Phil at 2012-02-02 12:05:06:
"It's not explicit." Solid observation.
The Bark Bites Back at 2012-02-02 12:37:23:
A couple of thoughts on structure popped (back) into my head from reading this. “Generally speaking, if you don’t set everything up in the beginning, you’ll pay for it… in the middle or in the end. So I would rather pay for it at the beginning." You see so much emphasis placed on the writing of your first ten pages in a script... but here's the thing: that's for readers. I don't want to go on a diatribe against readers because I know there's truth to this (who am I to argue) - but Towne makes a great point here. How many screenplays grab you in the first ten pages and then... nothing. Now ask yourself, how many movies have you walked out of after ten minutes? Another point on structure: I recall watching and loving the movie Easy A... until about the midpoint. What seemed like a unique take on high school life and Nathaniel Hawthorne's source material quickly became formulaic because of its structure. I could easily see what was going to happen next and suddenly felt slightly less charmed by the movie. It was as if I had found myself driving in a new neighborhood, excited by all these new sights... only to discover halfway through my excursion that I merely went around the same old block in the opposite direction I normally go.
The Bark Bites Back at 2012-02-02 12:58:40:
P.S. Read the link to the WGA's 101 best screenplays and am scratching my head why one would consider Tootsie to be a strange choice. There's not a wasted line in that screenplay.
Stage32.com - RB at 2012-02-02 13:19:29:
Another great piece, Scott. Thanks for sharing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Towne also responsible (uncredited, of course) for penning the "Transition of Power" scene in the Godfather I? RB
Scott at 2012-02-02 17:23:13:
Towne definitely wrote on The Godfather. I found this which if you scroll down suggests he did write that scene.
Scott at 2012-02-02 17:23:46:
Just screened "Tootsie" over the holidays with my oldest son. It still holds up, a terrific movie.
Stage32.com - RB at 2012-02-03 18:36:50:
Ah...I thought so, Scott...Thanks for digging that up. RB
Robert Towne on getting into the character — Ice To The Brim at 2012-04-05 16:38:33:
[...] that one must ask one’s self about a character is what are they really afraid of?”Robert Towne via @GoIntoTheStoryLeave a CommentName *E-mail [...]
How Robert Towne Writes A Script at 2012-06-24 08:48:03:
[...] Read the original article here [...]