Theme: Who wins in the end?
Thesis 1: The head
Thesis 2: The heart
No matter how headstrong we become there will always be a time when we can't ignore our hearts.
Who will catch Tom Chaney?
The law
or Maddie
Lebeof embodying the head, the law, who fails time and time again at catching the bad guy.
Maddie embodying the heart, who convinces rooster to come on the trip, who won't give up, whose got to avenge her father's death.
And Rooster who is being won over by this girl. His heart even leads him to take the girl across many miles, losing his horse, and almost his life, for no payment.
While at the start, rooster along with everyone else, tries to take advantage and get money from maddie.
There is the line about "an act that is wrong in itself and an act that is wrong because of the laws and mores of man." This is the argument in other words. What is wrong because we intellectualize and write it down and what is wrong because we just feel it is wrong. We can't put feelings into words sometimes. We just know it.
Maddie's dark revenge is heart, is emotion and it will not stop at anything until it achieves it's goal. While the law will give up, reason with itself, say it's no use. The heart doesn't reason, it drives, it strives, it is the ultimate engine.
Protag - Maddie Trickster - Tom Channey
Mentor
Dark mentor
Attractor -
Dark Attractor -
Sidekick -
Dark Sidekick -
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
theme and thesis in reference to Schindler's List
Theme: "What's it mean to be a friend?"
Thesis 1: A friend gives
Thesis 2: A friend takes
this is a story in which the main character, Oskar Schindler embodies the THEME instead of a thesis.
thesis 1 is embodied by the jews
thesis 2 is embodied by goeth and his commanders
schindlers goal is to make money, be successful, but overall be a friend
he witnesses jews thanking him and tries to ignore it. they make money for him for nothing,
he witnesses goeth taking money from him, taking his workers from him,
after each thesis is illustrated in relation to his goal, he knows how to be a friend...to give. he becomes a thesis, he gives his money for the jews and gives them their lives and future generations a chance at life.
-------
now compare a story like this in which the main character embodies the theme and transforms into a thesis. with a story like the big lebowski where the main character already embodies a thesis. It's the writer who embodies the theme in this second story. the writer creates two opposing characters both working toward the same goal.
Thesis 1: A friend gives
Thesis 2: A friend takes
this is a story in which the main character, Oskar Schindler embodies the THEME instead of a thesis.
thesis 1 is embodied by the jews
thesis 2 is embodied by goeth and his commanders
schindlers goal is to make money, be successful, but overall be a friend
he witnesses jews thanking him and tries to ignore it. they make money for him for nothing,
he witnesses goeth taking money from him, taking his workers from him,
after each thesis is illustrated in relation to his goal, he knows how to be a friend...to give. he becomes a thesis, he gives his money for the jews and gives them their lives and future generations a chance at life.
-------
now compare a story like this in which the main character embodies the theme and transforms into a thesis. with a story like the big lebowski where the main character already embodies a thesis. It's the writer who embodies the theme in this second story. the writer creates two opposing characters both working toward the same goal.
Thematic Statement - Save the Cat Beat Sheet
The Thematic Statement, in other words, is in reference to a thesis. Thesis being the answer to the theme. The thematic question so to speak.
So like in batman when Alfred say, "Why do we fall? To better learn to pick ourselves up." This is an argument, a belief that supports one of the thesis' being illustrated in the story.
So the thematic Statement is not the Theme. It supports the thesis that couplets with the theme.
Theme in Batman Begins:
What makes a good vigilante?
Thesis: Someone who uses their power to help better the criminal.
Thematic statement: "we fall to learn how to grow so look for that in others as well."
theme and thesis in reference to shawshank redemption
theme: if we put our faith in others, if we put our hope in others, will everything work out for us?
thesis: no, we must rely on ourselves, stand up for ourselves, believe in ourselves.
thematic question "Is Red rehabilitated?" and "Is Andy guilty?"
thesis character andy dufresene works his way up in the prison using his knowledge and skills. he believes in himself to be able to withstand any torture, and knows right away he'll have to escape through the wall.
now, what's interesting is that as andy stays in prison just as long as red, he too starts to "put his faith in the lord". ultimately believing Warden Norton will listen to Tommy's story and help Andy get out of prison. Andy puts his faith in others until that is quickly squashed with the death of Tommy. Once again Andy picks himself back up and reminds himself what he's known all along.
