How to Build a Meaningful Plot Twist
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- čas přidán 14. 06. 2021
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I see a lot of videos on youtube that talk about how to craft a plot twist. They talk about how a good plot twist needs to “be believable within the logic established” or how you need to “give the audience all the pieces of the puzzle so they would be able to figure out the answer on their own". Even though these are all valid characteristics of a good plot twist, none of them get to the core of what makes a truly meaningful twist. Or, more importantly, why a writer should even consider having a plot twist in their story.
Today I want to talk about how to build not only an interesting plot twist, but a meaningful one. And how you can integrate meaningful plot twists into your screenplay.
Video written by Alberto Halfeld
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#Screenwriting #PlotTwist - Krátké a kreslené filmy
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How do you know it was permanent?
I think you got the analysis of Brave incorrect. Changing the mother to a bear was to teach her daughter how to communicate with her mother and vice versa. This also taught Merida that she actually needed and valued her mother. It taught her mother that her daughter was a different person and that it isn’t always bad to be different.
Plot twists change the way we interpret things. The plot twist in Brave: "Merida's mother turns into a bear" gives us the ability to even ask the question: Could this other bear actually be a person too?
The basement twist in ATTACK ON TITAN is for me the single greatest twist of this decade in any tv show or movie. But that's just my opinion.
Yessssss definitely. Isayama is a genius.
You guys hype up that show WAYYY too much.
@@themysteriousdude757 nope it's really that good. Tell me a better show and don't bother with breaking bad because it's ain't.
Then chapter 121 of aot will blow Ur mind even more when it gets animated. Best plot twist I've seen even surpassed the basement.
@@adrithmanvik1853 while I agree AOT's story beats BB's, I feel like the ending for BB brings it up. There is no wasted plot element, it wasn't rushed and everything tied up nicely in the final 3 episodes, and even if there was something missing Better Call Saul (another masterpiece) would cover it. AOT's story was perfect until the final 2 chapters: the characters were butchered, Yelena was flat out forgotten, the dialogue was weird, ships that were unnecessary, and just plot elements that weren't properly explored. Imo it doesn't matter how great a story is, if the ending doesn't hit it'll bring the show down, it'll feel incomplete and empty in a way. That's why BB is more satisfying to most people, because all the plot elements line up at the end and nothing was rushed or contrived and there were no character assassinations, a perfect story ends with the perfect ending
i feel that the plot twist of Meredith's mother turning into a bear isnt the main plot twist, its simply the starting plot of the main story: how do i turn mom back into a bear? i feel that the TRUE plot twist of the story was that Mordhue, the scarred bear that played as the final antagonist was actually the fourth brother in the legends that nearly destroyed the country for power.
not that it mattered because point still the same: shock factor with little to no impact on the plot, purely external shift
And that's why I'm glad that he made the point that the initial twist isn't inherently bad, but rather it isn't one that is as impactful since it doesn't change the philosophical issue. Because I felt a little on the fence at first about what he was saying about the Brave twist since it DID move the plot forward well enough (like you said, the goal of the transformation wasn't to be the most important twist), but in context to the larger argument he makes about philosophical stakes making for a more impactful twist, he's exactly right.
Yeah, that's what I thought too - it's the "inciting event" that jump starts the plot, not a plot twist.
Meredith's mother turning into a bear was a twist in that I thought I was seeing a original work...not a retelling of "Brother Bear" with female characters.
Well said.
@@drakenfist everything is so much worse with female characters, right?
In my opinion, Mr. Robot provided the greatest plot twist in all of television by revealing the truth behind Eliot's father in the final season.
It's a tear jerker....
true!
i think the usual suspects nailed it in the plot twist area. the ending reveal was absolute cinegasm
I disagree, it was extremely obvious from the get-go. Great movie, bad twist.
I think that would be an example of a purely external shift.
@@TunezCottage exactly
Indian
A lot of people disagree (I haven't seen it)... However, a lot of people disagree about how bad/good the Star Wars prequels are. So, feel free to believe what you will about a movie. It's just a movie in the long run.
when i first saw big hero 6 i was thinking, "ok, theres no way the kabuki mask antagonist is the CEO, because his nose is too big to fit the mask. so this is gonna be a twist villain that either the teacher or the brother faking his death" and BOI did i hope the twist villain was the brother because that would have been a DOOZY
Tbh I think it would've been way better.
Dude that would have been external, internal, AND philosophical as a twist what the
The philosophical twist of Oldboy is what really stuck with me. Great vid Tyler.
Hey Tyler! I know this is off topic, but I was wondering if you were ever going to bring back the segment where you read short scripts and give feedback live. I was just curious cause I found those streams to be very helpful with my writing.
I agree, I miss them.
I miss these ones too.
Bring it baaaack 👏👏👏
Does GET OUT count, I mean that final scene was brilliant -
----- *Caution Spoilers* ------
Chris is chocking Rose, just when you think he is going to make it out. Police siren lights flash out on his face!
External Shift - Chris is going to get arrested > Chris is getting rescued
It turns out its Rod, Chris's friend.
Internal Shift - Audience has Fear and worry for Chris > Feeling glad and leaving with hope
Jordan had trained the audience earlier in the movie to fear the police due to the way they treat black people. So having the car show up at the end meant harm than good
Philosophical Shift - Injustice prevails > Hope prevails
Despite not being able to save Georgina, Walter and Andre. Seeing Chris driving away to safety is a small step that symbolizes hope in the future.
yeah, good example
This is such a great video. My favourite twists of all time are Snape’s memories in HP7pt2, the snap in Infinity war(if that counts), the Darth Vader twist, the bunker twist in Parasite, and the Amy twist in Gone Girl
Great choices
The greatest twist in the fiction medium must be the reason why Grisha killed the Reiss family . Even the basement reveal in AOT changes the perception of whatever we thought of the world. The biggest twist in AOT is knowing Ymir fritz backstory and the actual orgin of Titans( read hallucigenia)
You know, technically speaking, plot twists exist off screen in any good "ghost" that haunts a character. Take, for example, Bruce Wayne's parents being killed. His living arrangements changed (external), his mental state goes from happiness to torment (internal), and his belief in the world being a good place changes (philosophical). And his ghost has remained a powerful and memorable backstory for the Batman ever since. Had the story been about his childhood, this moment would have been an example of a perfect plot twist.
Best plot twist ever is undoubtedly.
OLD BOY.
So true man!
Nope it's chapter 121 of attack on titan
@@adrithmanvik1853 bruh
Wow this was definitely one of your best videos I’ve watched. So many plot twist fall short by failing the philosophical shift I just never had the words for it until now.
Mr. robot’s plot twists are my favorites. They don’t feel cheap and when you look back you can see all the hints you didn’t saw before and it changes how you see the story. And more on this days, where if someone guesses the twist the writers change everything for shock value
When Merida's mother turns into a bear at the midpoint of Brave, I wanted to turn it off. I have no idea how that film won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. The original writer and director was the one responsible for all the interesting plot devices in the first half of the story, but she was unceremoniously removed from the project and the second half of her original film was essentially scrapped.
Well how would you feel if your mother was turn into a bear. It's a conflict none than less.
Interesting. What was her original vision for the film?
Damn. I saw the movie when it released with an elder cousin. And i remember both of us loved the first half and not the second half.
Still liked the movie though.
@@TomorrowWeLivedid we ever find out?
3:13 His voice clearly states "Haha, funniest shit I've seen all day"
"oi meredith, tha cak has me toorn into a bayar, aint tha daft. imma Queen Elinor the Beaaaar!"
Feel like this is greatly underrated. I'd always known (from studying stories that i liked) that there was always a question or a philosophical idea running through the story. Attack on Titan was about freedom and sacrifices, jujutsu kaisen is "what is a good death", death note was about justice, etc etc, but I had never really taken it as more than that. I had a sort of intuitive grasp of what a good plot was, and how to write stories, but since I was never able to describe it in words, I always struggled with plots. This has been the first video out of many to actually help me on my writing journey, and i am very grateful to you for that
Always excited when Tyler posts a new video!
Great video. Seems everything boils back down to the philosophical conflict 😂. I am actually considering using a plot twist in ky current story, so good timing. Keep uo the good work!
Great video as usual
I genuinely dont know what id do without your advice man, youre great
Hell yeah Tell 'em, Tyler
Keep killing it
This video helped me break down what I already knew about my plot twist for my DND campaign. Having it broken up really allowed me to isolate the three different reasons to write the story as well and to give three themes for me to work without throughout. Thanks for this video, great work!
This was the best explanation of Twists I have come across so far, thank you very much. I am a beginning novelist and this helped a lot.
i love the editing style in this, great job!
The Sixth Sense is such a good example of the perfect plot twist as well 🙌 Great video Tyler, thanks!
😂😂😂
haha, I feel like most people's experience with The Sixth Sense is learning about the plot twist/the phrase "I see dead people" before anything else.
This channel is a hidden gem, you and Filmento channels are the 2 channels that provide very deep and easy-to-understand concepts in film makings. I really hope that you get more recognition like filmento one day
Excellent video Tyler! It’s good to put into words what I have accidentally created with some of my videos. It should help me continue to create better twists in the future!!!
I think it is also important to mention that very often it is good when all those three layers affect the outer goal/want and inner need/desire of the protagonist.
For example that the internal shift to a happy or sad feeling is due to the protagonist for example realizing that the way he approached his goal will keep him from satisfying his desire.
Or that the external shift affects the hardness, time left or closeness to fullfilling the outer goal/want.
Or that due to the fact that the inner need is blocked to be fullfilled by the plottwist, the philosophical message appears that this and that behaviour does not lead to this and that happiness with the desire
AHHH YES love the timing I was having a plot twist idea for my short film and wanted an idea on how to write it, love your videos btw!! 💕
AOT basement twist hits all the shifts
external: "beyond the walls theres freedom" to "beyond the walls theres more enemies"
internal: "eren's and peoples hope" to "despair of knowing whole world wants them dead"
philosophical: "outside someone that is threat to our hero's" to "the people we know is the treat to the real world"
audience gone into conflit of who needs to win?? who is right, who is wrong??
the reason many audience wants paradis to win is we are through their journey.
some wants both sides to to stop war cuz it's not right.
Imo. the best plot twist i've witnessed. changed the story and it's audience completely.
I still love the plot twists in the saw movies, especially the final chapter, where the original victim is shown to become the one that helped with so many traps throughout the franchise. I did not see that coming, that was great.
Incredibly helpful insights! I'm currently expanding a short story I had published into a feature on spec for a producer and frankly, I'm excited and terrified by the process (I've never written a script before.) Subtext is so important and I really needed the specific breakdown of external, internal, and philosophical explained as I'm trying to craft a surprising (and possibly foreshadowing) midpoint. I look forward to viewing more of your videos - thanks for posting!
I disagree with his point on Merida's lack of an internal/philosophical shift. When Merida's mum turns into a bear, she has to give up on her manners (eg. she can't use knife and fork), and re-train herself to survive in a way that's new to her. That way, she realises that tradition isn't necessarily always the right way. Also, as a bear she gets in touch with her motherly instinct and uses all her strength to protect her daughter from Mordhue towards the end of the film. Which she would never have done as a queen, too busy thinking about good manners etc. My only issue with this film is that yes, the bear thing is confusing, and it's not clear what the message is at the end. I had to watch it several times before I 'got it'.
Makes sense. I think the point he was trying to make was the best twists are able to make a external, internal, and philosophical shift at the same time. Merida slowly moves to the philosophical shift, while in the Star Wars and Parasite examples, they do all three in one fell swoop.
