THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE

JILLCHAMBERLAIN.COM
COMEDY
FLAW STRENGTH
FLAW is the direct opposite of STRENGTH

FINAL STEP
away from toward
POINT OF FLAW STRENGTH
NO RETURN

SET-UP WANT

F CLIMACTIC
CHOICE
PROTAGONIST
away from toward
FLAW STRENGTH

gets SET-UP
WANT but
there’s a
CATCH ❐ Does the protagonist get their SET-UP WANT immediately
and directly in the POINT OF NO RETURN?
CRISIS
❐ Does the protagonist get something immediately in the
POINT OF NO RETURN that they don’t want, the CATCH?
❐ Is the CATCH the perfect test of their FLAW?
tests the FLAW
❐ Is the CRISIS the lowest the protagonist can go? (What if
they were in jail? Or considering suicide?)
SET-UP WANT is the direct opposite of CRISIS
❐ In the CRISIS, is the protagonist in the exact opposite state
ACT 1 25% ACT 2 Timeline not to scale. 75% ACT 3 of mind or situation of where they were in the SET-UP
WANT?
To learn how the Nutshell Technique works, ❐ In both the CLIMACTIC CHOICE and the FINAL STEP, does
pick up the acclaimed screenwriting book: the protagonist move away from the FLAW and toward
the STRENGTH?
To
Thelearn how
Nutshell the Crack
Technique: Nutshell Technique
the Secret to works, pick up the ❐ Are the FLAW and the STRENGTH exact opposites?
acclaimed screenwriting book:The Nutshell Technique:
Successful Screenwriting by Jill Chamberlain.
Crack the Secret to Successful Screenwriting Copyright © 2016 by Jill Chamberlain
All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced, distributed,
by Jill Chamberlain or transmitted without express written permission of the author.
The Nutshell Technique is a registered trademark.
 JILLCHAMBERLAIN.COM

FLAW STRENGTH
FLAW is the direct opposite of STRENGTH

TRIUMPH

SET-UP WANT sees its ultimate manifestation in TRIUMPH

POINT OF
SET-UP WANT NO RETURN

F
CLIMACTIC
PROTAGONIST CHOICE
fails to move
worsens
toward
STRENGTH FLAW

gets SET-UP
WANT but
❐ Does the protagonist get their SET-UP WANT immediately there’s a
and directly in the POINT OF NO RETURN? CATCH FINAL STEP
❐ Does the protagonist get something immediately in the
fails to move
worsens
toward
POINT OF NO RETURN that they don’t want, the CATCH? STRENGTH
FLAW
❐ Is the CATCH the perfect test of their FLAW?
❐ Is the TRIUMPH the highest the protagonist can go?
❐ Does the protagonist get the ultimate manifestation of tests the FLAW
their SET-UP WANT in the TRIUMPH?
❐ In both the CLIMACTIC CHOICE and theACT 1 STEP, does 25% ACT 2 75% ACT 3
Timeline not to scale.
FINAL
the protagonist fail to toward the STRENGTH and instead
further the FLAW?
❐ Are the FLAW and the STRENGTH exact opposites?
To learn how the Nutshell Technique works, pick up the
Copyright © 2016 by Jill Chamberlain acclaimed screenwriting book:The Nutshell Technique:
All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced, distributed,
or transmitted without express written permission of the author. Crack the Secret to Successful Screenwriting
The Nutshell Technique is a registered trademark. by Jill Chamberlain