MAJOR PROJECT: SCRIPT RESEARCH

Reading film scripts

Locke

Tom Hardy in 'Locke' (2013)

2013 film 'Locke' Written and Directed by Steven Knight was nominated for many awards throughout film festivals across the world. Steven Knight the writer produced an enthralling and profound piece of work with only the use of an actor sitting in a car talking to people on the phone. I decided I would read the script having already watched the film, to see what I could take from it in relation to my story which has similarities with my main character talking to an unseen radio host. 

The script manages to drag on a journey up and down as Ivan Locke's life plummets to rock bottom losing his job, family, and home. All because of one mistake he made. The story is grounded in reality and is possibly something people can relate to. It manages to pull at heart strings and anger you and question why this man would go through hell and back to help a woman he had a one night stand with. 

The script is well written and something I have already taken inspiration from with its slick style and ability to tell a story. It also makes you notice things you may not have necessarily notices whilst watching the film, like his conscience played by his wing mirror always checking to see if he's doing the right thing.

Tom Hardy catching a glimpse of his conscience in 'Locke' (2013)

All is Lost

Another 2013 film 'All is Lost' written and directed by J.C. Chandor is a film set entirely at sea with a man and his boat. As there is only one character their is very little dialogue so it is interesting to read the script. Interestingly it is only 31 pages long despite its eventual 1hr 46mins runtime. Which says to me about my own script that their is licence with action to take a breath and explore the characters through the camera rather than stick to the exact length of the pages. 

Despite its small page number the dialogue is snappy and frantic dragging you the viewer down with OUR MAN as Chandor calls him (played by Robert Redford). As I have been striving for less dialogue in my film this script has given me an insight into how I might achieve that.  

Robert Redford in 'All is Lost' (2013)