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I was working with a screenwriter this week who made me think of something I say in class a lot:
A movie is about “one idea.”
I was reminded that in his book, Your Screenplay Sucks, my pal Will Akers says the very same thing.
To many this precept is confusing. And feels “restricting.” I am brilliant! I can weave many ideas through my screenplay. I will not be “dumbed down” into limiting myself and my creativity! you will protest.
And I agree.
But one idea, well told, is actually the way to make your script more meaningful. Finding the “one idea” makes your story spine stronger. Yours must be a tale in which we “follow the bouncing ball” of a hero who changes from beginning to end. Your hero must learn a lesson — pick one– and you are telling us what that is by clearly planting your Theme Stated up front… and tying it to the “lesson learned” at the end.
But as stated in Save the Cat! — and whenever I get to be face to face with you in class, or while working on your script with you — once you find that Theme, and can stick to it, you can weave in many different skeins of meaning! A movie is a debate, the pros and cons of a particular point of view or way of living. As long as it works off of your main theme, you can be as free wheeling as you like and have confidence that you will not lose your audience, or diminish the power of your thematic intention by diluting your story.
The “one idea” rule also helps you decide if it’s a love story… or a thriller. And don’t you wish more moviemakers would decide this? We can understand multiple levels of meaning, as long as your intention as the writer is clear. Sticking to the “one idea per movie” rule helps us focus on what we’re really saying.
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on March 26th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Thanks Blake.
Every now and then I need to reminded to Keep it Simple. And I might add - One Idea to focus on really makes it easier to write and tell the story.
Namaste Speedo
on March 26th, 2009 at 11:55 am
And the marketing executives will thank you.
on March 26th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
My “one idea” is burning a hole in my lip.
on March 26th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Shouldn’t you be packing for London
Awesome advice today. THANK YOU!
on March 26th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
London won’t know what hit them. Blake, I was just reviewing your 10 Movie Genres, and it really is incredible the amount of insight you have in regards to story. The whole story universe is encompassed in them! Blows my mind. If Syd Field is the old Godfather of screenwriting, you’re like Michael Corleone, the new Godfather, expanding the family into new territories.
Just don’t kill Fredo!
on March 27th, 2009 at 6:57 am
I love the simple stuff. So often I see scripts that ramble on in different directions it becomes hard to tell who the hero is or even care about them. I am applying the one idea theme concept to a screenplay now and it helps me keep it focused.
Discipline,
Focus,
Positive energy
Bob Conder
on March 27th, 2009 at 8:21 am
I have to agree with this - focusing on the “one idea,” which I guess can be interpreted as the “theme,” does make for a stronger story. I have written two screenplays since reading “…the Cat” and they are my best work to date.
Concentrating on the outline set up by Blake helps from deviating from this “one idea.” Everything fell into place. Thanks again Blake!
on March 27th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I like Shane’s idea.
“Blake Snyder, The Godfather of All Cats”…always promoting discipline, generating excitement and reminding all to stay focused.
Our leader, my hero. I always get my daily dose of positive energy by reading Blake’s blog and all the added comments.
Thanks Blake and all those that add their comments!
on March 27th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
“Bob Conder Says:
March 27th, 2009 at 6:57 am
I love the simple stuff. So often I see scripts that ramble on in different directions it becomes hard to tell who the hero is or even care about them.
This often happen in real life, as well. I’ve noticed among people who are bad storytellers the problem is invariably that they digress too much.
on March 30th, 2009 at 2:41 am
One of my favorite movies of 2008 was DOUBT. Simple title, simple theme. And it was fascinating to see how doubt was experienced by every character in different ways– doubting one’s own morality; doubting one’s own convictions; doubting God– and it became the viewer’s experience as well. So simple and so brilliantly executed.
on March 31st, 2009 at 8:22 pm
O.K.I’m slow but I’m old, but when I get it! Hows this. I put my forty cards on a bicycle wheel because of the forty spokes. Then I put my main character in the hub so I could be sure that every scene spoked relavence to hubbing her forward. The other wheel on my velocipede is the B story.