Screenwriting : "Finding Your Theme" by Maurice Vaughan

Good stuff, Maurice. Thank you for sharing.

You're welcome, Sandra Ray. Theme's such a big part of scripts. I'm always on the lookout for ways to write theme better.

Thank you for posting this, Maurice. I read the article twice, and the author is talking more about "subjects" and "settings" than theme. A great definition of theme for storytelling, as explained to me long ago (and I can't remember the gentleman's name) is 'theme is about how to act properly in society.' Most of storytelling will show you characters moral behavior which is hurting those around theme (could involve any subject or setting), and the character will learn through the story through conflict with others, being challenged by others (drama/conflict), and then the character will have their self revelation about how they've been wrong and hurting people. Then the character has a choice to make. Either change for the better, which gives the story an upbeat, feel good ending, or doesn't change, and it's a downer ending. In a nutshell, the characters internal flaw is challenged by the external world. A great homework assignment for all is to watch some movies and you'll see this character, behavior change.

You're welcome, Lindbergh Hollingsworth. I do agree that "subjects" and "settings" can be theme, but what Torey is talking about in the article is the meaning or lesson of a script, movie, show, book, etc. He said in the article, "An overarching idea that informs the focus/meaning of the film. Theme is explored through character choices, recurring motifs, etc." I think "theme is about how to act properly in society" and what you're talking about in your comment is character arc.

Maurice Vaughan this is great, Maurice, on finding YOUR theme as a writer.

“At the beginning of your writing journey, write as much as possible. When you’re done, write some more. That’s the only way you’re able to find your voice. When you do find your voice, that’s when you start to notice your themes.”

Thanks, Geoff Hall. I agree with that quote from the article. When I started out screenwriting, I wrote all kinds of scripts and built up my voice. I didn't focus on theme until later. I don't think I even knew about theme when I started writing scripts.

Thanks for sharing this insightful article about theme. I would add that it is good idea to not impose a theme on your story as much "discover" as you write. When theme is forced, it tends to be formulaic. And yes, it is true that films with strong themes stay with you longer. Thanks all. Keep writing.

You're welcome, Howard Koor. I agree about discovering a theme as you write. Most of the time I have a theme before writing a script, but sometimes I wait to see what the theme is. Sometimes when I write a script, I have a main theme and sub-themes.

Clearly identifying your theme is crucial. When mapping out and developing your movie or TV series you can always fall back on your key themes whenever you feel creatively lost.

Good point, Ewan Dunbar. Sometimes I struggle with a scene, then I think about the script's theme, and I get back on track like that.

The theme for my first script took a lot of time to see. The theme for my second one is already clear.

I used to have trouble seeing the themes in scripts, Pamela. I think as I wrote more scripts, the themes became clear upfront (before writing the scripts). Do you like writing the same theme in different scripts, or do you like writing a new theme for each script?

Maurice Vaughan hi Maurice, so I’ve looked back over my work and found that my theme, no matter what the genre is, is ‘family’. Who’da thought it.

Seeing Rachel - centres on a lost schoolgirl and a Mum who is trying to find her.

Prodrome - at its core has a single-parent family, the son of which is the main character of the film and all he is left with are memories of those days with his mother.

A Little Death - the story concerns a mother holding her family together, as it is being pulled apart by the tensions of following a non-violent philosophy in a violent world.

Death Spirit - an urban fantasy/crime thriller wherein the mother and father have to deal with the fallout of the presence of Watchers creating blood and mayhem. One of them is gradually enveloped by the darkness of this world.

Imperium - an open family of the resurrected victims of violence, help the victims of State terrorism to overcome the demons of their absolutist government.

"Family" is a great theme, Geoff Hall. You can come at it from a lot of different angles. I like to use some of the same themes in scripts. "Unselfishness," "Anti-bullying," "Accepting help," etc.

I guess there are a lot of things we forgetting to look at - ☺️ never thought a theme can build a script in such a good way but I guess it makes a lot of difference

Yeah, Happy. A theme can really elevate a script and make it impactful. Some of the best movies from the past are still loved today because they have themes.

We learn as time goes by I guess - at the moment I am striving by all means to find an impactful longline but I have now

Are you talking about the logline for "The Victim Rise," Happy Shikundu?

Thank you Maurice for sharing the link. It is really important to find the theme. If I may share...The Music Box that I dreamed of is the actual music box that my mother gave me. It is in front of me as I work in front of my computer. I dreamed of the Music Box last August that I hear the music of what I always use on all my projects. On the actual music Box that my mother gave me has a written note that reads "Wherever Life takes you, you will always be my daughter."

I see and read it every single day and night" as I sit in front of the computer.

In my dream last August, that music box was playing the beautiful music scores that I use for all my projects. But in my dream, the words are different..the reads..."Wherever Life takes you, I will always Love you."...So when I woke up, I took a note of that dream immediately for me to remember. My heart started pounding. I shared my thought to someone. On a blank piece of paper, I wrote bullet points. That became my theme of my story that I want to be told. In my story, I want The Music Box to play the soothing and comforting music scores that soothe and quench my soul. I thought This Music Box Story keeps my spirit alive and inspired because it is a symbol of Hope, Love, Passion on Arts Music and Film that was in my dream.

Whether It will be seen or Not seen on Big Screen TV, It is something that I wrote that quenches my soul.

You're welcome, Leonor LeRu. That's a beautiful music box. I like the note on it. ("Wherever Life takes you, you will always be my daughter").

"Whether It will be seen or Not seen on Big Screen TV, It is something that I wrote that quenches my soul." I'm glad to hear you say that because getting a movie made is hard sometimes, so we as writers and creatives need to be in it for more than just seeing our work on the screen.

Great article.

A tip that I learned about theme. Don't impose theme ahead of time. Discover it as you write your story.

That's a great tip, Howard Koor. I mostly figure out my themes ahead of time because they help guide my scripts, but sometimes I discover the theme as I write a script, or the theme changes as I write the script.