In The Hurt Locker, the writer, Mark Boal, and director, Kathryn Bigelow, take us inside the psychological embodiment of war. The scene in the grocery story with Will James is one of the most powerful scenes I have experienced in film in a very long time. With not a single word spoken, I understood the message. James feels isolated, lost, and disconnected with the emotional side of his life and comfortable with the battlefield. At war he can dismantle IEDs and risk his life, but at home, he has trouble making a decision on a box of cereal. Universally, this can be experienced on so many different levels. Many of us can relate to the idea of being more comfortable with work than we are with our emotions. With one, we have a perceived sense of control. With the other, we have no control. The message of this poignant scene is further solidified when Will explains to his baby that when we start life, we love everything. As we grow older, it’s one or two things and then for him, it’s just one. This was so powerful and so revealing. It exposed the creators at the deepest level. It brought us in and made us a part of their vision. I think this is why everyone who has seen this film has felt its heart and soul.
As a writer, you have to have the courage to complete your vision. First, you have to fully understand your story and why you’re telling it. Identifying your message brings you to a stronger sense of your own interpretation. You are revealing yourself to your audience and exposing the meaning of your story.
I think about the powerful message in The Lives of Others: the loyalty of the officer who had the writer, Georg, under surveillance. The officer’s loyalty was not only to Georg, it was to the beauty of Georg’s words. He recognized that the world needed to hear what Georg had to say. His commitment to this outweighed his commitment as an officer who was assigned to help bring Georg down. Then, at the end of the movie, the officer finds a message from Georg to him in the dedication of his book. This was an incredible moment in this film. The message carried so much depth because of all that transpired between them. It took us to that point and made us a part of that moment. It was brilliant.
When your audience understands your message, it makes them feel even more empowered by your story. The revelation of strong messages is often the moment when my eyes start to well up with tears. Getting the message is like an “ah ha” moment for the viewer. It is often the moment when your story resonates at the deepest level with those watching. Done well, it is your gold.
A friend of mine, Deb Cahn, recently wrote an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. In it, she explored the idea of commitment and relationships. The message she hit was for single people to not be afraid to ask for anything less than what they deserve in a relationship. It was explored in several of the storylines and had a very powerful overall effect. This message made it clear to me that if commitment and monogamy is what we want, none of us should be afraid to ask for it.
Speaking of messages about commitment, the shows Parenthood and Modern Family both reflect strong messages about love, commitment, and family. After all the infidelity that’s been in the news lately, it is a very important message to send out. We all need to see and understand the sexiness behind being in a strong family and a committed relationship. For it is in these situations that our well for story deepens. It is when we alienate and isolate that we move further away from participating in our own story.
The Good Wife, as a series, sends out a very powerful message: like Alicia, after suffering a tremendous loss and public betrayal by a spouse, you can pick up the pieces of your life and build a foundation again. It is possible. You can return to work and feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose again. It makes us also see that, as humans, we make mistakes. No one is above this. Seeing this family work out their mistakes is a strong message to send out to all families that have been forced to deal with adversity when one or more members makes a mistake that affects the family as a whole. We connect with Alicia’s character because she is a strong female determined to get her life and the life of her family back on track after the fall.
As viewers, I believe we gravitate toward the shows that not only entertain but deliver us messages that we can apply to our own lives. When we see others make mistakes and learn from their errors, we see that we can forgive ourselves for not always being perfect. We see how family members work out their problems and it makes us apply some of the same lessons learned to our own lives.
Sending out strong messages about issues is a great thing for writers to be aware of when writing their episodes. I just went to a panel about fistula. Fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway between two epithelium-lined organs or vessels that normally do not connect. It is generally a disease condition and results in a very high rate of maternal deaths. Neal Behr and Marta Kaufman were two of the panelists. Neal told the room full of writers about how he did “birth” stories for the long-running television show ER, and how they can take important issues like fistula and put it into their stories. Marta Kaufman shared how she utilized some of her “birth” stories on Friends and encouraged comedy writers to know that you can deal with serious subjects in your writing. It was an inspiring event. This is only one of the hundreds of issues that could benefit from our storytellers utilizing their platform to get a message out.
We all send messages out into the universe with the choices we make and the behavior we adhere to. What message are you sending out? In business, a clear and concise message is everything to a company. With starting my own company, I have come to realize more than ever the importance of the message that I send out. One of my messages is to encourage people to develop from within. Doing the spiritual work is worth it. Sending positive messages out about who you are and what you want to accomplish in life is everything. If you are connected with yourself, there is no limit to what you can accomplish. Always be aware of your own message.
Think about how your message can elevate your writing. You can start it small and build to a powerful declaration, or you can build it through theme and symbolism and make it clear toward the end of your story. There are many messages that are well worth exploring. Start being conscious of all the messages delivered around you. When you feel something powerful in your own life, chances are there are many others who feel the same way. You want to strive to build this sense of shared experiences with the story that you’re telling.
We all want to feel your story. Intimacy is something that happens less and less in life. Yet, you can create an intimacy between you and your audience by doing the work inside, understanding the messages you experience in your own life, adding fiction to them, and transferring them into your story. With story, there is a personal intimacy that we each experience while watching the journey unfold. No two people share the exact same experience. The gift of story is that it can stir up emotions in your audience that take them into their own life moments and memories, adding depth by connecting them with your message.
Story Line: Finding Gold in Your Life Story is intended to help you see your story in all its glory, joy, happiness, excitement, fulfillment, pain, loss, hurt, embarrassment, sadness, jealousy…the list goes on. All of your emotions and experiences mean something to your audience. When you are able to see yourself, you will help others to see you. By extracting the truth from your well and transforming it onto the page, you will elevate your writing. Through understanding how to write log lines for your life you will learn how to organize your story by adding fiction and irony to it. This will help get you a step closer to learning how to fictionalize it in your story lines, giving your scripts and novels a stronger chance to connect with your audience. Understanding the significance of powerful dilemmas and clear goals is another very important message in this book. If your audience is clear about your intention, your story will have a much greater chance of succeeding. Writing strong log lines will increase your chances of selling your pitch and conveying your story. By utilizing your universal life themes, adding symbolism and conveying an unforgettable message, your story will stay ingrained in the depths of your audience.
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My overall message to you with this book is to encourage you to go deep inside yourself and find your gold. Explore your caves without fear. Separate yourself from your shame. Detach from your ego and connect with your spirit. Believe in the power of you. Know that what determines your success is all in your control. You can write your way into a job. Be willing to embrace this possibility. Very often, the deeper you are willing to go, the better chance you have of finding your voice and discovering it’s all inside. You don’t have to attend many schools or classes, you just have to be willing to go within and take us there with you. When you find this power, you will connect with your audience. We want to see you in your story.
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
by Anne Lamott
The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting
by Marilyn Horowitz
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
by Donald Miller
Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need
by Blake Snyder
The Script-Selling Game
by Kathie Fong Yoneda
Symbols • Images • Codes: The Secret Language of Meaning in Film, TV, Games, and Visual Media
by Pamela Jaye Smith
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
by Steven Pressfield
The Way of Story: The Craft and Soul of Writing
by Catherine Ann Jones
Writing a Great Movie: Key Tools for Successful Screenwriting
by Jeff Kitchen
Writing Screenplays That Sell
by Michael Hauge
Writing the TV Drama Series, Second Edition: How to Succeed As a Professional Writer in TV
by Pamela Douglas
RECOMMENDED WEBSITES
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences—
http://www.emmys.org/academy
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a nonprofit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunication arts and sciences and to fostering creative leadership in the telecommunication industry.
Final Draft/Script Magazine—
http://www.finaldraft.com
Final Draft is a writer’s best friend when it comes to script software. Script magazine gives all the news that screenwriters need. You’ll find articles, event coverage, and links to important resources for scriptwriters and filmmakers.
IMDb—
http://www.imdb.com/
The Internet Movie Database: The definitive online database of facts and opinions on feature films and television, including plot synopses, cast and crew credits, reviews, quotations, and sidebars of special interest. (A more detailed version, IMDbPro, is available on a subscription basis.)
The Paley Center for Media—
http://www.paleycenter.org/
The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public.
TVTracker—
http://www.tvtracker.com/
TVTracker offers some of the most accurate and timely data tracking and analysis in TV, film, and digital entertainment. You can look up all the information you need to know about a show. It is a valuable resource. It also tells you the latest news on what pilots get picked up, etc.
20 Most Common Errors in English—
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/easywriter3e/20errors/
No matter what medium you write for, no matter who your readers are, you want your prose to be perfectly clear: the work of a professional. This short list of common errors and their solutions can fix as much as 80% of the mistakes frequently found in typical college-level prose. You can’t afford to ignore the advice found here.