I thought the same thing, not a good exemple
I think the philosophical element of the twist happens more in the mind of the audience, rather than for the character. And as pointed out, it should be immediate, otherwise it's less of a twist and more of a curve.
I don't think this example is really a plot twist at all.
Thank you, Tyler. Great lesson.
Thanks for this one!
Awesome timing, thanks man!!
more important than plot twist is understanding the outer and inner journey of the protagonist and writing a compelling arc. therein lies the magic of a story that hooks the audience. this is more important than a twist. if you can't write arcs twists won't mean a thing.
This video is gold.
great video, thanks !
Awesome as usual!
As usual Great Video Beautifully Explained
Man your videos are cool! Thanks for your hard work I'm excited to watch more!
Your content is off the chain, bro!
Very Insightful 🙏🏾
attack on titan is one of the best series that uses Plot Twist
That reveal in the basement knocked me unconscious
There are a lot of philosophical shifts in Attack on Titan.
I'm not into anime but I always hear fantastic things about Attack on Titan
@@panampace I wasn’t that into anime either, but I decided, what the heck, after the tenth time my friend tried to convince me to watch Attack on Titan. Best experience I’ve ever had in front of a screen
AOT is such an amazing story
My fav. series/ movies with twist are - fightclub, death note , attack on titan, memento, the prestige , the sixth sense, code geass...
Brilliant video! One question, though--would you say that the philosophical shift is changing the story's apparent stance on the philosophical conflict, or the philosophical conflict itself?
To clarify, is it changing the story's philosophical attitude (changing the story's presented opinion on the quality a certain statement, or moral, or specific message), or changing the philosophical conflict more as a whole (changing the entire nature of the philosophical conflict to be different from the original one)? Because I could see it going a few different ways. The Darth Vader twist could be either "Good will defeat evil -> Evil has defeated good" or "Good vs. evil -> selfishness (hate, fear, lust, etc.) vs. selflessness (love, sacrifice, faith, etc.)." One of them changes the message, the other shifts the topic. One of them changes the perspective, the other recontextualizes the entire message previous.
Thanks!
I also want to know!
This was so great and helpful!!! Thank you so much, you d best
Great video! Thank you so much
What a great explanation!!
This one blew my mind
A good of plot twist is one we should have seen coming. But we choose to ignore because we wanted to support the main character
Beatifully explained.
This was really well written and presented thank you Tyler
PS: It was also really HELPFUL. I spent 5 days trying to break a story. After watching your essay, boom, I broke the story and came up with a great Plot Twist! Thanks again.
This vido was exactly what I was looking for,was very helpful
This wasss so ggooddd . Especially the part about the plot twist of your own life.
This a very good video, i needed to know this. Thanks man
I seriously scream whenever I see a new Parasite video on CZcams. Why do I love this film so much
same here
@@user-rp8wg7nl5n good to know I’m not alone😂😂😂
This came at such a good time for me.
In Parasite I see the twist not only as poor versus poorer, but the discovery that the problem is the system and not individuals. They fight each other without realizing the greater evil. This is my view on the film. But I loved the video. Thank you very much.
yes - this breaks it down usefully, thank you
awesome vid mate,very helpful . have a great new year buddy :)
I would BE DYING if you showed us more examples of external, internal and philosophical shifts
You're amazing bro!🙏🏼🔥👑💫
Thanks for meaningful learn
Broooo you’re so good at explaining stuff logically, you should be a professor haha. Glad I found your channel. I’m actually learning stuff
man!! you really helped me write my novel
Let's go, Tyler!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Great video
I liked what you taught me a lot but felt your entire video was leading up to something you didn’t end up giving us: How would you have fixed the lacking twists? That would have been insanely enlightening to watch. But even with out it, I’m glad you’ve published this video though I do hope you deliver on the missing piece.
Tyler upload 1 video a week man you are only a good teacher of practical screenwriting
excellent, deep, and on point as always! thank you! =)
The twist in women talking I think hits the nail on the head with this one. It completely changed my viewing experience and made the stakes so much higher for me, and it also added so much emotional impact at the end.
