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THE DIALOGUE - AN INTERVIEW WITH SCREENWRITER STUART BEATTIE
"I've got to make this happen or I'm on a plane home." Stuart Beattie's sentiment will no doubt sound familiar to many a struggling screenwriter, but in his case it was a literal statement. With only a two year visa to stay in the States, the amiable Australian was determined to break through Hollywood's cordon and make it big before time ran out.
Luckily for him, he did. And for us too - as he now recounts his experience and script techniques as part of The Dialogue, a series of DVDs featuring interviews with some of today's most successful screenwriters. In this edition, Mike De Luca (former President, New Line Cinema) plays the role of inquisitor to the original writer of Pirates Of The Caribbean and acclaimed movie Collateral, and finds out what makes him tick over with script ideas.
From Beattie's account we learn that fortune plays it part, but talent shines the most. Chance encounters, alliances and opportunities create a snowball effect which can either lead a film to box office success or failure (Collateral's snowball began rolling with the attachment of fellow antipodean Russell Crowe). A hot script can unlock many doors, but that's only half of the story - the successful screenwriter needs to be as astute in dealing with the whims of studio executives as they are at fashioning dreams.
Beattie's talent is well documented in this unique interview. In addition to a viewing and analysis of Collateral's pivotal scene, De Luca puts the writer to the test with an off-the-cuff exercise where he has to create a film idea from scratch using an object handed to him. Beattie's level of observation and the speed in which he conjures a story from thin air are both astonishing and encouraging to writers of any experience.
As Beattie notes, observation is key to surviving the business. Even with over 15 years of experience he admits that the art of writing for an audience does not get any easier with each script written. The screenwriter faces "the same set of challenges every time," whether that audience is sat in a movie theatre or in a studio boardroom. Fortunately he has some valuable pointers up his sleeve to aid viewers in their ambition, from getting the focus right on the original concept and creating compelling characters, to handling dissent from the studio system.
Screenwriters and film-makers today are most fortunate in that they have access to educational tools to help them excel in their craft. Sadly, the advice and formula presented in many of these products can often be misinterpreted as dogmatic and not to be deviated from. As an introduction to The Dialogue, the interview with Beattie makes a refreshing change for those looking for something new - readily accessible, first-hand knowledge from a working writer in demand, without the authoritative rhetoric. This DVD proves to be a most welcome addition to what is surely an entertaining and informative series.
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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