Sunday Picture Post 5 / Tip: Research
For The Sunday Picture Post, we are going to flip upside-down the saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Thousands of words are great if you are writing a novel, but if you are writing a screenplay, you need to do the opposite and be as concise as possible.
Each Sunday I will post a picture. For your screenwriting practice in brevity, in the comments section, please post one or all of the following:
- 1 word describing the theme, mood, or scene
- 1 sentence to describe the scene
- A pitch to sell the entire movie
The more colorful and creative you are, the better! Use any genre.
A good screenwriter is laconic, using a few words to say a lot.
SCREENWRITING TIP OF THE DAY: RESEARCH
One thing that really bothers me when I watch a movie is when it is factually inaccurate.
Almost all movies will forsake some truth for art. Often, this can be a wise and acceptable choice. Other times, incorrect information can strongly detract from the movie.
As a writer, you need to make the decision as to what you will keep true and what you are knowingly altering into pure fiction.
If you have to change the look of a character, the location of a city, or dialog, do it because it makes the story flow better, not because you are lazy and didn’t do the research.
To make a story believable, whether it is fiction or nonfiction, you have to research to get to know every dark crevice, especially if it is a time period piece, historical, or based on something real.
Writing good fiction is based on intelligent thorough research.
In Bruges: The Sleeping Beauty of 2008
by Jaden
For the past two months, every time I look at the list of movies, I cannot find a single film worth my $10. This weekend, I was visiting a friend in a small town. “We could go to the movies, but I don’t think anything good is playing,” I said. “Read me the list of what’s playing here.”
He read the list to which I answered, “No. No. No. No. Wait, stop; read that one, I haven’t heard of that one.”
The movie was “In Bruges.” He read, “Two hitmen in Belgium–”
“Say no more!” I said. Those few words alone were more interesting than any synopsis I have heard in a long while. (My readers’ pitches on my Sunday Picture Posts are far more interesting than any of the other movies playing.)
All the Oscar hopefuls release their films in December in an effort to be fresh in viewers minds for the Academy Awards. It is impossible to see all the good movies within the one month period of December. I end up missing several exceptional movies and cannot cast my vote fairly when the time comes. This frustrates me every year. In an ideal world, I would like to see one great movie per week. The movies released January through October are generally disappointing.
With renewed hope of seeing a good film, off we went to see In Bruges, knowing only that it was about some assassins in a foreign country. I like to see movies knowing as little as possible to get the full effect of surprise.
Like a heavy European locomotive, In Bruges starts off slowly; un-American with a patient screenwriting formula, it picks up speed and suspense with each scene, until it reaches an exciting multi-climatic ending.
The cast is enjoyable, each bringing his or her own personality to well-written diverse characters. Giving a sensitive performance, Brendan Gleeson stars as the lead assassin. Colin Farrell plays a hitman new to the business. Ralph Fiennes plays the scary top assassin. Clémence Poésy plays the sexy adorable fun love interest. Jordan Prentice, who looks like a short Matt Damon, plays the dwarf and star of the film within the film.
Written and directed by witty Martin McDonagh, In Bruges is the sleeping beauty of 2008. It is a film about which I have heard little and yet have enjoyed the most as we round the bend of the first quarter of 2008.
London-raised Irish writer/director Martin McDonagh won an Oscar (among several other awards) for his film short Six Shooter in 2004. He has no other publicly attributed film credits, though he has received many awards for his theatrical play writing. To me, this signals the start of an amazing film career for Martin — a punk rock fan (yay!) — and I look forward to his future cinematic works.
For people like me who can’t tolerate the usual meaningless gibberish that is unloaded on today’s audiences, In Bruges is a delightful break from the norm of Hollywood’s insulting drivel. Elements in this story are art, culture, travel, filmmaking, history, religion, morals, prejudice, relationships, assassins, family, and dwarves.
One of the many themes McDonagh interweaves into his story is the famous 500-year old painting by Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch: The Garden of Earthly Delights. Mounted in the Museo Del Prado in Madrid, Spain, I have been blessed to see this magnificent oil on wood triptych painting. Based on bible stories, it depicts the Garden of Eden, Earth, and Hell on Earth. Imagery that still influences artists today, The Garden of Earthly Delights is nothing like the art of its contemporaries from the 1500s. McDonagh dreamily brings Bosch’s astounding work to life while tying it into his story seamlessly.
If you are trying to keep your brain cells operating at an absolute minimum, In Bruges might not be the film for you; but for those who choose to brave the contemplative first half, you will be rewarded by a violent action-filled second half.
In Bruges is intellectual and entertains; it is a strange breed and therefore ranks high on my respect-o-meter.
Martin McDonagh, I promise not to forget In Bruges come voting season 2009! Thank you Focus Features, Blueprint Pictures, Film Four, and Scion Films for the early release and spicing up this drab film quarter of 2008; wish others had your courage!
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Paris Hilton and Britney Spears: Lesbians, Murder, Drugs
by Jaden
Paris Hilton and Britney Spears team up to write a screenplay together in which they both will star called: Betty in Paris.
“Who’s more popular than us? We’re the Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield of our time.” Paris says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s bad, we’re hot. But don’t worry, it’ll be good.”
An anonymous screenwriter who is working with them on the script says, “The story has something to do with lesbians, murder, and drugs; that’s all I can tell you.”
This will be Britney’s first fully nude sex scene. Britney says, “Paris has got a great body; I am excited. I just hope she has more fun with me than she did in that porn.”
They expect the script to be finished by April 1, 2009 and shooting to start on December 21, 2012, when the world is supposed to end, according to the Mayan calendar.
**If you are not from America, I guess I should inform you that this post is a joke. It is tradition in America on April 1st, also known as April Fools Day, to play jokes on people. Did anybody believe this? Suckers!**
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