So long for being in a Jude Law State of Mind - Case of the Never Ending Screenplay, Part 3 #indiefilm #amwriting

What follows is the third and final installment in a series of Jude Law quotes that I’ve kept in mind while trying to find the right motivations for getting to the final draft stage of a short screenplay that has often been a pain in my rear, for several weeks. The first (Part 1) and second (Part 2) posts containing my script writing notes may be of interest those of you who missed them.

“I don't want to do anything that I'm not passionate about.” - Jude Law

All I could think when reading this is that it applies to so many aspects of life, not just filmmaking. In fact, this particular Jude Law quote reminds me of my blog post about Russian Roulette and how we gamble with our lives in some respects but avoid taking chances at all costs when it comes to other areas of our existence that really matter the most. Bottom line: Put your energy into the activities, objects, subjects, people, places, experiences, etc. that you care about and let the rest move over to the sidelines.

In the case of my script, I suppose I need to hone in on what I’m really trying to say with this particular short story -- what is the message? Why do I care about it? How can I make the characters convey this message? These are the questions that I should really have an answer to before calling “Action!” or else it will turn into another project that I look at and think “Eh! I finished it *Shrugs shoulders* so, what’s next?” -- and I surely don’t want any parts of that.

Since January, I’ve had moments where I felt like I just wanted to shoot the darn thing and get it over with so I could move on to the next project. That is NOT the best kind of motivation that should make anyone do anything, no matter if it involves making films, babysitting someone’s kid, attending a family reunion, buying a house, going to work at a job you hate or whatever the case may be. If we’re already looking for the exit door or closing performance before we enter a room, then maybe that’s a sign that we shouldn’t be there in the first place.

In the case of this short film script that I’m trying not to fling out of the window, the final draft hasn’t even been completed yet and I’ve already started hearing the fat lady sing. So, I’m hoping that this newfound enthusiasm for the third storyline that I’m embarking on remains all the way through the entire screenwriting process. Or else, it may be time for me to just put this thing on the shelf and go forward with the feature film that sparked my paranoia for the habitual film industry dream crusher that is 10-year development. 

Still in a Jude Law State of Mind - Case of The Never Ending Screenplay Part 2 #amwriting #indiefilm

“I only want to do the kind of work that I would like to go and see, that's going to teach me something new, that involves working with people I can learn something from and I can give something to.” - Jude Law

I do believe that actors, directors, screenwriters, composers, etc. should experience some level of growth with each film that they make. So, I agree with Jude Law’s views on working on projects where he’ll learn something new. It’s also worth noting how great it is that he chooses movie roles that he would support himself, as a moviegoer. Like giving rave reviews for a product that I either don’t like or wouldn’t use, writing a script that I wouldn’t want to watch play out on screen defeats the whole purpose of trying to make films that are seen by more people than my parents.

If I’m going to go as far as producing a screenplay, then I might as well write one that I would go check out, if it were written by someone else. I’ve done this often when deciding on whether to support certain charities and figuring out if I should pursue certain documentary subjects -- If the answer is no, it’s because I often thought “I wouldn’t watch this if it was on TV and I wouldn’t care about what the people featured in it had to say, so I’m not making a documentary about....” -- so, the same should apply at the script stage.

Check out Part 3, the final installment in a line of Jude Law quotes that have me thinking about how to approach this short screenplay that I’ve been trying to complete. Or, read Part 1 of my recent script writing notes, if you missed it.

What is the most important aspect of a movie that makes YOU like it or hate it? Is the Plot a factor? Actors? Relational aspects to your life/beliefs/experiences? Production Value? Subject matter (heroes; crime; love; war; underdogs; fantasy; babies, etc.)? or something else?

In a Jude Law State of Mind - Case of The Never Ending Screenplay Part 1 #indiefilm #shorts #actors

 

I’m channeling the wisdom of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" star Jude Law this weekend, to get a short film script ready for what I hope will be the final draft stage. I have a feeling, however, that there's probably more work to do before reaching that point. It’s been too damn long -- I mean, I expected to have this thing done, especially now that January has come and gone.

The story was simple enough but then I altered the script outline a bit to try to make it more interesting. Afterward, I got bored and was no longer interested in making the whole darn thing. Then, I went back to square one, with plans to just make a straight-to-video flick that I could sell, regardless of whether I was interested in the movie or not.

In April, I lost enthusiasm for taking the script from first draft to final draft and these days, I’m taking the story in a whole new direction after coming up with some ideas that I actually like, to finally create a workable script that could be both simple, yet interesting. So, what does this all have to do with Jude Law, you may be wondering? Well, I recently came across three quotes from this Tony and Oscar nominated actor, that reminded me of what making movies (especially independent films, in my case) is all about -- more specifically, what needs to be the motivation for writing the script.

Since a screenplay is the very foundation for which films are based upon, if I’m not enthusiastic about creating the story on paper, how in the world am I going to find excitement in shooting it?! So, any movie for which the writer has no motivation to complete is doomed from the start. Now don’t get me wrong, producing artificial enthusiasm for a movie CAN be done, at any stage of production for that matter -- but is it worth it in the end? No way! Or, at least not according to Jude Law, where his acting is concerned.

Photo: People Magazine
“The only film I ever made for money was something called Music From Another Room, which I really didn't like.” - Jude Law

This reminds me of one of the most expensive short films I’ve made to date, which serves as a lesson to not make the same mistake twice. The irony is that I lost money on this particular film rather than making dough and also ended up with a film that brings me all sorts of frustrating and annoying memories on top of that. I thought that by making a film that I could use to raise money for the one that I really wanted to make, I didn’t have to exactly be attached to the end result.

Similar thoughts crossed my mind while hitting mental roadblocks on the first draft of my current script -- “I don’t need great ideas for this, so long as I cast at least one actor who can attract sales based on who he or she is -- hell, this person doesn’t even have to have acting experience. The guys from The Skorpion Show on YouTube has a huge audience. Problem solved!” Thank goodness I knew that this was a destructive path to follow and thus, started trying to find a story angle that I at least find attractive enough to hold my attention while I work on the remaining scenes.

Therefore, being focused on a straight-to-video ending is not going to improve the script that I have right now nor will it suddenly make me fall in love with a story that I dislike. What good is earning money on a film that you wouldn’t champion at every chance you get or even defend against critics?! -- which brings me back to the basic point that focusing on an end result only serves as a distraction while I put together a screenplay that I don’t even care about. Solution: Make sure you like the script before moving on to the next stage.

Read part two, which includes another Jude Law quote and more scriptwriting observations!

Did YOU know that Jude Law was injured on the set of “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” leaving him with a broken rib?

If someone paid YOU $1 million to make a film based on a script that YOU loathed, would YOU do it?