ANATOMY OF STATIC
DESIGNING PRINCIPLE
Alastar a closet misanthropist must navigate his delusional past and present in order to save the future.
SYMBOL FOR PLOT
Everything in Alastar's reality is nothing but white noise. However he will realise that he will need the help of great minds in order to solve complex problems.
STORYTELLER
ALASTAR - Devolves his forgotten past with his DR which ends up putting him and his DR in danger. Alastar covers his ghosts of the past and talks about how he feels about the world and the difficulties with trusting others that have lied and manipulated him. He also mentions the idea of seeing beyond the veil, I term he has coined for the two types of people in the world. The people who are aware and those who are not.
ALICE - Alastar's grandmother covers the story of the families horrific legacy by talking about Alastar's grandfather that Alastar never met.
HAL - Hal covers some background on why he is helping Alastar. That he worked with his father Albert and promised he would watch over and protect him.
TWENTY-TWO STEPS
1. SELF-REVELATION, NEED & DESIRE
SELF-REVELATION - Alastar needs to work with others if he is to solve complex problems. He will also need to understand people more deeply if he is to help them.
NEED - Alastar needs to take responsibility for his actions and be a moral designer if he is to stop himself from becoming a monster.
DESIRE - Alastar has a desire to be remembered. To make a positive change to the world and hopefully change his families legacy. He thinks he can do this by building his father's machine, a form of infinite fusion energy.
INITIAL ERROR - Alastar kills someone with his car and shows no empathy. A DT. Wallis at the scene witnesses is reaction and gives him great concern for Alastar's mental wellbeing.
2. GHOST AND STORY WORLD
GHOST
Alastar's past is his ghost. Moments that had been forgotten resurface after a traumatic event makes him remember. Alastar's ghost then becomes the veil that most people hide behind. That people tried to make him hide behind. Alastar will converse with his doctor about these events putting him and his doctor in danger of his employer.
The doctor and Alastar will unpack these forgotten experiences and how they have curbed his view of the world and his lack of trust in others because of the manipulation he went through for the events to be covered up. Alastar finds it difficult to navigate a world of lies, a world through a veil.
STORY WORLD
Alastar sees lights appear in the sky shortly after his grandma passes. He is the only one who can see them which leads him to believe that he is crazy. The film follows this edge of reality and illusion and Alastar commits to his experience after remembering significant events of his past that suggest his father was collaborating with people from space.
Alastar holds quite a large amount of power working for the company. However this power is also a weakness as the company has a different agenda to Alastar and have broken a promise to help him with his passion project.
3. WEAKNESS AND NEED
WEAKNESS
Alastar's lack of responsibility for his creations is a great moral weakness.
PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED
Alastar wants to change the horrific legacy of his family and find out what happened to his father.
MORAL NEED
Alastar needs to stop creating advanced weapons and war machinery and take responsibility for his actions.
PROBLEM
Alastar becomes aware of his actions when he is in a car accident and kills a cyclist. His interaction with DT. Wallis embarrasses him and makes him more reflective. DT. Wallis is curious to what Alastar is up to and starts to follow / investigate him.
4. INCITING EVENT
Alastar decides to build his father's machine on his own terms. He makes contact with people he met in China. he has lied to the company to make the machine for another purpose and will exploit the build for the rare elements required that the company holds in mass stock.
5. DESIRE
Alastar wants to change the way the world works by giving the world a gift of unlimited energy. He believes it would shift the power structures in play and aid in global problems such as starvation. Alastar has built this desire from his father's influence and their shared admiration for Nicola Tesla.
6. ALLIES
ALICE
ALICE KENLEY is Alastar's grandma, she tells Alastar about his grandfather and the horrific family legacy. She is not well and Alastar cares for her in his missing father's home. She has radiation poisoning which she contracted being with Alastar's grandfather. She doesn't regret what she did, but she regrets that the times made him have to create it. When Alice passes away, Al is still quite young and it bothers him quite deeply that the people he loves keeps leaving him. After a desperate Alastar pleas with the sky, a strange light formation appears above him and Alastar sees it as a sign, a calling.
