For me, it has been interesting to work the scriptwriting process in reverse. Usually, one thinks of painting the broad strokes first, imagining the events that will make up the important plot points, then filling in the sequences, then finally the scenes. To analyze a script in the reverse order, working from specific to general, gives a different perspective on the writing and creating process. Starting with a complete script and working out to the general concepts, not only with this script but also the previous ones in this project, has given me some new insights into the creation process.

Good to hear, Will. There are many reasons why I wanted to run this series, one of them being this: The more we read and analyze scripts at this level of scrutiny, the more we learn to think like professional screenwriters. By stripping down the story structure to its component parts, then considering those in relation to the story's psychological domain, we can interpret reasons why the writers made the choices they made. That way of thinking can rub off on us, indeed inform choices we make on our own stories. Thanks again for taking up the scene-by-scene breakdown for Frankenweenie as well as your commentary during the week. And that goes to everyone who has participated in our four weekly sessions thus far. Terrific insights. And we've got a lot more scripts to go!

Here's a takeaway for me, something I mentioned in a previous comment: Balance. This story has a lot of serious themes in play including life and death, individual vs. community, misunderstanding (as brought up by others. And yet, the story is fundamentally a family movie, albeit in a bizarre Tim Burton kind of way. So finding that balance of fun and meaning was, I think, a challenge for John August. But he hit it. I'm a big advocate for a writer to immerse oneself in the psychological realm of a story universe. Learn as much as you can. However all of that is scalable. Frankenweenie is not Schindlers List or The Talented Mr. Ripley. It's a kids movie. So the challenge exists to find that balance point between fun and meaning. That extends to every story. Some will need more in the way of psycho-drama. Some less. But balance is important. Frankenweenie reminded me of that point.