tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857033.post551394848336572405..comments2024-03-09T08:20:13.718+00:00Comments on Tales of a screenwriter with no time to write: Premise or Plot: What have you got?Chris Parr (ukscriptwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17375894934071222519noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857033.post-67480739869116083212007-05-03T14:26:00.000+01:002007-05-03T14:26:00.000+01:00Of course you are right there with Night at the Mu...Of course you are right there with Night at the Museum (now I've thought more about it).<BR/><BR/>I think I'm going through a transitional phase with my writing and often ask myself questions like this. Sometimes I just can't see the wood for the trees :)Chris Parr (ukscriptwriter)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17375894934071222519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6857033.post-14325698294812629522007-05-03T13:41:00.000+01:002007-05-03T13:41:00.000+01:00With Night at the Museum you have the museum exhib...With <B>Night at the Museum</B> you have the museum exhibits come to life which you would call the premise,I suppose, as that's what's going to get people into the theatres (or make producers want to hear your pitch in full). It's high-concept and attractive.<BR/><BR/>But it's the story that's going to make people stay in the theatres watching or recommend it to friends or get the DVD. The baddies is one part of the story but it's the journey of the Ben Stiller character from irresponsible dad with a disappointed son to reponsible dad with a proud son that's the main thing. It's not done in-depth enough but there's just enough emotion there to work.<BR/><BR/>Also consider the sub-plots involving the exhibits and how they also work on an emotional level. The Robin Williams character who fancies that Native American who blanks him or the Roman soldier and the cowboy who learn to co-operate.<BR/><BR/>I'll need to watch Anchorman again but I didn't notice a lack of story. In every comedy film you do perhaps need the big set-piece laugh out loud moments and whether<BR/>you think of the set-pieces first and then write a story around it or you start with the characters then story is crucial for a satisfying movie, I reckon.Robin Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18114551140455705344noreply@blogger.com