[Quick Summary: A slice of life from the point of view of a group of American teens.]
I liked this script, but it's not my favorite Cameron Crowe script.
Since I don't know why yet, I'll leave you with a favorite scene.
This one features Brad, the high school senior who works after school at a fast food chain, and his boss.
"INT. CARL JR.'S
Dennis heads back to his office when he sees something in the trash bin.
DENNIS: Did you throw away those fries, Hamilton?
BRAD: They were left over from the last shift.
DENNIS: Those were perfectly good fries, Hamilton. (glares at Brad) Perfectly good.
BRAD: But they weren't mine.
Brad laughs, goes back to work."
I liked this scene because it shows us so much about Brad's internal life:
- He takes pride in his work.
- He is not afraid to challenge authority.
- He has a sense of humor.
Most people will only see the clever dialogue.
But if you're smart, you'll notice how the scene was constructed for maximum effect.
There's a careful combination of conflict (battle of authority), topic (french fries),
and setting (at the deep fryer) that makes the dialogue work.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Dialogue is 90% setup, 10% payoff.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Book and screenplay by Cameron Crowe
No comments:
Post a Comment