Scriptfest III

Whether we call it a theme or motif or whatever, I just think that we should leave it as open as possible, as long as it can be tied to a central concept. I think that the last two scriptfests have been good, the first one being a little less narrow than the second.

This topic has been explored in-depth whenever there's been a discussion about "what's the NextFest going to be?" in the film festivals, and there are a plethora of ideas in those threads.

I like:

War
Money
Betrayal
Politics
Business
Piracy


There are a million others.
 
The only thing I ask is that the theme be useful. One where after you finish your story theres a possibility to shoot it without needing a few hundred grand for a 6 minute piece. Also I dont think its worth forcing genres on us, such as comedy, horror or drama, usually people can craft that in if they like no matter the theme.
 
Theme vs Premise

Theme vs Premise

In film, theme is a broad idea that acts as the foundation, and can be expressed visually.

Love
Time
Money
Greed
Control
Faith
Liberty
Trust

Once a theme is decided upon, a PREMISE is established. It is here each filmmaker goes their own direction.

Theme: Time
Premise: Time heals all wounds - or - There is never enough

Theme: Money
Premise: Money can/can't buy happiness - or - Money makes the world go round

Theme: Faith
Premise: Finding strength in what you can't see - or - Faith and reality rarely mix

Theme: Greed
Premise: Greed destroys all men/women - or - Greed drives the economy.

You need both a broad idea, and the direction you want that idea to take.

From here you develop a plot/story.

Theme: Time
Premise: Never enough
Plot: A man/woman moves to a larger planet so he/she has more hours in a day, only to discover the Darwinian theory applies to time as well.

Water would be an element used to develop a plot/story.

Theme: Survival
Premise: The survival instinct can turn friends into enemies.
Plot: In a post-apocalyptic world, the scarcity of water re-establishes national boundaries.

All of this would be developed within the framework of a genre: Drama, scifi, western, horror, comedy, etc ...

aw
 
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If we're going for genre - I vote for a western. If we're going for theme - then isolation. (Did I get them right?:))
 
alex whitmer said:
In film, theme is a broad idea that acts as the foundation of the film, and can be expressed visually.

Love
Time
Money
Greed
Control
Faith
Liberty
Trust

Once a theme is decided upon, a PREMISE is established. It is here each filmmaker goes their own direction.

Theme: Time
Premise: Time heals all wounds - or - There is never enough

Theme: Money
Premise: Money can/can't buy happiness - or - Money makes the world go round

Theme: Faith
Premise: Finding strength in what you can't see - or - Faith and reality rarely mix

Theme: Greed
Premise: Greed destroys all men/women - or - Greed drives the economy.

You need both a broad idea, and the direction you want that idea to take.

From here you develop a plot/story.

Theme: Time
Premise: Never enough
Plot: A man/woman moves to a larger planet so he/she has more hours in a day, only to discover the Darwinian theory applies to time as well.

Water would be an element used to develop a plot/story.

Theme: Survival
Premise: The survival instinct can turn friends into enemies.
Plot: In a post-apocalyptic world, the scarcity of water re-establishes national boundaries.

All of this would work within a genre: Drama, scifi, western, horror.

aw
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Your close. What you have listed as a "Premise" is actually a Theme. What you have listed as a "Theme" is actually a subject. I don't mean to be nit-picky, but these are things a screenwriter needs to be aware of. Please read up on it on Wikipedia as it defines it simply and concisely.

PREMISE
The premise of a film or screenplay is the fundamental concept that drives the plot.
Most premises can be expressed very simply, and many films can be identified simply from a short sentence describing the premise. For example: A lonely boy is befriended by an alien; A small town is terrorized by a shark; A small boy sees dead people.
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THEME
In the visual arts, a theme is a broad idea or a message conveyed by work done in a visual experience, such as a performance, a painting, or a motion picture. This message is usually about life, society or human nature. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a work. Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated. Deep thematic content is not required in a visual work; however, some observers would say that all visual work inherently projects some kind of outlook on life that can be taken as a theme, regardless of whether or not this is the intent of the author. Analysis of changes (or implied change) in dynamic characteristics of the work can provide insight into a particular theme.
A theme is not the same as the subject of a work. For example, the subject of Star Wars is "the battle for control of the galaxy between Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance". The themes explored in the movies might be "moral ambiguity" or "the conflict between technology and nature".
Themes differ from motifs in that themes are ideas conveyed by the visual experience as a whole, while motifs are repeated symbols found inside an over-arching theme. Simply having repeated symbolism related to chess, does not make the story's theme the similarity of life to chess. Themes arise from the interplay of the plot, the characters, and the attitude the author takes to them, and the same story can be given very different themes in the hands of different authors.
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Looking at these definitions, you can see how theme is something more than "Love."
You have to look at theme as what your story is actually about. If you're story is about star-crossed lovers, your theme isn't "Love," it's "Love conquers against all odds." It's the subtext - what you are really saying with your film.

