“Surfacing moments”

Writer Anne Beattie said this: “People forget years and remember moments.” I believe this is nowhere more true than in movies. In terms of a movie or screenplay, moment has a precise meaning:

A specific point in time, the present time, that is of particular importance in the overall series of events in a story.

Let’s parse that out:

• A specific point in time: A moment can be constituted by a scene, but most often it is a sliver or slice, if you will, of a scene, a matter of mere seconds.
• The present time: Whereas an entire screenplay is written in the present tense, therefore creating a sense that what is happening is happening now, a moment represents an intensification of that experience. What is happening now is really happening now. Time seems to slow, even stand still for the characters — as well as the reader.
• That is of particular importance in the overall series of events in a story: Why does what is happening in a moment seem to be really happening now? Because what is happening is something significant, something influential, something that impacts character and plot.

It should not be surprising then that what we most often and most vividly remember about a movie is its key moments. It should also not be surprising that moments are almost always imbued with a story’s themes, one of the reasons they are memorable.

Where to find those significant moments? Zero in on the major Plotline points. That’s a good start. Since a Plotline point is an important event that hooks into the plot and spins it in another direction, chances are quite good there will be some sort of concomitant emotional or psychological ‘thing’ going on.

Movies are made of moments. Find them, study them, and use them to source your story’s themes. Remember:

Surface moments.

The Quest” has entered Week 21! And so did Go On Your Own Quest, an opportunity for anyone to follow the structure of “The Quest” to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write a first draft [Pages — 10 weeks]. It’s a 24-week immersion in the screenwriting process and you can do it here — for free!

Today and every Monday through Friday for 10 weeks, I’ll use this slot to post something inspirational as GOYOQ participants pound out their first drafts.

For background on “Go Into The Story: The Quest,” go here and here.

For all the previous weeks of Go On Your Own Quest posts, go here.