'Only a healthy caterpillar can turn into a beautiful butterfly', said a French Director. The Caterpillar he refers to is the script and the butterfly is the final movie.
At a script writing workshop I realised that it is not an easy profession and recognitions are very hard to come by. In India the situation is even worse because there are hardly any scriptwriters and sadly directors double up as scriptwriters. Does that reflect on the quality of our scripts? Is it due to skill shortage or are the directors trying keep a larger portion of filmmaking and associated credit to themselves? You can investigate further for the answers.
Scriptwriting or screenplay writing is intellectually demanding job that not only requires writing a script, but also transfer words (fluid) into powerful images (fixing and engaging with audience) that inspire the director to capture them on the camera. Yes, it is hieroglyphics. For example: when the writer describes the morning as a misty and filled with thick fog and dew, and director gets a visual clue where to locate the subject and arrange for necessary props to add authenticity to the storyline.
Screenplay writing involves presenting or establishing a conflict, developing it further and before resolving it. Like the 1/3 rule in photography, the writer follows 1/3 rule for each of the three sections. Rhythm, proper usage of camera angles, symbolism, lyrics, trops (objects), and music further accentuates film making process and enhances the output.
Inja, a movie made by an Australian filmmaker, portrays apartheid and South Africa during transition. Loyalty, the theme (conflict) in the movie is established and coved through a national flag, superior-subordinate relationship and a puppy/dog. The brilliance of the script writer reflects in the trops, metaphors, smilies, and symbolisms used in the movie.
The three elements of establishing a conflict, developing and resolving are described below. Watch the movie here before you read my notes from the class - https://youtu.be/k_p0_twBWWU (please don't cheat)
Establishing loyalty - unfurling of national flag, showing a playful puppy responding to the whistle of the boy, and showing the relationship between black (subordinates) and white (boss),
Transferring loyalty - cutting the rope and making a collar for the puppy, unfurling of the new flag
Establishing order - threatening the black boy to bag the puppy, physically abusing the puppy to obey, physically marking boundaries, dog chasing away a black man on a cycle, asking black man for medicines
Killing loyalty - asking black man to shoot the dog and gun shot at the end.
A story can be narrated using one of the four styles or in combination: naturalism (analytical dramatic mode), lyrical (using songs), didactic (social messaging or morals), and melodramatic (songs, humor, action,) as appropriate. So, which category does Inja fall under?
I think Malayalam file industry has some great screenplay writers like MTV, Sreenivasan, Lohidoss...Unfortunately in T.Nadu Directors want to wear too many hats and fail miserably. In title card most of the directors want to prove their 'Ashtavadhani' sometimes 'Dasavathani' skills! If a director is working with big stars, he will go mad and end up his career. (Think a director works with Kamalhasan, Vijay). Best examples of failures Uthamavillain, Lingaa.. Luckily, Papanasam was a success because there was no much change from the original screenplay
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