Writers Guild Foundation—
http://www.wgfoundation.org/index.aspx
The mission of the Writers Guild Foundation is to serve the community of writers and for writers to serve the community. Through their events, outreach programs, library, and archive they strive to educate and inspire writers as well as to promote and preserve excellence in writing.
The Writers Store—
http://www.writersstore.com/
The Writer’s Store is the premier destination for screenwriters, novelists, television writers, and filmmakers. You will find all the books, tools, resources, classes, etc. you need to succeed as a writer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JEN GRISANTI started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling 15 years ago. Aaron was her mentor for the next 12 years as she climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place; and Charmed. In 2004, Jen was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered shows including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400, and Girlfriends. While at CBS/Paramount, she served as a mentor in the CBS Diversity Program, which seeks out and nurtures young writers and directors.
In January 2008, Jen launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. By drawing on her 12-year experience as a studio executive who gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Jen personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches, and focus their careers. Since launching, Jen has worked with over 200 writers working in television, features, and novels. In 2008, Jen was hired to be the Writing Instructor for NBC’s Writers on the Verge. Jen is also a blogger for The Huffington Post.
Her brand is Developing From Within. Her company hosts Storywise Seminars and Teleseminars as a way to get this message out. She also has a Storywise Podcast Series available on iTunes and her website, www.jengrisanticonsultancy.com. The podcast digs deep into the story behind some of our top storytellers as a way to inform, motivate, and inspire listeners to go after their dreams. Jen has taught classes for the Scriptwriters Network, The Screenwriting Expo, the Northwest Screenwriters Guild in Seattle, StoryBoard Development Group, and the Alameda Writers Group. She has served on panels for the WGA, Final Draft/The Writer’s Bootcamp, and Pitchfest. In 2009, her company hosted a Writing Retreat in Hawaii at the Turtle Bay Resort.
Jen meets writers who are interested in her services for a free initial half-hour consult that can be done in person or on the phone. She then specially designs from two to five proposals to fit clients’ needs and helps them attain their goals. You can find out more about Jen’s services at www.jengrisanticonsultancy.com.
SAVE THE CAT®
THE LAST BOOK ON SCREENWRITING YOU’LL EVER NEED!
BLAKE SNYDER
BEST SELLER
He’s made millions of dollars selling screenplays to Hollywood and now screenwriter Blake Snyder tells all. “Save the Cat!®” is just one of Snyder’s many ironclad rules for making your ideas more marketable and your script more satisfying—and saleable, including:
• The four elements of every winning logline.
• The seven immutable laws of screenplay physics.
• The 10 genres and why they’re important to your movie.
• Why your Hero must serve your idea.
• Mastering the Beats.
• Mastering the Board to create the Perfect Beast.
• How to get back on track with ironclad and proven rules for script repair.
This ultimate insider’s guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who’s proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat.
“Imagine what would happen in a town where more writers approached screenwriting the way Blake suggests? My weekend read would dramatically improve, both in sellable/producible content and in discovering new writers who understand the craft of storytelling and can be hired on assignment for ideas we already have in house.”
–From
the Foreword by Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Vice President, Development at Zide/Perry Entertainment, whose films include American Pie, Cats and Dogs, Final Destination
“One of the most comprehensive and insightful how-to’s out there. Save the Cat!®is a must-read for both the novice and the professional screenwriter.”
–Todd Black, Producer, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man, S.W.A.T, Alex and Emma, Antwone Fisher
“Want to know how to be a successful writer in Hollywood? The answers are here. Blake Snyder has written an insider’s book that’s informative—and funny, too.”
–David Hoberman, Producer, The Shaggy Dog (2005), Raising Helen, Walking Tall, Bringing Down The House, Monk (TV)
BLAKE SNYDER, besides selling million-dollar scripts to both Disney and Spielberg, was one of Hollywood’s most successful spec screenwriters. Blake’s vision continues on www.blakesnyder.com.
$19.95 • 216 PAGES • ORDER NUMBER 34RLS • ISBN: 9781932907001
24 HOURS | 1.800.833.5738 | WWW.MWP.COM
THE WRITER’S JOURNEY - 3RD EDITION
MYTHIC STRUCTURE FOR WRITERS
CHRISTOPHER VOGLER
BEST SELLER
See why this book has become an international best seller and a true classic. The Writer’S Journey explores the powerful relationship between mythology and storytelling in a clear, concise style that’s made it required reading for movie executives, screenwriters, playwrights, scholars, and fans of pop culture all over the world.
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