Drama vs. Thriller

 The First Obstacle

We Still Can't Decide on a Genre.

UPDATE! My partner and I have been debating on if we should do a drama or thriller and now, we are stuck. Here are our thoughts:

Drama vs. Thriller

We like how broad drama is and there is a lot we can do with it but are stuck on what the story should be about/what path to take. Thrillers have more of a set plan on how to develop the plot. This makes it less broad than dramas, but we still don't know what the big question that the film opening introduces should be.

 

We decided to do some more research on dramas and thrillers to see if we get inspiration for a narrative that we can develop a film opening for. Today, I will be checking out the screenplays of different films from each genre.

Drama

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Joel finds out his ex-girlfriend Clementine erased her memories of him, so he undergoes the same procedure to erase his memories of her. 

Screenplay by Charlie Kaufmann:

I love the muted, depressive tone set in this screenplay (by using a colorless palette) because it is very raw, real, and exposed. I love the only thing of color being the "red heart-shaped box" because, even though we don't know anything about the movie yet, this is a subtle message from Kaufmann that this is about romance. The costuming fits perfectly for the setting with the vintage or old suit in a subway and I can clearly see that Joel fits in with this city environment. What I also love is how I am already thinking about where the man is going and why he is in a hurry. I suddenly need to know more and keep watching. This is something I would really enjoy incorporating into my film opening.

The Fabelmans (2022)

Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he grows up in America's post-World War II era, but discovers a family secret while growing up and uses film to see truth.

Screenplay by Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner:

I love how there are screen titles that give the date and location of the scene. I've always found that unique in films and it makes audiences really think about the stage of life the characters are in. Here, audiences stay in the present as they start thinking about how it is cold outside because it is January and are imagining the life of a New Jerseyan. I also love how they have Burt talking off screen while the camera pans down the line towards him and slowly introduces the main character Sammy. It would be cool to incorporate that into my film opening. There is a clear obstacle already presented that makes audiences wonder how Sammy will behave during the movie.

The Visitor (2007)

Walter Vale visits New York and finds illegal immigrants living in his apartment. He lets them stay because he feels sorry for them and tries everything he can to prevent one of them from getting deported after being accused to comit a crime.

Screenplay by Tom McCarthy:

To be honest, this screenplay did not interest me like the other two did. To me, looking out the window and watching an unknown person pull up to the house is a common scene in films. It is a good way to get audiences to wonder who is in the car, because they clearly have some significance. That is why I like that technique, because it tunes people in trying to find out who the character is.

Thriller

The Girl on the Train (2016)

Rachel Watson passes by Scott and Megan's home daily on the train and may be in trouble after involving herself in Megan's missing person/potential death investigation.

Screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson:

The mysterious tone developled with "mournful clatter" and "silvery streak" paired with the question about what the lives of those around us is like is a subtle way of sharing that Rachel's interest in other people's lives will not lead to something good. This helps develop thrill. Like all thrillers, this one has a question introduced in the film opening. I love the question this thriller is centered around because it's a very "I've never thought about it like that" kind of question. The voice over reveals a lot about Rachel's curiosity.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

People from Osage Nation Land (1920s Oklahoma) start getting murdered one-by-one after oil is discovered there. FBI investigates the mystery.

Screenplay by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese:

This screenplay has very chaotic imagery that probably reflects the rest of the film. This reminds me of The Visitor film opening the way a character's role is undefined and their identity is suddenly revealed by another character. It makes me wonder what is special about Ernest, but I do not feel as thrilled as I felt when reading The Girl on the Train.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

An explosion in San Pedro Harbor kills many people and con man Kint tries convincing the authorities that that a crime lord lured Kint and his four partners into a million dollar heist that ended with that explosion.

Screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie:

It is clear that a lot of attention was spent on costuming. The cut on Dean's face and his cigarette paired with the "water or sweat" on his face is a subtle way to get audiences to create their own idea of his backstory before acutally finding it out. The way the audience slowly gets more hints about who he is, like discovering he is on a boat deck, keeps us drawn. The techniqe of revealing an unidentified character and slowly revealing who they are interests me.

Final Thoughts

After conducting this research, I am more drawn to dramas because they address an issue/question that I can relate to more than with a thriller. Thrillers seem to focus on more unusual questions while dramas focus more on questions that I can try to answer based of my experiences. Also, creativity-wise, I feel that my partner and I will be more successful at coming up with a film opening idea for a drama than a thriller. So it's time to talk to my partner about officializing our genre! Look out for an update!👀

Sources:

- Script Reader Pro. (2024). *50 best screenplays to read in every genre [2024 update]*. -https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/best-screenplays-to-read/ 

- Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind 

- Spielberg, S., & Kushner, T. (2022). *The Fabelmans* [Screenplay]. Universal Pictures. https://awards.universalpictures.com/the-fabelmans/screenplay/The_Fabelmans.pdf 

- IMDb. (n.d.). *The Fabelmans (2022)*. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14208870/ 

- Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *The Visitor (2008)*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10008820-visitor 

- Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *The Girl on the Train (2016)*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_girl_on_the_train_2016 

- IMDb. (n.d.). *Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)*. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5537002/ 

- Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). *The Usual Suspects (1995)*. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/usual_suspects