Sleeplessness Overdone?

[Timmy]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

I had an idea for a short that, at this point, includes a character having extreme trouble sleeping. Overdone?

If your character starts with insomnia and at the end is able to sleep, then it's a kind of flaw.
So if you think sleeplessness is overdone, swap it with another flaw.

Which is different from awakening - where your character starts asleep (cannot see) and ends up awake (can see).

[Jim Mercurio]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

The overriding principle should be subjectivity. Try to tell the story in a way (structure and style) that captures the world the way the character sees it. Nolan did this in Insomnia and in Memento. But there are zillions of movies that have used a subjective POV or perspective in some way beyond the literal "seeing through the eyes of protagonist" like Lady in the Lake.

Repulsion, Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge (Sixth Sense inspiration) where the style foreshadows that it's a dream, Amarcord, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to some degree, elements in German Expressionism (think nosferatu and M), Open your Eyes, What Dreams may come, Copy Cat, Inception (but the white coat killers were a bit generic to me) ...

There are a million more films...just a few off the top of my head....

Good luck.
Peace,
Jim

[ctp]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

I remember not liking Insomnia...

Anyway, I'm kind of liking my short. I don't have the main character's conflict entirely fleshed out but I've written the first few pages if anyone wants something to read...

[Armak]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

FIGHT CLUB too. That was over a decade ago.

[Southern_land]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

What about Insomnia Love to watch Mork outact Pacino!

[ctp]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

I'm going to write it. Thanks.

[Richmond Weems]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

Don't forget FIGHT CLUB.

By the way (and echoing a point ATB made), it's never overdone if it's done well.

HH

[Midnite]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

Can't think of a well-done insomnia film beyond The Machinist. Seriously. Can't be overdone because it's hardly ever done well...

Into The Night

Jeff Goldblum, sleepless AND clueless, co-starring Michelle Pfeiffer(dozens of others) and directed by John Landis, written by Ron Koslow.

One of my favorite overlooked gems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gZM0sAAPYI

Midnite

[60WordsPerHour]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

Can't think of a well-done insomnia film beyond The Machinist. Seriously. Can't be overdone because it's hardly ever done well...

I agree with you, but Taxi Driver could be considered in the insomnia canon. And good.

[ATB]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

Can't think of a well-done insomnia film beyond The Machinist. Seriously. Can't be overdone because it's hardly ever done well...

[60WordsPerHour]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

Every time I'm tempted to think serial killers are overdone someone comes along and proves me very wrong.

Insomnia is a less-travelled road than serial killers, so if it's good (like everything) it's not a problem.

[ctp]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

Maybe I'll write it and you can find out.

Grazie.

[wcmartell]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

Since I have insomnia, I don't think it is overdone... but what happens next?

- Bill

[Max Otto Schrenck]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

But unless the insomniac's a roamer, it's difficult to dramatize.

Unlike -- AMNESIA ...

[sixridgeroad]

Re: Sleeplessness Overdone?

Not to my mind. Sleeplessness is something everyone dreads. Makes it personal, intimate, universally accessible.