nonfiction screenplay about suicide

ihatedv

ihatedv

Well-known member
I know shorts/features today are more about triumph and success; However I feel compelled to tell my tragic story.

I'd like to know what everyone thinks about this kind of story. I am not sure what I want to get out of this; but for right now it feels really good to write about it.
 
suicide by itself is not interesting, it is just the last word of a story. The story why people are trapped to this is interesting, mainly because it is usually a long trip on a straight road to death, when at any time you could have avoided this by just making a turn or simply stop. (but as incredible it could look, it does not happens).
The taste of what looks like an unavoidable waste is the essence of the story.
You need to show the unexplainable reason to justify that, because it is all emotional. You can not explain it, you can just make feel.
 
So the real question is does the audience want to see it? Will they pay to see it? I'm not sure you have given us enough detail to make a judgement on what we think about the story. Suicide is tragic, but those left behind can learn something from it...is that in the story? Tell us more.
 
For the OP, the real question may not be whether an audience wants to see his story, but whether he wants or needs to tell it.

And suicide is only the last word in a story if the story is about the person who commits suicide. Since the OP is still with us, there's a good chance the story is more about the impact the suicide has on others -- in which case the suicide might be the first word in a story.

More info, please.
 
well, i think if you are about to commit suicide, it is usually because you encouter problems that seemed unsolvable, from your point of view and was ignored by other, or you ignored possible external help. So it is a story at first person. Telling the story from another point of view would give nothing.
People are selfish, so the one who lived the suicide of a friend, parent would not have a lot to say except "it makes me sad" or "i do not understand why he does that".
the good story about suicide would be the one where the "hero" brings you to the frontier of his own madness. It is so easy to wear the hero's shoes when you know the movie will get an happy end....
and if you still need an happy end, then you can show the loss has perhaps created some learnings/hope to the ones that survived...
We all have to die soon or later, most of movies are always about surviving.... it is annoying , because it is so useless.
 
nosys70 said:
well, i think if you are about to commit suicide, it is usually because you encouter problems that seemed unsolvable, from your point of view and was ignored by other, or you ignored possible external help. So it is a story at first person. Telling the story from another point of view would give nothing.
People are selfish, so the one who lived the suicide of a friend, parent would not have a lot to say except "it makes me sad" or "i do not understand why he does that".
the good story about suicide would be the one where the "hero" brings you to the frontier of his own madness. It is so easy to wear the hero's shoes when you know the movie will get an happy end....
and if you still need an happy end, then you can show the loss has perhaps created some learnings/hope to the ones that survived...
We all have to die soon or later, most of movies are always about surviving.... it is annoying , because it is so useless.
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Don't you feel that the suicide of a loved one could be quite devastating? Especially if you were consumed with guilt because you felt you might have been able to prevent it.

I can think of all kinds of storylines revolving around a suicide. For instance, someone you care about suddenly commits suicide for no apparent reason, and you are obsessed with finding out what made them do it. Or, as I said, a loved one commits suicide and you are devastated emotionally, consumed with guilt, and driven to the brink of your own suicide as a result.

Suicide has a tremendous impact on those left behind. And anything that has that kind of impact is the foundation of an interesting story.
 
nosys70 you have an interesting take on life...You really think surviving is useless since we are all going to die anyway? I'm guessing you are thinking in terms of movies only?
 
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well, almost, but i am convinced that if you forget that damn problem (your unavoidable death), you woud probably concentrate more of your energy to make something great of your life, instead trying to survive by any means (a silly thing , since it is obvious we have to die anyway).
Fact is that nobody feels more alive (called hyper-vigilance, a desease found on some soldier back from field) when you have been in a situation where your life was threatened, or when you have seen people dying.
It could be considered as a great evolution factor (the human being is at its best when pushed to limits) , but the drawback of this could also be that life is boring when everything is peaceful.
Then the reason why humankind is stacking wars after wars and always looking for trouble (a good resume found in the "live and let die" james bond title).
It is also well know that people experiencing a near death, are a lot more cool/unselfish in their life, once they are aware that it could be the last day at anytime.
So kissing everyday your kids , wife, friends and loving them as much as you can as if tomorrow would be your last day seems a reward you can get immediately.
 
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I don't have much money or all the shiny things in life, (don't need them) but I was handed the greatest gift at a very young age...I was able to be in the right place at the right time and save someone's life when I was a 13-year-old kid. I didn't do much other than to get help, but another few mintutes and that person would not have made it. Most people saw it as a tragedy, but not me. I realized that I was able to experience something that allowed me to view life as something very precious. I have a great perspective that allows me to see the best side of any situation. I know I was handed a gift at an early age, but the peaceful moments are not boring to me...they are the greatest moments in life if you are looking in the right direction...it all depends on your perception of things. Surviving is as good as it gets...not at all annoying or useless.
 
Kess said:
I realized that I was able to experience something that allowed me to view life as something very precious. I have a great perspective that allows me to see the best side of any situation. I know I was handed a gift at an early age, but the peaceful moments are not boring to me...they are the greatest moments in life if you are looking in the right direction...it all depends on your perception of things. Surviving is as good as it gets...not at all annoying or useless.
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again i will say i am not sure why i want to write about my situation; still trying to figure it out. your statement is VERY true. something i believe most survivours would like to speak about.
 
chapelgrovefilms said:
Especially if you were consumed with guilt because you felt you might have been able to prevent it.

I can think of all kinds of storylines revolving around a suicide. For instance, someone you care about suddenly commits suicide for no apparent reason, and you are obsessed with finding out what made them do it. Or, as I said, a loved one commits suicide and you are devastated emotionally, consumed with guilt, and driven to the brink of your own suicide as a result.

Suicide has a tremendous impact on those left behind. And anything that has that kind of impact is the foundation of an interesting story.
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+1
 
The Royal Tenenbaums, M.A.S.H., Empire Records, Groundhog Day etc ....

All of these had attempted, contemplated or staged suicides. But the suicide itself would not have been enough to carry the movie.

Ordinary People delved into it a little further but still, It seems suicide was at best only a catalyst. That doesn't mean it's not profound for anyone who deals with it in real life, but still, people don't seem to want to line up and buy tickets to see suicides. Some regard it as the ultimate, cowardly act. Cowards don't sell tickets.
 
laughingcrows said:
The Royal Tenenbaums, M.A.S.H., Empire Records, Groundhog Day etc ....

All of these had attempted, contemplated or staged suicides. But the suicide itself would not have been enough to carry the movie.

Ordinary People delved into it a little further but still, It seems suicide was at best only a catalyst. That doesn't mean it's not profound for anyone who deals with it in real life, but still, people don't seem to want to line up and buy tickets to see suicides. Some regard it as the ultimate, cowardly act. Cowards don't sell tickets.
Click to expand...

"The Giving Tree" -- Nine former schoolmates, staying at a secluded mountain cabin for a reunion, try to figure out why one of their friends and their hostess would invite them there and commit suicide which prompts them to look into the mysterious and dark past of their 10th friend.
 
Heathers deals with suicide and its cultural implications--a lot.

The Virgin Suicides was very well received.

Leaving Las Vegas was too.

Wristcutters: A Love Story begins with a suicide.
 
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