There’s no magic formula for where great scripts come from. They come from dreams, life changing events, observations, interests, etc. But if you don’t currently have a good idea to write, a good place to start is “relevant.”
The Social Network (2010) is a relevant story. Everyone was already talking about Facebook: How Mark Zuckerberg is such a young billionaire, how social networking is becoming a key element to all marketing, and so on. Then, when The Social Network came out, people could expand their Facebook debate by talking about the controversy of The Social Network.
This strength, combined with the strength of the filmmakers, won it the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama. I think there’s a good chance it will pick up the Best Picture Oscar as well.
Here are a few notable examples of relevant movies:
- Casablanca (1942) – Commented on America’s isolationism before WWII
- The Graduate (1967) – Highlighted the liberal cultural shift
- The Deer Hunter (1978) – Revealed the epidemic of PTSD after Vietnam
- Jurassic Park (1993) – Captured the excitement and anxiety of cloning
- The Matrix (1999) – Explored the development of AI and virtual reality
- Slumdog Millionaire (2008) – Exposed the rich/poor gap in modern India
Some might consider any popular movie relevant. But I’m using a more narrow definition here. I want to consider movies that take on a political, social, economic, or technological issue.
Here’s a simple exercise to test out this approach:
- Choose an interesting current issue.
- Figure out a conflict relating to that issue.
- Develop a character who could be changed by that conflict.
- Write a story!
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