5. THE STAR
Here are the rules for your main character and they are hard and fast. These points apply to all genres. Do not try to change them for any reason.
a. The Star's character is on every page.
b. The Star's character resolves the problem.
c. The Star's character has the most lines.
d. The Star's character gets the girl (or the guy).
e. The Star's character is the smartest person in the cast.
f. The Star's character has the last word in the film.
g. The Star's character must grow as a person.
h. The Star's character must learn something about him- or herself
It seems that many fine actors and stars are drawn to political thrillers. These can be great spec scripts. They show the writer's abilities with intricate plots and great characters. Think George Clooney in Michael Clayton, The Good German, and Syriana.
6. COINCIDENCES
They can only be used to complicate the plot. Coincidences and coincidental accidents should never resolve the problems. When you use this device to solve an important plot point the audience feels cheated.
7. GLOOMY VERSUS DRAMAS
There is a fine line between being depressing and being dramatic. You need to learn the difference between them while you are in the early stages of your dramatic writing career. I love a good dramatic relationship film. I hate depressing movies that have no other saving grace but to be sad. Hud was a great drama starring the late Paul Newman and Patricia Neal. Another golden oldie was the 1957 film, A Face in the Crowd, starring Patricia Neal and Andy Griffith. The more recent film, Revolutionary Road, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is another example of a terrific drama where the audience really is entertained while learning a great deal about honesty and relationships. A good drama has the ability to teach the audience some of the important truths in our lives. They often deal with right and wrong, good and bad, and many of the moral decisions each of us is faced with during our stay on this planet. These are films that must be seen and studied by serious film writers. They define great drama with riveting characters whom the audience wants to stay with. The audience becomes invested in their lives and we learn something about the human condition. Hud speaks to survival and inner strength while A Face in the Crowd tells us that total power corrupts totally when there is inner weakness. There is a difference between depressing and drama. Always keep in mind that you are in the business of entertainment.
8. CHOICES
Whether you write a contemporary drama, comedy suspense, thriller, murder-mystery teen comedy, or romance, you must keep your characters interesting and believable. You need the audience to become involved with what happens to them. The great writers know that it is the characters whom the audiences fall in love with, and that what the characters do and say in movies are what keeps those audiences coming back. Try to write “up” to the audience's intellect and emotions. We want to leave the movie theater feeling like we were entertained and that we learned just a little bit about the human condition. The movie studios like this too.
9. PERSONALITY
Whether you are writing a huge action picture or small romantic comedy or teen coming-of-age story, it is all about those main characters. An audience must love someone in any movie. They need to root for someone and to care what happens to them. Audiences automatically like Tom Hanks, but you may not get him so you must write a great character that would work for any actor who ends up starring in your movie. We all always hope that wonderful, talented actors will be cast in pictures, but we also know how rarely that happens. Lately, there seem to be more celebrities in films than serious actors.
10. DON'T GO TOO CRAZY
Oh, and by the way, try to stay on this planet. By this I mean in our realm of reality, within the scope of reason. Every time I start to read a script that takes place inside someone's brain or has some mystical fervor, or where a person morphs into another entity, my mind starts to wander. Writers often try to find and create unique situations that are so far out that they bear little or no resemblance to real life or real people. Trying to be unusual can be a trap for new writers as well as established pros. I love science-fiction films but even they need one foot in the real world of people and relationships. Studios also don't like to make fools of our American heroes. We can't sell Adam Sandler portraying George Washington for laughs or a musical comedy set in the Alamo. There seems to be some sort of taboo about it. Go figure.
11. BUDGETS
It has been interesting to me to note that, particularly when it comes to thrillers, writers often think in terms of low-budget films. I have found that one of the biggest disparities between low- and high-budget thrillers is often simply the casting. Why not think in terms of a high budget when you first enter the game with a new screenplay? If that doesn't pan out you can always try the lower budget, independent market later.
What I am trying to tell you is to play it straight. It doesn't matter if it's a comedy, tragedy, drama, or action film — keep your characters and stories honest and true to themselves. For new writers trying to get into the mainstream of Hollywood it is best to keep these rules in mind. You will always find exceptions to these rules but don't let that fool you. Start out with a good, simple story and hone your craft. Remember why you want to tell a particular story. Does your movie inspire, entertain, and teach a life lesson? These points are not easy to accomplish, but they are always in style at the studios and the box office.
• • •
1. Reread your own screenplays.
2. Change anything that doesn't coincide with the above information.
3. See if you can simplify your plot and complicate your characters.
4. Check the “calendar” section of your Sunday newspaper every week to see what the studios and production companies are making.
5. Keep a list of these films for future reference.
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL 6
Presenting yourself seems simple enough. You simply show up. Are there right and wrong ways to present yourself? You bet. I'm sure you think that you are cool, hip, and with it. You think you know how to dress yourself properly and in an acceptable manner, especially since this is show biz and you've heard that anything goes. You believe that since you are a “creative type,” most standard value systems don't count for you. You think of yourself as an artist who can do things your own way. Not!
It's not just the way you dress; be aware of the many elements that are very important in how you present yourself. Hopefully you will be meeting with important people who will have a profound effect on your business and creative life. These people need to be comfortable with you and they need to believe that you are dependable and trustworthy. Remember that in a sense you are asking
