# Birdman Group Analysis

**URL:** <https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174>\
**Category:** Analysis and Review\
**Created:** [November 6, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174 "2014-11-06T00:08:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MWollaeger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mwollaeger/32/82_2.png) [@MWollaeger](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/MWollaeger)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/1 "2014-11-06T00:08:29Z")

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Has anybody had the opportunity to see it?

I thought it was great! A terrific combination of being unpredictable yet never straying, plus wonderful storytelling.

Anyway, would love to think about a storyform.

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**Author:** ![jhull](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jhull/32/3_2.png) [@jhull](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/jhull)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/2 "2014-11-17T18:20:00Z")

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_Amazing_ film. Absolutely loved it. Somewhere in the middle I had the notion that someone knew a thing or two about Dramatica…either that or just another case of an extremely intuitive author who knows how to structure a story.

More than willing to do an analysis of it–maybe once more people have seen it. I think I have it figured out all the way down to the Issue level – but the Problem and Solution elude me for the moment. Might just be a case of not having enough time to think about it yet.

Definitely encourage everyone to see it though.

**Shortcuts through the Analysis:**  
[Main Character Growth](http://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/107)

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**Author:** ![MWollaeger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mwollaeger/32/82_2.png) [@MWollaeger](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/MWollaeger)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/3 "2014-11-17T18:58:34Z")

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Who’s the MC?  
…

Just kidding.

Sadly, I don’t think it’s in very wide release. Should we wait for a DVD/Streaming release before tackling it?

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**Author:** ![Alejandro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Alejandro](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/Alejandro)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/4 "2014-11-27T15:04:51Z")

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Hi. I watched it last week and would also like to analyze its storyform.

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**Author:** ![MWollaeger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mwollaeger/32/82_2.png) [@MWollaeger](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/MWollaeger)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 6:04am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/5 "2014-12-02T06:04:19Z")

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I’m game, but there is a small part of me that wants this to be a DUG story analysis.

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**Author:** ![Jerome](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jerome/32/202_2.png) [@Jerome](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/Jerome)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/6 "2015-02-11T23:55:02Z")

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Seeing as it’s not scheduled for 2015, would it be okay to do the analysis here?

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**Author:** ![MWollaeger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mwollaeger/32/82_2.png) [@MWollaeger](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/MWollaeger)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/7 "2015-02-12T19:03:50Z")

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Can we wait until Tuesday?

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**Author:** ![Jerome](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jerome/32/202_2.png) [@Jerome](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/Jerome)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/8 "2015-02-12T19:40:00Z")

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Tuesday at what time? I’ll be waiting under a tree at the corner of the street over there. 😉

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**Author:** ![jhull](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jhull/32/3_2.png) [@jhull](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/jhull)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/9 "2015-02-13T01:55:55Z")

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Sounds good to me. We can start Tuesday if you would like, I can run it too like we did with the others (Back to the Future, Terminator, Field of Dreams, etc.)

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**Author:** ![Brooke](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/brooke/32/1468_2.png) [@Brooke](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/Brooke)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/10 "2015-02-17T01:52:14Z")

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Finally watching my screener tonight, so I’ll participate as time allows.

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**Author:** ![JonnyDramatica](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jonnydramatica/32/1394_2.png) [@JonnyDramatica](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/JonnyDramatica)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/11 "2015-02-17T15:17:19Z")

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Seen it thrice so I’d like to play along.

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**Author:** ![MWollaeger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mwollaeger/32/82_2.png) [@MWollaeger](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/MWollaeger)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/12 "2015-02-17T19:12:33Z")

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I know this is going to be under Jim’s guidance, but since the opening discussion is usually the same, I’m going to ask… _So, does anybody want to identify the four throughlines?_

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**Author:** ![Jerome](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jerome/32/202_2.png) [@Jerome](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/Jerome)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/13 "2015-02-17T20:35:45Z")

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Hope I’m wrong, but I see it following the conventional model.

OS: putting on a play (activity)  
MC: washed up actor (situation)  
IC: disenchanted daughter (fixed attitude)  
RS: father / daughter (manipulation)

EDIT: RS = this is important VS this is meaningless

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**Author:** ![MWollaeger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mwollaeger/32/82_2.png) [@MWollaeger](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/MWollaeger)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/14 "2015-02-17T21:03:54Z")

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Okay, well, let’s test it out by trying a proof of contradiction:

Who else does Riggan have relationships with (meaning they could potentially be the IC, and part of the RS)?

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**Author:** ![Jerome](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jerome/32/202_2.png) [@Jerome](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/Jerome)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/15 "2015-02-17T22:50:09Z")

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Other IC possibilities:

**The Birdman himself.** “You had it all, man, now look at you.” \<— Riggan’s alter ego  
**Mike (Edward Norton).** “Did you change my vodka for this crap? Keep it REAL, man!” \<— Riggan’s objective (what he lusts after)  
**Jake (Zach Galifianakis).** “I’m just trying to keep it together!” \<— The helper / sidekick  
**Sylvia (Amy Ryan).** “…you threw a kitchen knife at me. And an hour later you were telling me how much you loved me.” \<— Riggan’s past  
**Laura (Andrea Riseborough)** “I’m pregnant.” \<— Adult responsibility  
**Lesley (Naomi Watts)** “I always wanted to star on broadway, but now that I’m here, I’m still me!” \<— A reflection of Riggan’s current futile state of wanting to be something he’s not

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jhull](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jhull/32/3_2.png) [@jhull](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/jhull)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/16 "2015-02-17T22:52:17Z")

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Actually - can we just start out with identifying the Overall Story Throughline first? Multiple choice equals multiple threads equals multiple headaches.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jerome](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jerome/32/202_2.png) [@Jerome](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/Jerome)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/17 "2015-02-17T22:53:52Z")

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I’ll stick with my previous OS = putting on a play (activity).

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**Author:** ![Dan310](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc348/32.png) [@Dan310](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/Dan310)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/18 "2015-02-17T23:21:48Z")

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Just to add on to Jerome’s, thinking in terms of Goal… putting on a _great_ play. One that satisfies both audience and critics.

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**Author:** ![MWollaeger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mwollaeger/32/82_2.png) [@MWollaeger](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/MWollaeger)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/19 "2015-02-17T23:26:29Z")

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I have a slight disagreement with that, but will bring it up when we talk success/failure.

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**Author:** ![JonnyDramatica](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jonnydramatica/32/1394_2.png) [@JonnyDramatica](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/JonnyDramatica)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 12:05am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/birdman-group-analysis/174/20 "2015-02-18T00:05:39Z")

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I’m in agreement here. This concerns nearly all the characters and (for the most part) all are invested in this goal.

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