Scripts that "Show"

Successful Writer · Jun 19, 2011

Hello,

The Show and Tell script thread has me intrigued. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend any scripts (movies) where there was more showing of emotion; rather than telling?

I believe Atonement is one (but that script makes me cry)...are there any other suggestions?

Thanks!

BrassStotch · Jun 19, 2011

Successful Writer said:
Hello,

The Show and Tell script thread has me intrigued. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend any scripts (movies) where there was more showing of emotion; rather than telling?

I believe Atonement is one (but that script makes me cry)...are there any other suggestions?

Thanks!

I'm curious are you referring to showing emotion purely as a writer's tool or as a film maker?

As for movies, Ordinary People is a brilliant movie about emotion as is Kramer vs Kramer. I'd even suggest Rocky. If you want something a bit more contemporary (and commercial), I'd suggest Big Fish.

Just my two cents.

nmstevens · Jun 19, 2011

Successful Writer said:
Hello,

The Show and Tell script thread has me intrigued. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend any scripts (movies) where there was more showing of emotion; rather than telling?

I believe Atonement is one (but that script makes me cry)...are there any other suggestions?

Thanks!

If you're looking for a script (although I must admit I've only ever seen the movie) that is a prime example of a story that never "tells" anything, you might want to watch "Remains of the Day."

This is a love story of a sort -- and I say "of a sort" because neither of the "lovers" if you can call them that ever say anything about it or even act explicitly on their feelings.

And yet, in watching the story unfold, you know exactly what's going on and what's at stake and ultimately, what's been lost.

It's a classic example of how you tell a story that shows us what people feel when the nature of the story requires that none of the participants, because of their situation (in this case they are British servants in the years prior to and then subsequent to World War II) are ever in a position to talk about their feelings or even show them openly.

NMS

Hillgate · Jun 20, 2011

And try 'The Social Network': there's a lot of showing even though at first glance you think maybe it's telling.

Successful Writer · Jun 20, 2011

BrassStotch said:
I'm curious are you referring to showing emotion purely as a writer's tool or as a film maker?

Yes as a writer's tool. I wanted to read how a script writer writes emotion to convey a story.

Afterwards, I'm going to watch the movie to SEE the full effect.

Successful Writer · Jun 20, 2011

Thank you. I'm off to read some scripts.

nmstevens said:
If you're looking for a script (although I must admit I've only ever seen the movie) that is a prime example of a story that never "tells" anything, you might want to watch "Remains of the Day."

This is a love story of a sort -- and I say "of a sort" because neither of the "lovers" if you can call them that ever say anything about it or even act explicitly on their feelings.

And yet, in watching the story unfold, you know exactly what's going on and what's at stake and ultimately, what's been lost.

It's a classic example of how you tell a story that shows us what people feel when the nature of the story requires that none of the participants, because of their situation (in this case they are British servants in the years prior to and then subsequent to World War II) are ever in a position to talk about their feelings or even show them openly.

NMS

Hillgate said:
And try 'The Social Network': there's a lot of showing even though at first glance you think maybe it's telling.

wlz · Jun 24, 2011

Successful Writer said:
Hello,

The Show and Tell script thread has me intrigued. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend any scripts (movies) where there was more showing of emotion; rather than telling?

I believe Atonement is one (but that script makes me cry)...are there any other suggestions?

Thanks!

All screenplays SHOW emotion. It's a visual medium. Perhaps you've mixed up prose and play...?

Hillgate · Jun 24, 2011

If you want emotion read 'Schindler's List'. It's about 165 pages or more but it doesn't fee like it.

Paradis · Jun 30, 2011

Successful Writer said:
Thank you. I'm off to read some scripts.

I haven't looked myself, but you'd want to find the original or early drafts if you can over the "shooting" scripts if they're out there.

Scripts that "Show"

Successful Writer

BrassStotch

nmstevens

What happened?

Hillgate

On location

Successful Writer

Successful Writer

wlz

Hillgate

On location

Paradis