Screenwriting : Ok, Crazy Questions by Antonia Jones-Hackley

In my thinking the A-story is the over all main story and the B-story is the small side track story. I have NOT been to school for scriptwriting because I can't afford it and I have NOT worked on films because I have not been lucky enough to do so, yet. So I would appreciate your comments, but keep my present level of understanding in mind if you comment.

You got it! The A-Story is the main plot and the B-Story is a side story.

That's how I have been learning. Whenever I question how something needs to be written, I find a script from a movie I've seen or think would have the particular type of scene I'm looking for, I read and study it. I had a slight problem with writing intimate scenes until I read a few scripts to see how it was done. Now they are pretty easy for me. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to answer my question.

In my opinion, the BEST kind of B-story is the one that seems completely unrelated and that you are telling two separate stories which include some of the same character but not all of them but the B-story eventually leads the characters back to entwine with the A-story in some way for the climax

Well, if you take the perspective from the blake snyder beat sheet/save the cat perspective, the B-story is often the "love story" in the movie because it is typically between the protagonist and a love interest, but I prefer the b-story that Brings characters into the A story. Like the character that has a hidden history with the antagonist and is forced to face the antagonist even though they would rather not be involved. I haven't seen CRASH so I'm not sure on that one but pulp fiction is too abstract for what I am talking about infact PULP has A, B and C stories that mess with your mind as they blend together. I can't think of a specific GOOD example at the moment but when I do I will post better what I mean. A so-so example might be Super-8 where the fact that the young girls father being a drunk caused the lead main character to grow up without a mother but ultimately that dislike of the two fathers is what drags her father in and makes the two fathers working together even MORE impactful in the story. I'm not sure if that helps. Cheers, Bryan

Hey Lyse, yes, I think so. I'm not a know it all, this is just MY OPINION but yes, for me it IS a given. A good B story wraps around to affect the A story in some way and is ideally not apparent how it might be related in the beginning.

Bryan, Let's have lunch some time. I design sets and was trained as a scenic artist. I am also an actor and would love to send you info on my self. My email is: wdartistwright@gmail.com Thanks, WES

Thanks guys! I really appreciate your help and clarification.