#33 - Genre Sources
Edition #33 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
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring
Written by Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens & Peter Jackson, Based on the book by JRR Tolkien
(This edition was originally published on October 24th.)
When adapting, sometimes don’t adapt. Just use the author’s original lines. They often work.
Ted Lasso (Pilot)
Story By Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Joe Kelly, Brendan Hunt, Teleplay By Jason Sudeikis & Bill Lawrence
What is Ted and Beard’s shared worldview?
Simple and effective example of show don’t tell.
Jurassic World: Orlando (TV Spec)
A short parody by Oscar Moreno and Adam Barnard
I love the order of information in these 5 action blocks.
Description of action, description of visual
Character intro
Description of visual, description of action
Character intro
Description of action
Just consistent delivery, all working together to create a clear visual picture of what's happening, how it's happening, and giving us (and the actors) insight into these characters.
Really fun and funny script.
Available to read on The Stunt List.
Two quotes about screenwriting
“Horror films don’t create fear. They release it.”
“It’s really helpful to have somebody to bounce off of and that will say, ‘Yeah, that’s a horrible idea. You shouldn’t do it.’”
One thing to think about
Where does your genre come from?
I find this question fascinating, both as a writer and a (very amateur) film historian.
Genre conventions don't come out of nowhere, and when most genres were "invented" they didn't have tropes to draw from. They were more like movements that took shape and began defining their own style and symbols. But where did these movements originate and why?
Why do so many musicals start springing up in the 30s?
Why so many westerns?
Why so many noirs in the 40s and 50s?
Why so many neo-noirs in the late 70s and 80s?
Why so many rom-coms in the 90s?
(And where did they all go, too?)
The answers are of course complicated and intersectional, as so many factors were, and still are, at play.
But it's useful to think about what was going on culturally, politically, socially during these times, and ask yourself what's going on now that's similar. Or different.
What can your take on these genres explore now? And how is it in conversation with the feelings and sentiments that Hollywood was responding to at the time these genres were born?
Go ahead, do a little digging, watch some early examples. It's not only fun, but worth finding out:
Where does your genre come from?
For the next month, you’ll notice some examples from scripts that are on The Stunt List.
The Stunt List is a rad, streaming-style platform for screenplays featuring a “fusion of IP and Original Voice.”
You can find bold original scripts, IP inspired features, TV specs, crossovers, and more.
The Stunt List aims to amplify a new generation of rad ink while building a grassroots community for the stunt script writer.
If you’re a writer looking for inspiration (or a producer looking for a writer) don't miss this year's Stunt List, available now.
Have a great draft,
David Wappel
PS Don’t Miss
ATTN Writers! Do you have a script that would be a good fit for The Stunt List? Submission portal for next year is already open!
Are you a writer over 40? Submit your script to The Grey List!
A world factbook, from a totally reputable source that doesn’t topple governments… Seriously though, I’ve found it incredibly useful for script research at times.
Still Tasty - A resource for anyone who has ever asked “Can I eat that yogurt?”