The Art of the Twist - Starring Jordan Peele Presenting: Get Out
Spoiler Warning: This reveals the plot.
Get Out is Jordan Peele's freshman outing as a writer/director. It's a psychological thriller that follows a young black man who visits his white girlfriend's parents and discovers a hidden truth about the family. Jordan Peele doesn't leave the twist until the end of the movie. The big twist is revealed at the apex moment around the sixty-minute mark. Throughout the movie, he has many twists to help create the art of the twist. What Jordan Peele does so well is setting everything up early on.
Structure: You Need to Know It…
When you think of structure, what comes to mind? Am I talking about structure of a building? Well, structure does involve building blocks, and like architecture, structure needs a blueprint or foundation when applying it to scripts and writing. In scripts, structure is the blueprint for the overall story. Every good script has a structure to it.
Developing Strong Characters with Personality Tests
Developing strong characters in your screenplay creates a more engaging story for your readers. Whether your leading character is a mysterious villain, a sleuthing anti-hero, or a goody-two-shoes protagonist, we all connect to a story when we build relationships with the characters. We might love ‘em or hate ‘em, but finding ways to create dynamic characters in your screenplay is a must!
One way to draft intriguing characters is by drawing inspiration from personality tests.
Are They Really Apples and Oranges?: The Difference Between a Hollywood Script and an Independent One
It's pretty simple, actually: budget. Other than that, there's no difference, really.
Yes, a Hollywood film may have big sets, stunning CGI, precision-executed special effects, massive explosions (thank you, Michael Bay; may I have another), ticket-selling actors, and crazy camera shots that look like money (and they are), but that's not story. That's what's on the screen as dictated by what's in the writing, sometimes.
How to Create Compelling Characters
Walter White. James Bond. Rocky Balboa. Forrest Gump. Paired with an engaging storyline, compelling characters are why we fall in love with movies and TV shows. Whether they’re a likable protagonist or mischievous anti-hero, strong characters are the driving forces behind a powerful screenplay.
So, how do you create compelling characters? There are several elements you can incorporate to create rich, multi-dimensional characters. Even if your script has an exciting plot, creating strong characters will take your screenwriting to the next level.
Good News for the Bad Guy
Someone in your script isn’t getting the page time they deserve. They are crucial to the story, and if you slack on them, your protagonist isn’t going to be all that special, and their character arc is more like a flatline on a heart monitor than a golden arch at McD’s. They are usually an afterthought compared to your hero and get shafted on two fronts. First in the writing and then by our hero. Of course, I’m talking about the nosey neighbor who borrows things and never returns them.
Just kidding. If the title wasn’t a big enough clue, I’m talking about our antagonist. They’re the other character in your screenplay who should have just as much attention paid to them as the protagonist. Not just on page count but, more importantly, in the creation and development. The “villains” in many films, specifically action, are relegated to the classic mustache twirlers that are bad for bad sake and monologue right before they are thwarted. Boring.