PETER KANE
PETER KANE is Alastar's partner who he looses when he was young. Al lost Peter to unusual conditions just like his father. Alastar makes a decision to break away from his company as he believes he can upset the same people who took away his father and partner. She disappears in a white flash in the hospital where she was being treated after a car accident. Peter appears alive again in another reality, Alastar needs her expertise for his father's machine, but isn't sure she will help because she has always been critical of Alastar and Albert's machine and what it could be used for. Peter's efforts in her work is the most moral and globally helpful of all the characters.
HAL GRIFFIN
HAL GRIFFIN used to work with Alastar’s father Albert as a oil killer for the company. He decided to quite when he was asked to drop Albert in a lake. As he watched Albert sink into the water, a bright white flash of light beams down into the water from the sky. Hal witnesses Albert being taken out of the water and into the air, he never told the company. Hal always regretted his actions and kept his word to Albert to watch over and protect him.
Hal desires to find out what happened to his friend Albert and ask his forgiveness for what he was made to do. Hal ends up appearing to save Alastar when he is at his lowest point in the story, alone and about to be killed by another version of himself. Hal is able to redeem himself and in the end gets to tell Albert he is sorry and Albert forgives him.
DR. STEVEN WRIGHT
DR. STEVEN WRIGHT used to be Albert's friend. They formed a great friendship when Albert used to get advice from Dr. Wright. Wright would see all the oil killers who worked for the company, including Hal Griffin. Wright knows that Alastar's past is real and is protecting him by hiding his experiences from the company. Dr. Wright puts himself at danger hearing what Alastar has to say. He tells Alastar he has to go see and talk with people he knows and try and find some peace before it's all over. Wright tells Alastar about the broken family model and how Alastar's efforts in his work is a result of a inferiority complex, but the truth is your doing really great.
PRIEST
PRIEST helps out Alastar deal with the people he has lost in his lives and what their existence means to him. Priest is a character who Alastar underestimates and Priest does the same with Al. Alastar challenges God's existence and why he doesn't stop all this evil. Priest argues that God gives us free will. The monster is inside all of us Alastar, it's up to us to let it out. Alastar learns Priest has studied many different religions, philosophies and psychologies in order to understand and serve his common man. That is the greatest gift, to help others. Making others find freedom within themselves sets yourself free. Alastar realises with Priest that moral design is the most important of all things in the world if we are to find peace. Religion was designed to give people peace with themselves.
7. OPPOSITION AND/OR MYSTERY
ALBERT X
ALBERT X is an alternative version of Albert from another reality. In this reality life has been harder on Albert and therefore he has become quite destructive and plans to bring the world to his knees. Albert is the hidden "main opposition". Alastar will need to confront Albert X at the end of the story and make him realise that they have both become monsters of themselves.
ALASTAR X
ALASTAR X is an alternative version of Alastar and has brought him to his reality to solve a critical problem with his father’s machine. A lie to get the machine running so it creates a reality collapse. Alastar X doesn’t know about the machines danger, and Alastar finds evidence that other Alastar's could have been also working on the machine. Alastar X values family and power over freedom and sacrifice.
BOSS
BOSS is Alastar's supervisor. Boss tells Al the company can’t let him build the machine despite giving Alastar his word because it will end the company and many other industries that sells power. Alastar reasons with the Boss, tells him for us as a species to continue living we need to find a way off this planet or at least move in that direction. Giving the world infinite free energy would be the answer to plenty of current problems we have with the world. Alastar finds after much digging, the companies sub divisions who alter Alastar’s creations and weaponizes them.
Alastar doesn’t approve of this use, calling organised warfare the greatest evil and negative friction on man’s progress. In order to increase the force accelerating human movement means, therefore, to preform more work. The three possible solutions of the great problem of increasing human energy are answered in three words: food, peace and work. Alastar plans to leave the company and destroy it with his father's machine.