This idea of relying on others, believing in others, to help you, it happens in religion, it happens in this prison, it can be call institutionalization.
now Red, represents the opposite thesis...he is heavily involved in putting his faith in others, hoping others will help him. First scene with Red he is in a room with parole board. they ask him if he's been rehabilitated....he says yes. He's hoping they will set him free. They don't. Interesting enough, the members of the parole board DO NOT put their faith in Red, the same way the judge, jury, and D.A. did not put their faith in Andy. Andy says he didnt kill them....they don't believe him.
On the other end of the spectrum, Brooks is completely reliant on others, even set free he asks manager to go to the bathroom...he doesnt have any belief in himself and kills himself
Norton is strong at first but comes to rely on Andy to do his dirty work....he ultimately puts his faith in Andy, in others, and look what happens...he kills himself.
Tommy puts his faith in the Warden and gets murdered
Once Red decides to lose hope in others and gain hope in himself, to take a stand for himself, to talk fresh to the parole board, he's set free. they see themselves in Red at that moment, a strong personality that doesnt rely on others, that exudes, "i dont give a shit what you think, i know what i know." that personality must be true.
now Theme could be stated, "If I rely on myself, believe in myself will I be set free?"
Thesis: "Yes, relying on others gets you nowhere but dead."
my take is that the theme question can be phrased, stated in many ways. there is no one right word order, it should simply contain the idea of the story. and same goes for thesis.
More info:
http://screenwritingessential.blogspot.com/2012/11/archetypes-in-shawshank-redemption-in.html
thesis: no, we must rely on ourselves, stand up for ourselves, believe in ourselves.
thematic question "Is Red rehabilitated?" and "Is Andy guilty?"
thesis character andy dufresene works his way up in the prison using his knowledge and skills. he believes in himself to be able to withstand any torture, and knows right away he'll have to escape through the wall.
now, what's interesting is that as andy stays in prison just as long as red, he too starts to "put his faith in the lord". ultimately believing Warden Norton will listen to Tommy's story and help Andy get out of prison. Andy puts his faith in others until that is quickly squashed with the death of Tommy. Once again Andy picks himself back up and reminds himself what he's known all along.
This idea of relying on others, believing in others, to help you, it happens in religion, it happens in this prison, it can be call institutionalization.
now Red, represents the opposite thesis...he is heavily involved in putting his faith in others, hoping others will help him. First scene with Red he is in a room with parole board. they ask him if he's been rehabilitated....he says yes. He's hoping they will set him free. They don't. Interesting enough, the members of the parole board DO NOT put their faith in Red, the same way the judge, jury, and D.A. did not put their faith in Andy. Andy says he didnt kill them....they don't believe him.
On the other end of the spectrum, Brooks is completely reliant on others, even set free he asks manager to go to the bathroom...he doesnt have any belief in himself and kills himself
Norton is strong at first but comes to rely on Andy to do his dirty work....he ultimately puts his faith in Andy, in others, and look what happens...he kills himself.
Tommy puts his faith in the Warden and gets murdered
Once Red decides to lose hope in others and gain hope in himself, to take a stand for himself, to talk fresh to the parole board, he's set free. they see themselves in Red at that moment, a strong personality that doesnt rely on others, that exudes, "i dont give a shit what you think, i know what i know." that personality must be true.
now Theme could be stated, "If I rely on myself, believe in myself will I be set free?"
Thesis: "Yes, relying on others gets you nowhere but dead."
my take is that the theme question can be phrased, stated in many ways. there is no one right word order, it should simply contain the idea of the story. and same goes for thesis.
