Lecture Notes: Story Circle and The Dark Knight

Introduction

• Discussion of creative loops in writing
• Reference to Dan Harmon's story circle method
  • Centuries of storytelling principles distilled into an 8-step guide
  • Enhances both writing and storytelling abilities
• Focus of lecture: applying story circle to "The Dark Knight"

The Story Circle: 8 Steps

1. You (The Protagonist)

• Establish an active tense and drive
• Example: Bruce Wayne in "The Dark Knight"
  • Status quo: Fights crime

2. Need

• Introduces protagonist's need, sparking the story
• Example: In "The Dark Knight"
  • External need: Alfred's advice to potentially retire
  • Internal need: Bruce's desire to be with Rachel
  • Bruce seeks a replacement for himself as Batman

3. Go

• Protagonist enters the chaos realm
• Example: Batman seeks Harvey Dent as a replacement
  • Harvey needs to capture Lau to put criminals in jail

4. Search

• Encounter roadblocks; persistent search for resolution
• Example: Joker's emergence creates new chaos
  • Bruce's intensified mission due to Joker's crime wave

5. Find

• Protagonist finds what they sought, but it’s problematic
• Example: Bruce's plan foiled when Harvey claims to be Batman

6. Take

• Protagonist attains goal but at a great cost
• Example: Batman captures Joker but at the cost of Rachel's life
  • Forces Bruce to reconsider his future
  • Devastating consequence

7. Return

• Return to start, transformed by experiences
• Example: Bruce's altered mission after Rachel's death and Joker's chaos
  • Two-Face emerges with a personal vendetta

8. Change

• Visual demonstration of protagonist's change
• Example: Batman stops Harvey, takes blame for Harvey’s crimes
  • Batman's transformation into Gotham's Dark Knight
  • Hero's journey completed with tangible change

Conclusion

• The story circle offers a framework for completing creative projects
• Encouragement to use story circle worksheet for personal projects
• Additional resources available through StudioBinder

Closing Remarks

• Acknowledgment of "The Dark Knight" as a prime example of story circle application
• Batman as a silent guardian and watchful protector