DETECTIVE WALLIS
DETECTIVE WALLIS takes bribes from Alastar's employer the company. DT. Wallis is an early and obvious opposition at the start of the story. Alastar will battle with DT. Wallis in order to get his goal. "People need order, control. Nothing, but chaos will come from this machine Alastar, we both know that." Wallis gets it but also has to protect and feed his family. Alastar sees a corruptible point to human advancement in a human's family. "You would rather protect a set few then save us all?".
8. FAKE-ALLY OPPONENT
Increases the opponent's power because of the fact that his opposition is hidden. The fake-ally opponent starts to feel like an ally.He works for the opponent but by the end of the story wants the hero to win.
ALASTAR X
ALASTAR X is lied to by the only man he trusts, his father. Albert X told Alastar X that the machine was going to be used to get Albert X out of prison, but it was actually created to destroy all by creating a reality collapse/reset. Alastar X was fooled just like Alastar into Albert X's bidding, he is in prison to hide from the company. The betrayal makes Alastar X want Alastar to win.
BOSS
BOSS is nothing but a vague link to the true owners of the company. Alastar uses the Boss to send a message to the powers behind the company that he is going to build his fathers machine and bring down the company in the progress. Despite the Boss being in opposition with Alastar, he is understanding of Alastar's plan and to a degree let's Alastar get away with the rare materials.
DETECTIVE WALLIS
DETECTIVE WALLIS at first is helpful to Alastar and helps him through the traumatic experience of killing a person. Wallis uses the situation to have a closer eye on what Alastar is up to and reporting that back to the company. Wallis is then given orders to kill Alastar and clean out the area, however before Wallis can pull the trigger Hal Griffin shots him to the ground.
9. FIRST REVELATION AND DECISION:
CHANGED DESIRE AND MOTIVE
ALASTAR'S first revelation is that the work he has been creating for the company is being modified and weaponised. Alastar feels betrayed further when the company mentioned they will not be able to assist and support Alastar's passion project.
When Alastar hits and kills a cyclist his guilt of his creations killing people is magnified to a mental breaking point. Alastar realises what it feels like to be responsible for another's death.
DECISION: Alastar decides to push for his father's machine to be built in secret as he thinks it will help others.
CHANGED DESIRE AND MOTIVE: Alastar figures if he can give the world infinite free energy he will partly correct the wrong doing he and his family have done. Alastar also wants to use the opportunity to purhaps attract the people involved in stopping his father and therefore find out what happened to him.
Knowing that he will need some rare materials that the company have stock of, he lies to them about the machines capabilties, that it can be used to evaporate the water supply of whole cities if unbalanced.
10. PLAN
Alastar makes a plan to build his father's machine of his own direction. He figures that if he is successful he will bring free electricity to some of the poorest countries, he thinks it might even solve starvation. Alastar is also in the hopes that his activities will get the attention of the people who took away his father and he can stand up to them and find out what happened.
11. OPPONENT'S PLAN AND MAIN COUNTER-ATTACK
Alastar X appears and saves Alastar from certain death at the hands of Detective Wallis. Wallis has been sent to take care of Alastar who has already caused significant damage to the companies operations. Alastar X explains the grip the company has over it's people and some hints to what the true opponent's plan and counter-attack is.
12. DRIVE
1. Alastar settles into action when he learns he isn't going crazy and is in fact in another reality.
2. Alastar reaches out to his group of allies who help him through his situation and with his goal, but think he is crazy still in the other reality.
3. Alastar learns more on what Al X has been up to, which is a mystery because it appears Al X is a complete recluse.
4. Al interrogates Al X and learns his father is still alive and in prison without reason. Al thinks he might have made a mistake coming here and seeks out his allies within this other reality. (Compare character's moral decisions in both worlds.)
