| As I discussed in last week's article, the organizing | | | | world, and transport us into the dream world of |
| principles of Inception's dream within a dream | | | | the writer. Each sequence of images leads us |
| within a dream structure almost perfectly mirror | | | | deeper into trance, until we begin to respond to |
| the classical hypnosis training one receives at a | | | | the movie as if it were real, feeling real emotions |
| weekend certification class in hypnosis. To | | | | for characters we know don't actually exist. |
| understand how a movie can be built from this | | | | We cry for losses that never happened, feel |
| kind of organizing principle, you first need to know | | | | embarrassed for social gaffs that never actually |
| a little about hypnosis. | | | | occurred. Our hearts race as if we were standing |
| The Standard Three Step Hypnotic Technique | | | | in the character's shoes-- as if their fear was our |
| Weekend certifications in hypnosis generally teach | | | | fear, or their love our love. We root for them, |
| a three step technique which corresponds almost | | | | we care about them. |
| perfectly with the "three dream" technique the | | | | And we begin to care about their images |
| characters in Inception are using to convince their | | | | systems as if they were our own. |
| subject, Robert Fischer, to break up his father's | | | | When Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Cobb, sees |
| company. Just as the architecture of Robert's | | | | his children but cannot see their faces, we begin |
| dream sequence in Inception is built around the | | | | to long for their reunion just as he does. And |
| people, image systems, and beliefs Robert holds | | | | when those children turn around and reveal their |
| most dear, so too is a three step hypnotic | | | | faces to him, it's hard to fight the rush of |
| technique built around the most resonant images | | | | emotion. |
| for the person being hypnotized. | | | | Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Images? |
| Dream Research and Hypnotic Research | | | | As a writer, you can use the three step hypnotic |
| A hypnotic session using this approach begins with | | | | process to craft a profound journey for your |
| an interview, during which the hypnotist gathers | | | | character. Think about the images that most |
| images that have emotional power to the person | | | | powerfully capture your character's experience on |
| being hypnotized. For example, if you were using | | | | the way down toward the heart of their journey, |
| this method to help a blocked writer pick up the | | | | and how you can return to those images in new |
| pen after a long period of procrastination, you | | | | ways on the way back up in order to anchor and |
| might begin with images that are not even related | | | | deepen the change your character is experiencing. |
| to writing, but which capture some of the | | | | And while you're at it, think about the hypnotic |
| emotions the person wishes they had when they | | | | images that play in your own head as a writer. |
| were writing. The hypnotist would then induce a | | | | What images do you chose to focus on? What |
| trance in the person, creating a dream like | | | | images are holding you back? And how can you |
| journey-- a series of three images down into | | | | revisit, deepen, and adapt those images in order |
| hypnosis, and three images back up-- in which | | | | to anchor the future that you are seeking? |
| each image leads them deeper into trance, and | | | | Whatever images you choose, if you get them |
| closer to the transformation they are searching | | | | right your subconscious mind will respond to them |
| for, just like a dream within a dream. | | | | as if they were real-- just like you do at the |
| With each step down, the value of the image is | | | | movies. Perhaps it's time to create some new |
| established, and with each step back up, the | | | | variations. |
| meaning of each image is deepened and adapted, | | | | Stay tuned next week for my most exciting |
| associating that image with the change the person | | | | Inception article yet-- a powerful hypnotic script |
| is seeking, and anchoring that change on a deep | | | | that uses the principles behind Inception to help |
| subconscious level-- as if it had already happened. | | | | you overcome your own creative blocks. |
| The Power of Images | | | | For more helpful screenwriting articles, script |
| Movies are built around images, because movies | | | | analysis, and advice, please visit my blog and |
| are hypnotic. They carry us out of our own | | | | Happy Writing! |