Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Reinventing genres
In an article about Steven Spielberg's new release, War of the Worlds, Newsweek describes how screenwriter David Koepp (pronounced: Kep) created a list of genre-specific cliches he did not want in the $135 million movie:
David Koepp is the screenwriter behind the blockbuster movies Spider-Man, Jurassic Park, and Panic Room. Four of his movies have opened at number one in theatres. His most successful stories reinvented the action/adventure genre.
The conventions of a genre are what make it recognizable and satisfying to audiences (and readers). What's a cozy mystery without an amateur sleuth? What's a romance without a happily-ever-after ending? At the same time some situations and events in a specific genre have shown up repeatedly enough to become cliche. These cliches are what drag a story down, sapping it of the freshness that could elevate it above similar stories and even cross genre boundaries. When audiences (or readers) stumble across a cliche, their brains go on autopilot. "Been there, done that." They aren't engaged in the story any longer, trying to figure out what comes next, because they've already seen the same thing too many times.
So, how does a writer distinguish between conventions (which are good) and cliches (which are bad)?
First, make a list like Koepp. What events/situations have been repeated in similar stories? What are the kinds of scenes most likely to occur in stories in this specific genre? What's been done before?
Second, check the author's motivation for each item on the list. What is the writer trying to accomplish in the story by having this event/situation happen? Is there a fresher way to accomplish the same thing? Check off the items that absolutely cannot be done any differently.
Third, check the story motivation behind each item. Are the characters involved in these events/situations strongly motivated? Or, do these events happen just because they are vaguely expected to in this type of story? Check the items off the list that have strong character motivation driving them.
Fourth, review the list again. Is there any item absolutely necessary in order to recognize the story as a [name the genre] story? For instance, a scene where the body is discovered is necessary to a murder mystery. Check those items off the list.
Now that all the genre conventions have been identified and marked, the remaining events/situations are probably all cliches to be avoided. By mapping out these potholes in advance, the writer's journey to "The End" will be much smoother--and more imaginative.
"One: no destruction of famous landmarks.
Two: no unnecessary beating up of New York City.
Three: no politicians or scientists or generals as main characters.
Four: no shots of military leaders pushing ships around on a big map with sticks.
And five: no shots of world capitals."
David Koepp is the screenwriter behind the blockbuster movies Spider-Man, Jurassic Park, and Panic Room. Four of his movies have opened at number one in theatres. His most successful stories reinvented the action/adventure genre.
The conventions of a genre are what make it recognizable and satisfying to audiences (and readers). What's a cozy mystery without an amateur sleuth? What's a romance without a happily-ever-after ending? At the same time some situations and events in a specific genre have shown up repeatedly enough to become cliche. These cliches are what drag a story down, sapping it of the freshness that could elevate it above similar stories and even cross genre boundaries. When audiences (or readers) stumble across a cliche, their brains go on autopilot. "Been there, done that." They aren't engaged in the story any longer, trying to figure out what comes next, because they've already seen the same thing too many times.
So, how does a writer distinguish between conventions (which are good) and cliches (which are bad)?
First, make a list like Koepp. What events/situations have been repeated in similar stories? What are the kinds of scenes most likely to occur in stories in this specific genre? What's been done before?
Second, check the author's motivation for each item on the list. What is the writer trying to accomplish in the story by having this event/situation happen? Is there a fresher way to accomplish the same thing? Check off the items that absolutely cannot be done any differently.
Third, check the story motivation behind each item. Are the characters involved in these events/situations strongly motivated? Or, do these events happen just because they are vaguely expected to in this type of story? Check the items off the list that have strong character motivation driving them.
Fourth, review the list again. Is there any item absolutely necessary in order to recognize the story as a [name the genre] story? For instance, a scene where the body is discovered is necessary to a murder mystery. Check those items off the list.
Now that all the genre conventions have been identified and marked, the remaining events/situations are probably all cliches to be avoided. By mapping out these potholes in advance, the writer's journey to "The End" will be much smoother--and more imaginative.
