Logline: A pragmatic paleontologist visiting a nearly completed theme park is tasked with protecting a couple of kids after a power failure causes the park's cloned dinosaurs to run loose.
Theme: Man vs Nature, Chaos vs Control
Medium: Feature film
Credits: Novel by
Michael Crichton
Screenplay by
Michael Crichton and David Koepp
Act I
1.ext. jungle - nightStory Beat: HookNotes: This opening scene lets the viewers know what they're in for. Since the next act of violence from the dinosaurs doesn't occur until the midpoint, this acts as a sneak-peak into what's in store for the protagonists.Theme: Symbolized
2.ext. jungle mine - day
3.ext. montana dig site - dayStory Beat: Set-upNotes: This sets up the velociraptor as being the most dangerous dinosaur, something that will be necessary to understand later on. These end up being the final creature that the protagonists must defeat, so making the audience terrified of them right off the bat allows for an immediate understanding of the danger faced when they pop back up again near the end.Theme: Explored
4.int. campervan - dayStory Beat: The Call to Adventure
5.ext. island cafe - DAYStory Beat: B StoryTheme: Explored
6.int. helicopter - day
7.ext. island - day
Act II
8.ext. island - dayTheme: Symbolized
9.I/E. VISITOR CENTER - DAY
10.int. park theatre - dayNotes: The animated film that plays isn't just for the sake of the characters, but also for the audience. It can be difficult to explain the science behind futuristic technology in a way that an entire audience will understand, but doing so through the medium of a video for children ensures that it'll be easily digestible for the average viewer.Theme: Challenged
11.int. laboratory - DAYStory Beat: Theme StatedNotes: The wonder of the park has already worn off on the scientists, due to their heavy concerns about safety. They're not blinded by profit and fame like Hammond is, and they see the park for what it is - a dangerous, uncontrollable experiment.Theme: Stated
12.ext. rapTor pen - dayTheme: Explored
13.int. dining room - dayTheme: Stated
14.i/e. VISITOR CENtEr - day
Act III
54.I/E. VISITOR CENTER - DAYStory Beat: Bad Guys Close In
55.INT. emergency BUNKER - DAY
56.INT. VISITOR CENTEr - kitchen - dayNotes: This works as the most stressful scene in the film because it happens in a contained area. When a character is getting chased in the jungle, there are places to hide and there's space to run away - though it's not easy, they have a fighting chance. In a kitchen, there's nowhere to run and barely anywhere to hide, making it seem that much more impossible that the kids are going to get out of this situation safely. This forces them to try and outsmart the dinosaurs, since they can't run or hide their way out of this.
57.int. control room - dayNotes: In scene 41, Tim briefly brings up Lex's hacking abilities. Those few pieces of dialogue make this scene more believable, as it's already been established that Lex is a self-proclaimed hacker.
58.int. VISITOR CENter - dayStory Beat: ClimaxNotes: This scene is important in establishing that the dinosaurs are not evil, they're just wild animals. The T-Rex didn't have it out for the humans, she was just hungry and wanted to eat what was in front of her, and she ended up saving the day by doing exactly that.Theme: Symbolized
59.EXT. VISITOR CENTER - DAY
Plot threads
Dinosaurs
The dinosaur is teased, but not shown.
Dinosaurs are shown for the first time, roaming freely.
The method of extracting dinosaur DNA is explained.
The lab is breeding velociraptors.
The scientists are afraid of the danger in bringing dinosaurs back.
The team is able to touch a triceratops.
The T-Rex has escaped its enclosure.
The T-Rex chases after Ellie and Malcolm.
The kids meet the non-violent brachiosaur.
The deadly raptors have escaped their pen.
Ellie fights off a raptor.
A raptor stalks the kids.
The kids are hunted by raptors, but are able to escape.
A T-Rex saves everyone from the raptors.
Grant and the Kids
Grant is not nurturing towards children.
Tim is a huge fan of Grant, but Grant couldn't care less.
Lex holds Grant's hand, and Grant allows her to do so.
Grant asks Malcolm if he has kids.
Grant risks his own safety to save Lex.
Grant saves Tim.
Grant comforts the kids.
Grant helps the kids over the fence.
Grant resuscitates Tim.
The kids fall asleep in Grant's arms. He and Ellie share a glance, acknowledging his change of heart.
Nedry
Nedry plans to steal DNA from Jurassic Park's laboratory.
Nedry is in charge of making sure the park's technology runs smoothly.
Nedry starts executing his plan.
Nedry steals the embryos.
Nedry's virus shuts down the electric fences and the tour jeeps
Nedry is killed and his stolen DNA is lost.
Characters
Alan Grant35 · White · Male · HeroFamous paleontologist, passionate about his work, but gruff and not nurturing towards others.What does your character want?: He wants to further his career.How will your character attempt to get it?: By accepting the offer from Hammond, which will fund his excavation for the next 3 years.What does your character need?: To realize that kids aren't terrible.How will your character realize it?: After he repeatedly saves Hammond's grandchildren from danger.
Ellie Sadler25 · White · Female · HeroinePaleobotanist, determined and courageous while also being caring and understanding.What does your character want?: She wants to further her career.How will your character attempt to get it?: By accepting the offer from Hammond, which will fund her excavation for the next 3 years.What does your character need?: She needs people to take her seriously and see her as an equal.How will your character realize it?: When Hammond repeatedly writes off her concerns and alludes to himself being stronger than her.
