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I gotta agree with Jeff, not all thrillers have to be go-go-go Crank style. Even if they're a race against time. I personally thought that meant that you need a sense of urgency to the script. "Do this by this time", I cannot understand why one would think it needs to be balls to the walls action. Pretty much every script I've read that starts of with unrelenting action and keeps it like that was terrible.
Buried is a good example of a thriller that doesn't need action or big stunts to make a compelling story. Films like Unbreakable and Black Swan are very thrilling. And again, no action -- with the latter even having a sense of urgency with the upcoming performance. I just don't think you should expect the story to fit some kind of mold before you've even read it.
As for 'show, don't tell' -- that's probably the one rule which I think is essential to good story telling. Please don't tell me through dialogue how your character's wife died.
What I am enjoying at the moment are the reviews that give me suggestions for what what they think can make for a better opening/first ten, not just what they don't like but what they do think is working.
What does work is obvious from omission. The most important thing for me is knowing what doesn't work. If somebody doesn't pick up on it, then I take it that it works for them.
Not that I'm particularly bothered what doesn't work either unless it sounds logical from my own perspective too. The advice from other writers is often not sound advice at all... but merely advice from the perspective of how they'd write your story.
Buried is a good example of a thriller that doesn't need action or big stunts to make a compelling story.
I suppose we all have differing ideas on what is thrilling and what isn't. I've never seen Buried. I have heard of it. Just doesn't sound very thrilling. Sounds like another bunch of low budget, contained, high profit bullshit to me.
Buried was an original spec as far as I know, and I think the writer planned on filming it himself until he got some interest. For a script secluded to a coffin, it kept your attention, that's for sure.
Buried was an original spec as far as I know, and I think the writer planned on filming it himself until he got some interest. For a script secluded to a coffin, it kept your attention, that's for sure.
I doubt that it would keep mine. Just the premise alone puts me off. I watched Gravity not long ago, even though I said I wouldn't... and I wished that I had missed it. All I see is containment with high profit in mind.
It wasn't made because it was a great story, it was made because it would be cheap to do it and would reap huge profits. I understand there has to be a business side to films, but when it is so blatant like that it really puts me off.
Yes, I have written something. The premise has promise, I'm just not sure how to work it yet. The pages I have written will be scrapped, I wrote them Friday afternoon just as an example to see if the premise could work... and although it will have its difficulties, I don't believe there's any point in writing something if it doesn't.
Buried was an original spec as far as I know, and I think the writer planned on filming it himself until he got some interest. For a script secluded to a coffin, it kept your attention, that's for sure....
You're right Mo, and Carson reviewed it on Script Shadow. Ryan Reynolds proved his acting chops with Buried. Just watched a repeat on TV the other day and it's brilliant suspense for just being a man in a box. Mind you I'm a fan of 'The Vanishing' - the original, and the remake with Jeff Bridges. If I could have come up with an original 5-10 for a 'buried alive' movie for this 7OWC I would have.
I remember waxing lyrical about Buried on this site before they made the film.
I did intend at the time to have a quick look at it but once I was started I had to read the whole thing. There's not many scripts which hook me like that. The film lived up to the script too. Both are fine work.
6 down, 12 to go. Having fun with this challenge, lots of interesting scripts on display. I know there are 19, but 1 of them is mine, so if I comment on 18/19 then people will know what one's mine.
Gotta be mysterious for stealth purposes. Don't tell anyone.
-Lee (< I changed my username, again, say nothing )
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