More info:
http://screenwritingessential.blogspot.com/2012/11/archetypes-in-shawshank-redemption-in.html
Monday, October 29, 2012
screenwriting is messy
you've got a thematic question that rides through a story
you've got the thesis answer riding high
and you've got the "external" plot moving along
and you've got many labels for the same thing, protagonist = main character
thesis - It's a very hard thing to explain.
you're main character is illustrating a thesis, illustrating it working and not working
you've got people whispering genre, structure, acts, character types, and all things that take up brain time that don't lead to thesis' storytelling.
the writers that write well don't teach, they do.
and if they did teach theyd have a hell of a time explaining how they do it.
it's simple yet complex.
it is learned by testing and reviewing and testing again.
starting off, i just write scenes, i play, a character who wants something and wants something else, then after rereading and playing in a few drafts, then i keep a thematic word.
you've got the thesis answer riding high
and you've got the "external" plot moving along
and you've got many labels for the same thing, protagonist = main character
thesis - It's a very hard thing to explain.
you're main character is illustrating a thesis, illustrating it working and not working
you've got people whispering genre, structure, acts, character types, and all things that take up brain time that don't lead to thesis' storytelling.
the writers that write well don't teach, they do.
and if they did teach theyd have a hell of a time explaining how they do it.
it's simple yet complex.
it is learned by testing and reviewing and testing again.
starting off, i just write scenes, i play, a character who wants something and wants something else, then after rereading and playing in a few drafts, then i keep a thematic word.
screenplays and essays and thematical creation using the big lebowski as a reference
title - theme
intro - main character
thesis - wants
evidence illustrations - but
close - ends when
First, note the Big Lebowski is a dialectical story type. See Pages for reference.
a) thematic question and goal
b) opposing thesis' concerning goal
c) third thesis, synthesis
big lebowski
a) what makes a man today? and "to be a man"
b) "Take a stand." and "be a pushover, a pacifist"
c) "Take a stand, but as a woman"
this story explores, argues, and illustrates, the gender role reversal that has taken place in the U.S.A. By asking What makes a man today? We are hooked and wonder and are shown how what we thought makes a man today is dying or dead and a new feminine man is here.
intro - this is a man's world - cowboys, gulf war, guns and fights
thesis' - take a stand to get what you want
evidence - taking a stand fails in every scene they try to use force, feminine men, men castrating each other symbolically, powerful female characters
close - maude solves the mystery for the dude, this is a woman's world.
thematic illustration of the feminizing of the former man's world:
bowling balls taking down pins - men throwing bowling balls to take down pins (man castrating himself)
jesus flashing a kid, the way a woman might flash her breasts, and wearing tight feminine clothing
long hair on many characters
donnie - ultimate pushover, (old world behavior of women)
eastern style rugs
porn king jackie treehorn losing production quality because of amateur video, man who makes money objectifying women---losing power
maude taking rug back, having man servants, tricking and taking sperm from The
Dude, giving allowance to her father, rug handed down from mom to daughter
maude short for Matilda - matilda the intelligent girl from the kids books
smokey the long haired bowler telling someone in power instead of fighting
writer of branded being held alive by an iron lung, "man on his last legs"
the dudes landlord - asking for late rent not demanding it, and dancing moderne like a "woman"
the big lebowski not able to walk, on an allowance, being taken advantage of by his trophy wife, instead of wife he has Brandt as partner
the nihilists wearing feminine clothing, threatening castration on fellow man
dreams of castration
going through all this shit for a rug because it tied the room together - (old world man would not give a shit about decorating like today's man)
the bowling alley has taken place of the mythical western saloon. no guns allowed, men don't fight, men dress in feminine styles, men bowl (symbollicaly castrating themselves)
destruction of fancy red sports car and destruction of the dudes car - (destroying manly symbols)(men castrating each other symbolically)
the 60's, the loss and protest of the vietnam war - the beginning of the feminizing of men in the u.s. the rise of feminism at this time.
walter - old world man trying to take a stand but failing like a fool over and over
the doctor playing around with the dudes testicles and the dude not questioning it even though he went in for a head wound.
the dude as "a private dick" - an old world man of strength and grit now confused, weak, being helped along by a powerful woman, maude, to understand.
walter is a bowling ball, and the dude is the bowling pin
-------------
if i were writing this story i would keep this feminine man idea in the back of my head.
i would think okay what does the dude want to do next, how should he react, i would think okay, he wants to take a stand, he wants to be this old world man but he wants to be a pushover. i would keep that conflict top of mind.
_----------___
message of a movie
an argument, a thesis
today's man is a man that embodies traditional feminine qualities
stated by Mr. Lebowski "What makes a man?"
The relationship of Theme and Thesis
Theme is the question: "What makes a man today?"
