Random scriptwriter thought of the day (a few of you will think this funny):

Cats are unsympathetic. My theory: Blake Snyder originally meant to label his book "Save the Dog." But didn't want it shortened to STD.

PS: We COULD turn this into a meme.  And a general, revolving posting.  That is, if anyone else thinks of anything.  Or... this could just die away.  :P

Hey Janet,

I googled. You mean Sexually transmitted disease? STD, Ha, I didn't know you English speaking peeps have an abbreviation for such things.

I think it's called Save the Cat because it's a famous phenomenon that cats climb on trees and don't come down again. So that grandpa has to call the fire service to help with some ladders.

I like your idea of some more chatting and a not ultimately serious discussion. I'll come around if it keeps going.

Cheers

What I find funny is that the book is in essence about structure and there's very few animals less structured that cats!

Maybe it'd would have been better as Shoot the Cat!

Ha! Shoot the cat. Very funny, Anthony.

I always thought it came from Ripley saving Jonesy.

Quoted from Grandma Bear I always thought it came from Ripley saving Jonesy.

I thought that too. We obviously end up watching Alien again every time it's on.

Or it's also a play on Bogart's line about 'Pat the dog'. I would go into it, but that's what the internet is for as those dishes aren't going to wash themselves.

Hmm, they might if I leave them soaking another few hours while I watch Alien again.

R

Oh, I see, a reference to Alien.

Haven't read the STC book. However, setting a scene in the beginning to make the protagonist sympatico seems to be a good move in general.

I read a lot about starting the hero's journey with a basic flaw which is contrary to his goals.

A fat guy wants to be a cop.
A guy with fear of water swims with the shark.

Overdramatizing the situation.

Like Shaving the beaver.

Quoted Text Cats are unsympathetic. My theory: Blake Snyder originally meant to label his book "Save the Dog." But didn't want it shortened to STD.

Thanks - my laugh for the day.

Every source I could find on this says something akin to:

The title Save the Cat! is a term coined by Snyder and describes the scene where the audience meets the hero of a movie for the first time. The hero does something nice, e.g., saving a cat, which makes the audience like the hero and sympathise with him. His inspiration for this was the movie Alien, where Sigourney Weaver's character Ripley saves a cat named Jones.

Ugh. I guess if Riley had just vanquished the damn thing it would be called "Kill The Cat".

Quoted from CJ Walley As I understand it, if you want to film a successful porno movie you should always shave the cat.

That's just made me spit my dinner across the table. Funny.

Quoted from CJ Walley As I understand it, if you want to film a successful porno movie you should always shave the cat.

Especially if you follow Bill's/Reef's Avatar tag-line, and want to wear the Simplyscripts thong!  :P

I love the idea of the STD meme.

I’ve read Save The Cat and I personally found it horrendous. I do agree it is essential reading and I see why this guy is popular but to me it represents everything that is wrong with the industry. He boils it all down to formulas. There’s very little about story, creativity or passion. it’s just all numbers and putting together a script which appears to be marketable.