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Story and the Screenplay
CR 2003 by author Darrell J. Banks
Why write a screenplay? If you do not know that answer try your hand at the novel, poetry or golf. Each is as difficult but the screenplay, the world of movies, is different. Much has changed from the days of independent film when Spike Lee erupted on the scene. Today everyone says they can write a movie. The trend is similar to home movies.
Is it the money? To be frank yes, but, one must also know that like lightening, dice and food; to write is to gamble. If you have written poetry, then you know, the words mean something. A screenplay like poetry must make every word count. The words must fit together like a jigsaw piece or you will have a bad picture.
While novels have expanded into dialogue with transitions, a movie must tell a story, show the action, and do it with visual style. The words must tell a story and fill the gaps as the scenes change. Without this “Story,” as the famous Prof. Robert Mckee has said, people wont buy a ticket. “ X-Men 2" made over a 100 million with a world wide release. Granted it was filled with beautiful people, but was the story that kept the action within the realm of reality and the “X- Men” universe. The second “Matrix” movie grossed more than 90 million its first weekend. The links to many websites are filled with the lack of story that was not told within the “Matrix 2". A week later it was dethroned by “Bruce Almighty”. Between the many drafts, the pre and post sales, a script made or destroyed a movie. Can you write one?
Do you want to write the next blockbuster or are you content with a one room three actor movie? If you cannot decide do it now. What do you want to do? Why do you want to write? Can you do it? I believe you can.
As we progress through the weeks, you will find yourself, immersed within words, and links to move you toward your writing career. Despite the advent of mass marketing a good story will win over most people. Heard of the movie, The “Guru”, not many people have. Look it up on the IMDB( The Internet Movie Data Base). The premise is mind expanding . . . Heard of a film “Deliver us from Eva”. Maybe. What do these two films have in common.
First, they had major stars (Heather Grahmn) Secondly, they had story. By now you are wondering what story is. Robert Mckee wrote a book over several hundred pages on “Story’. You may want to read it, before you touch pen to paper. Before you write, you must know what your story is about. What motivates your character? In the “Guru”, Heather Graham, Marisa Tomei (Oscar Winner) and several famous Indian actors dance sang and acted in a beautiful romantic comedy.
“Chicago” won the Oscar. The “Guru” had story. The second “Eva”, based on the “Taming of the Shrew”, starred LL Cool J. Why would a writer take pen, or laptop in hand to write these movies? The answer is that real screenwriters, have to write. I have written five movies. An action thriller, a romantic comedy, a coming of age story and a television show. All on spec. Like you, I have been told that the novel is easier to sell. A play is easier to sell. Not true. Even comic books require an agent before you can submit you material.
What is the advantage of the screenplay? This will be explored in marketing the screenplay. Still, to wet your taste check out the link to the WGA (Writers Guild of America) site. Scale pays well more than $35,000.
Try getting a book advance and good royalties from a publisher for that minimum. But I digress, back to story. Think of ten movies you like. Mine are “Casablanca, Blade Runner, Pulp Fiction, The Godfather, The Terminator, Top Gun, The Thin Red Line, The Matrix, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid and China Town.” Each of these movies paved the way for a genre, but none have been duplicated to match the original. Each had story. While movies are subjective, some people like other genres and others will hate them. Before you write before you must choose your story. A story has a beginning and end. In today’s spec market write what you want. But you must choose, drama or comedy. Jim Carey tried very hard to critical acclaim to achieve respect as a dramatic artist. Unfortunately he started in comedy and returned to his chosen path.
You as a writer must decide drama or comedy. Comedy is hard but sells. Dramas’ are easier to write but harder to sell, even harder to market and just aren’t watched. Face it do you want to see “The Hours” or “The Hulk”. Even the practice had to cut back its multimillion dollar cast and let the star go on hiatus. It has been several years since “Elizabeth” and” Shakespeare in Love” won Oscars. With that in mine and with limited access to characters you must place your story within a studios budget. ( a later topic). Your story must begin with a premise. A premise or log line is a two-story concept of your idea. Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill surely followed. That is a story put 120 pages down and you have to decide. In between the climb up the hill, or Mt. Everest, is a story. Use your imagination. Why did Jack climb the hill in the first place? Why was the water at the top of the hill? No stores nearby. Why would Jill follow him? Was it compulsion? Once you find your story you must be compelled to write and complete the story. Most writers have to write, if they don’t they tend to have issues. What is compulsion, do you feel the need to find a premise within the realm of any life event, Is It a comedy, a drama, or can you find an action thriller at Starbucks?
What is your compulsion, what compels you to write? Think about those few words. What makes you write? If its money stop reading. A script is the highest form of art in the field of writing. When you sale your screenplay millions of people will see it. A book may last forever, but may not be read. Start, write your story now. Story will be continued in the next article character. Ciao
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