Wednesday, October 20, 2010

How important is story?

Very.

Once you've lured us into a darkened theatre, it's your job to entertain us. Unless you specifically advertise that, "No Storytelling Shall Take Place, Only Pretty Images and Disconnected Themes," you're wasting our time. Or at least mine.

I've attended a number of film festivals, screened several independent filmmakers' films as potential movies to use in my classes and workshops, and watched countless hours of films in theaters and in my living room. And if there's one thing that drives me crazy, it's trying to determine the story when the filmmakers clearly had no clue what their narrative was.

Which means that we have a job to do as scriptwriters. We need to tell a compelling story about our character. Returning to an earlier post, we're examining what our character wants and what she'll do to get it. And we're not just tossing random obstacles in her way, but weaving in an equal and opposite-minded antagonist whose own goal will make it difficult or potentially even impossible for our protagonist to achieve her mission.

We also need to know what's at stake; what is the character willing to give up in order to chase her dream? There better be huge risks, or you may bore us. Please don't bore us.

So, how important is story? You tell me. But please make it interesting.

22 comments:

  1. I definitely get frustrated with stories that forget that don't really seem to go anywhere. I tend to get impatient with character studies, and I think that Stephen King would agree that if you're a storyteller, people are interested in your story. It's good for things to actually happen to the characters.

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  2. I also agree with that frustrating feel and you must feel that way even more because you are a script-writer and filmmaker! I also liked how you touched on 'weaving' an antagonist into the story instead of just throwing 'obstacles' in the characters way. To me writing really is an art, and the story need to flow. The reader or viewer needs to be able to understand the text and or dialogue.

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  3. I think you and King would get along! You say it a little bit more gracefully than he does ( he probably would have thrown some curse words in there)but you both have the same idea....entertain me! Isn't that the point of story telling?

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  4. I find it so hard to keep a constant theme in writing, and to maintain strong characters throughout the whole process, who continuously have a purpose. I like to think of it as drawing a map, you already know how you're going to get to the destination before you've even start out on the journey. Maybe that's why I always wind up writing non-fiction - it doesn't seem to need as much mapping!

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  5. Movies that seem to have no plot are painful to watch. The same goes for character adversity. A movie in which the main character doesn't face some kind of obstacle or adversity and the plot is non-existent loses its audience faster than Mr. Belvedere.

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  6. I completely agree with this post. There are far to many movies out there trying to be provocative and mind bending, when all that it takes for a successful movie, in my mind, is a great plot and a believable character. What frustrates me the most is that a majority of people these days want the plot clearly pointed out and the characters to be flawless. While a plot with too many twists can be irritating I find that the confusion is part of what makes the experience of watching a movie. It requires you to use your brain and allows you to come up with your own interpretation besides it being pushed in front of your face.

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  7. I agree that a plot is necessary for a film to work as anything more than a collection of pretty images, but I've found in several instances where a great plot or premise fails because of bad or boring characters. You can have the most labyrinthine plot, with dozens of characters, but if we don't care about them there's no point. One of the things LOST always managed to do (some will disagree when it comes to the end of the show) was balance it's complex mythology with great character stories. When the show started it wasn't about all the crazy sci-fi, philosophy, or spirituality. It was a show about these people, who they were, and how they were going to survive. That's the problem I've had with every LOST wannabe in the last few years, such as The Event, and Heroes. They start with a huge complicated mythology and boring characters. I guess what I'm saying is that without good characters, the best plot in the world will be as dull as dishwater.

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  9. Well said, Ben! (And everyone before him too.)

    I had just seen a film in which we were lulled in by the promise of great characters, played by awesome actors, and it failed to deliver. There absolutely was little story, and I could give a flying you-know-what about the characters and what happened to them. It was a disappointing experience to say the least.

    And I guess my next post might just be a return to the ages-old, dog chasing his tail question: "What comes first - plot or character?"

    Can't wait for class tomorrow. I love when we get to read student pages aloud.

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  10. i enjoyed this tip! I often find myself thinking of complex stories that i want to make work, but my characters seem under developed at times which can make the whole story fall apart :/

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  11. Although i agree with pretty much everything you've said here sometimes i feel like storytellers stick too closely to formulaic sort of writing. I know i've personally written stories which although may have had original ideas, ended up filled with cliches and see through characters.

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  12. I think that is a great tip, it seems so basic, but I feel like it is so easy to get away from the intended story when you actually start writing.

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  13. Honestly, the story doesn't matter as much as the characters do for me. Because, for me, it's the characters that either make or break the story. I enjoy more down-to-earth characters who aren't all perfect and/or cardboard cutouts.

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  14. i think this tip is very helpful. I strive to not bore anyone with my stories, which i try to make very interesting, but at times i lack on the character's development,which is obviously extremely important!

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  15. A movie that lacks direction is one of the most disappointing things to me when I view a new movie. I watched Zombieland this weekend while I attempted (successfully!) to put together a bookshelf. At the end of the movie I felt very let down. The movie sort of just moseyed around a few key scenes and then I just shrugged at the end thinking there would be more to it.

    I will keep this in mind as I continue to work on my scripts.

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  16. Story is extremely important! I get very frustrated when films do not develop a well thought out plot. I sometimes find myself asking "did they make up this story as they went?" However, a good plot does not mean it's always easy to follow. I like the plots that make me think and really pay attention what I'm watching.

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  17. A story is very important to attract your audience. I hate those movies that have no storyline and I spend the whole time confused out of my mind asking friends and family if they understand what's going on. Writing is hard for me because I don't know the right way to express myself without sounding redundant. In a story you want your main character to achieve her goal or mission in the story, that is also true for writers.

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  18. It is such a let down and a waste of time when you are reading something or watching something that seems to have no point. I often feel like I spend the entire experience waiting for something interesting or meaningful to happen.

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  19. Movies are a passion of mine. I consider myself a "movie buff" even though others may find me to be a nerd with no social life. I prefer to stay in on my free nights to read books or watch movies. I like to give all films a fair chance regardless of published reviews. I like to be my own critic. One thing that drives me crazy, however, is when there appears to be no story or plot that drives the main character forward. There needs to be some conflict and if it is not introduced early enough in the film I tend to get bored and already dub the film as a "flop." At that point, it is difficult for the film to redeem itself.

    I am glad to know other people share my frustration with the lack of a story in some films.

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  20. I think this is a great post! When I go into the movies, especially if I bought a ticket, spend my money, I do not want to be bored! Your post got me thinking...I always thought it was so hard to be an actress or actor to constantly change and train and study to fit the script, and to do it all on camera for the world to see! Then I thought...well what about those script writers? They are the creators! They have to make a story really come alive and not bore the audience. I know think they are given enough credit and they are the master minds :)

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  21. I completely agree with Ben - being an avid LOST watcher, the best aspect of that show was how they dove in to the character's history. I actually felt a connection to each character and I often found myself talking about them as if I really knew them. This just goes to show how important character development is. As Ben said, having the greatest plot in the world won't get you anywhere without interesting characters.

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  22. Sometimes I can't even believe how some of these movies make it into the cinema. What is the point of making a movie that doesn't have a captivating plot? I saw Jackass 3D, and after the first ten minutes of it, I was completely bored. A solid storyline is a must!

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