Screenwriting : Letting the main character in on the 'secret.' by Peter Roach

Hi Peter Roach, really... thank you for this. My script 'Untouchable!' is, I think just like this. The Protagonist doesn't know that she is being, excuse the pun, 'skinned alive' but the audience does. Not until the end of Act 2 does this inciting incident occur. So please give me a little more of your hate for this because... Will my audience hate it? or perhaps those to whom I'm pitching?

My reason is psychological. If I have "figured it out" then I am just watching the character churn. My opinion is personal, not universal. It is the reason why I think Usual Suspects holds the "secret" till the end.

If we know the character has been conned , then we have to be interested in his/her responses and reactions as the layers of deception are revealed. Kinda like Chinatown.

Excellent reasons for a character to change and plot twists to be introduced.

*Replace my " I hate .." with "I don't like.."

Whoa Patricia, you are a butt kicking Aussie. How did you find the time to accomplish all that you have?

Not sure. Guess I don't think too much about what I have to do - just get it done. God plays a major role. Thank you for asking.

Depends on story and medium to tell your story, film vs. television.

As for me, Willem, I don't know enough about comedy but I think I understand.

Alfred Hitchcock was an expert at that to put the audience on the edge of their seats.

Peter: you hate that? Man.....you must have not listened to me when I told you not to go in that basement that night, right?

Pamela, Laura will give us a private class just because she is a nice person.

I agree "Dramatic Irony" works in comedy or when the killer is in the closet.

In a thriller I want to be along for the ride. Chinatown does this well, we know stuff when J.J Gittes discovers them.

On the other hand the "genius detectives" movies leave us stranded then have the detective magically pull clues out the air at the end without showing the audience a hint.

Am I a picky fart? Yes, I want to ride the roller coaster in a thriller. I want clues however subtle.

Wait, I think I just described an interactive movie!

Good post A.S.

WOW! Thank you all. When writing my script I knew it was different to 'normal' drama but didn't know how else to write it. Didn't want to 'do my own thing' but when I was alerted to Chinatown I realized it was okay. There is no Noir nor Irony in standard Drama genre so it's a little difficult to tag this. Please let me know your thoughts.

This may be coming late but the way i see Korean soap dramas is that many of the stories have triangle relationships. There is always a woman *(actually girl since a number of stories begin when the characters are in high school (like Winter Sonata) and two men vying for the woman's affection. 14 episodes is short. Showing that "every character is in on the “secret” except the main character" - I think lets the audience in on the secret but then there is a twist or conflict that the character (could be the protagonist) has to discover and we go along for the ride. The writers of these soaps must be doing something right because Korean soaps are extremely popular among not just Koreans but Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese young and older viewers. Curious Peter, what made you want to watch a a Korean drama.

I use knowledge this way in a script

If the reader is ahead of the characters they are scared for them.

If they know the same as the characters they are shocked along side them.

If they know less than the characters they are intrigued.

Thank you Craig. How exciting!

"If they know less than the characters they are intrigued" reminds me of Shakespeare's Richard III in which Richard keeps telling the audience what he'll be up to next, leaving us to wonder how he'll do it, because his goal always sounds impossibly difficult. He says to the audience, for example, that he's going to marry Lady Anne, though he'll have to kill her husband and father to do it. Okay, Richard, you've got my attention!

Eric, you sent me back the synopsis of Richard III. Did not re-read the play.

That seems to work for evil antagonists. Also for the revenge speech "I am going to kill you at 4PM and there is nothing you can do to stop it." I like it. Thanks.

Favorite Richard III quote, when Lady Anne says to Richard III, "no beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity." and Richard III replies "but I know none, and therefore am no beast." Extra karma points to anyone who knows what great modern film ends with those lines on the screen.

"Runaway Train"

Yep...leave it to the Dashter to waylay Eric and Peter in a forum.

I propose Dash plays Manny, Peter plays Warden Barstow, and Eric plays the Dead Train Engineer, and you guys come to Vegas...I set up my locomotive in the back yard...well, it's really a table, but you guys are gifted creatives and Stanislavski admirers and all...and I pull out the leftover explosives from last Fourth of July that I bought at the Indian Reservation...always supporting my Native American friends, and you should, too.....and I pull out the Red Raven...and....Happy New Year, everybody! Just think of how famous the three of you will be...and world-wide, thanks to the Internet - and by January 3rd. And your estates will greatly benefit, too!

Man...Eric, Peter, Dash....how lucky I am to have virtually met you guys here on Stage32.

Might I have cash in lieu of "karma points", kind sir?

Cash: I mean...Dash: Cash, Dash? Aw, man....o-kay....as soon as Peter and Eric and anyone come over with their lunch money...give me a few minutes after that....and I'll get you the cash.