Am I making any sense?
 
NOTE: Sorry, but Wikipedia is far from my source of reliable info.



IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, theme and premise are...


Theme: Love
Premise: Love conquers all.

Love conquers all is the direction the film goes, what drives it. With that type of premise you see films like Maid in Manhattan, Notting Hill, It Could Happen to You, The Sound of Music, etc ...


Theme is one or two words that establish the broad idea. Premise sets the direction.

A thematic statement on the other hand will explain further the 'underlying theme' of the film. ie; Thanksgiving = being thankful for the bounty provided, etc.

Now, like anything else and including film, there are different schools of thought, and definitions are many. 'Theme and premise' is one topic not everybody agrees on one definition, just as they don't agree on character vs plot, the importance of the three act structure, etc. That's the beauty of it!! It's also why there are so many books and articles out there, each with an individual interpretation on it.

Let's leave it at this and let the individual filmmaker decide for themselves. Either way, I think they got the gist of it.

Gist?

You need a theme, and you need a premise to fully develop a story. How you define theme and premise is your call.

Onward ...

Lets say DVXuser decides Bridget's theme of Isolation will be chosen for the next fest (love that theme by the way).

Each writer first needs to decide a genre to deliver the story. Let's pick horror just for the sake of example, though drama and comedy would be equally great.

Okay, so we have isolation, and horror. Now what? We need a direction for the story to follow. We need a premise.

Genre: Horror
Theme: Isolation
Premise: When left alone in the dark, the mind is a dangerous place to be.

Then onto story ...

Plot/story: After being stuck in a dark elevator for three days, a woman begins to hallucinate, and can longer tell what is what is real, and what is not.

You might develop this story where the color of the walls change, figures come and go, or even her own guilt for some past event manifests itself in nightmarish scenes.

You get the idea. Build it like a pyramid. The big stone (theme) on the bottom, and refine as you go.
 
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I don't think the point is to argue about what the hell a theme is, but what a good one would be for the next fest. It is a valid discussion, I just don't want it to overshadow the brainstorming session this is supposed to be. :)
 
Hardly and argument, but a spirited debate could develop. Not a bad thing considering we all want to learn as writers. The great thing about debate is that there is rarely a consensus or resolution, but a lot of great food for thought.

And a smorgasborg of food for thought helps us define our own direction.

That said ...

I really like Bridget's suggestion of isolation. A million ideas come to mind.

A 'bum' on the street nobody really sees. Even with a million people around, a person can still be isolated.

Locked in a closet with your own thoughts.

The whole road rage thing and 'Car Wars', how we are the nicest person in the world until we are alone in our cars, and the jockeying for position begins.

The doomed soldier.

Anyways, I think Isolation should be considered.

a
 
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Well, Alex...since you won the last contest, how about you get what you want? A little extra pull in having a say in what the next fest is?

Can people get behind Isolation as a theme (or whatever others wish to call it) for the next fest?
 
I am pro-isolation as a theme. That could incorporate any number of genres and styles providing the possibility for varied stories. What would the required element be, though?
 
ConspiracyPenguin said:
I am pro-isolation as a theme. That could incorporate any number of genres and styles providing the possibility for varied stories. What would the required element be, though?
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Exactly what I was talking about. Anyone can craft their own style into that.

Could it work, without disrupting peoples flow to have the required element as something like a particular obsession etc?
 
Noel Evans said:
Could it work, without disrupting peoples flow to have the required element as something like a particular obsession etc?
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I think obsession would work great with isolation. Can we each choose our own particular obsession for our script? Or would it be the same obsession for everyone?
 
Isolation with an obsession. Loving it!!

Sad part is knowing I'll most likely have to sit this one out due to upcoming work and travel obligations. Always have time to read them though.

Isolation/obsession would make for a great film fest as well. Someday.

a
 
Isolation with an obsession
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So basically we write a six page script about ourselves(writers that is)?

But isolation/obsession would be an interesting theme.

But alas, might make for some dark reading.
 
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