I’d hate to admit to how many books on screenwriting I’ve read. I tend to agree you need just one to get you on track and then start writing. (And this blog, of course. Just for a little inspiration.) But with that said, I just starting reading John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story.
Truby has been around a long time and has a lot of people who swear by his seminars. (Check out his website Truby’s Writers Studio.) I’m just a little slow coming to the table. But then again his book just came out in 2007.
I think I’ll spend a few days pulling a few gems from his book. Here’s the first one.
“In the vast majority of stories, the hero’s overall change moves from slavery to freedom.”
John Truby
The Anatomy of Story
page 177
Truby uses the word slavery to mean a way that life is out of balance. (Koyaaisqatsi, right?) Could be slavery to money, a career, an illness, an another person, a significant loss, a worldview, a prison, etc. The number 4 definition of The Free Dictionary reads, “The condition of being subject or addicted to a specified influence.” That’s a wide path.
That’s a simple thought but as I thought of several favorite films across many genres and I realized he’s right on track. Just off the top of my head I think these films would qualify the “slavery to freedom” concept:
Rocky
Good Will Hunting
Erin Brockovich
On the Waterfront
Big
Juno
Seabiscuit
A Christmas Carol
Home Alone
Rain Man
Shawshank Redemption
Think about the script you’re writing now and ask how your main character is in slavery. That may help you if you’re having trouble finding an ending.
[...] I’d hate to admit to how many books on screenwriting I’ve read. I tend to agree you need just one to get you on track and then start writing. (And this blog, of course. Just for a little inspiration.) But with that said, I just starting reading John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story. Truby has been [...] Original Source… [...]
A simple sounding concept that actually entails so much and gives the audience a lot of gratification at the ending. Good points.
And keep in mind that a gratifying ending does not always mean it ends with freedom. While Truby says the “vast majority” of films move from slavery to freedom there are others that move from slavery to death (Sunset Boulevard), Slavery to temporary freedom to death (Braveheart) as well as flipping those around and going from freedom to slavery (King Lear).
But from a pure box office stand point, as well as the real life desires of the audience. a move from slavery to freedom is preferred.