobinder so for example in Titanic Jack saved Rose and that how they met and thats why he is invited to dinner in first class story starts and we are ending act 1
you can also analyze the hero journey story shape its basically same as Freytag but its circle
since home alone is a copy of die hard...both have incited incident same as panic room, terrorist comes to the party as marv and harry and same in home alone 2 when kevin discovered plans to rob the duncan toys shop
guys story si revealed by the action of character therefore its his or her decision.
Your channel IS an inciting incident.
Not one, but a treasure chest of so many varieties of inciting incidents. And thank you ❤
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As a film studies student, this is one of the best resources for studying. I guess my inciting incident for finding this channel was my teacher showing one of these videos in class.
And your adventure began!
I love this, you guys are so good you could run your own school on films. The way you visualize and use all kinds of the medium is so much educational than just the textbook version.
The Inciting Incident has four main requirements: 1. it happens to the protagonist,
2. it's the protagonist's first (not full) awareness of the story's central conflict,
3. it's tailored to the protagonist's dominant character flaw,
4. should be linked in some way to the antagonist or antagonistic force.
You got it!
Without the inciting incident, the movie would just be a bunch of characters sitting around doing nothing.
Not necessarily doing nothing but the action of the movie would be boring. Like most people’s lives. Which is why we go to movies, to see others go through excitement and feel like we are too.
We need the call to adventure!
well it depends, inciting incident is just a starting point of "the" problem,,some european film just showing the lives of people with various simple stories within and doesn't tell the audiences how the story gonna end like Amarcord
@@EddieLensweigerthe correct term is slice of life, rampant in anime too 😂
So, a Kevin Smith movie then?
The big missed opportunity with that line from Bruce Almighty is he could have said “Yeah. It gets me from alpha to omega”
I love the analogy of how the inciting incident is like a sprout from a seed, like the beginning the characters growth 🌱
Exactly!
I've always loved the set up and inciting incident in disaster movies. The part where something, like boiling water or a minor rumble or all the birds flying away, is the early indication of the disaster to come and the bit where the scientist or main character realises something really bad is about to happen.
Good observation! They're like classic tropes that act as the setup in disaster movies
The cup of water in Jurassic Park
In a typical hero's journey, there is a call to adventure, which could be called the inciting incident. But the hero isn't actually immersed in the conflict until after the refusal and the subsequent accepting of the call.
This is a complete audiovisual encyclopedia about the Inciting Incident. This event is what defines the Key Theme of the Story. Thousand Thanks StudioBinder for this Inspiring video.
Thanks for watching!
That scene in The Hunger Games still give me goosebumps! It was perfect.
Your look on the specific details, the elemental pieces of the craftmanship - always appreciated.
That's the goal :)
What I truly appreciate about this video is the opening statement concerning the use of an inciting incident in commercial movies, and that some independently minded and avantgarde cinema may not employ it. I truly do appreciate that.
That's reality!
To be honest, I don't know how you manage to do such a great job every time. Can you please make videos on plot point 1 and plot point 2 also
We break both down in our 3 act structure video! czcams.com/video/tvqjp1CxxD8/video.html
Studio Binder, you have given me much to think about, or more in depth. I had a screenwriter friend tell me that the first 10 pages should capture a person's interest or less the script won't be made. In the few scripts I have written, I have kept to this rule, but the inciting incident is actually a point I must focus on. THANK YOU FOR THIS EPISODE!!!!
Happy to help!
Every moment should capture a person's interest.
i love the use of silence to emphasize the fear element in the first incident
Great filmmaking!
Was jsut struggling with the semantics of the inciting incident while writing my own script thanks for pulling me out of the mud and on the right path with this one
Good luck!
I love how you use pieces of Columbus' movies. Really underrated director! I love his movies and your videos!
Plenty of great examples!
I am more geared up and dialed in than I have been at any other time because of this channel's excellent videos. You've outdone my film school education 40 times over already and I've only been coming around here since early 2023.
I will return the favor as soon as I am able to do so. You have my word.
Happy filming :)
I wanted to say thank you for making the movie titles in the bottom corner just a touch brighter. I used to comment on most videos asking for you guys to make it easier to read and you replied back saying that you would. I really appreciate it. Just that tiny change and I can read them all basically instantly. Thank you
I love this channel. I always learn something new about appreciating cinema. Please keep these videos coming!
Thank you for sharing all these! I'm a big fan of movies and this channel has enhanced my experience beyond words!
Great video! This makes me feel better about the inciting incident in a fantasy screenplay I'm writing because I thought I unintentionally had two inciting incidents in the first act and had to cut out some important backstory, but this makes me realize that the first incident is merely the set-up for the real one, which is the second.
Your breakdown of the inciting incident in storytelling was incredibly insightful! Your video provided a clear, engaging explanation that truly deepened my understanding of how this crucial narrative element sets the stage for compelling storytelling. Love u ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
StudioBinder never misses! A cool thing to cover next would be the various roles apart of a feature film like 1st Assistant director, 2nd assistant director, costume designer, & etc.
Would be super cool to see how much of a collaborative effort making a film really is!
Hi team. I never went to film school. All I do is learn the craft from your videos. Thanks for acting as a free film school!
Happy filming :)
amazing , thank you studiobinder for these briliant information
Cheers!
thanks for this enlightment! I always wonder why hollywood movies all look the same, narratively speaking,,so this is like a formula i just found it out
They generally follow the same structure
This channel is a godsend! Thank you for all your hard work ❤
Cheers!
Absolutely love and adore this channel. I’m going to make it in this industry and when I do I want my films to be featured here.
We'll be waiting!
Background music: 17:-05 '''Amazing Journey''' The Who from the Tommy LP
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16:45 Why did my whole body just shiver?
Another great video! I hope in the future you will do a video on the two pinch points in Act 2.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Just want to say one thing; amazing as always!
Hope it helps!
Most needed video!!!
Hope it helps!
Inciting incidents are certainly true for horror movies and am glad you included that. I would love to see you do more about great horror movies. Thanks!
Great information about story telling.
All part of screenwriting fundamentals!
Some ideas for future “Directing Style” episodes:
Andrey Tarkovsky (The Poet)
Béla Tarr (The Philosopher)
Ingmar Bergman (The Dramatist)
Robert Bresson (The Ascetic)
I vastly prefer "catalyst" for this beat. I mean, what else is an incident going to do but incite?
We just break down the terms, don't have a say in making them ;)
You guys are a godsend to the film industry.
Much appreciated ❤
Oh there we go my teacher arrivess in the class ❤❤
Class is in session
Class in session!
Superb video ❤
Glad you liked it!
Beautiful.
Thank you so much for this video, please please please do more 🎨
What would you like covered?
I love you studio binder
We love our viewers!
Best movie channel on YT. ❤️🔥
🙏
@@StudioBinder thanks guys !
Legendary content fr
Enjoy!
Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Powerful knowledge
The building blocks of storytelling!
Basically it is the moment that made everything that comes after possible/likely.
In MLP Starlight Glimmer actually plays with this. She prevented the sonic rainboom that gained the mane 6 their cutie marks simultaneously and led to them crossing paths in the future. If it was fate that they became friends it would happen one way or another, but it isn't. It was a chance meeting with fateful consequences that could only happen if this particular event happened in the past.
I volunteer as tribute to watch all of your videos !
They're ready for you!
I have heard other writers say that with the introduction of social media, the attention span of the audience has reduced in recent years and that the inciting incident should be presented sooner than the 12% mark and after only 5 minutes setup time. What are your thoughts on this?
Like how a film doesn't have to start at 12.5% exactly, I don't think 5 minutes is necessary either. It just needs to happen in the beginning of the film and everything leading up to it should still be entertaining so the audience doesn't get bored. I think as long as there's something worth watching the audience will stay engaged regardless of the time it takes to get to the inciting incident.
another lesson to be noted
Happy writing :)
Sir i would request you to focus on Indian Filmography
It would be amazing if you make a video on Raju Hirani Direction style
His movies are like Masala where both Comedy and Emotions are mixed in such a way like 3 idiots, Munna Bhai or Pk etc
It would be fascinating explanation and learning for all the movie learnings
Thanks for the suggestion!
