Tell the story honestly and its theme will emerge. Trying to impose theme on story gives the story an agenda.
~Lucy Grealy
I was reading a few articles about theme today. Wow! There are so many things to consider when crafting a screenplay. I never deliberate about themes when writing my scripts. I tend to agree with the late Miss Grealy about themes emerging from the stories I create. For example, when I wrote about the disappearance of Michael Rockefeller, a script requested by a producer, I had no specific theme in mind when I began. My goal was to tell the story of how Michael disappeared during his second trip to the Papuan Islands. However, a theme did emerge, which was Michael’s choice to live his short life on his own terms.
John August, a successful screenwriter, says he writes from theme first. For example, for his script for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the theme as Charlie Bucket was lucky even without the ticket, because he was surrounded by family who loved him. For his script for Charlie’s Angels the theme is Three princesses must save their father, the King. That’s not what I thought Charlie's Angels was about but whatever works.
What say you forum dwellers? Do you write from theme or what?
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Rod Serling (who, besides creating Twilight Zone and Night Gallery, wrote Planet of the Apes, Seven Days in May, Requiem for a Heavyweight, and several classic teleplays) said he always started with theme (then picked characters who'd address that theme). I've never begun with theme, but after reading me some Lajos Egri (The Art of Dramatic Writing) I'm going to give it a whirl.
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First off, Rest in Peace to Lucy Grealy. Her short life was filled with much tragedy.
I can start with a topic/concept/premise, or I can start with a theme. If I start with the topic first, I decide what my theme/themes will be before I start outlining and well before I start writing.
In my first few screenplays, the theme may have emerged while outlining, or even writing. As my writing skills advanced, though, developing my theme/themes became more a part of the pre-outlining stage.
Best fortunes in your creative endeavors, Phillip!
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I often start with theme, not to cram an agenda down someone’s throat but to explore an idea. I think there’s a difference between saying, “I’m going to write a story that conveys THIS message,” and saying, “I’m going to write a story that plays in THIS sandbox,” though both start with theme.
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My initial concept is usually intertwined with some basic theme and as characters start showing up, each with their own moral dilemma; the theme often morphs into something a little different.
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Nah, I start with a story first and develop or discover the theme(s) from there.
Hmmm. It depends on what story I'm writing. My first script was based on crafting a good story, and the theme developed from there as the plot advanced, but in the instance of the script i'm editing now to try get market ready, I had a theme I wanted it to revolve around and built the story based off that theme.
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I never worry about theme. Theme comes out during the creation of the story. I ALWAYS end up with a theme. They are usually the similar.
I start with a theme. It is a concept my story will live by.
I wrote the novel then transferred it into script
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Oftentimes, the genre of the script will determine the main theme; in my case, romance equals "love wins". But, for the sub-themes, they mostly arise from who my characters are and what their histories and motivations are. I had most of my main characters in place and then wrote stories for them.
Perhaps I use theme differently that others. I believe theme has two sides and I can then contrast them.
I can then look at people and how they change around the theme.
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I think it depends on the story you begin to write. Sometimes the writer knows up front the overall theme that will be prevalent throughout the script.
Sometimes it emerges as the pages are written.
My first script had a theme that I didn't even know existed. When I shared it with another writer for feedback, she recognized the theme immediately. I felt like an idiot because a theme was there that I never Intentionally wrote in. It had developed naturally based on my storyline.
The fact that I "didn't know" bothered me for a long time. But now I realize, at least for me, that I don't have to sweat the theme from jump. Once I'm 20 or 30 pages in I have a general idea of what it is anyway. And once I fully embrace it, I'm able to make sure it's continuous and shows up with some of my other characters.
I agree with @Stephen quote “Plays in this sandbox”. I begin with seedlings of theme. However none are a rigid blueprint. I throw all ideas into the mix, some grow, some remain buried in the soil. @Doug I also intertwine themes at start of projects BUT as each character grows, themes may occasionally morph into concepts opposite to original.
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Eric Christopherson You can't ever go wrong with Serling!
I always start with a theme - what question about the universal human condition interests me at this time? Then: what MC or POV character is the best one to answer that question through the story? What genre is the best vehicle to explore the question and answer?
Establishing a theme will also inform the roles of all the supporting characters, because in the most meaningful storytelling sense, every character is a reflection (positive or negative) of the question (and a possible answer). This guarantees that, as a writer, you don't waste time writing cool but superfluous characters.
Having a theme also keep the plot laser-focused (again, no wasted time); not the the story is linear, one dimensional, but each and every complexity/subplot/supporting story remains focused on the goal of the story: answering the question that the theme poses.
As I read the other posts, it's clear that no matter the process, the theme is pivotal to great storytelling. It's sort of like, in the novel-writing world, the eternal argument between "pantsers" and 'plotters." How much prep/planning do you do before you type one word?
Based on storytellers I think has the most profound impact on the medium (Serling, Hitchcock, et. al.), I believe it's clear that theme is fundamental to story - and as a fundamental tool (like conflict, fatal flaw, and so on), theme needs to be determined first.
IMO
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For me I can start with a basic idea of theme and after a couple of drafts it's completely different, or start with none and it naturally manifests itself.
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With my first spec, it took many drafts to find my theme. Only then did the plot fall into place because the central dramatic premise must revolve around the argument that is within the theme. Now that I'm fortunate enough to be writing scripts for others (sometimes), I have deadlines. I no longer have the luxury of multiple drafts to discover my theme. I need to figure it out up front.
The Scriptnotes podcast did a great episode recently where Craig Mazin explored how crucial theme is to story. Check it out: http://scriptnotes.net/403-how-to-write-a-movie