PLOT VS. CHARACTER
Q: When you’re helping a writer develop a story, do you focus more on character or plot?
A: I focus on everything that will give the story commercial potential while retaining the writer’s passion and vision for the story. Since both plot and character are essential, one can’t be made more important than the other, and neither can be neglected.
Q: Writers are often told that plot comes secondary to character development. Is that statement true or false and why?
A: False. Audiences go to movies to see what happens, not just to observe characters for two hours. The action must grow out of the characters’ motivations and conflicts, but without some goal to pursue, and some conflict standing in the way, you don’t have a movie.
Q: Actors want to play challenging roles, so screenwriters often focus a great deal on developing great characters, but neglect plot. How would you help a writer avoid this problem?
A: I’d focus on the characters’ DESIRES. Plot, and plot structure, are built on the hero’s desperate pursuit of some compelling desire(s). Character depth is revealed as the hero must find the courage to face the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving those goals – that’s how plot and character unite. (Click here to read my article on DESIRE and learn a lot more about this topic.)
Q: Plot points and paradigms and index cards and outlines often confuse writers and can also make stories flat, predictable and boring. What do you think of the rigid three-act structure and how closely do writers need to plan their story?
A: I disagree with the whole premise of this question. When movies as varied as Titanic, The School of Rock, American Beauty, Finding Nemo, Being John Malkovich, Gladiator, There’s Something About Mary, The Ring, and even a biography like A Beautiful Mind all not only adhere to the 3-act structure, but also contain the essential turning points within each act – all occurring at precisely the same points in the film – it’s pretty hard to argue that paradigms make movies boring and predictable. It’s not the three-act structure than makes stories flat, predictable and boring, it’s that the writer hasn’t added anything original or clever to that structure.
Q: When writers describe a story in a query letter it isn't about the character but the plot, yet agents and producers say they want to read stories with engaging characters. How can writers give agents and producers the best of both?
A: The purpose of a query letter is to get an agent to read the script - not to tell the story or describe the characters in depth. The letter should pinpoint the most compelling, and commercial, elements of the project and describe those in a succinct, powerful way. The character's wounds, fears, identity and inner conflict will be revealed when the agent or producer reads the script.
EVERYTHING I KNOW IN 100 WORDS OR LESS
Q: Can you describe some of the things writers need to think about in writing a salable story?
A: Since my entire career has been built on answering this question for writers and filmmakers, it's pretty hard to reduce it to a single answer. But the best advice that comes to mind to cover all situations is to suggest that writers ask themselves three questions about every screenplay they write:
1. What is each character desperate to achieve?
2. What makes that goal seem impossible?
3. What terrifies each character?
Writers willing to dig deep enough to answer these questions are well on their way to a commercial screenplay. For much, much more, refer to my book Writing Screenplays That Sell or my CD's Screenwriting for Hollywood or The Hero's 2 Journeys.
FRIENDSHIP vs. ROMANCE
Q: Can the romance character be someone who the hero loves, but not necessarily in a romantic way? Can the reward be the friendship of that character? - Lisa Cahill
A: Nope.
A ROMANCE character (by my definition) is the object of the hero’s sexual or romantic desire only. This is the character the hero wants to win the love of, or get into bed with, by the end of the movie. This desire forms at least part of the hero’s Outer Motivation, and is what the audience is rooting for the hero to achieve.
Winning friendship just doesn’t have the same power. While friendship plays an important role in countless films, and forms the basis of the relationship with the REFLECTION character, I’m at a loss to think of any successful movie where the hero’s primary goal was to win someone’s friendship.
As I discuss in great detail in my weekend seminars, sexual and romantic desire are among the primary methods of eliciting emotion in the mass audience. Falling in love vicariously, or simply getting turned on, are two of the main reasons people go the movies.
Love stories also provide one of the most powerful methods you have for developing inner conflict and character growth. As heroes are forced to reveal themselves and risk the vulnerability that comes with greater intimacy, they must find the courage to leave their protective identities.
Friendship can contribute to these story elements, but it can’t replace them.
Thanks to formatting expert David Trottier, author of The Screenwriter's Bible and Dr. Format Answers Your Questions, for providing the answers to the next two questions.
FORMATTING MENTAL IMAGES
Q: I guess I have another structure question. Say you're writing a scene where somebody is seeing something mentally (presumably the people with him or her wouldn't see whatever the image was).
You want the audience to see what the character is seeing as well, how would you write that?
