I start with a theme, a general plot idea, and a few main characters… And then I'm happy to watch those all disappear as I write the actual story and new themes, characters, and actions emerge.
Figuring it out during the outlining stage, or in the iteration stage, either way you've figured it out before the final product is released. But I'd just like to add... I don't see theme as a message I'm preaching to the reader/audience. I see it as my characters' ideological battle with one another. And the more focused my story is on that battle, the better. For example: At what point is teamwork detrimental to the mission? Character #1 believes working alone creates the best results, because you don't have other people holding you back. Character #2 believes in a "less cooks in the kitchen" approach, but in THIS situation we need the BARE MINIMUM help from a team. Character #3 believes team work is always the best way, no matter what. Character #4 believes that teamwork generally is the best approach, but in THIS situation we need the BARE MINIMUM help from a lone wolf - even if they're frustratingly keeping us out of the loop. The conflict writes itself.
This is exactly how I use theme: as a tool for exploring the characters convictions (and indirectly, the audience's too). You don't preach what the answer is, you just show the question in different shapes, with different people taking different approaches.
I think you are right in the idea that theme should arise naturally. However, I don't think this is the same as writing without a theme. The theme should show itself in the outlining stage, after you have a very general idea of the story and characters, and you have envisioned some scenes you want to write. What those bare minimum scenes point to should become a question you can explore with your characters. And that is all you need to establish a theme: asking what is your fundamental story exploring, then using that as a general compass.
I hated when the people in my screenplay class kept asking "but what's the theme" man I just wanna tell a fuckiing story. This video just proved the way I write. I just write and then I can figure it out
i like your advice. i never had a screenplay idea, and i don't know the logistics of writing that or plays or tv, but i've had an idea for a play and a couple for sitcom pilots. most of what i write is a novel and some short stories
Great video and content. This video popped up on my suggested videos, I started watching it, and expected your channel to have 1M+ followers and 100k views on this video. So good job and keep up the good content creation.
Terrible advice, though. You can't get to the point if you don't have one. And as far as this celebrity advice, it's like taking Stephen king's advice on writing: the dude has already internalized all of the machinery, so he doesn't need an outline, but if a newb writes without an outline it's reliably a disaster. Same for Sorkin. Edit: spelling
Theme is how the protagonist resolves (or doesn't resolve) the climax. Take the matrix: at the climax Neo finally believes in yourself -> theme is believing in yourself. And because that's how he resolves the climax, the whole middle is about how he struggles to believe in himself.
I agree. Stephen King's idea of how story should be created is the absolute worst. It is literally a trap that only works for pantsers that are already geniuses. If you are a new author building your own witting process, do NOT follow King's advice. Even his archaeologist methaphor is wrong: if story is a buried treasure you must unearth, a professional archaeologist will NOT improvise the excavation. They will design a detailed grid to guide the work, and carefully, patiently, take apart the rocks and dirt hiding it, making sure to preserve both the object and the context where it lies.
✍ Level Up Your Screenwriting ➤ tuckerberke.com
For me themes never felt limiting, quite the opposite! Themes always felts like fertile ground to me on which ideas blossom.
I start with a theme, a general plot idea, and a few main characters…
And then I'm happy to watch those all disappear as I write the actual story and new themes, characters, and actions emerge.
Figuring it out during the outlining stage, or in the iteration stage, either way you've figured it out before the final product is released. But I'd just like to add...
I don't see theme as a message I'm preaching to the reader/audience. I see it as my characters' ideological battle with one another. And the more focused my story is on that battle, the better.
For example: At what point is teamwork detrimental to the mission?
Character #1 believes working alone creates the best results, because you don't have other people holding you back.
Character #2 believes in a "less cooks in the kitchen" approach, but in THIS situation we need the BARE MINIMUM help from a team.
Character #3 believes team work is always the best way, no matter what.
Character #4 believes that teamwork generally is the best approach, but in THIS situation we need the BARE MINIMUM help from a lone wolf - even if they're frustratingly keeping us out of the loop.
The conflict writes itself.
This is exactly how I use theme: as a tool for exploring the characters convictions (and indirectly, the audience's too). You don't preach what the answer is, you just show the question in different shapes, with different people taking different approaches.
I think you are right in the idea that theme should arise naturally. However, I don't think this is the same as writing without a theme.
The theme should show itself in the outlining stage, after you have a very general idea of the story and characters, and you have envisioned some scenes you want to write. What those bare minimum scenes point to should become a question you can explore with your characters. And that is all you need to establish a theme: asking what is your fundamental story exploring, then using that as a general compass.
If you want to avoid having to do a million rewrites, knowing your theme in advance will help with that
🎯
I hated when the people in my screenplay class kept asking "but what's the theme" man I just wanna tell a fuckiing story. This video just proved the way I write. I just write and then I can figure it out
Nah
i like your advice. i never had a screenplay idea, and i don't know the logistics of writing that or plays or tv, but i've had an idea for a play and a couple for sitcom pilots. most of what i write is a novel and some short stories
Great video and content. This video popped up on my suggested videos, I started watching it, and expected your channel to have 1M+ followers and 100k views on this video. So good job and keep up the good content creation.
Good stuff
What movies have you written? I’d really like to watch them!
In the works 🤫
Terrible advice, though. You can't get to the point if you don't have one. And as far as this celebrity advice, it's like taking Stephen king's advice on writing: the dude has already internalized all of the machinery, so he doesn't need an outline, but if a newb writes without an outline it's reliably a disaster. Same for Sorkin.
Edit: spelling
Theme is how the protagonist resolves (or doesn't resolve) the climax. Take the matrix: at the climax Neo finally believes in yourself -> theme is believing in yourself. And because that's how he resolves the climax, the whole middle is about how he struggles to believe in himself.
I agree. Stephen King's idea of how story should be created is the absolute worst. It is literally a trap that only works for pantsers that are already geniuses. If you are a new author building your own witting process, do NOT follow King's advice.
Even his archaeologist methaphor is wrong: if story is a buried treasure you must unearth, a professional archaeologist will NOT improvise the excavation. They will design a detailed grid to guide the work, and carefully, patiently, take apart the rocks and dirt hiding it, making sure to preserve both the object and the context where it lies.
I wouldn't include Greta Gerwig in any video on great (or good, or average) writing and/or directing. Otherwise, interesting video.
The reviews for Ladybird never made a lick of sense to me. It was godawful drudgery.
Guess we have different taste, Lady Bird was both my and my wife’s favorite movie of 2017