Screenwriting Help E-Mail (Previous)
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This week's
question:
Did you ever notice how there's always at least one mistake in
even the great movies? That's disheartening, to say the
least. How do you contend with that? Frank,
Virginia
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This week's Answer:
The
Perfection of Imperfection
Frank, very perceptive of you. I've perceived the very same thing: most movies, including the "big ones," have mistakes in them. And
sometimes flamingly obvious ones. And I'm not necessarily referring to
those in The Towering Inferno here. Although, some critics believe
it was a mistake to even make the film. I, personally would never
say that... or write it... or even think-- Well, let's not get carried
away, shall we?
How do I contend with these flagrant faux pas in films? Well, the first
thing I've had to do is train myself to stop throwing popcorn at the
screen. Or my television. Those buttery ones leave really oily
smears, which makes it hard for me to see the next movie and spot its
mistakes. Which is extremely important to do if I'm going to feel good
about myself and how skilled I am in spotting others' mistakes so I don't have
to focus on my own. That's important. (Make no mistake about it.)
Have you seen the proverbial telephone pole wires in Twelve O'clock High Noon?
(I mean "High Noon." I guess I made a mistake.) In a
period western, no less! And I've heard that if you watch carefully one of
those spectacular in-the-days-when-Rome-was-really-something (including its
vomitoriums -- which several critics today could definitely find helpful if they
were situated just outside screening rooms) movies, such as Ben Hur or Spartacus
or some other
Biblical-or-Cleoptra-or-Watch-Out-The-Weightless-Columns-Are-Tumblin'-Down-Again
flick, they say you can spot a WRISTWATCH on somebody's wrist (a good place for
one, but come on, really!) Talk about anachromatic! I think that's
a word. No, another mistake. It's anachronism. So, can you say,
"anachronistic?" I guess so since the "you made a bad
boo-boo" red underscore didn't come up on my monitor. Did you ever
notice how unforgiving Spellcheck is. There, see? It won't even let
its own name get by without correcting itself, indicating that it actually
doesn't exist! Whatever you do, don't make a mistake with Spellcheck
watching. There, there's that Big Brother red line again. I can't
take it. I'm not perfect! Why won't Spellcheck understand that and
give me a little slack!?
Story-wise, being a story analyst, I can't help but notice moments in
screenplays and movies that don't quite make (or don't make any) sense.
I've come to realize that, if you look hard enough (try not to strain your
eyes. The focus just isn't as good as it used to be.), you can usually
find some "glitch," some moment in a story that is not perfectly
plausible. Or, even, at all believable. "My mother could have
seen that coming!" And when you bring your mother into it, you know
you mean business. (Although, the preceding won't hold water if your
mother happens to be a top agent of the CIA, or a detective, or a scientist,
or... Come to think of it, most mothers today could probably see it coming.) I think it's wonderful to have a discerning eye and be able to spot
imperfections in films. It shows that you care about your craft.
Unless your craft is dissolving classic films in acid and driving by the UCLA
film archives, laughing and spitting at the same time. (You have to drive
by because parking is at such a premium.) But, my advice (and I
could be mistaken here) is to, rather than focus on what is not perfect, focus
on perfecting your own craft (unless, again, you're involved in swallowing
classic film rolls whole and considering shorts to be dessert). Producers,
directors, actors, extras (sorry, "atmosphere." Another
mistake. Please don't report me, discerning one.), makeup specialists,
grips, those who can't get a grip, caterers (did you see the whip cream on Al
Pacino's puss when he played the priest in Nobody Likes A Priest With Hives?),
and even writers, yes, writers, make mistakes, big and small. And the
amazing thing to me is that a flagrant mistake, a bad cut, a problem with
continuity, etc., can get by all those people who presumably watch it over and
over again, apparently not seeing it (or seeing it and being too tired or not
having the money or patience to FIX IT! You see what you've done,
Frank?! Now you've got me all upset about all those upsetting mistakes in
films that started back in the silent pictures and continue to propagate like
bad little bunnies all through the history of film up until this very day.
SOMEONE HAS TO STOP THESE PEOPLE UNTIL THEY RUIN US ALL! SOYLENT GREEN IS
PEOPLE! I think there's a mistake in that film, too, if you look...
real... close...
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