Why so Serious?

I don't think a screenplay can take itself too seriously, but a person can take a screenplay too seriously. If something is feeling off to you, then you need to figure out what it is. Once you figure out what's bugging you, you can figure out how to fix it.

Personally, I think it's kind of up to the writer to determine that.

Since Storytelling/Scriptwriting/etc. is a very subjective medium, only the writer can really know when the story seems to get away from the point. I think that's when it starts to take itself to seriously.

Just my two cents.

Stunted said:

How do you tell when a screenplay is taking itself too seriously? What do you do to correct it?

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Well, it's a bit difficult to gauge exactly what you mean when you say that the screenplay is "taking itself too seriously" -- do you mean that you get the sense that it's a bit too preachy or something?

A lot of times you, the writer, have something that you want to get off your chest and you're in a such a hurry to say it that you will sometimes shove your sentiments directly into the mouths of your characters, essentially hijacking them and forcing them, against their will, to say what you want them to say about "whatever it is" rather than doing what they want, which is to go about the business of living their lives and pursuing their own objectives within the world of the story.

This is what people really mean when they say "show, don't tell" -- they're not talking about using visuals rather than dialogue. They mean you, the writer of the piece, should convey whatever it is that *you* have to say, through the machinery of the narrative -- through action and drama, not through making characters say and do things for the sole purpose of conveying your particular agenda directly.

When your characters, by sheer chance, happen to share your deeply held views on a particular subject and also, by sheer coincidence, feel the uncontrollable need to tell those around them, in the world of your story, all about it, at great length, then just maybe there's something that needs to be re-thought.

Of course, I could be completely barking up the wrong tree and you might have something totally different in mind when you're talking about your script taking itself too seriously.

NMS

I agree that ONE, not the whole group of characters, must reflect YOUR point of view. So if you have a message, drop it via this character, who is your POV dramatic voice. Then let the thing be. Other characters must show 'as they are'-funny, idiot, unsensible...if all of them repeat the same dramatic chorus and there is no dramatic progression from a conflict...
Its too serious.

nmstevens said:

A lot of times you, the writer, have something that you want to get off your chest and you're in a such a hurry to say it that you will sometimes shove your sentiments directly into the mouths of your characters, essentially hijacking them and forcing them, against their will, to say what you want them to say about "whatever it is" rather than doing what they want, which is to go about the business of living their lives and pursuing their own objectives within the world of the story.

This is what people really mean when they say "show, don't tell" -- they're not talking about using visuals rather than dialogue. They mean you, the writer of the piece, should convey whatever it is that *you* have to say, through the machinery of the narrative -- through action and drama, not through making characters say and do things for the sole purpose of conveying your particular agenda directly.

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Interesting take. It made me think about the characters as "normal people", thrown into my story. I give them characteristics and a certain attitude towards things, but I have to consider their will, motivations and desire.