Formula

[rSh]

I am pretty new to screenplay writing but have had an idea for a script for some time and have finally started writing it. I have read a few books on screenwriting most notably Blake Snyder's "Save the Cat". Here is my problem:

I had the story pretty much worked out in my head and it was not the typical Hollywood happy ending. The hero does experience change throughout the story, but before he can become the person he wants to be, it all goes horribly wrong. The end.

I know I am not giving you too much detail of the story, but it is not important to my dilema. My question is whether or not to stay true to Blake Snyder's story telling philosophy. He states that screenplays should always be the same thing only different, that there are only so many different types of stories and that is all anyone wants, just different.

I had my outline down and then after reading "Save the Cat" I began to redo the whole thing incorporating a lot of Blake's ideas and now I don't think I like the story quite as much. It seemed to lose something.

I'd appreciate any advice from someone more experienced than myself.

Thanks

 

[Polanski]

I know what you mean: The Hollywood Formula.
Don't let formula block your creativity. As long as your story is well structured, it does not matter if it has a happy ending or not.
There are lot of movies without happy ending that have been commercially successful.
Go ahead and write your story as you have planned it before and only take into consideration the good structure.
I recommend you to read the book "The Anatomy of Story" by John Truby.

Good luck!