Thesis is the answer: "Today's man is made up of feminine qualities."
Stories do not show truths. Stories argue a thesis, embodied by a character, but in the end after seeing the story it's still open to debate, whether you agree or not is still up to you.
Stories are opinions.
and theme questions can be stated in many ways. for the big lebowski i chose "what makes a man today?" because Mr. Lebowski says it. I could also say the theme is "Is a man today still the same as the mythical man of before? is today's man still a cowboy type? is today's hero still the shoot, fight, kick ass man of yesterday? is today's man still ruler of the roost, the bread winning dictator of the past?
or even...
is today's woman still the pushover, ignorant, sex pot of the past? is today's woman still the homemaker, husband helper, no nothing?
________________
essays and stories: contrast
in an essay, the theme is stated as the title "Today's Man."
in a story, the theme is stated as a question "What makes a man today?"
in an essay, the thesis is stated "Today's man is made up of feminine qualities."
in a story, the thesis is shown through character traits and behavior. "meet The Dude." The main character embodies and illustrates the thesis. Meet Walter another thesis about man.
in an essay, the road is mapped out, first i will, then i will, and finally i will
in a story, the final point, the goal, is stated. all of the points leading up to the goal may or may not be subtly shown
in an essay, the evidence is presented through anecdotes, statistics, first person interviews, etc.
in an story, the evidence is presented through scenes, the main character striving toward a goal while illustrating the thesis. in this case, the goal is the opposite of the thesis. "the dude strives to be that old world man."
in an essay, the stated thesis in the intro paragraph is referenced throughout the evidence and is what leads us along and connects all of the evidence.
in a story, the main characters goal is what leads us along and connects all of the evidence.
in an essay, the last point is made and the conclusion begins.
in a story, the goal is reached, and how that goal is reached addresses the thesis. "maude solves the mystery the dude has been trying to solve, to the dude it was calculus, to maude it was simple math." the dude reaches the goal but fails to do it in the old way. the goal is simply a point of conclusion. the final point of evidence
in an essay, the conclusion sums it all up, repeating the thesis.
in a story, a character sums it all up, "cowboy intros and outro's in the big lebowski and the final words from our living breathing thesis character, the dude, "the dude abides."
-------------
still wouldn't use this essay analogy to write off the bat, later in the development process i would.
this is stuff i'd use after I'd played around, written lots of scenes, then i'd ask myself what it might be about, what the goal might be about, what thesis the main character is embodying.
it seems backwards but my take is that creation is exploration. that i start with questions and end with answers, that i experiment and find results. that the entertainment comes from exploration. that starting with a thesis would lead towards obvious scenes and bore me and you. unless i started with a question or answer, theme or thesis and admitted to myself i didnt know the other half.
intro - main character
thesis - wants
evidence illustrations - but
close - ends when
First, note the Big Lebowski is a dialectical story type. See Pages for reference.
a) thematic question and goal
b) opposing thesis' concerning goal
c) third thesis, synthesis
big lebowski
a) what makes a man today? and "to be a man"
b) "Take a stand." and "be a pushover, a pacifist"
c) "Take a stand, but as a woman"
this story explores, argues, and illustrates, the gender role reversal that has taken place in the U.S.A. By asking What makes a man today? We are hooked and wonder and are shown how what we thought makes a man today is dying or dead and a new feminine man is here.
intro - this is a man's world - cowboys, gulf war, guns and fights
thesis' - take a stand to get what you want
evidence - taking a stand fails in every scene they try to use force, feminine men, men castrating each other symbolically, powerful female characters
close - maude solves the mystery for the dude, this is a woman's world.
