#45 - Feeling
Edition #45 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
Abbot Elementary (Pilot)
Written by Quinta Brunson
Immediate juxtaposition of two characters using different methods to achieve the same thing is a surefire way of making sure the audience understands distinctions between them.
The Thing
Second Draft Screenplay by Bill Lancaster, From The Story "Who Goes There" by Don A. Stuart
“…bellows in his Scandinavian tongue.”
Doesn’t even get a line of dialogue, which really highlights the confusion and the lack of understanding our characters (and ourselves) have in this situation.
We don’t even know which language it’s in. Something Scandinavian.
By avoiding the untranslated line in dialogue, it covers anyone who might actually know the language/translation (or anyone who’d look it up) and lets this scene on the page continue to play out without dialogue lines.
She Used To Be Zoey Darling
By Nathan Cowan, Conceptualized by Kat Francisco & Nathan Cowan
Such a cool credit. A feminine nightmare.
And then “Conceptualized by”
Obviously, the WGA record would say Written by, Screenplay by, Story by, etc but for a spec, I don’t mind this.
Paired with such an evocative title, I’m intrigued before I’ve even read one word.
Two quotes about screenwriting
“Writing is like any other sort of sport. In order for you to get better at it, you have to exercise the muscle.”
“I hear filmmakers saying, ‘I wanted to make to make a film about this issue, or this theme,’ but I never start like that.”
One thing to think about
How are you feeling?
Are you excited to write?
Are you scared?
Nervous?
Deflated?
The cool thing about feelings is that they exist independently of our actions.
You can show up every day, regardless of how you feel. What a gift.
Use it.
How are you feeling?
Have a great draft,
David Wappel
PS Don’t Miss
Referencing a sacred text in your script? Here’s the best resource
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