That has nothing to do with what I want to write. And yet, watching it makes me want to write.
The first week here, we had this lecture series: Finding Your Story. The lecturer was Gill Dennis. He wrote Walk the Line, along with more stuff than I care to list here, but point is that he knows his shit. He told us all about what to pull into characters: greatest moments of fear, triumph, pride, shame. That sort of thing.
Which would all be much easier if I'd actually had any of the above. Really, my life has been pretty damn boring thus far by movie standards. You know, normally, I'm not really one to complain that I've had a nice life. Family, friends, schools... the low points have been few and far between. Which usually doesn't make for a very good story.
Or could it.
I really love the idea of this kid who has no real reason to be terrified of life, but can't help it. Who lets that fear take over to the point where he can't come back from it. And even though he knows none of it makes any sense, he still can't shake it.
A little Eternal Sunshine, a little Wristcutters, and a little me. I'm very attached to it already. Now to just do writing on the side while producing full-time...
I've always sort of believed the drama in life is there for those that seek it- and I'm not one of those people.
ReplyDeleteI mean look at Joel from Eternal Sunshine- here is a pretty average guy, probably had a pretty nice life- family, friends, schools... even during his first encounter with Clementine, he is still of a drama-adverse mindset, leaving the house rather than staying. He actively decides to begin embracing and pursuing the drama in his life- which leads to both wonderful and tragic results.
Anyways- morale of the story, I think a lot of great stories are about boring people who decide to make the change to embrace the latent drama of their lives, and the catalysts that drive them to it.