What's a movie? A few [hopefully] memorable characters, some tension, action and [hopefully] memorable dialogue.
What's a great movie? All [or none] of the above that does one single thing. Connects emotionally with it's audience. Resonates on some basic levels. Tugs on heart strings, disgusts us, uplifts us, angers us, motivates us. Mostly one that in the first few minutes says "I have felt that way in my own life, and I feel that way now. I get it."
As I wrote my first scripts I learned some basic craft. Formatting, structure, dialogue, etc. There were times I thought - this isn't so hard. I've about got this nailed. Now I realize that I didn't even know enough to realize how little I knew.
Sometimes the best way to learn is to fail. I succeeded on some basic levels with my first three scripts. They were well-recieved and garnered a modicum of interest. However, it's on my latest script that I've learned the most, because it is a complete and utter failure.
It's has some great scenes, some excellent dialogue, and some memorable characters, and it sucks - bad. However, because of that suckage of truly epic proportions I have grown as a writer.
I have realized the world of writing is a much bigger place than I first realized, and the little knowledge I have acquired is but a single tile of what's needed to build a truly full mosaic. I kind of hope I keep failing for a bit.
Oh! In case your wondering why I failed, it was because there wasn't a single bit of emotional resonance in the entire script. People might laugh at the scenes, but they sure wouldn't feel for the characters. Someone commented I told half a story with it. They are right. I told the half of the story that dealt with the characters outward circumstances. I totally missed the half that dealt with their inner struggles and feelings. You know- the important half.
It's why I wonder if women writers don't have a built in advantage. Damn them.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
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