There are certain movies I watch sometimes, just to help me get my thought process in order for writing books. I’ve got a couple of different ones for writing screenplays, but a few of these make it to that list as well.
These movies stand as a testament to using proper techniques, or even proper story telling structure. You can fight story structure all you want, but readers expect certain things by a certain point in the book, or they get restless and eventually abandon the books.
So, what are these movies, and what do they teach?
The Lost Battalion. Military movie. Hugely unsuccessful, Most people have never seen it. The History Channel showed it one day with review by military historians – I think A&E should show it with a panel of writers, to explain what a jewel this movie is! If you struggle with how to introduce a character, this movie captures that splendidly. Every last character in the movie that you meet, you know the essence of that character within a few seconds of the opening of that scene. Considering this was a battle featuring hundreds of men and the cast is fairly large, you know right away Sgt. Gedeke, Major Whittelsey, Private Chepalia and Private Rosen, Krotoschevsky, Lapastie, Yoder…
This is crucial. If you don’t know these men and aren’t invested in them, it will mean nothing to you if they die. Some scenes you need to analyze – the razzing scene where LaPastie torments Private Yoder and it almost ends in a fist fight. The scene where Private Rosen hands Major Whittelsey a dog tag. The “I took the test” scene with Krotoschevsky (one of the top movie scenes of all time – I’m really serious).
The Seven Samurai. A movie about the weak seeking out the strong to protect them from evil. There’s too many scenes in this movie needing study to just pinpoint it. I’ve challenged people to stop reading subtitles after the 20 minute mark and ask them if they know what’s going on. Literally, they knew (I kept them honest and taped paper across the bottom of the TV). There is a scene where the feudal class system in Japan is savaged at the hands of the trickster character (played amazingly by Toshiro Mifune) – study how quickly he goes from criticizing the farmers to suddenly turning on the samurai! The Luke Skywalker character is the viewer cast into the movie (watch the movie, and see if you spot all the ways he’s Luke Skywalker – now you know where George Lucas got this character from!). The stoic warrior is worthy of study. The frightened villager Yohei. The way characters are introduced. The scene where the rice is stolen. The protagonist’s musing that “I have never been offered so much before” when told he was being paid in rice. This movie was remade in America as “The Magnificent Seven”, but fell far short. Tell me if at the end of it you spotted where George Lucas borrowed for Star Wars (elements of this movie make up probably 10% of Star Wars plot and characters – if you think it was higher, then leave a comment explaining where)! Then make sure you watch Godzilla after and see if you can spot the same cast members! They’re almost all in there (hint – pay attention to the next to last bandit in the movie who seems to have escaped- that was Haruo Nakajima, better known as Godzilla)!
World War Z – either by sheer coincidence or by design, World War Z (a zombie movie) has enough hidden elements in it to fuel conspiracy theorists for years. There are things said that aren’t in subtitles, there are things in subtitles not said, odd little actions and emphasis placed upon phrases – if you’re trying to write one one of those “hidden government conspiracy” type books, look here. What’s in the movie? You missed it. What’s MISSING? Things that logically should be there are not there. What actions does the protagonist take? Why those and not other, more logical ones? Bad writing? or by design? The movie is structured well enough we have to dismiss bad writing. It hits all the right points, borrows a little from the old DOOM computer game (the zombie in the medical wing banging the forehead on the glass is right out of DOOM), and manages to teach HUGE lessons about suspense and up-down story pacing.
Braveheart – okay, maybe not so surprising. If you ever tried Dramatica, you’ll see it classes this movie as a literary genre on its own. Written by a member of the Wallace clan, it gives you the most uncompromising protagonist in history. William Wallace ends up portrayed in a manner that makes the seven foot high statues of him in Scotland seem insignificant by comparison. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows are presented in this movie of honor, freedom, tyranny, cowardice, bravery and betrayal. Even if your protagonist is only 10% as inspiring as Wallace, you’ve got a best seller on your hands! Character arc of Robert the Bruce is worthy of study.
Delores Clairbourne. Another of one of the greatest movie scenes of all time is in this movie. I’m not kidding. Watch the scene where Delores gets Joe into the well. It’s a life or death moment, it’s a moment where Delores struggles against who she is and what she has to do to survive. Written by Stephen King, this movie will really astound you if you’ve never seen it. Study this movie to really understand character arc. Watch the transformation of Delores, and carefully watch on the second viewing how King plays with the viewer’s emotions almost like a puppet master.
There are things in all of these movies that will teach you a GREAT deal about writing a novel – study each one to learn the lessons contained in it!
Bonus Movie – Gamera Versus Legion. Do not watch a dubbed version. Watch the original Japanese with subtitles. The pacing in this movie, characterization, including stereotypes that aren’t stereotypes (the Christian and the Atheist become friends at the end of the movie, the overly smart girl turns out to have a private stash of alcohol hidden in her room). When you’re projecting a novel where the protagonist is not human, this is the movie to watch! (Don’t sneer that it’s a Japanese monster movie – the Gamera remakes were brilliant)!
