Story and Script

CR 2003 by author Darrell J. Banks

Why write a screenplay? If you do not know that answer try your hand at the novel, poetry or golf. Each is as difficult but the screenplay, the world of movies, is different. Much has changed from the days of independent film when Spike Lee erupted on the scene. Today everyone says they can write a movie. The trend is similar to home movies.

Is it the money? To be frank yes, but, one must also know that like lightening, dice and food; to write is to gamble. If you have written poetry, then you know, the words mean something. A screenplay like poetry must make every word count. The words must fit together like a jigsaw piece or you will have a bad picture.

While novels have expanded into dialogue with transitions, a movie must tell a story, show the action, and do it with visual style. The words must tell a story and fill the gaps as the scenes change. Without this “Story,” as the famous Prof. Robert Mckee has said, people wont buy a ticket. “ X-Men 2" made over a 100 million with a world wide release. Granted it was filled with beautiful people, but was the story that kept the action within the realm of reality and the “X- Men” universe. The second “Matrix” movie grossed more than 90 million its first weekend. The links to many websites are filled with the lack of story that was not told within the “Matrix 2". A week later it was dethroned by “Bruce Almighty”. Between the many drafts, the pre and post sales, a script made or destroyed a movie. Can you write one?

Do you want to write the next blockbuster or are you content with a one room three actor movie? If you cannot decide do it now. What do you want to do? Why do you want to write? Can you do it? I believe you can.

As we progress through the weeks, you will find yourself, immersed within words, and links to move you toward your writing career. Despite the advent of mass marketing a good story will win over most people. Heard of the movie, The “Guru”, not many people have. Look it up on the IMDB( The Internet Movie Data Base). The premise is mind expanding . . . Heard of a film “Deliver us from Eva”. Maybe. What do these two films have in common.

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