Ian Malcolm30 · White · Male · Sidekick(Ally)Mathematician, eccentric, flirtatious, logical.What does your character want?: To be proven right.How will your character attempt to get it?: He'll consistently warn Hammond about the dangers of his island, up until the very end, when the warnings turn out to be accurate predictions.What does your character need?: To be with someone who understands him and enjoys his eccentricities.How will your character realize it?: After demonstrating chaos theory to Ellie, and subsequently becoming interested in being with her.
INT. CONTROL ROOM - DAYNotes: This is a great example of how much Hammond doesn't understand about safety and nature. If the scientists had seen the storm that was coming towards them, they wouldn't have gone on the tour. But Hammond decides that he should start the tour, betting on the small chance that the storm will change its path. He'll quickly learn that he can't count on nature to help him out.
16.int. jeep - DAY
17.INT. CONTROL ROOM - DAY
18.int. jeep - dayNotes: Grant's little note about T-Rexes wanting to hunt their prey is a small setup for when we first see the T-Rex later on. Now the audience has learned that a T-Rex isn't going to go after something that's standing still, but will go towards movement, a piece of information that will make the midpoint more suspenseful.Theme: Explored
19.INT. CONTROL ROOM - DAYNotes: In recent blockbuster films, there's been an uptick in "quippy" characters, where everyone from the protagonist to the villain seems to have a joke or two up their sleeve. In this film, Malcolm is the only humorous one out of the adults, which makes him stand out more, both as a memorable character in his own right, and as someone who is vastly different from the characters that surround him.
20.INT. jeep - DAYTheme: Stated
21.INT. CONTROL ROOM - DAY
22.ext. JURASSIC PARK - DAY
23.INT. CONTROL ROOM - DAYStory Beat: Plot Point 1Notes: Hammond despises being inconvenienced. If he wasn't surrounded by logical people in this moment, maybe he would have pressed his luck with the weather.Theme: Symbolized
24.EXT. JURASSIC PARK - DAY
25.INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHTNotes: Though Nedry is working against Hammond, he acts in a similar manner - disregarding the safety of others to benefit himself.
26.INT. JEEP - NIGHT
27.int. storage facility - night
28.INT. JEEP - NIGHT
29.INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHTTheme: Explored
30.EXT. JURASSIC PARK - NIGHT
31.INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHTNotes: We're given a quick reminder as to how dangerous the raptors are.
32.EXT. JURASSIC PARK - NIGHT
33.INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT
34.ext. JURASSIC PARK - nightStory Beat: MidpointNotes: This is the turning point in the film - the moment where it changes from an adventurous sci-fi to a tense thriller. This is the first time we've seen any of the dinosaurs be violent. Although there was implied violence in the opening scene, the predator was never shown, which makes this midpoint that much more impactful. It's the first sight of the T-Rex, the first on-screen death, and the first moment where Grant takes action to help the kids.Theme: Challenged
35.INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT
36.ext. JURASSIC PARK - nightNotes: This is where the B-story ends. It's uncommon to have a B-story end so early, but in this instance, the main purpose of the story was to start the chaos. The audience isn't super invested in Nedry's storyline, so there's no need for it to go on any longer.Theme: Explored
37.ext. park enclosure - nightNotes: When put under a stressful situation, we're shown that Grant isn't as terrible with children as he thinks he is. He might not enjoy their company, but he's not soulless. If he sees a child in danger, he'll run to help them.
38.ext. JURASSIC PARK - night
39.ext. PARK ENCLOSURE - nightNotes: Grant allows the kids to fall asleep in his arms, knowing that it'll make them feel safer. And the company might even be comforting for him as well.Theme: Explored
40.int. visitor center - dining hall - nightNotes: Ellie drills it into Hammond's mind that his goals are unachievable, but this time, she has actual proof. People are dying because of him, danger is no longer a hypothetical.Theme: Stated
41.ext. PARK ENCLOSURE - DAYTheme: Stated
42.int. control room - DAY
43.ext. PARK ENCLOSURE - day
44.int. emergency bunker - DAYStory Beat: Plot Point 2
45.EXT. RAPTOR PEN - DAYNotes: After building up the threat-level of raptors throughout the film, we're given the first bit of payoff. They've escaped from their cage, and no one has to remind us what this means for the protagonists.Theme: Explored
46.EXT. JUNGLE - DAY
47.INT. POWER SHED / CONTROL ROOM - DAY
48.EXT. PARK ENCLOSURE - DAY
49.I/E. CONTROL ROOM / POWER SHED / PARK ENCLOSURE - DAY
50.INT. power shed - DAYNotes: Ellie gets her solo fight scene, and shows that she's capable of defending herself from the predators.
51.EXT. JUNGLE - DAYTheme: Explored
52.EXT. PARK ENCLOSURE - DAY
53.INT. VISITOR CENTER - DINING HALL - DAYNotes: There's a quick and much needed sigh of relief, now that we know the kids are safe. For now.
60.
EXT. helicopter landing pad - DAY
61.int. HELICOPTER - dayStory Beat: ResolutionNotes: Grant's journey of becoming more tolerant towards children is one that uses very few words. That story progresses almost solely through his actions, and what he learns about himself through said actions. This is expressed in these final moments where he's accepting of the children laying in his arms. No words are spoken, but him and Ellie both acknowledge the change that's occurred.Theme: Explored
John Hammond60 · White · Male · VisionaryThe creator of Jurassic Park, has extreme tunnel-vision, and strongly believes in his own ideas.What does your character want?: To build a successful amusement park that is real, and not an illusion.How will your character attempt to get it?: By pouring his time and money into making Jurassic Park as great as it can be.What does your character need?: To realize that he can't control nature.How will your character realize it?: When he sees his passion project come undone.