Keep the Heavies in Motion
This is the second of Stephen Cannell’s axioms (see last week’s post for #1) that Randy Wallace taught me.
What Steve meant was not just “Keep the villain active during Act Two,” but “Keep him coming at the hero from as many directions as possible.”
Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in “Silver Linings Playbook”
This works even for interior villains, for antagonists that reside only inside our characters’ heads.
Consider one of my all-time faves, David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook.
The villain exists only inside Pat Solitano’s (Bradley Cooper) head. It’s his obsession with getting back together with his estranged wife Nikki.
The inciting incident of the movie is when Bradley meets Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence). In the audience, we know instantly that these two were meant for each other.
What’s keeping them apart?
Bradley’s obsession with Nikki.
That’s the villain.
Steve Cannell would be proud of how David O. Russell (who wrote the film—based on the novel by Matthew Quick—as well as directing it) “kept the heavies in motion.”
Bradley’s obsession with Nikki cross-crosses Act Two like an Oklahoma tornado.
We see Bradley jogging wearing a plastic trash bag to make him sweat, so he can lose weight for Nikki.
Bradley tells Jennifer again and again how he’s going to win Nikki back.
He obsesses with his shrink about getting Nikki back.
He composes a letter to Nikki and gets Jennifer to deliver it.
Even when Bradley starts rehearsing with Jennifer to be her partner in a dance contest, the endeavor (for him) is all about Nikki. He’s trying to prove that he’s a good guy helping Tiffany so that Nikki will see he has changed and not be so spooked by his nuttiness.
Poor Jennifer is whipsawed by this villain that keeps coming at her from every angle, deep deep into Act Three.
And this whipsawing works.
It makes Jennifer react. How she responds reveals her moxie, her toughness, her love for Bradley.
In the audience we are riveted, rooting for Jennifer and Bradley to get together and energized/terrorized every time Bradley’s Nikki-obsession rears its crazy head.
Try this yourself if you’re stuck in Act Two.
Steve Cannell knew what he was talking about.
Keep the heavies in motion.
DO THE WORK
Steve shows you the predictable Resistance points that every writer hits in a work-in-progress and then shows you how to deal with each one of these sticking points. This book shows you how to keep going with your work.
THE AUTHENTIC SWING
A short book about the writing of a first novel: for Steve, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Having failed with three earlier attempts at novels, here's how Steve finally succeeded.
NOBODY WANTS TO READ YOUR SH*T
Steve shares his "lessons learned" from the trenches of the five different writing careers—advertising, screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction, and self-help. This is tradecraft. An MFA in Writing in 197 pages.
TURNING PRO
Amateurs have amateur habits. Pros have pro habits. When we turn pro, we give up the comfortable life but we find our power. Steve answers the question, "How do we overcome Resistance?"
Thanks for this – I’m really enjoying this series on the villain and the second act. Keep it coming!
One of the best. Saved to my collection. Hope I can keep it in mind while I’m outlining.
Love Silver Linings Playlist–great example!
Excellent, I’m looking forward to a new series …
[…] Don’t let your story sag in Act 2. Check out Keep the Heavies in Motion by Steven […]
Interesting, looking forward for more.
Thanks for this, I’m really enjoying this series. Thanks once again!
informative post, Really Good Story
Steve Cannell really knew what he was talking about.
I want to write a story about two people who break out of a prison, but I don’t know how to start it, I think I need something to inspire me
I don’t have a clue how to begin it, I think I need something to rouse me.
Excellent, I’m looking forward to a new series …
Interesting, would you post more?
Thanks for this. Would you write more? Keep it coming!
Thanks for the article!
OMG, what did I read! Do you have a sequel yet? And do you have an instagram?