#30 - Write One Idea
Edition #30 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
Dead To Me (Pilot)
Written by Liz Feldman
Feldman calls out the camera, but tonally keeps it with everything else as it “surfs.” Just wonderful table setting before getting into this pilot’s many amazing dialogue exchanges.
Giant
Screenplay by Fred Guiol and Ivan Moffat, based on the novel by Edna Ferber
I’m a sucker for big, bold statements.
Imagine Jett’s line here delivered by James Dean, and instantly the dramatic tension for this whole movie is set.
Snakes On A Ten Car Train
Written by Stephen Krespel
I know this is a bit longer than my usual examples, but I want to highlight something beyond just the words themselves. This selection is within a SERIES OF ANGLES mini-slug, and look what happens if you just read the underlined bold. All snakes.
It’s a frenzied pace, and a pretty full page, but Krespel spikes out these specific images so that the experience of reading it is just like watching it. You might be a bit overwhelmed, you might not catch every little detail, but you’re definitely going to see and feel the snakes. Super fun script.
Two quotes about screenwriting
“The challenge with this kind of work is in trying to make it everyone’s story. That can quickly make it no one’s story.”
“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t give up.”
One thing to think about
How many ideas are you trying to write at once?
What is the purpose of the scene? Of the moment? Of the line? Of the word?
If you haven’t communicated the idea, don’t move on to the next one.
Writing is like laying track before a train. You have to lay them fully and completely, in order, or else the train won’t run smooth.
You can’t do half an idea here, half an idea there, circle back later, etc.
Don’t let competing ideas cloud your clarity.
Write one thing.
Then write another.
How many ideas are you trying to write?
Have a great draft,
David Wappel
PS Don’t Miss
Want to get a secret off your chest? Or just hear some for inspiration? Anonymously post & listen here
Decent, reasonable perspective on post-strike vibes