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Me and You and Memento and Fargo: How Independent Screenplays Work
Me and You and Memento and Fargo How Independent Screenplays Work Author:J. J. Murphy Within the last twenty-five years, an enormous burst of creative production has emerged from "independent" filmmakers. From Stranger than Paradise (1984) and Slacker (1991) to Gus Van Sant's Elephant (2003) and Miranda July's Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), indie cinema has become part of mainstream cultur... more »e. But what makes these films independent? Is it simply a matter of budget and production values? Or are there aesthetic qualities which set them off from ordinary Hollywood entertainment? J.J Murphy argues that the independent feature film from the 1980s to the present has developed a distinct approach to filmmaking, centering on new and different conceptions of cinematic storytelling. The film script is the heart of the creative originality to be found in the independent movement. Even directors noted for idiosyncratic visual style or the handling of performers typically originate their material and write their own scripts. By studying the principles underlying the independent screenplay, we gain a direct sense of the originality of this new trend in American cinema. Me and You and Memento and Fargo also presents a unique vision for the aspiring screenwriter. Most screenwriting manuals and guidebooks on the market rely on formulas believed to generate salable Hollywood films. Many writers, including Syd Field (Screenplay), present a "three-act paradigm" as gospel and proceed to lay down very stringent rules for characterization, plotting, the timing of climaxes, and so on, while others that appear to be more open about such rules (e.g., Robert McKee's Story) turn out to be just as inflexible in their advice. Here, J.J Murphy shows how an understanding of the history of independent screenplays can help writers find the novelty that Hollywood also wants.« less