#53 - Titles
Edition #53 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
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Written by Harve Bennett, Participating Writers: Jack B. Sowards, Samuel A. Peeples
I won’t weigh in here on the “directing on the page” debate. I’ll just leave this excerpt where there’s a very noticeable parenthetical.
James and The Giant Peach
Screenplay by Steve Bloom, Jonathan Roberts, Karen Kirkpatrick, Based on the book by Roald Dahl
I love the way this transition is framed from James’ perspective, though it’s for the reader as well. So smooth.
Nothing Left To Lose
Written by RB Ripley
Ripley is one of my favorite screenwriters and I love the way he can communicate visuals and tone simultaneously.
Here we get how character Kyle Black looks, but also some perspective on the script’s point-of-view on his character.
“The kind of handsome that movies tell us to trust.”
Subtle, but clear enough to give the actor playing Kyle enough to make a choice. Beautiful work.
This script is one of many great scripts on The Grey List, which I encourage you to check out!
Two quotes about screenwriting
“It’s people who are repressed and cannot express their fears that are dangerous.”
“If you have value as an artist it’s probably going to be in your capacity to let things inside you get past things that are placed there to keep you from telling the truth. The more you see things as clearly and coldly as you can, the more value you’re going to have.”
One thing to think about
What’s in a title?
A title that points to themes or vibes should be either self-explanatory, or vague but evocative.
If it seems like it’s one thing, but is recontextualized in the script, it could be a tough sell.
If I just see the title page, I don’t know what “The Beach” is about, but it largely takes place on beach.
“The Island” however, was about clones in the near-future and we never got to go an island.
Obviously there are marketing considerations for when these things are produced and distributed, but if your title isn’t self-explanatory and isn’t evocative…then it might be worth rethinking.
What’s in a title?
The Grey List
For the entire month of March, the Lighthouse miniLetter will be proudly sharing excerpts from scripts on The Grey List!
The Grey List is an annual curated list of industry-ready pilot and feature scripts from writers over the age of 40.
Its goal is to push back on ageism in the entertainment industry by spotlighting amazing stories and the writers telling them - proving that creativity and talent truly have no expiration date.
Whether you're a writer looking to explore new worlds, a producer looking for your next project, or a manager hunting for that next star client, you'll find something to catch your eye on The Grey List.