The Elements of a Great Script: Die Hard
About this book
What makes a great movie? It isn't computer-generated special effects, A-list actors, or high-powered directors. What makes a great movie is a great story. Yet great stories don't just happen by chance. Instead, they're crafted through a definite structure and proven story-telling techniques. By studying what makes a movie great, you can apply those same principles to making your own screenplay great. This series, "The Elements of a Great Script," analyzes classic movies that have stood the test of time and proven to appeal to different generations over the years. When you study the classics, you can better understand the story structure that created the best movies so you can see not only how they work but also why they work. Story structure acts like the hidden skeleton propping up your story. Just as every person has the same skeleton, so does every great story rely on the same story structure fundamentals whether it's a drama, comedy, horror, musical, or action thriller. The best movies differ only in the details. The underlying principles always remain the same. So if you're frustrated and confused writing a screenplay, chances are good that you haven't discovered these time-tested and proven principles of story telling yet. By learning about these principles in the context of studying your favorite movies, you can see exactly how your favorite movies used these principles so you can better see why audiences all over the world have fallen in love with these classic stories. Success is no accident. By mastering the principles of story structure, you too can learn to craft better and more compelling stories whether you want to write a short story, a novel, or a screenplay. Story telling is a skill that anyone can learn, study, and develop. It all depends on knowing what to do along with knowing how stories actually work. By reading this series, "The Elements of a Great Script," you can let your favorite movies teach you how to write better stories of your own.There's a reason why "Die Hard" is considered one of the best action films ever made. Not only does it tell a compelling action story, but it also tells a full story involving every major character from the hero and the villain, to the secondary characters such as the limousine driver, the TV newscaster, the incompetent FBI agents, and the hero's wife. By studying how individual scenes in "Die Hard" work to grab your attention, hold you in suspense, and set up information that gradually reveals the complete story, you can better understand how to use those same techniques when writing your own screenplay.