Liked it, didn’t love it.
In a previous post (see one below) I mentioned my Hollywood experience with managers and producers, specifically, their comments after reading my scripts. Well, I have spent the last two weeks analyzing – as my limited time permits – several scripts using Shane Black’s rules. I decided on four screenplays: Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang; Die Hard; Se7en; and Lethal Weapon 1. and discovered this about my writing:
2. My stories have too few twists.
3. My stories have too few set ups and pay offs.
4. No running gags.
5. No humor during serious / tense situations.
|
Lethal Weapon |
Act I |
Act IIa |
Act IIb |
Act III |
|
Twists |
p.1 p.17 |
|
p.51 p.69 |
P.95 P.95 |
|
Wife’s cooking jokes |
p.6 |
p.39 p.40 P.45 p.50 p.53 |
|
p.101 p.103 |
|
Murtaugh’s age jokes |
p.7 p.9 p.23 p.24 |
p.35 p.41 |
|
p.101 p.101 |
|
Reference Riggs’ sanity |
p.13 p.16 p.24 |
p.32 p.34 |
p.59 |
p.99 p.102 |
|
Set ups / Pay offs |
p.26/94 |
p.44/71 p.46/80 |
p.56/61 |
p.87/94 |
Notice that the gags and twists and references to Riggs’ sanity start early in Act I – giving the reader/audience a glimpse into each character’s character and drawing us into the story.
Sounds like your studying is paying off, Mike. And Shane Black’s a great guy to study from. His blend of action and humor really works well.
Never a bad idea to stop and re-evaluate your methods, and tweak accordingly. I’m excited to see where this takes you.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA