[Quick Summary: CIA operative to get Americans out of Tehran, Iran in 1980.]
Action scripts need to mooooooooove.
Unfortunately, many scripts have a slow pace and rhythm, beginning with the initial character introductions.
ex. JOE, 25, a mild mannered mechanic with nunchucks in his back pocket, washes windows.
Do we really need to know Joe has a weapon? Can you see "mild mannered"?
But Argo shows a new trend on how to keep the pace up:
- The character's initial introduction is at a bare minimum.
- The character is then fleshed out later by his/her actions.
ex. TONY MENDEZ, 40, asleep in his clothes from the day before.
ex. JOHN CHAMBERS, Hollywood's first Oscar winner for makeup, walks onto set carrying a fishing tackle box of supplies.
ex. TOM AHERN, 48, the CIA station chief here.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I like this trend because it gets the reader to the action faster.
Argo (2012)
by Chris Terrio
No comments:
Post a Comment