I do Studid things by Myself....

A friend of mine read a past blog in which I talked about screenplay structure. It was how certain events, in a movie, take place at certain times. He was referring to the midpoint/half way point of the movie where the story, in terms of the main character (A-story), is turned completely around.

Structure to me, in screenwriting, is down right fascinating. It has taken a hold of me and it won’t let go. The specific part of structure I just can’t quite get a handle on is that of the B-story. It is referenced in books about screenwriting in different terms, but it is a character who is in the life of the antagonist, but is not truly in the life (He or she doesn‘t take as much screen time). The importance of that character or story line is as, equally important but it never gets in the way of the main character until it is absolutely necessary.

This B-story must play a vital part of the antagonist’s journey, but it is never explored in detail. But, at the same time, this character is just as important as the film’s antagonist. This represents a huge dilemma on the screenwriter, especially the spec writer who is trying to find out what the hell is the answer. In a way, I think the mastery of this story line/B-character is more important than that of the antagonist/main character‘s story.

To real life…

We are all on our own journey of life. We encounter obstacle after obstacle and we deal with those obstacles the best we can. In that pursuit of life, day after day, we don’t realize what is truly important. This is the B-story. We don’t pay enough attention to others until it is absolutely necessary. That friend, or person whom you never met, but has given you words of wisdom or who has acted in a way that you see as noble, ends up being more important in our own lives (at that moment) than you ever thought. It brings a tear to your eye, it reaches down and brings the fear out of your body, showing it to everyone at that moment, or it makes you laugh at something you never thought was possible. This is the B-story in everyone’s lives.

I was watching the movie, “Water Lillies” (translated into English). The B-story’s (character) said “We mustn’t split up, Marie. I do stupid things by myself.”

Guess what? That line, in the movie, came at the end of the 2nd act, ending that character‘s story.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be the B-story in everyone’s life. They never get enough credit, do they?