Mariner Software Contour for Windows - Manual (Page 14)

The Four Questions
In ascertaining whether a story is worth telling, any story idea is subjected to the Four Questions:
1. Who is your main character?
2. What is he trying to accomplish?
3. Who is trying to stop him?
4. What happens if he fails?
Title Who is your
main character?
What is he trying to accomplish? Who is trying to
stop him?
What will happen if he fails?
Titanic Jack Dawson Save himself and Rose from the sinking
Titanic
Cal Hockley
(Rose’s fiancee)
He and woman he loves will die.
Star Wars Luke Skywalker Rescue the princess and destroy the
Death Star
Grand Moff Tarkin Princess Leia dies and the Rebels
are destroyed
E.T. Elliot Save E.T’s life and get him back home Keys
(The Scientist)
E. T. dies.
Spider Man Peter Parker Defeat the Green Goblin and save Mary
Jane’s life
Norman Osborn
(The Green Goblin)
Mary Jane and the victims of the
Green Gobllin die.
Jurassic Park Dr. Alan Grant Save everyone’s life and get off the island The Dinosaurs Everyone Dies, including the kids
and the girl he loves.
Examples of the Four Questions as they are applied to some of the highest grossing films
14 of 81