thematic illustration of the feminizing of the former man's world:
bowling balls taking down pins - men throwing bowling balls to take down pins (man castrating himself)
jesus flashing a kid, the way a woman might flash her breasts, and wearing tight feminine clothing
long hair on many characters
donnie - ultimate pushover, (old world behavior of women)
eastern style rugs
porn king jackie treehorn losing production quality because of amateur video, man who makes money objectifying women---losing power
maude taking rug back, having man servants, tricking and taking sperm from The
Dude, giving allowance to her father, rug handed down from mom to daughter
maude short for Matilda - matilda the intelligent girl from the kids books
smokey the long haired bowler telling someone in power instead of fighting
writer of branded being held alive by an iron lung, "man on his last legs"
the dudes landlord - asking for late rent not demanding it, and dancing moderne like a "woman"
the big lebowski not able to walk, on an allowance, being taken advantage of by his trophy wife, instead of wife he has Brandt as partner
the nihilists wearing feminine clothing, threatening castration on fellow man
dreams of castration
going through all this shit for a rug because it tied the room together - (old world man would not give a shit about decorating like today's man)
the bowling alley has taken place of the mythical western saloon. no guns allowed, men don't fight, men dress in feminine styles, men bowl (symbollicaly castrating themselves)
destruction of fancy red sports car and destruction of the dudes car - (destroying manly symbols)(men castrating each other symbolically)
the 60's, the loss and protest of the vietnam war - the beginning of the feminizing of men in the u.s. the rise of feminism at this time.
walter - old world man trying to take a stand but failing like a fool over and over
the doctor playing around with the dudes testicles and the dude not questioning it even though he went in for a head wound.
the dude as "a private dick" - an old world man of strength and grit now confused, weak, being helped along by a powerful woman, maude, to understand.
walter is a bowling ball, and the dude is the bowling pin
-------------
if i were writing this story i would keep this feminine man idea in the back of my head.
i would think okay what does the dude want to do next, how should he react, i would think okay, he wants to take a stand, he wants to be this old world man but he wants to be a pushover. i would keep that conflict top of mind.
_----------___
message of a movie
an argument, a thesis
today's man is a man that embodies traditional feminine qualities
stated by Mr. Lebowski "What makes a man?"
The relationship of Theme and Thesis
Theme is the question: "What makes a man today?"
Thesis is the answer: "Today's man is made up of feminine qualities."
Stories do not show truths. Stories argue a thesis, embodied by a character, but in the end after seeing the story it's still open to debate, whether you agree or not is still up to you.
Stories are opinions.
and theme questions can be stated in many ways. for the big lebowski i chose "what makes a man today?" because Mr. Lebowski says it. I could also say the theme is "Is a man today still the same as the mythical man of before? is today's man still a cowboy type? is today's hero still the shoot, fight, kick ass man of yesterday? is today's man still ruler of the roost, the bread winning dictator of the past?
or even...
is today's woman still the pushover, ignorant, sex pot of the past? is today's woman still the homemaker, husband helper, no nothing?
________________
essays and stories: contrast
in an essay, the theme is stated as the title "Today's Man."
in a story, the theme is stated as a question "What makes a man today?"
in an essay, the thesis is stated "Today's man is made up of feminine qualities."
in a story, the thesis is shown through character traits and behavior. "meet The Dude." The main character embodies and illustrates the thesis. Meet Walter another thesis about man.
in an essay, the road is mapped out, first i will, then i will, and finally i will
in a story, the final point, the goal, is stated. all of the points leading up to the goal may or may not be subtly shown
in an essay, the evidence is presented through anecdotes, statistics, first person interviews, etc.
in an story, the evidence is presented through scenes, the main character striving toward a goal while illustrating the thesis. in this case, the goal is the opposite of the thesis. "the dude strives to be that old world man."
in an essay, the stated thesis in the intro paragraph is referenced throughout the evidence and is what leads us along and connects all of the evidence.
in a story, the main characters goal is what leads us along and connects all of the evidence.
in an essay, the last point is made and the conclusion begins.
in a story, the goal is reached, and how that goal is reached addresses the thesis. "maude solves the mystery the dude has been trying to solve, to the dude it was calculus, to maude it was simple math." the dude reaches the goal but fails to do it in the old way. the goal is simply a point of conclusion. the final point of evidence
in an essay, the conclusion sums it all up, repeating the thesis.
in a story, a character sums it all up, "cowboy intros and outro's in the big lebowski and the final words from our living breathing thesis character, the dude, "the dude abides."
-------------
still wouldn't use this essay analogy to write off the bat, later in the development process i would.
this is stuff i'd use after I'd played around, written lots of scenes, then i'd ask myself what it might be about, what the goal might be about, what thesis the main character is embodying.
it seems backwards but my take is that creation is exploration. that i start with questions and end with answers, that i experiment and find results. that the entertainment comes from exploration. that starting with a thesis would lead towards obvious scenes and bore me and you. unless i started with a question or answer, theme or thesis and admitted to myself i didnt know the other half.