"Children of Men" in the thumbnail? I'm in.
All aboard!
Can you make a video explain how to create conflict in a story and types conflicts?
Check out chapter one if our great scenes video! czcams.com/video/3TukzX6R57Y/video.html
Do LCD next! (Life changing descicion)
Please make a Video on Camara Movement such as Motivational Movement or Unmotivated Movement Technique.
Hey Studio Binder,
I have one ques How can I download any famous movie original Scripts? Where we can find those scripts?
Always great stuff on here. But Neo taking the pill isn't the inciting incident.
If a movie/novel has multiple points of view, should they each have a separate inciting incident?
Maybe for a novel, but that would be really convoluted for a film. Unless you mean different perspectives of the same incident, like Rashomon
Can you make one for 1st Plot point, and everything else after that? IN DEPTH like this one
Don't know if we can do one for everything, but we have one on midpoint you might like! czcams.com/video/a5eDYVo98uQ/video.html
My Favorite Inciting Incident in Movies are :
-Spider-Man (2002) : Transformation of Two Human into Superhuman
-Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003) : The Tragedy and Search for Vengeance
-Batman Begins (2005) : The Power of Fear
-The Dark Knight (2008) : The Joker goal to unmask Batman
-Raiders of the Last Ark (1981) : Finding the Ark of Alliance
-Taxi Driver (1976) : Trying to become someone else and give a sense to his life
-The Lord of the Rings the Fellowship of the Ring (2001) : The One Ring found
-The Silence of the Lambs (1991) : Meet Dr. Hannibal Lecter
-Star Wars Episode 4 A New Hope (1977) : Luke Skywalker discover the Message of Princess Leia
-Seven (1995) : The First murder
-Panic Room (2002) : Home invasion
-The Matrix (1999) : Thomas Anderson follow the White Rabbit
-Alien (1979) : The Message on Planet LV426
-Die Hard (1988) : The Nakatomi Plaza hostages
-Jaws (1975) : Sheriff Brody find the body of Chrissie
-T2 Judgment Day (1991) : T1000 comes and target John Connor
-Psycho (1960) : Marion Crane steal the money
And many other Inciting Incident in Movies.
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The I.I. in The Killer came in at 21 minutes into the movie. Oof.
imo Fincher kept it pretty entertaining up until then
Can you please make video about pacing in film?
2:48 what's the drama name???
when the next ep of stages of film making will come?
No set date yet but we're working on it!
Yoo Romeo and Juliet is such an underrated movie
Classic film!
This is like the key to which open a window for us to enter the movie's world?
Why don't create a playlist for writing
So if one uses a macguffin and introduced it on page 12 of a 100-page script... that would be spot on?! 😂😂😂
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@StudioBinder 🤔 it's almost like... I've paid attention so well to ya other teachings, this one was intuition! 🤣🤣🤣
Please give Telugu subtitle's options aslo I request you studio binder 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for the suggestion!
@@StudioBinder 😍
16:46 😢
Videazo
When will the plot point come.
Our video on the 3 act structure breaks all the plot points down! czcams.com/video/tvqjp1CxxD8/video.html
If there is a better name for a character than Snake Plissken, I have yet to hear it.
yay
Enjoy!
Promised $700, a Los Angeles cab driver waits for his fare to return from a brief stop-off.
Bored, he eats his sandwich and looks at a Mercedes brochure... then a man drops from the sky on to the roof of the car.
Inciting trouble
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Thanks for watching!
Romeo and Juliet are both gender inverted there
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What is an inciting incident? Oh, a Trump speech in front of the White House before January 6th? ;-P
So you decided to clone the voice of the original narrator. İt is pretty close though
...Huh? No the voice is from a real human
Thank you
Thanks for watching!