For example: there was a recent TV movie that aired called, "Living With The Dead" with Ted Danson. In several scenes, (more so around the end) the main character sees visions in his head, but we the audience gets to see flashes of what he's seeing as well, like we're seeing his mental picture. How would that be written? Would you need a whole new scene heading for each mental image, even though we really haven't left the first scene? -Steve Garrison
A: Steve, let's assume the character's name is Jim. Just write what the audience sees, and label it clearly. You would format it just as you would a flashback or a dream, but instead of JIM'S DREAM or FLASHBACK as a heading (slug line), your heading would be JIM'S IMAGINATION or JIM'S VISION, or something similar to that. If he sees the woods at night, you might write:
JIM'S VISION - THE WOODS AT NIGHT
And then describe what the audience sees. The main thing is to clearly communicate to the reader what is happening on the movie screen.
TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS
Q: These Q&As are very helpful - Michael's answer about descriptions (see below) helped me realize I need to redo all of mine - what a missed opportunity they are at the moment!
I use a few telephone conversations with both sides shown and want them to flow just like a conversation. Can I avoid separate scene headings as I intercut between two speakers?
A: Absolutely. That's what the INTERCUT is for. Setup the location of both characters, and then write
INTERCUT TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
And then write the dialogue.
Example:
INT. JIM'S BEDROOM - DAY
Jim picks up the phone and punches in a number.
INT. SHELLY'S EXERCISE ROOM - SAME
Shelly picks up her ringing phone.
INTERCUT TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
And then write the dialogue out.
Here's an alternate way to handle this:
INTERCUT - JIM'S BEDROOM/SALLY'S EXERCISE ROOM
Jim picks up the phone and punches in a phone number.
Sally picks up her ringing phone.
And then write out the dialogue.
SCRIPT FORMATTING PROGRAMS
Q: If the inexpensive word processing program I'm currently using allows me to set up a script page in the way that you described in Writing Screenplays That Sell, why would I need to buy one of those expensive scripted writing programs? (I think one of them is called, FINAL DRAFT)? -Steve Garrison
A: Convenience and accuracy. Formatting can certainly be done in the way you describe, by setting your word processing program with the right margins, creating templates, and remembering to capitalize, indent and skip lines in all the right places. But programs like FINAL DRAFT (which I highly recommend, and which is the most widely used in Hollywood) save you all that work, make the process easier as you write, and make certain that the formatting is absolutely consistent with current industry standards.
You get a number of other bells and whistles as well: FINAL DRAFT also makes it easy to transfer files to others who have the same program (or even the free FINAL DRAFT READER); it enables you to lay out scenes by their headings and the first few lines; it can instantly number (or un-number) your scenes, or switch from submission to shooting script format; and there's probably other stuff I haven't used.
However, all this convenience does cost you about two hundred bucks (unless you - shameless plug - sign up for my weekend seminar or my master coaching program, in which case FINAL DRAFT is available for $99). So as with your finance program, your high-speed Internet access, your cell phone or even your computer itself, you have to decide if the greater efficiency is worth it to you. You pays your money and you takes your choice…
GETTING A RESPONSE TO YOUR QUERY LETTER
Q: I am having a ridiculous amount of trouble even getting an agent to review my script. I have sent about 125 query letters with no luck. Any suggestions on agents/agencies that might be looking for some new talent with a good romantic comedy?
A: If your query letters, faxes or emails aren’t persuading people to read your screenplay, it's because they're not written in a way to compel the recipient to say yes. In other words:
1. Your writing style isn’t clear, powerful, succinct and professional. You’re claiming to be a professional writer, but this is the only evidence they have of that. If you can’t compose a single, compelling page (their subconscious is telling them), how good could your entire script be?
2. Your description of the screenplay doesn't make it seem commercial. It can’t just sound interesting; it must be a story they think a studio or financier will want to buy, or at least that a major star will want to commit to.
3. You're writing the wrong person in the first place. You must target the specific producers and agents who are most appropriate to approach by researching those who have sold or produced romantic comedies recently.
4. You're not personalizing the letter by telling the recipient why you're contacting them in particular. Nobody wants to get a form letter, and they can tell immediately if you’re simply mass mailing your request to everyone in the Hollywood Creative Directory. Refer to the specific credit, referral or information (see #3 above) that led you directly to them.
5. You're not following up with a phone call. Many consultants and agents disagree with me on this, but I believe in being tenacious – phone the people you’ve targeted after you’ve approached them with the letter. If you can’t get through to the agents or producers you wrote to, turn their assistants into contacts. Ask if they’ll read your screenplay. If they do, and they like it, believe me, their bosses will hear about it.
