Where does the hero get the idea from?

The problem with too many modern movies these days is that the hero just gets the idea.

It was inside them all along. All they had to do was realize what was already there. Gee, ain’t life swell.

Such realization is a cop-out. It’s the easy, lazy path. The hero can’t just magically get the idea.

Something has to happen from outside that inspires the hero in a way he or she didn’t realize before. (Because if they could realize before, why now?)

Write deeper to unearth the outside forces, the unexpected action that will inspire the hero to realize something new.

Write better.