#14 First Lines
Edition #14 of the Lighthouse miniLetter!
You'll always get:
Three examples of great screenwriting
Two quotes about storytelling
One thing to think about
Plus some fun links at the bottom.
Three examples of great screenwriting
High Fidelity
Pilot by Leslye Headland
The first image in this feature. Note the specificity but also the context. “McIntosh and Nakamichi” are very specific, but “coveted audiophile clutter” helps the reader understand if those names mean nothing to them. Best of both worlds.
The Mitchells vs the Machines
Written by Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe
I’m a big fan of this trend in movies, for strong tone setting. Obviously, not every writer knows where their project will live, but looking at what can be done in the script outside of the story can be a great way to set the tone for the read.
The Unlikeliest of Heroes
Written by Paul E. Zeidman
These are the first action blocks in this screenplay. A while ago I had written about the idea of “Image First, Label Second” and here Zeidman takes this idea even further and even sets up the label with a sentence: "Only one word can describe this place..." I also like how he calls attention to color twice to make sure we really see that detail.
Two quotes about screenwriting
“There is only one plot: things are not what they seem.”
“Think to the moments of your life when you forgot to doubt yourself, when you were so inspired that you were just living and creating and working. Pay attention to those moments because they’re trying to reach you through those lenses of doubt and trying to show you your potential.”
One thing to think about
How do you measure your writing time?
Some writers measure by pages written.
Some writers measure by time spent writing.
Some measure by story beats or scenes.
And some don’t measure at all!
Measuring by pages can help you reach a certain output each session.
Measuring by time can help you maintain a certain schedule.
Measuring by story beats or scenes can make it easier to keep track of where you are in your script.
However you measure and organize your writing time, make sure it’s serving you and you’re not serving it.
How do you measure your writing time?
Have a great draft,
David Wappel