There was a cool thread a while back about the importance of concept versus craft. The old school screenwriting books that emphasize craft want you to be able to write Ordinary People or On the Waterfront....character-based dramas with great dialogue, theme and characters.
But then some people pointed argued that Concept and the ability to milk/exploit a premise--to stay on track with it--is an important skill. Think Josh Stolberg as opposed to Tony Gilroy.
I have used Speed, Liar Liar and was contemplating using the latest Freaky Friday with clients and in classes to show examples of how a screenwriter sticks to a simple concept yet fully exploits the premise...I think that is an important skill for writers who are aiming to write commercial scripts...
I want to add some films as examples or teaching tools to this list. What are some of your favorite (or best) examples of movies which has the strength of really milking a concept/premise for all its worth and really stays on track with the high-concept it professes.
Thanks in advance,
Jim
But then some people pointed argued that Concept and the ability to milk/exploit a premise--to stay on track with it--is an important skill. Think Josh Stolberg as opposed to Tony Gilroy.
I have used Speed, Liar Liar and was contemplating using the latest Freaky Friday with clients and in classes to show examples of how a screenwriter sticks to a simple concept yet fully exploits the premise...I think that is an important skill for writers who are aiming to write commercial scripts...
I want to add some films as examples or teaching tools to this list. What are some of your favorite (or best) examples of movies which has the strength of really milking a concept/premise for all its worth and really stays on track with the high-concept it professes.
Thanks in advance,
Jim
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