Movie Analysis: “Straight Outta Compton” — 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: Straight Outta Compton, screenplay by Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff, story by S. Leigh Savidge & Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff.
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 Straight Outta Compton, I invite you to join me in breaking down and analyzing the movie.
Here’s my biggest takeaway:
August 11: ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Heading to $40 Million-Plus Opening.
August 14: ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Rising to $50 Million Opening.
August 17: ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Final Box Office Soars to $60.2 Million.
We see this over and over and over again with so-called ‘urban’ movies: They over-perform projections.
So how about this: Maybe the Hollywood ‘pros’ should adjust their projections and recognize that a movie like Straight Outta Compton is a mainstream movie.
What does this mean for writers? The continuing success of movies featuring African-American leads can only translate into more opportunities for ‘urban’ stories to find a place in Hollywood.
If you have a story in which you envision an ‘ethnic’ lead, great. Go for it! And write the hell out of it!
What’s your takeaway from Straight Outta Compton?
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