So I read this article about a reader who had some specific guidelines on what they look for in a script. As it turns out, these guidelines follow a rigid Blake Snyder paradigm, and this reader seemed quite put off by anything not following that paradigm.
Now we've got Syd Fields and Robert McKees and Joseph Campbells and Aristotles and on and on and on who all have a theory or guideline on how to write the perfect story.
What I'm wondering, based on this reader, is whether screenwriting is akin to politics and/or religion and the fanaticism that can come with either. Simply put, do we sometimes hold too much confidence in one particular way and presume that our way is the only way to salvation?
I find the myriad of templates quite maddening myself and have tried to come up with some sort of screenwriting Jeet Kune Do to get a grip on it all, but I'm wondering if tunnel vision is commonplace or a rarity based on other's personal experience.
And...
The big AND...
What kind of hurdles can this put in place when it comes to readers who might subscribe to any one basic tenant?
Now we've got Syd Fields and Robert McKees and Joseph Campbells and Aristotles and on and on and on who all have a theory or guideline on how to write the perfect story.
What I'm wondering, based on this reader, is whether screenwriting is akin to politics and/or religion and the fanaticism that can come with either. Simply put, do we sometimes hold too much confidence in one particular way and presume that our way is the only way to salvation?
I find the myriad of templates quite maddening myself and have tried to come up with some sort of screenwriting Jeet Kune Do to get a grip on it all, but I'm wondering if tunnel vision is commonplace or a rarity based on other's personal experience.
And...
The big AND...
What kind of hurdles can this put in place when it comes to readers who might subscribe to any one basic tenant?
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