A screenplay’s theme has to be one of the aspects of screenwriting that causes beginning screenwriters the most frustration. In today’s episode co-host Jose and I try to demystify screenplay theme, and talk about our favorite examples of Theme Stated beats in movies.
What is a screenplay’s theme, anyway?
I like to think about a screenplay’s theme as an organizing principle. Sometimes it’s a firm takeaway, like “Being over-protective will surely chase your child away and into danger.” This approach to screenplay theme is more of a thesis statement where the writer is expressing a distinct point of view, which is perfectly okay in my book.
And sometimes a screenplay’s theme operates more like a thematic area that’s explored in the story, like “The things parents do for their children.” This kind is less value-charged, and that’s okay too. A screenplay that uses this approach can make us think about and form our own takeaways.
But with either approach, the screenplay’s theme serves as an organizing principle. It helps guide the writer in creating a story that will convey the desired theme. And having that organizing principle in place helps the audience receive and understand what the writer wants to convey.
Does your screenplay need theme?
That’s a trick question. In this episode, Jose and I both agree that a screenplay’s theme is important. It’s what gives your story meaning.
We all naturally seek meaning in stories, whether we’re conscious of it or not. We try to understand what a story is telling us about the way the world works.
So your screenplay is giving out thematic messages, whether you intend them or not, simply because audiences are trying to understand what it is you’re saying. People are assigning meaning to your story anyway, so you might as well use that opportunity to be deliberate and intentional about the message you send.
But sometimes worrying about a screenplay’s theme too early in the writing process can actually get in your way. My best advice is to think about what you want to say with your screenplay, but don’t feel like you have to lock it down before you start writing.
You can start with a thematic area that interests you. It can be as broad and general as makes sense to you right now — sacrifice, the toll of war, the good of the one vs. the good of the many.
And then, as you develop your screenplay, you can narrow in on your point of view, your take on that theme, what you want to say about it, etc. Like every other aspect of your screenplay, it doesn’t have to land on the page fully formed. You can hone it over time.
In this episode, Jose and I also talk about a few common mistakes that writers may encounter when working with a screenplay’s theme. And if you’re curious what our personal favorite examples of theme are, we get into that too.
Do you have any go-to movies you use when thinking about or discussing theme? I’d love to hear about them. Tweet them to me!