ANALYZING THE INCITING INCIDENT WITH the BLACK PANTHER screenplay

​Every screenplay needs an inciting incident. But what exactly is an inciting incident and how can you ensure your screenplay has one? In this article, we are breaking down inciting incidents and sharing three easy tips on how you can craft one for your next script.

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​WHAT IS AN INCITING INCIDENT?

An inciting incident is the moment that propels the protagonist into their journey. Without an inciting incident, we would just be seeing the protagonist on an ordinary day. Why are we watching your protagonist on this particular day? What happens that makes this day extraordinary? It’s important to note the inciting incident can be triggered by the protagonist themselves or it can be caused by an external factor (antagonist, the environment etc.) 

Having your inciting incident occur within the first 15 pages of your screenplay is also imperative. Not only does it set up the world and the journey that the protagonist is about to embark on, but it also is the moment where a reader decides if they want to keep reading. Below are three helpful tips to keep in mind when crafting your inciting incident.

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​THREE TIPS FOR A CLEAR INCITING INCIDENT

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1. Set up the normal. Before we see the protagonist thrust into a new world, we first have to see their normal, or everyday life. Consider what regular life looks like for your protagonist. How does the inciting incident disrupt the normal life that the protagonist is used to?
2. Make the goals clear. A strong inciting incident establishes clear goals for your protagonist. Consider how their normal and the inciting incident work together to set up the goal to be achieved or the problem to be solved in the story. Think of it as a formula. _______ happens (the inciting incident). Now the protagonist has to _________ (goal). If you want to learn more about goals then be sure to read our article All About Goals where we dive deep into setting clear goals for your protagonist.
   
3. Establish stakes. Similarly to how an inciting incident creates goals, it should also create stakes. Consider what is at stake for the protagonist when they are propelled into their journey. What is at stake for the protagonist if they do not respond to the inciting incident? Let’s continue with our formula, but now add in stakes. _______ happens (the inciting incident). Now the protagonist has to _________ (goal) or else _________ (stake). Overall, think of your inciting incident as creating a domino effect that pushes the story into motion.
   

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​THE INCITING INCIDENT: BLACK PANTHER

Now let’s look at our three tips in action. For example, in BLACK PANTHER the normal is seeing T’Challa take over ruling Wakanda as King after the death of his Father. The inciting incident occurs when Klaue and Killmonger steal the vibranium putting the safety of Wakanda at risk. The goal that this creates is T’Challa to prove himself as King by protecting both Wakanda and its vibranium. If T’Challa is unsuccessful in reaching his goal, then what’s at stake is Wakanda and its vibranium being revealed to the world. 
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Notice how the inciting incident creates a rich world for the protagonist, T’Challa, to maneuver through. The inciting incident should not just be a big event that our protagonist has to deal with, but instead should send the character on a journey with a clear goal and evident stakes. If you want to analyze more inciting incidents from produced screenplays, then be sure to check out our Screenplay Vault!

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​THE POWER OF THE FIRST 15

Ensuring that your inciting incident truly sets your story into motion can feel like a big task. Want to master screenplay formatting? Check out this Workbook to become a formatting expert!

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author

Khadija Roane is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from the illustrious Howard University where she received her BFA in Theatre Arts. Khadija then graduated from UCLA's MFA Producers program where she interned in film and television development at MACRO, Vertigo Films, Gamechanger Films, and Pamplona Productions before working as a Scripted TV Assistant at WME. She has placed in the Pittsburgh Shorts Screenwriting Competition and the Atlanta Film Festival, and received the Barbara Boyle Promising Producer Award. Khadija lives in Los Angeles where she is an independent filmmaker and a Story Expert at The Professional Pen.