5. Alastar gains clarity through Allies, some follow him on his mission (Hal). Other's play particular roles on Alastar's following decisions. Peter has a special role in working out how to solve the main problem, however attacks Alastar when she works out the potential danger the machine has if not fixed. Alastar gets more information of an alternate use of the machine.
OTHER REVELATIONS
THROUGH THE VEIL
ALASTAR learns he must follow another version of himself into another reality and help make his father's machine work to save it and all reality from a reality collapse.
DECISION: Alastar decides to go as he may find answers he is looking for.
CHANGED DESIRE AND MOTIVE: No change, Al still wants to make the machine to help others. Alastar goes through the veil to find answers on the other side.
PETER LIVES
ALASTAR learns that in this reality Peter is still alive.
DECISION: Alastar wants to see her again and may need her help with his father's machine.
CHANGED DESIRE AND MOTIVE: The Alastar of this reality has pushed Peter away and Al wants to make things good with her and tries to convince her he is from another reality. Alastar learns that Alastar X isn't to be trusted.
HAL'S REVELATION
HAL saves Alastar from Detective Wallis' attack, he tells Al who he is and what he has promised to do. Al learns of the evil grasp the company has over the world.
DECISION: Alastar decides to concentrate all his attention in bringing down the company by building his father's machine.
CHANGED DESIRE AND MOTIVE: No change, just obsessive drive.
REVELATION TO BATTLE
ALASTAR learns the machine is already built and Al X has not been completely honest. Alastar can't even trust himself now.
DECISION: Alastar needs to work out what Al X has really planned.
CHANGED DESIRE AND MOTIVE: Alastar will do anything to make the machine work for the good of humanity. Including stopping another version of himself.
ALBERT IS ALIVE
ALASTAR learns his father is still alive in this reality. Alastar X tells him he is in prison.
DECISION: Alastar decides to confront Albert to find out what is his goal. He pretends to be Alastar X.
CHANGED DESIRE AND MOTIVE: Al wants to make things right and protect his families name even from his own blood.
13. ATTACK BY ALLY
All of Alastar's allies all question his view of the world. Some are more aggressive then others but they all challenge his great weakness. Alastar's lack of responsibility for his creations is his great moral weakness.
DR. STEVEN WRIGHT criticises Alastar's delusions, he continues to try hide Alastar by making him believe he is making things up in his mind. However Al has had to much personal experience to believe Dr. Wright.
HERO'S JUSTIFICATION: Alastar has found physical evidence that proves his experiences are real. He is now confused about why Wright is up to and why he is trying to convince Al otherwise. He tests waters, Wright might be why I have forgotten my childhood.
PETER KANE criticises Alastar about his father's machine that it's construction is dangerous to create. It can be unbalanced and end it all.
HERO'S JUSTIFICATION: Alastar thinks it's worth everything to remove suffering from the world.
"The world's not worth spinning with all this suffering and brutality."
14. APPARENT DEFEAT
Alastar X shoots Alastar after final touches are complete to the machine. Alastar X another version of himself has betrayed Alastar. Alastar can't even trust himself.
15. SECOND REVELATION AND DECISION: OBSESSIVE DRIVE, CHANGED DESIRE AND MOTIVE
REVELATION: Alastar X tells Al as he bleeds out that his father Albert is still alive and planning to end it all here. Refers to "from fire" manifesto. Alastar X has been killing other Alastars.
DECISION: Alastar decides not to die. He gets so angry with betrayal that he somehow crushes in Alastar X's skull with his mind just before his is about to pull the trigger. Like Scanners type skull crush.
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Alastar reads Albert X's "from fire" manifesto and decides to visit Albert X pretending to be Alastar X. Alastar learns how much of a monster both of them have become.
CHANGED DESIRE: Alastar wants to make Albert X see who he has become and stop him reaching his goal.
OBSESSIVE DRIVE: Alastar knows the machine works and is driven to make the machine right in his own reality. He also wants to fix what he can in this reality and reverses the damage that has been done.