Theme and Thesis
Theme is the goal in question form.
Luke Skywalker - I want to be a Jedi
Theme: What makes a Jedi?
Thesis: skilled warrior who can force weapons
Thesis: warrior who allows the force to use the weapons through him
Thesis is how the goal is achieved.
Thesis 1: Trains and tests himself in fights with weapons
Thesis 2: Trains and allows the force to take control of the weapons
May help to ask "What would the main character want, even if the group goal, story goal, changed?
If the story goal wasn't to stop the death star but to stop some other weapon or to catch darth vader, or to win a space race....what would Luke still want. To be a Jedi.
That's how I parse out theme from all of the goals floating around in a story. I look at the personal goal of the main character. What he would want even if these other events changed.
Luke Skywalker - I want to be a Jedi
Theme: What makes a Jedi?
Thesis: skilled warrior who can force weapons
Thesis: warrior who allows the force to use the weapons through him
Thesis is how the goal is achieved.
Thesis 1: Trains and tests himself in fights with weapons
Thesis 2: Trains and allows the force to take control of the weapons
May help to ask "What would the main character want, even if the group goal, story goal, changed?
If the story goal wasn't to stop the death star but to stop some other weapon or to catch darth vader, or to win a space race....what would Luke still want. To be a Jedi.
That's how I parse out theme from all of the goals floating around in a story. I look at the personal goal of the main character. What he would want even if these other events changed.
Short Films and Medium films
Short films:
An idea - illustrated in the least amount of images cut together.
A concept - illustrated.
Example:
Title: "Variation on Theme"
Man eating pizza in three scenes, Fourth Scene eats sandwich but with similar ingredients.
Example:
Title "Rockhard"
Man strums a guitar and it vibrates throughout the room.
Man stomps his boot on the stage.
Man strums and stomps his boot on the stage.
Illustrating the positive and negative values of a tool.
Example:
Title "Hope"
Man prays that someone will find his missing daughter.
Another man tells another man it's no use, she's gone. The second man keeps looking.
Example:
Title "Hammer"
Hammer puts a nail in a coffin.
Hammer puts a nail in the wall, a baby picture is hung up.
Medium films:
Illustrating the positive and negative values of a thesis.
Example:
Title "Putting it all on red leads to."
Scene losing money at casino
Scene saving a child from a burning building
An idea - illustrated in the least amount of images cut together.
A concept - illustrated.
Example:
Title: "Variation on Theme"
Man eating pizza in three scenes, Fourth Scene eats sandwich but with similar ingredients.
Example:
Title "Rockhard"
Man strums a guitar and it vibrates throughout the room.
Man stomps his boot on the stage.
Man strums and stomps his boot on the stage.
Illustrating the positive and negative values of a tool.
Example:
Title "Hope"
Man prays that someone will find his missing daughter.
Another man tells another man it's no use, she's gone. The second man keeps looking.
Example:
Title "Hammer"
Hammer puts a nail in a coffin.
Hammer puts a nail in the wall, a baby picture is hung up.
Medium films:
Illustrating the positive and negative values of a thesis.
Example:
Title "Putting it all on red leads to."
Scene losing money at casino
Scene saving a child from a burning building
Sunday, October 28, 2012
forget everything you have ever read about screenwriting, storytelling, and what have you
recipe, formula, guidelines:
one character
relationship demand
internal goal
fears that motivates one goal over relationship demand and vice versa
example: The Big Lebowski
one character: The Dude
relationship demand - to be a man, (take a stand)
internal goal - to be a woman (pacifist, pushover)
fear leading him from internal goal to relationship demand: castration
fear leading him from relationship demand to internal goal: getting his ass kicked
one character
relationship demand
internal goal
fears that motivates one goal over relationship demand and vice versa
example: The Big Lebowski
one character: The Dude
relationship demand - to be a man, (take a stand)
internal goal - to be a woman (pacifist, pushover)
fear leading him from internal goal to relationship demand: castration
fear leading him from relationship demand to internal goal: getting his ass kicked
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