For the past 30 years or so, we've witnessed many successful screenwriters in modern cinema and television history such as Allan Sorkin (West Wing), Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy, Memento, Dunkirk), Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction) and more recently, Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), David Benioff & D.B. Weiss (Game of Thrones, all the credit to George R.R. Martin though) and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl, The Last of Us with Neil Druckmann, without omitting his comedic background).
My question is this: how can you explain those success stories? What makes these screenwriters distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack, i.e. the recycled, one-sided clichés and tropes that are found in cinema and TV way too often? For all the screenwriters here, I'm curious to know your POV. Thanks!
2 people like this
Hey! I think when getting into what you mentioned specifically (ignoring that they're all white men and half the projects are IP), I think MOST of the writers listed have very unique voices and/or also direct their projects so their voice goes further than just staying on the page and can be visually seen in the project.
3 people like this
Commitment (putting in a full-time effort and turning out 2-3 scripts a year), hard work (which includes networking), and talent (which includes not just great writing but knowing what to write).
2 people like this
Hey, Marcel Nault Jr. I think there are a lot of things that make those screenwriters distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack. Three of them probably are #1) great writing, #2) taking risks/making bold and unique choices with their scripts, and #3) building relationships/networking in the industry.
5 people like this
Talent and craft. There you go. That’s all you need.
Have you read the screenplays? Did you get a copy of “The Social Network” and read Aaron’s dialogue, or something like Dunkirk at it’s 68 pages (if I remember correctly).
A trope or a cliche in the hands of a master is still a wonderful thing. It is there mastery, talent and craft that separates them from the average writer.
Why is some of it exiting IP. Not rocket science, it has been proven by its success in another form. No one likes to use unproven things, from medicine to stories. This however, doesn’t guarantee success. Look at the first Lord Of The Rings movie (1978).
I think we are guaranteed to fail if we look at facts (tropes etc) and not the work. We fail to see the craft and instead embark on mimicry. This is how myths are born, “there was a backflip on page 10, all screenplays must now have a page 10 backflip”.
Just a person thing. The generalisation “like all the tropes” doesn’t really enable insight. Citations would be outstanding so we are all discussing the same thing. I try (when I can find it) a reference for my comments.
4 people like this
If haven't noticed, most of them are directors as well...some of them even act...so they're doers...that's how they succeeded...
5 people like this
They've mastered the art of storytelling. Plain and simple. And they've been able to catch the attention of people and this lead to studio deals. Writing is the best way to get into Hollywood. And you must be able to have mastered your storytelling ability.