I’m a big fan of Steven Pressfield. His book “The War Of Art” should be required reading of anyone in the creative professions. What he calls The Resistance is an enemy we all face and you either know it and understand it or you’ll never get anywhere. But it’s a different lesson I want to share with you today. The idea that every story has an understory that, if you’re aware of it, can be a powerful weapon in your creative arsenal. Here’s Steven—
“One of my favorite scenes in movies of the past few years is the Frozen Park Bench scene in the first of the Jason Bourne movies—The Bourne Identity.
It’s early in the story. We’ve met Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) and learned that he is a young man who has lost his memory. He doesn’t know who he is. He’s an American on his own in Europe, specifically Zurich (where Swiss bank accounts are) in the depths of winter.
Jason’s recall may be void at the moment, but he has been able in the film’s early scenes to deduce a few things about who he might be.
First, he knows he is somebody specific. He does have an identity. He just doesn’t know what it is.
He knows he is part of some ongoing plot or scheme that involves other individuals, possibly allies, more likely enemies. But he doesn’t know who they are or how he fits in with their designs.
Here’s the Park Bench Scene:
It’s night. Outdoors in Zurich. Freezing cold. Jason is in jeans and a threadbare sweater. He stops in a park and lies down on a bench, just trying to survive till morning.
Two Swiss patrol officers appear. They roust Jason roughly, start to handcuff him. Suddenly …
Jason turns into a kung fu master. Chop chop bam bam he hammers both officers with Bruce Lee-like skill, using only his bare hands. He knocks the cops cold.
For a moment Jason stands over his victims, staring at his own hands, amazed at what he has done. Then he dashes away into the night.
This scene, or something like it, is a staple of action novels and movies. It always works. It always plays great.
It hooks the reader/viewer.
It propels the story forward.
Why?
Because implicit in it is a mysterious and exciting understory.
The reader/viewer wants to learn that understory. She can’t help asking of the Jason Bourne character:
Who is he?
How did he acquire these skills? Did somebody train him? Who? For what purpose?
Why is he now “rogue?” What happened to him? Why?
Are other people after him? Is he being hunted? By whom? For what purpose?
Was he on some kind of assignment? Did something go wrong? What?
Is he a good guy or a bad guy?
Two of the last four books I’ve worked on have had understories. In both cases the reader enters the narrative (that is, the story begins) at a point when the understories are well advanced. “Something” is going on. The protagonist becomes aware of this, and involved emotionally and dramatically in it, at the same time as the reader.
Both reader and protagonist are asking, “What’s going on beneath the surface? Hidden forces, secret characters are at work here. Who are they? What do they want? How will their machinations affect our hero? Is he/she in jeopardy from them? Will he/she prevail?”
Heres an example.
You’re working on a commercial for an energy sports drink. We see elite athletes performing intense workouts and competitions, highlighting the sports drink's ability to enhance performance, hydration, and recovery. The scenes are dynamic, with high-energy music and action shots of athletes pushing their limits.
That’s the story,
Simultaneously, throughout the ad, there are brief, less prominent scenes showing athletes of different genders, ethnicities, body types, and abilities. These scenes include moments of teamwork, support, and encouragement. For instance, a quick shot might show a Paralympic athlete training alongside other athletes, or a diverse group of friends sharing the drink after a game. The music may momentarily soften during these scenes, and the camera might linger slightly longer on smiles, handshakes, and other gestures of camaraderie.
That’s the understory.
The effect is that while the main story focuses on the drink’s performance-enhancing qualities, the understory communicates a message of inclusivity, diversity, and community. It subtly tells the audience that the brand values every type of athlete and fosters a sense of belonging and mutual support. This deeper message can resonate strongly with viewers who prioritize these values, strengthening their emotional connection to the brand.
Ask yourself of the material you’re working on, “Is my story happening in real time only? Or does it have an understory?” If it does, you’ve got a powerful tool at your disposal to make your novel or screenplay or brand campaign exponentially more effective.