tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761812458465745725.post1358637183835871898..comments2024-01-31T20:40:15.831-08:00Comments on Doctor My Script: Screenwriting Mistake #17: Deus Ex MachinaPhil Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17263709291430900054noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761812458465745725.post-62799082098442614422017-09-07T20:34:01.144-07:002017-09-07T20:34:01.144-07:00Hey Phil,
Just wondering if Deus Ex Machina appli...Hey Phil,<br /><br />Just wondering if Deus Ex Machina applies to setup plot events. Say character A needs to "clean" some money and he meets character B who has something of value that they are looking to sell because they need money. If this is the inciting incident or 1st act turning point then is it considered convenient? Considering that a well conceived story would ensure conflict arises from this potential exchange through obstacles, complications and escalations - would it still be considered a situation of convenience, or is it just one way of setting up a story?<br /><br />Thanks in advance!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18428053279857037622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761812458465745725.post-56524205767898318002011-12-05T13:23:42.730-08:002011-12-05T13:23:42.730-08:00Hi Charlie,
This is probably just a matter of sem...Hi Charlie,<br /><br />This is probably just a matter of semantics, but I defined a deus ex machina as a "convenient contrivance," not limiting it to something that is done by someone other than the protagonist. It's probably a better specific definition of the term to limit it to something that comes completely out of the blue and is neither performed nor instigated by the protagonist.<br /><br />With that in mind, the virus at the end of Independence Day is not technically a deus ex machina, but it still sucks as a ludicrously contrived movie ending because it's so implausible, horribly executed and not established earlier as a viable possibility. So whoever voted for "not DEM, but just stupid" is technically correct. :-)<br /><br />-PhilipPhil Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263709291430900054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761812458465745725.post-46871445261405445702011-11-17T15:01:28.979-08:002011-11-17T15:01:28.979-08:00Hey Mr Dyer,
Interesting article. If you don'...Hey Mr Dyer,<br /><br />Interesting article. If you don't mind slumming it with a bunch of geeks, we're having a discussion about deus ex machina (machinae? machinis?) over on a video game forum and somebody linked to you.<br /><br />We're basically trying to establish what a deus ex machina really is. Everybody agrees with Raiders and The Abyss, but what about Independence Day? Some of us think the virus is DEM because it's so implausible, others say that because the heroes had to invent it themselves and infiltrate the mothership with it that it's not DEM (it's just stupid).<br /><br />Aren't protagonists allowed to figure out some things on the fly?<br /><br />Thanks! Interesting blog, I'm going to read some more!Charlie Kilohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06882167567019745648noreply@blogger.com