How to find a title?

[David Alin]

Does anyone have the problem I am having by coming up with a title for an action script?

I can't thinking of anything, anyone has any advice?

[WritersBlock2010]

Re: How to find a title?

Titles usually come from the material itself.

They can come out of a character's name, theme, location in the script, the goal of the script and a myriad of other elements once the script is finished. This is why some projects are called "Untitled (genre) Project" when they go into production because a title still has not been decided on yet.

Also, a lot of times titles change when marketing takes over as well.

For example, the original title to "Rambo: First Blood Part II" is "First Blood II: The Mission". The Mission reflects the mission John Rambo is sent on during the film to rescue POWs.

Another fun example of a title change is "Simon Says" which became "Die Hard With a Vengeance" because they adapted the original Johnathan Hensleigh script "Simon Says" into a John McClane, Die Hard movie

[Revisionist]

Re: How to find a title?

I usually wait until the title either jumps out at me or I'm totally finished the script. Right now I'm working on an action/thriller page one rewrite, changing the whole plot line and story and working on it as "untitiled".

Sometimes I'll check out stuff on the net related to my research, sometimes look for similar words in the concept in a thesaurus, or sometimes I'll simply beat myself into submission looking for one. Psychologically thinking about the character's arc also works.

The script name "Hidden Impulse" for my last script came up doing the thesaurus thing. I wanted something that said inner feelings of people who are pushed to kill for revenge. It took me about a week of not pushing the title issue because, let's face it, it's the easiest part of the script. It'll come to you but in my experience, the harder you push it, the harder it gets to think of something.

Only the writer is capable of coming up with the title too. I had a ton of people wanting to help and throw out some pretty ludicrous stuff. Like "Revenge Killer". Uck. "Inner Vengence" was almost used. But the writer knows the story best so in knowing that, you should eventually run across the title.

[Revisionist]

Re: How to find a title?

I thought Simon Says and Simple Simon were titles used during the draft sequence of Mercury Rising...

Just checked. It was used for both.

[Writing is Fart]

Re: How to find a title?

Look at it this way. A good title is basically the shortest way you could describe your movie (not counting if you're using established brands etc). You don't need to include every little detail, abstraction is key. I should mention that a good title also denotes the tone of the story.

For example, your story with the salvage divers, with the protag who had issues with her father ...
Salvaged Life (or Salvaged Lives) would of been a good title.

The story you were working on before, with the Red Book etc.
Possible titles could of been Curse of the Red Book, Curse of the Pocket Mirror, Maiden in the Mirror, The Pirate in the Pocket Mirror etc...

[David Alin]

Re: How to find a title?

I thought Simon Says and Simple Simon were titles used during the draft sequence of Mercury Rising...

Just checked. It was used for both.

Thanks guys!

I wanted to know, because I started writing five pages, and didn't know what to call it... especially when I decide to post a thread on the script in "DD".

So, I asked because I can't think of a good one now, but perhaps you are right. From the character's or their situation which is the outcome of the script might help.

I like the thesaurus idea too.

[David Alin]

Re: How to find a title?

Look at it this way. A good title is basically the shortest way you could describe your movie (not counting if you're using established brands etc). You don't need to include every little detail, abstraction is key. I should mention that a good title also denotes the tone of the story.

For example, your story with the salvage divers, with the protag who had issues with her father ...
Salvaged Life (or Salvaged Lives) would of been a good title.

That's a good one, never considered it that way...

Thanks WIF.

The story you were working on before, with the Red Book etc.
Possible titles could of been Curse of the Red Book, Curse of the Pocket Mirror, Maiden in the Mirror, The Pirate in the Pocket Mirror etc...

I still like "Standing Out of Time" for that one, but who knows... right now is the first one, the salvage one, I was thinking about.

"Salvaged Lives", mmmmmm -

I'll think some more, before deciding on it. But I like what you suggested though. Smart guy!

[GKelly]

Re: How to find a title?

Music titles and lyrics, common phrases, new words that enter the language (wordspy.com), slang terms. I've also gotten titles off news headlines and magazine article titles.

And here's another good source...

I go to the bookstore and look in the romance section. I don't look at the bestsellers like Nora Roberts, but at the smaller books that fill the shelves and are only out a month or so. There are jillions of titles in every catagory (thriller, erotic, supernatural) -- most reused. A good source for generic titles in all genres.

[David Alin]

Re: How to find a title?

Music titles and lyrics, common phrases, new words that enter the language (wordspy.com), slang terms. I've also gotten titles off news headlines and magazine article titles.

And here's another good source...

I go to the bookstore and look in the romance section. I don't look at the bestsellers like Nora Roberts, but at the smaller books that fill the shelves and are only out a month or so. There are jillions of titles in every catagory (thriller, erotic, supernatural) -- most reused. A good source for generic titles in all genres.

Interesting...

Never thought of that...

[alex whitmer]

Re: How to find a title?

Assuming this is for the pirate story, think what is the one thing in the story that affects the story and the palyers. Could be the red book, could be the ghost, or even the map.

or it could be your main guy finds love by going through this journey.


A few that come to mind ...

The little red book
The heirloom
A map of hearts
Booty Cove
Plundered gold, plundered hearts
A treasure twice buried

A

[WritersBlock2010]

Re: How to find a title?

David:

For your salvage story...

HARD SALVAGE.

Why?

Because it is a "hard salvage" to repair the broken relationship between the daughter and father... And because your story is a "Die Hard" story set underwater if you choose to write it that way. It is also a very commercial, I.E. genre specific title that casts no doubt about the tone of the film, that being an action-movie.

Music titles and lyrics, common phrases, new words that enter the language (wordspy.com), slang terms. I've also gotten titles off news headlines and magazine article titles.

I wrote a script called "New York Minute" based on the Don Henley song. The story takes place in NY City and is a cross between "Falling Down" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". Yes, that is not a typo

[David Alin]

Re: How to find a title?

Assuming this is for the pirate story, think what is the one thing in the story that affects the story and the palyers. Could be the red book, could be the ghost, or even the map.

or it could be your main guy finds love by going through this journey.


A few that come to mind ...

The little red book
The heirloom
A map of hearts
Booty Cove
Plundered gold, plundered hearts
A treasure twice buried

A

Thanks Alex-

I will keep them in mind when it comes time to go back to that one. I have two on the stove in the works... I sort like "Booty Cove" though, not sure if it's effective enough... but I will copy and paste these suggestions down in my list for titles for the pirate script.

In regards to the salvage script, that's what I'm focusing on to find a proper title... when it hits me of course.

[whistlelock]

Re: How to find a title?

Hand it to someone else, have them read it, and then ask them what they feel would be a good title.

[David Alin]

Re: How to find a title?

Hand it to someone else, have them read it, and then ask them what they feel would be a good title.

Hi Whistlelock-

I posted under scripts a few pages. Tell me what you think from the opening scenes?

http://207.5.19.9/boards/showthread....047#post336047

Thanks!

[David Alin]

Re: How to find a title?

David:

For your salvage story...

HARD SALVAGE.

Why?

Because it is a "hard salvage" to repair the broken relationship between the daughter and father... And because your story is a "Die Hard" story set underwater if you choose to write it that way. It is also a very commercial, I.E. genre specific title that casts no doubt about the tone of the film, that being an action-movie.



I wrote a script called "New York Minute" based on the Don Henley song. The story takes place in NY City and is a cross between "Falling Down" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". Yes, that is not a typo

Had seen this thread/post until now, "WB2010".


"HARD SALVAGE"

A nice title to consider... but two people dislike my take on the concept of the father and daughter thing. Interesting...