Don't Throw it Away
One would think that a "throw away" is a small joke or just a line of dialogue that is completely disposable. But nothing in your script should be disposable. Every word is there for a reason. Every. Word. Does your character crack a little joke on their way out the door? Then make it funny, make it memorable and make it matter. What do I mean by make it matter? Make it connect to the DNA of your script - the theme.
Learn to recognize a throw away and learn to walk away from them without emotion. Soon, as your experience as a writer grows, you'll learn the difference between a sly witticism, a clever remark or pithily profound statement that is deeply connected to the theme of your story - and a fluffy throw away that may or may not be funny or meaningful whatsoever. If you swatted a fly over that line of dialogue, unless it was BRAZIL, would it matter?
Check out these movie bon mots - do you recognize their source? Sure you do. Because they are memorable.
...we're gonna need a bigger boat.
...I'll have what she's having.
...I've been slimed.
....Here's Johnny!
....the shoe! the shoe!
...well, snap out of it!
...I like to watch.
...Attica! Attica!
The first Rouge Waver to identify the source of all eight examples wins a free cupcake. I really mean it this time. You have to live in LA and you have to take me with you but we'll go have a cupcake and come up with some sugar-induced zingers.
If you enjoyed this post, follow me on Twitter or subscribe via RSS.
13 comments:
Damn. I know all but two.
Mmmmmm cupcakes.
I'll give this a shot:
Jaws
When Harry Met Sally
Ghostbusters
The Shining
The Man with One Red Shoe
Moonstruck
Being There
Dog Day Afternoon
Jaws
When Harry Met Sally
Ghostbusters
The Shining
The Wedding Planner ??? (total guess)
Wedding Crashers
Being There
Dog Day Afternoon
there's still one that nobody is getting right. No cupcakes for you! (talk about a great, memorable one-liner, huh?)
I got this!
Jaws
When Harry Met Sally
Ghostbusters
The Shining
Life of Brian
Moonstruck (although again in Wedding Crashers, too)
Being There
Dog Day Afternoon
Can I have my cuppycake now?
WE HAVE A WINNER!!! Whooo!
Do you live in LA, Velysai? Gonna be at the Expo at all? I am very good for my cupcake promises. :)
So, I went 7 for 8, not too bad...ummmmmm...I get half a cupcake, right?
And, not to be picky, isn't the line from Jaws actually, "You're going to need a bigger boat."
I trying to get a few bonus points here, I really need a cupcake--even half a cupcake.
So, I went 7 for 8, not too bad...ummmmmm...I get half a cupcake, right?
And, I didn't know we could guess more than once...
And part two, not to be picky, isn't the line from Jaws actually, "You're going to need a bigger boat."
I trying to get a few bonus points here, I really need a cupcake--even half a cupcake.
Damnit, no. I'm on the east coast. Shove it in an envelope and send it on over. LOL. Someday I'll make it out to L.A.
Thanks for the challenge. It was fun!
P.S. I'm working on an action / thriller / dark comedy right now that I want to send your way when I'm done, Julie.
anonymous, it's better to guess a second time and risk having to apologize than to ask permission and be told no!
You can have my cupcake. I got Moonstruck off of you. But all of the other ones I figured out myself (despite the large time difference between our original posts).
Thanks, but no thanks, Velysai. Took my shot and I missed by one. I don't need a cupcake that bad...
People go to war over... cupcakes?
Wait... wasn't the Ghostbusters line actually "he slimed me"?
Post a Comment