QUESTION:WHAT IS DRAMA? DRAMA, AGAIN, IS THE QUEST OF THE HERO TO OVERCOME THOSE THINGS WHICH PREVENT HIM FROM ACHIEVING A SPECIFIC, ACUTE GOAL.Link via @GailRenard
SO: WE, THE WRITERS, MUST ASK OURSELVES OF EVERY SCENE THESE THREE QUESTIONS.
1) WHO WANTS WHAT?
2) WHAT HAPPENS IF HER DON’T GET IT?
3) WHY NOW?
THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE LITMUS PAPER. APPLY THEM, AND THEIR ANSWER WILL TELL YOU IF THE SCENE IS DRAMATIC OR NOT.
Friday, March 26, 2010
David Mamet's advice to writers
If writers are going to take advice from anyone then it might as well be someone with a track record as impressive as David Mamet's. His instructions (reportedly) to staff writers on The Unit (which he executive produced) have now appeared online (the CAPS are his):
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
"WHAT HAPPENS IF HER DON’T GET IT?"
ReplyDeletePresumably that has to be spoken with a westcountry accent for it to make sense.
Would that be Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall or Mummerset?
ReplyDeleteThe producers will replace writer with one who knows some grammar.
ReplyDeleteTHE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS 'IS' LITMUS PAPER...?
Sorry, but her don't get it. Could we have a more helpful question please, one that actually makes sense?
ReplyDelete