Lessons from the Screenplay - Season 3 / Year 2017
Season 3 / Year 2017
Episodes
The Social Network — Sorkin, Structure, and Collaboration
Sorkin's dialogue is famous for being rapid-fire and full of wit. In this video I look at the function of this style, how he uses non-linear structure to frame the story, and the critical role that collaboration played in the creation of The Social Network.
When Harry Met Sally — Breaking Genre Conventions
When Harry Met Sally takes the conventions of a classic from-hate-to-love story and flips them on their head, creating a unique and charming film.
Inglourious Basterds — The Elements of Suspense
Examining the elements of suspense that Quentin Tarantino put to use in the opening scene of Inglourious Basterds.
Breaking Bad — Crafting a TV Pilot
Breaking Bad is celebrated as one of the best TV shows of all time—but every series has to start somewhere. This video looks at how the structure of the pilot episode sets up everything the audience needs to know about the series.
Rogue One vs. The Force Awakens — The Fault in Our Star Wars
In this video I examine some of the flaws and imperfections in Rogue One and The Force Awakens to extract the lessons we can learn about showing vs. telling, active protagonists, and meaningful consequences.
Arrival — Examining an Adaptation
Examining how Arrival was adapted from the short story it was based on, how clever editing kept the focus on the protagonist, and why good science fiction is really a study of humanity.
True Detective vs. Se7en — Creating Light Amongst the Dark
Despite the dark and gruesome subject matters of True Detective and Se7en, the character arcs of the main characters tell a story of profound optimism.
Telling a Story from the Inside Out
Creating a story is often as much of a journey for the writer as it is for the characters. In this video I look at the writing process for Inside Out to examine how the powerful emotions in the film were inspired by the real-life experiences of the writers.
Game of Thrones — How to Evoke Emotion
This video looks at how Game of Thrones—and the Battle of the Bastards episode in particular—evokes such strong emotions in its audience by making sure every scene has a compelling value transition.
Memento — Telling a Story in Reverse
Analyzing Christopher Nolan's film Memento, and how he manages to tell a compelling story when most of it happens in reverse chronological order.
Blade Runner — Constructing a Future Noir
Blade Runner was the first film to take the thematic elements of classic film noir and bring them into a sci-fi, dystopian future. This video analyzes those elements and examines why the private detective of classic film noir is the perfect fit for the world of Blade Runner.
Logan vs. Children of Men — The End is in the Beginning
Examining how Logan and Children of Men begin their stories and send the heroes down the path of redemption.
Hidden Figures — The Power of Subplots
Hidden Figures is about three women, but it focuses mainly on Katherine Johnson's story, so the other two women are given their own subplots. This video looks at the elements of subplot and how to design a subplot that supports the main plot.
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Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal is about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a trigger-happy car thief, he faces savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.
When Calls the Heart
When Calls the Heart is inspired by Janette Oke's bestselling book series about the Canadian West, the series tells the captivating story of Elizabeth Thatcher, a young teacher accustomed to her high society life, who receives her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley, a small coal mining town where life is simple, but often fraught with challenges. Upon arrival, Elizabeth befriends Abigail Stanton, a wife and mother whose husband, the foreman of the mine, along with a dozen other miners, has just been killed in an explosion. The newly widowed women find their faith is tested when they must go to work in the mines to keep a roof over their heads. Set against the wild canvas of a 19th century coal town, Elizabeth will have to learn the ways of the frontier if she wishes to thrive in the rural west on her own.
Lockerbie: A Search for Truth
Inspired by the true-life story, on December 21, 1988, 259 passengers and crew were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie 38 minutes after take-off, with a further 11 residents losing their life as the plane came down over the quiet, Scottish town. In the wake of the disaster and his daughter's death, Dr Jim Swire, is nominated spokesperson for the UK victims' families, who have united to demand truth and justice. Traveling across continents and political divides, Jim embarks on a relentless journey that not only jeopardizes his stability, family and life, but completely overturns his trust in the justice system. As the truth shifts under Jim's feet, his view of the world is left forever changed. Exploring events from the disaster and its aftermath, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth provides an intimate account of a man, a husband, and a father who risks everything in memory of his daughter and the unflinching pursuit of truth and justice.
