Step 1: Forgery with Arndt and Whedon
Topic · 1 minute
Little Miss Sunshine (Drama)
Every now and then I meet or hear about a writer who has a Star Wars, Marvel or Pixar-type of screenplay. Some have asked me how you get these in front of the relevant producers and/or studios.
The answer? Don’t write STAR WARS. Write LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.
Michael Arndt was invited to Pixar, and later commissioned to write a Star Wars feature.
Yet, he never sold himself as the next George Lucas or Andrew Stanton. Instead, Arndt wrote a complex, character-rich, low-budget drama.
Remember how Taika Waititi started out, long before he did THOR, RAGNAROK for Marvel? He wrote – and directed – BOY. Chloe Zhao was invited into the Marvel-plex after her success with NOMADLAND.
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE is a timeless work. It will forever be a screenplay to study. Don’t underestimate its complexity, though. Richard may seem to be the main POV hero but like him, every character goes through a full, satisfying journey of growth and transformation.
It’s a fine juggling act that is apparent in this simple one-page ‘phone call’ scene. Richard is trying to make an important phone call, but at the same time Dwayne, Grandpa, Olive, Sheryl, and Frank all stay present in the scene.
Look at how short and lean paragraphs are, and how the looks between these characters are implied. Because they tell the story, remember?
The Cabin In The Woods (Horror/Suspense)
Joss Whedon’s THE CABIN IN THE WOODS is a true instant-classic in the horror genre. He bends the conventions, while still giving the fans what they want.
In today’s scrippet, you have the opportunity to see how suspense is evoked on the page.
If you’ve seen the film, you may remember that some suspense is already present before we go into this scene. After all, you know you’re in a horror movie, and the kids are having just a little too much fun…
Something is bound to happen!
Then … Dana descends into the cellar. You’ll see how the scene is prepared through dialogue, and next you’ll discover the techniques Whedon uses in his visual description to amp up the suspense effect.
If you have access to the film, you may want to see where the jump scares are, and how they’re written on the page.
Enjoy!