#16 - Complicated Choices
Edition #16 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
Sunset Boulevard
Written by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, D.M. Marshman Jr.
A clear and precise way to reveal character is to have them state bold, unequivocal opinions.
“Tuxedos are for waiters” is just one of many lines from Norma Desmond that shows us how she sees the world
Beef (Pilot)
Written by Lee Sung Jin
I love the way the score is not only described here, but even personified. OMINOUS SCORE ROARS BACK.
And the score is just one part of the tapestry of sound this passage contains. You can hear this page so clearly.
Canusa Street (Pilot)
Written by Zack Morrison
Just real clever and fun use of Dual Dialogue here.
Two quotes about screenwriting
“Screenwriting is about condensing.”
“Easy reading is damn hard writing.”
One thing to think about
When should a choice be complicated?
In Star Wars, Luke has no more ties to Tatooine after Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru get toasted. His choice to leave Tatooine isn’t terribly complicated. There’s hardly any motivation to not pursue the call to adventure.
But what about when Anakin leaves Tatooine in Episode 1? He must leave his mother behind. His only family. He has incredibly strong reasons to want to stay. I’ll admit that Anakin’s agency isn’t too strong here, as he’s guided by both his mother and Qui-Gon to leave, but it still is a more complicated choice than Luke’s.
Both story beats are similar in some aspects, but different in others.
When should a choice be complicated?
Have a great draft,
David Wappel
PS Don’t Miss
If you ever wished it was 1996 again, this website has you covered
Really get in the mood if you're writing a crime drama or thriller (too creepy for me tbh)