Finally, if you're getting your script read, but no one is responding, it may be time to pull back and do a rewrite based on the comments you're getting. And always get feedback from as many of your personal contacts as you can before you began sending it to the people in power. You never want to submit a screenplay until it’s absolutely professional and ready to show.
DESCRIPTION
Q: How much detail should I give to clothing worn by the characters? I realize that clothes may tell us something about the character. However, my screenplay takes place in the 1700's. Is it my responsibility to describe the style of cloths worn during that period? -Bruce Purcell
Example:
KEN CROW, 52, medium build, handsome, dressed in a ruffled white silk shirt, brown jacket and dark pants, walks down the dock.
A: Like every question involving description, this is a matter of opinion and specific situation. Always remember that your primary objective is to elicit emotion in the reader. Too little (or no description) won't create a clear image of what we're seeing on the screen. Too much will bore the reader, who's eager for something to happen.
Physical description should convey the essence of a character - reveal deeper qualities that make this person distinct from all the other characters in the film. Good description can also contribute to identification with your hero, and even create anticipation of conflict.
So let's take your example. Since it's a period piece (and I'll resist asking why you think a movie set in the 18th century will have commercial appeal), you'll need some description at least to clarify the setting. But why is his medium build important? Is the fact that he's handsome (as every hero this side of the Elephant Man seems to be) important? What do the colors matter?
I'd be more interested in knowing if he's dressed elegantly or poorly. Are his clothes frayed because he's fallen on hard times, or does his attire convey a sense of snobbery, royalty or mystery? And is "walk" the best word you can come up with to convey how he moves?
Don't get carried away here, but if Ken Crow is your hero, you can do a lot more with this one little paragraph to get us to connect with him:
Example:
KEN CROW, his powerful frame draped in a frayed ruffled shirt and dirty brown pants, ignores the stares of PASSERSBY as he gazes mournfully towards the harbor.
Not exactly high art yet, but at least it's more vivid, and is beginning to go deeper into the character.
PERIOD LANGUAGE
Q: My screenplay takes place in the past, how much do I have to educate the reader regarding technical elements, such as nautical terms? And do I use modern language, or dialogue as it was spoken during that time? -Bruce Purcell
A: It's hard to imagine anything worse than formal, obscure, two hundred and fifty year old dialogue and technical jargon. Write in present day language, but avoid slang that is obviously contemporary. Throw in a few terms for realism, even if the audience won't understand them, but worry more about emotion than accuracy. And study successful examples: Amadeus; Sense and Sensibility; Dangerous Liaisons - all are set centuries in the past, but the language soars.
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Q: In my screenplay, there are scenes involving individuals who only speak in Spanish. Do I worry about the translation, or is this something I should avoid? -Bruce Purcell
A: Avoid it. When characters speak in a foreign language that will be subtitled, write it in English with (subtitled) written under the character's name but before his dialogue. If the dialogue isn't translated - in other words, the main characters won't understand what's being said - just say in the action that they hear the other characters speaking Spanish (or whatever). Don't write the untranslated Spanish as dialogue at all.
SCENE HEADINGS
Q: There's something I've never really been sure of. Say you're doing a scene in a house, and your characters come into the living room, so you write it:
INT HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY
Then they go into a family room and continue the action. Do you need to write:
INT HOUSE FAMILY ROOM - DAY
or, since the INT was already there in the beginning of the scene, can you just say they entered the family room in the description? -Steve Garrison
A: I should probably begin by admitting I hate format questions, because not only isn't formatting creative or artistic, the rules aren't written in stone, and different writers use different techniques. So I'm never sure if I'm right, I run the risk of seeming ignorant or out of date, and I didn't create this web site just so I could look stupid.
But, courageous guy that I am, here's my answer:
If the camera follows the characters from room to room (or place to place if it's outdoors) in continuous time, with no breaks or jumps in the action and no edits in the film, just put a single scene heading defining the entire location:
INT. HOUSE - DAY
(By the way, Steve, you forgot the period after INT.)
If there's a cut from one room to the next, with a jump in time or a new camera shot, then it requires a new heading:
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Johnny enters the front door and bounds up the stairs.
INT. JOHNNY'S BEDROOM - DAY
Johnny bursts into his room and flops on the bed.
But again, underlying all rules of style and format is your cardinal rule: elicit emotion. If proper format dissipates the emotion because it's cumbersome, slows the reader down, or pulls the reader out of the world and story you've created, the you may occasionally bend the rules.
For examples of how to do this, look, as always, to screenplays for successful recent films in the genre you're writing. |
