Movie Analysis: “Jurassic World” — Takeaways
Another in our bi-weekly series in which we analyze movies currently in release. Why? To quote the writing mantra I coined over 5 years ago: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. You will note which one comes first. Here are my reflections from that post about the importance of watching movies:
To be a good screenwriter, you need to have a broad exposure to the world of film. Every movie you see is a potential reference point for your writing, everything from story concepts you generate to characters you develop to scenes you construct. Moreover people who work in the movie business constantly reference existing movies when discussing stories you write; it’s a shorthand way of getting across what they mean or envision.
But most importantly, you need to watch movies in order to ‘get’ how movie stories work. If you immerse yourself in the world of film, it’s like a Gestalt experience where you begin to grasp intuitively scene composition, story structure, character functions, dialogue and subtext, transitions and pacing, and so on.
Let me add this: It’s important to see movies as they get released so that you stay on top of the business. Decisions get made in Hollywood in large part depending upon how movies perform, so watching movies as they come out puts you in the same head space as reps, producers, execs, and buyers.
This week’s movie: Jurassic World, screenplay by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Colin Trevorrow & Derek Connolly, story by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, characters by Michael Crichton.
Our schedule for discussion this week:
Monday: General Comments
Tuesday: Plot
Wednesday: Characters
Thursday: Themes
Friday: Takeaways
For those of you who have not seen the movie, do not click MORE as we will be trafficking in major spoilers. If you have seen Jurassic World, I invite you to join me in breaking down and analyzing the movie.
Seeing as we’re dealing with a ginormous movie that is part of an ongoing franchise, I’m tempted to say there’s not a whole lot we can take away from Jurassic World simply because most of us will never have the opportunity to write one of these big ass spectacles. However it’s my view we can learn something from every movie we watch, so let me start off the discussion with this topic: Subplots.
Jurassic World demonstrates how important subplots are. The ability to cross cut between storylines is an incredibly helpful asset when creating and sustaining pace. Moreover filmmakers can explore different emotional and thematic dynamics via each subplot.
My principle is this: Subplot = Relationship. This puts a humanistic spin on a seemingly theoretical concept. Let’s identify some of the key subplots in Jurassic World:
Claire — Nephews
Claire — Owen
Claire — Masrani
Claire — Karen (sister)
Owen — Raptors
Owen — Hoskins
Hoskins — Raptors
Raptors — Indominus Rex
Each of these mini-stories is a subplot, all buttressing the Plotline: Indominus Rex on the loose. No how many or few scenes, each has a Beginning-Middle-End. Each is tied into key themes present in the narrative.
When we write a script, it is incredibly beneficial to look at the key relationships and think about each one, it’s own mini-story. What is its arc? What is its narrative function? How does it tie into the Plotline? How does it tie into the story’s themes?
By the way, one of the cutest subplots in JW was this one: Lowery — Vivian.
In fact, they were two of the most colorful characters in the movie, providing several of the best laughs. They were distinctive secondary characters, especially Lowery. And when he got up to kiss her, then she revealed she had a boyfriend, and vamoosed out of there leaving Lowery rather deflated, that was a surprising and fun beat.
How about you? What takeaways did you get from watching Jurassic World?
Next movie: Inside Out. The week of July 20.