Dispatch from The Quest: Brandon Cohen
Last week as we did here on GITS, the Quest writers focused on the subject of style. As the screenwriting principle we started with is Style = Voice, the Questers spent a lot of time thinking about the importance of determining what their voice is in relation to the stories they write. Today: Brandon Cohen with some thoughts on the subject:
As I wrote my first two scripts, I couldn’t help but constantly compare them to what I would see from those on The Black List. I’d feel pretty confident with my story and my characters, but then I’d read a script that made me doubt myself. Not so much my overall story, but the way in which I presented it.
I was unsure of my voice. I do have a very specific voice, but I would try so hard to emulate what I saw working for other people that I ended up with a voice that was an amalgamation of ten different writers (none of whom were me). Every new script I read was like a different (and oftentimes conflicting) piece of advice. I would read a script that sold and say to myself “oh, look, this person talks directly to the reader in the action, and cracks a couple jokes here and there. I guess I can do that!”. But then I’d read another, which was completely devoid of any personality in the action, and think “wait, not so fast.” It was like having divorced parents who were at odds with each other– one would tell me it was okay to drink alcohol and they’d buy me some beers, and then the other would find a beer can under my bed and ground me for three weeks.
What I eventually realized, and what Scott really hammered home in last week’s core lectures, is that there are no set rules for this. There are some industry norms that people follow, but for the most part, people just do whatever works for them. That’s why it’s called your “voice” — it’s a way to have your writing reflect your personality. As such, my writing is overly judgmental, has low self-esteem, and becomes obsessive when a girl doesn’t respond to its texts.
This was extremely liberating to hear. Not only is it okay for you to cultivate your own screenwriting style, it’s imperative to do so if you want the reader to truly feel like what they’re reading is fresh and unique. My parents were able to put their hatred for each other aside long enough to agree on the fact that I would now have no curfew, and answer to no one! Wooo, open house party!
I kind of looked at anything that wasn’t dialogue as filler. A way to set up a scene, move the story along, etc., and I let the dialogue establish my voice. It’s really limiting to think this way. The idea of the “narrative voice” lends itself to so much more creativity and allows you to have so much more fun as a writer. Obviously, you shouldn’t let it undercut the story you’re trying to tell, but if it serves the story, it can really help the reader get a feel for your sensibilities, and further entrench them in the story you’re trying to tell.
In a sense, this revelation was one that I’ve come to many times in my life, and I’m sure I’ll come across it again: obey your thirst…for being yourself! Learn from those around you, seek mentors, but always try and stay true to your voice. Unless your voice sounds like this:
In which case I’d recommend staying true to someone else’s voice.
Brandon’s dispatch raises another way of looking at the concept of Narrative Voice: Find what is distinctive about your own stylistic instincts and what is distinctive about the tone and feel of the story you are writing, and your Narrative Voice for that script will arise from the interplay of the two.
Tomorrow: Another dispatch from The Quest.
About Brandon: NYC native, fan of all things comedy. I cry every time I watch Big Fish, Forrest Gump and Marley & Me. Don’t judge me. Twitter: @brandandco.
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