Hi, Tyler!! Could you do another video on what ELSE is impacted by the three levels of storytelling (external, internal, and philosophical)? So far, I think you've done conflict, stakes, midpoint, ending, and now the twist. Are there other elements of a story that are also impacted by these 3 elements that you can further discuss? I'm working on my first series and so far each tip helps me get further and further into the story! Thank you!!!
This is great instruction for me to use in dissecting and rebuilding the midpoint plot twist in my novel. I can't afford to present a lackluster moment at this critical point in the story development. My Protag announces his engagement to his best friend's sweetheart? Don't mess it up, dude!
First comes to mind for philosophical shift is Metal Gear Solid. From the arc of a seasoned solider believing their mission is meaningful to realizing they're either just an expendable pawn or getting in the way of a complex situation the entire time.
A video every writer needs to watch
this chanel should be the most popular on youture among people who watch even one movie in their life
A gem
Shutter island is I believe one of the movie, which has all 3 shifts
Thank you
This was very useful
Thanks for this video Tyler, I really appreciated it ! :)
I have a question regarding the philosophical conflict (I've been listening to your podcast for a few weeks and that's such an interesting and complexe subject)
If I'm not wrong, a philosophical conflict asks a question and the protagonist explores this question throughout the movie. In a twist, the philosophical conflict shifts, could we say it's the answer to the philosophical question? If yes, how does a movie without a plot twist answers the philosophical question?
I'm really hoping you'll be answering this question, anyway keep up the good work you are a truly great inspiration. :)
I cant thank you enough!
It's the same for every story, a twist only works if I'm invested in the story and characters.
I don't care about Callaghan, but change it to his brother (maybe after a little plot rework) and that would make an impact. The professor is nobody to me.
Hey Tyler I enjoy and lear a lot from your videos. I was wondering if you have have written anything that has been produced that we could watch? Would be very interesting. Thanks
@@g.a.r3058 wow you are funny my friend. I meant a film. Thanks for answering for him heheh
amazing!
I don't know why, but your video kept me intrigued about how twists work and don't work. But when you got to the part that talked about how real-life experiences that changes the views on how we see things differently as we get older, I started getting quite emotional...
Coco is personally my favourite plot twist
Tyler you are awesome
id argue it’s less about shifting the philosophical conflict and more introducing the story’s true philosophical conflict. oldboy for the majority film seemingly doesn’t have one until the twist which reveals that the entire film has actually been about one certain philosophical conflict the entire time
Do a video about why we should study parasite. It would be really helpful.
Just watch more Korean films
@@anthonycorcino6700I have watched a lot, I only want a video like he have done about fight club.
I just wanna say, the plot twist in undertale manages to completely turn the plot on its heels in all three forms of shifts, but even then, the audience is left confused
So i think thats an important aspect you forgot to mention, you need proper context for it
(Spoiling it now)
up until the endgame youre led to believe asriel was the whole inspiration for pacifism and purity, sort of like a jesus who died for both humans and monsters
Completely opposite of flowey, whos a genocidal psychopath with no compassion whatsoever
So the reveal that they are both THE EXACT SAME PERSON is massive, and makes you feel like kindness and love and oh-i-wont-kill-you-uwu was just a mega weak point of your part that was ultimately exploited
But its never revealed HOW it happened at that moment, its just a sudden transformation that leaves you very confused
Best to put the pieces together in a way that doesnt directly spoil the twist, but you can look back at after it and realize "Ohhhh rightttt thats whyyyy"
perfect
Tyler. Please do one on good/bad dialogue
PRESTIGE has the real plot twist.. i still remember shaken after their revelation... Simply awesome
But does this plot twist change anything in context of philosophical stakes? Just wondering... haven't seen the movie for a long time.
@@jarlfenrir it kind of does
I'm a simple man. Tyler's new video = like before ending it.