CHANGED MOTIVE: Alastar needs to protect the capabilities of the machine from others and stop himself from becoming a monster. He has been wrong to let people alter his work for battle. Al has been used.
16. AUDIENCE REVELATION
The audience finds out that Alastar is being observed by his true father who mentions Alastar's psychic ability is impressive. The audience wonders if Alastar has been also betrayed by his real father who has turned him into a weapon.
17. THIRD REVELATION AND DECISION
REVELATION: Alastar learns that he has become a human weapon, perhaps of Albert's doing.
DECISION: Alastar decides to visit Albert X and confront him over what he has tried to do and that he has failed.
CHANGED DESIRE AND MOTIVE: No
18. GATE, GAUNTLET, VISIT TO DEATH
ALASTAR teleports himself to where Albert X is in hiding. He makes his way through the halls of the cells and the other inmates who live with Albert. Alastar faces a few guards as he gets closer to Albert's cell. Alastar is so blind with rage he kills them instantly as he passes. Albert awaits Alastar in his tiny cell, he looks up with an evil eye. Albert shows relief when he sees Alastar. Albert thinks Alastar X's work is done.
19. BATTLE
Albert and Alastar converse and challenge each others moral argument. Albert sees his error and tries to kill Alastar. Alastar kills Albert in defence. Bother Alastar and Albert X have become monsters. Clear expression of what the two sides are fighting for. Which ideas and values win out?
Alastar fights with Albert. More a scene of Alastar telling his hidden opposition that he has won while Albert hides like a coward.
20. SELF-REVELATION
ALASTAR'S REVELATION - We need people in our lives. Every life is precious because all life is one life.
"We are all gods."
ALBERT'S REVELATION - People need us. No matter what the cost.
"We only need people so they can look up at us like gods!"
21. MORAL DECISION
Albert X's attempt on Alastar's life is really the trigger of the moral decision. Alastar considers activating the faulty version of the machine anyway, but stops and instead makes the right decision's to make the machine safe for use. He gives the world the gift of free infinite energy and it running also repairs the reality damage.
22. NEW EQUILIBRIUM
Alastar returns to his reality by luck and puts in the orders to stop/or fix the machine. Alastar knows what needs to be done to make the machine work right. Once he is done and at rest. Alastar's father returns and takes Alastar to meet the observers. Explains why what happened happened and how he has helped work out the human condition and a better understanding and development of a chaos theory algarithim.
REVELATION SEQUENCE
1. Alastar hits and kills a cyclist after an emotional meeting at the company.
2. Alastar remembers his past and seeks a professionals opinion to make sense of things he had forgotten.
3. Al realises if he is to ever work out that happened to his father, he needs to build his father's machine. A form of infinite fusion energy.
4. Alastar is visited by a Alastar from another reality where the UFO tech has done more damage then good.
5. Peter is still alive. Al makes contact with her and gets here opinion on his father's machine.
6. Alastar learns that the man following him (Hal) is a friend of Albert's and that he is watching over him. He knows about the alien tech Albert worked on.
7. Al lreans the same for Dr. Wright that they all worked for the company as oil killers.
8. Al learns about his families legacy that his grand father was in the Manhattan project.
9. Alastar learns that the machine is already built in China and Alastar is trying to fix the bug in the software to get it working. A bug Alastar created.
10. Alastar learns his father is still alive but is in hiding. Alastar grows suspicious about what happened to him.
11. Detective Wallis is working for the company. Alastar X shoots him to save Alastar and gain his trust.
12. Hal stops Alastar X from killing Alastar. Alastar visits Albert X.
13. Albert X was involved in the reality collapse. Wants to "End it all for good!".
14. Alastar knowing the right way of living and treating others fixes his reality of his mistakes and meets with his real father who has been watching and studying Al's choices.
This story is pure revelation, in it, the unnamed storyteller explains that he is formulating a story whose details are not yet revealed to him.