copyright 2004 Darrell J. Banks All Rights Reserved
Boredom, have you ever fallen asleep in a movie, woke up and it just didn't matter that you missed 30 minutes of film. Don't blame the screenwriter, that is, until you have read the before production screenplay. In 2003, the year of the sequel, many movies had no punch in ACT 2. They didn't maintain pace, couldn't establish story and had no grasp of reality. Although many movies in the top ten made billions of dollars, moviegoers chose the Internet or cable television. Shocked you turn away, but this trend began in the thirties.
As a screen writer this should concern you. From "Project Greenlight 3 " to the "Nicholl Fellowships" there are thousands of contests for purloined pages. Add in the hundreds of film festivals such as the "Austin Film Festival" to 'Tribeca" and you find yourself immersed within a world of words. But, there are a limited number of production companies with development deals, so you must produce a great Act 2 or go the independent route toward fame and fortune.
The reason should be clear, writers are limited in the genres that are marketable. Face it the studios, wouldn't remake "Moby Dick at a profit margin. While one year their may be a "Sea Biscuit," and a " Finding Nemo" nine times out of ten, you will find an action adventure film as the top grossing film worldwide. When we started this project, our goal was to write a drama in a league with movies such as "Lost in Translation" and "Cold Mountain." These two movies are excellent examples of very good movies and great Act 2's. Now on to what you should do to create a great ACT 2.
Pace One of the few movies left out of this years' Oscar pool was " Bad Santa," this movie defines pace. The second Act takes a very, very bad character and redefines him. In a character-based movie you expect this, but pace, rhythm and the words transform Billie Bob Thorton's character into Santa by Act 3. This is the true genius of team Ficarra and Requa . If you have seen the Farley brothers earlier, movies you know they can pace a movie. But an example of a bad Act 2 is " Stuck on You." By the middle of Act 2 you may fall asleep, but at page 50 of " Bad Santa" you want more.
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