wow, this is such an awesome quote. i have always found it difficult to think of theme much until I have discovered the basic story somewhat...but that's such a great way to brainstorm log lines.

I've seen this comment many times before, most recently on the black board site, and it always made me think. I like the idea but when I've attempted to use it on my own scripts I've found it unhelpful. The reason for this, I realized, is that I think it's incomplete. Succession, Privacy and Morality are all too vague, but when you anchor it to the story world they all begin to come to life. Succession in a mafia family, privacy in surveillance and morality in war all have inherent contrast that sets the story in motion and, I feel, a more useful way of building a theme.