Script Analysis: “Honey Boy” — Part 2: Plot

Read and analyze the script for the acclaimed drama written and starring Shia LeBouef.

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule:

Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown
Tuesday: Plot
Wednesday: Characters
Thursday: Themes
Friday: Dialogue
Saturday: Takeaways

Today: Plot.

In every scene, something happens. A plot point is a scene or group of scenes in which something major happens, an event that impacts the narrative causing it to turn in a new direction.

A relevant anecdote. Years ago, I was on the phone with a writer discussing a script project. My son Will, who was about four years old at the time, must have been listening to me talking about “plot points” during the conversation because after I hung up, he asked, “Daddy, what’s a plop point?”

That’s in effect what a plot point is. It’s an event that ‘plops’ into the narrative and changes its course. So when you think Plot Point, think Plop Point!

The value of this exercise:

• To identify the backbone of the story structure.
• To examine each major plot point and see how it is effective as an individual event.
• To analyze the major plot points in aggregate to determine why they work together as the central plot.

This week: Honey Boy. You can download the script here.

Written by Shia LeBouef.

Plot Summary: A young actor’s stormy childhood and early adult years as he struggles to reconcile with his father and deal with his mental health.

Major kudos to Ericka Boston or doing this week’s scene-by-scene breakdown.

To download a PDF of the breakdown for Honey Boy, click here.

For Part 1, to read the Scene-By-Scene Breakdown discussion, go here.

I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this week’s script: Honey Boy.