Michael Arndt: “Beginnings: Setting a Story Into Motion” (Part 1) - Film Crush Collective at 2014-04-07 14:40:51:
[…] I have been a big fan of screenwriter Michael Arndt ever since I read his script Little Miss Sunshine, then saw the movie. My admiration goes beyond his writing, it extends to how Arndt thinks about writing as clearly he has done a great deal of reflection about the craft. Fortunately for us, he has gone public with at least some of those thoughts. I have featured his ruminations multiple times through years including here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, <a target=_blank href="http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2012/11/screenwriting-lessons-michael-arndt-part-3.html" …read more […]
Alejandro at 2014-04-07 22:44:32:
I do think there are exceptions (2001: A Space Odyssey, Psycho, Mulholland Drive, Slacker) but it's an interesting model to work a story that focuses on the protagonist and a goal. Given some feedback my screenplays have received, this probably could help me a lot during the rewrites. My question would be how do you avoid the movie being predictable? I mean, if you imply the story's ending in the beginning you practically know the ending. And of course there's the thing with character development. So, I'm thinking that using this method you have determined right from the beginning some of the characteristics and challenges of your protagonist and maybe of the antagonist. And correct me if I'm wrong, but in a certain way the story would be a consequence of the character, his passion and his flaw. Hmmm... I think this could ease up developing both characters and plot. So, my first test will be developing a short story screenplay using these concepts. Thanks for the great post.
Wolf Lahti at 2014-04-08 14:14:59:
Every time I've found a story not working—whether it is a novel, short story, or screenplay—it has been because I haven't given the protagonist a need or desire worthy of the title Grand Passion.