I would like to dip my fingers into writing...screenplays in particular.
Lately I've watched a few dialogue intense films, namely Citizen Kane, His Girl Friday, Some Like it Hot and The Apartment. I don't doubt that few of you have heard of these but I'll get to the point. These films have a buzz of energy about them. The dialogue not only flows, but it is quick, clever, witty and funny. They're often farcical too, which I think is one of the most entertaining forms of dialogue.
I honestly don't know exactly what want, but I would like for anybody who is experienced with writing, or anybody to just give advice for writing, what inspires you or even perhaps ideas for a screenplay (it doesn't have to be elaborate). I realize what I'm asking for is extremely broad, but I'd like to start one within the near future. It doesn't have to be funny, nor entertaining, just an idea to work with is more than appreciated. I have a sort of scrapbook where I note down anything remotely interesting that comes to mind but so far, it only contains some exchanges I've found interesting which don't rely on the situation too much.
I know this is not the best place to ask, but I particularly want the opinions of users from TASvideos. Thanks so very much for your attention.
what inspires you or even perhaps ideas for a screenplay
Subversiveness, in a word. If I were going to write a screenplay, it would (in part) be an attempt to challenge the viewer's sense of reality and of self in the way that Fight Club and The Matrix did. Nothing as a trite or obvious as asking in near-literal terms, "what is real? is this a dream?" but to illustrate aspects of human nature that control what we do and how we act in some way that is intrinsically interesting. Kind of like American Beauty.
That's the only kind of thing I can feel motivated to write. Not just for social commentary or philosophy, or some kind of highfalutin activist nonsense, but just a good movie that makes you think.
I mean, I have social commentary, but I can't do "interesting" to save my life, which I why I don't write anymore. :p
I would find great hilarity in you writing a screenplay about how the Trix Rabbit, after losing his Trix for the nth time, commits suicide. And then you fast-forward to 20 years later, and the kids are all selfish pricks who share nothing, and mock those who try to get whatever they have... or something XD
adelikat wrote:
I very much agree with this post.
Bobmario511 wrote:
Forget party hats, Christmas tree hats all the way man.
I just watched Sunset Boulevard again. I can't believe it took me until the third viewing to appreciate it this way. The narration is amazing and the lines are so good.
Gillis: What happened?
Schaefer: You did.
I'm examining the screenplay right now. I didn't know screenplays were this elaborate. It's complete with descriptions, how the camera should pan, etc..
"START the picture with the actual street sign:
SUNSET BOULEVARD, stencilled on a curbstope.
In the gutter lie dead leaves, scraps of paper,
burnt matches and cigarette butts. It is early
morning.
Now the CAMERA leaves the sign and MOVES EAST, the
grey asphalt of the street filling the screen. As
speed accelerates to around 40 m.p.h., traffic de-
marcations, white arrows, speed-limit warnings, man-
hole covers, etc., flash by. SUPERIMPOSED on all
this are the CREDIT TITLES, in the stencilled style
of the street sign."
Extraordinary. But for now, I think I'll focus on the dialogue aspects of screenplays.
"Genuine self-esteem, however, consists not of causeless feelings, but of certain knowledge about yourself.
It rests on the conviction that you — by your choices, effort and actions — have made yourself into the
kind of person able to deal with reality. It is the conviction — based on the evidence of your own volitional
functioning — that you are fundamentally able to succeed in life and, therefore, are deserving of that success."
- Onkar Ghate
Bisqwit wrote:
