Screenwriting tip - talking heads

EJ Pennypacker said:
People often argue STORY and STRUCTURE are the same thing - but a great STORY will sell - STRUCTURE won't.


Then we can talk about how of all these elements, the one that got your script read in the first place - PREMISE/CONCEPT/HOT IDEA...

EJ
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I've never heard anyone try and say story and structure are the same thing. That's a stupid argument to my mind because story is story and structure is...well...structure. Though I would say it's difficult to imagine a good story that lacks good structure but that sure doesn't mean they're synonymous.

And I agree, the single hardest thing is to come up with the great idea. Lotsa highly skilled writers can't do it for the life of them.
 
Fugitive said:
And I thought highly skilled writers were the ones that actually had great ideas...
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That's simply not true. I've read some really great scripts but they're not based on bankable ideas. I read a script about a kid dying of cancer. It was very well done, but who in their right mind would want to see a movie about it? It's not commercially viable just as movies about rape aren't .

Or look at all the A list screenwriters that haven't had anything original produced. All adaptations. Even Oliver Stone who is one of the few writers to earn a lifetime achievement award from WGA has always adapted the ideas of others.
 
Screenwriting is rewriting. There are few screenwriters, like Shane Black and
M.Night (screenwriter/director) who wrote spec scripts and sold them. Most
jobs in Hollywood is rewriting, rewriting, rewriting, even for the A-List, who seem
to be the main ones who are paid to do adaptations.

I think we've gotten as much as we could from this thread. Let's start another - lol.

Charli
 
Well, we should probably have two categories then: Writers and re-writers. You could be a good "writer" only if you are original. For a re-writer, only the mechanics of language matter.
 
Fugitive said:
Well, we should probably have two categories then: Writers and re-writers. You could be a good "writer" only if you are original. For a re-writer, only the mechanics of language matter.
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Guess what, adapting a novel, piece of nonfiction or a ride at Disneyland is NOT rewriting.
 
Singing:

"This is the thread that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friend. Some people started reading it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue posting to it forever just because...this is the thread that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friend. Some people started reading it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue posting to it forever just because...this is the thread that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friend. Some people started reading it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue posting to it forever just because...this is the thread that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friend. Some people started reading it, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue posting to it forever just because......."
 
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EJ - yep, I confess, I trouble I is. Uh, ya'll can blame EJ, he's the one that sent
me over here (points finger at Ej).

Vid - I love your song, man. I can almost hear the melodic line...

Charli
 
brianluce said:
Guess what, adapting a novel, piece of nonfiction or a ride at Disneyland is NOT rewriting.
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Finally something I can agree with you on. :) Anyone who thinks adapting a novel is just rewriting has obviously never tried it. It takes a lot more talent to do well than "only the mechanics of language."
 
sean90291 said:
A random selection from Pulp Fiction:

JULES
There's a passage I got memorized.
Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the
righteous man is beset on all sides
by the inequities of the selfish
and the tyranny of evil men.
Blessed is he who, in the name of
charity and good will, shepherds
the weak through the valley of the
darkness. For he is truly his
brother's keeper and the finder of
lost children.
And I will strike down upon thee
with great vengeance and furious
anger those who attempt to poison
and destroy my brothers. And you
will know I am the Lord when I lay
my vengeance upon you." I been
sayin' that shi* for years. And if
you ever heard it, it meant your
ass. I never really questioned
what it meant. I thought it was
just a cold-blooded thing to say to
a motherpoo pooer 'fore you popped a
cap in his ass. But I saw some
shi* this mornin' made me think
twice. Now I'm thinkin', it could
mean you're the evil man. And I'm
the righteous man. And Mr. .45
here, he's the shepherd protecting
my righteous ass in the valley of
darkness. Or is could by you're
the righteous man and I'm the
shepherd and it's the world that's
evil and selfish. I'd like that.
But that shi* ain't the truth. The
truth is you're the weak. And I'm
the tyranny of evil men. But I'm
tryin'. I'm tryin' real hard to be
a shepherd.

Talking heads?
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Pulp Fiction, being one of the greatest films of ever, is an exception.
 
Blaine said:
Finally something I can agree with you on. :) Anyone who thinks adapting a novel is just rewriting has obviously never tried it. It takes a lot more talent to do well than "only the mechanics of language."
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I was being SARCASTIC people! GOD!! No wonder so many people misunderstood the satire of "Natural Born Killers" ...
 
Fugitive said:
I was being SARCASTIC people! GOD!! No wonder so many people misunderstood the satire of "Natural Born Killers" ...
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Then perhaps you might slip in an emoticon since your sarcasm doesn't seem to come across in print only. :thumbsup:
 
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