Comments for Blake Snyder http://www.blakesnyder.com The Last Website on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need Thu, 7 Aug 2008 23:14:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by martin http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-98409 martin Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:05:42 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-98409 Here's a twist - In "To Kill a Mockingbird", when Attius shoots the dog, he actually saves the cat. :-) Pretty cool. Here’s a twist - In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, when Attius shoots the dog, he actually saves the cat. :-) Pretty cool.

]]> Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by Scott W http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-98197 Scott W Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:08:18 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-98197 William Goldman tells the story of Paul Newman's "Harper": the filmmakers discovered late in the process that they needed an STC moment; on the fly, Goldman wrote the scene that plays over the opening credits where Newman's bleary-eyed character, desperate for a cup of joe in the morning, discovers he's out of coffee/filters. He looks in the trash and squinches up his face as he rescues yesterday's soggy filter as a solution to the problem. Goldman says he knew right then the audience would follow Harper anywhere. This scene gets echoed in Adam Carolla's "The Hammer" where a desperate caffeine craving leads his character to his wife's tampon box... Cut to: him enjoying a cup of coffee. Spoiler: She leaves him shortly after, not sure why. ;) William Goldman tells the story of Paul Newman’s “Harper”: the filmmakers discovered late in the process that they needed an STC moment; on the fly, Goldman wrote the scene that plays over the opening credits where Newman’s bleary-eyed character, desperate for a cup of joe in the morning, discovers he’s out of coffee/filters. He looks in the trash and squinches up his face as he rescues yesterday’s soggy filter as a solution to the problem. Goldman says he knew right then the audience would follow Harper anywhere.
This scene gets echoed in Adam Carolla’s “The Hammer” where a desperate caffeine craving leads his character to his wife’s tampon box… Cut to: him enjoying a cup of coffee. Spoiler: She leaves him shortly after, not sure why. ;)

]]> Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by Salvador Rubio http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-98025 Salvador Rubio Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:13:43 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-98025 I find that there's another kind of save the cat moment, which we could define as "the talented cat". It's that moment in many movies where the protagonist is presented doing something that impresses us, refering to his talents or abilities. I remember the movie "Point Break" where Keanu Reeves' character was so dull in the start of the movie that a scene was added in credits where he did a perfect shooting exercise, so that we know that he's a sharp shooter, therefore a talented cop and likable guy. The funny thing about this "talented cat" is that it works equal for the bad guy. When you show a bad guy displaying his talents, you immediately find him bad, but at the same time so fascinating that you "like" him. The best example I can find is Hannibal Lecter, who impresses us with his ability to read Sterling's past in her appearance. What do you think? I find that there’s another kind of save the cat moment, which we could define as “the talented cat”. It’s that moment in many movies where the protagonist is presented doing something that impresses us, refering to his talents or abilities. I remember the movie “Point Break” where Keanu Reeves’ character was so dull in the start of the movie that a scene was added in credits where he did a perfect shooting exercise, so that we know that he’s a sharp shooter, therefore a talented cop and likable guy.

The funny thing about this “talented cat” is that it works equal for the bad guy. When you show a bad guy displaying his talents, you immediately find him bad, but at the same time so fascinating that you “like” him. The best example I can find is Hannibal Lecter, who impresses us with his ability to read Sterling’s past in her appearance.

What do you think?

]]> Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by jenny gardiner http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-97993 jenny gardiner Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:16:59 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-97993 Hey Blake! Great fun meeting you. LOVED your discussion at RWA Nationals. Everyone was talking about it the rest of the conference as THE best workshop of the week. Thanks! Hey Blake! Great fun meeting you. LOVED your discussion at RWA Nationals. Everyone was talking about it the rest of the conference as THE best workshop of the week. Thanks!

]]> Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by Bobby J http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-97882 Bobby J Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:54:26 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-97882 Scott & Sue: How about Darth Vader's entrance in "Star Wars: A New Hope"? He boards Leia's "diplomatic vessel", lifts a guy with one arm by the throat, interrogates him, chokes him, then tosses him aside. That might actually be a "kicking the crap out of the dog" moment. Scott & Sue:

How about Darth Vader’s entrance in “Star Wars: A New Hope”? He boards Leia’s “diplomatic vessel”, lifts a guy with one arm by the throat, interrogates him, chokes him, then tosses him aside. That might actually be a “kicking the crap out of the dog” moment.

]]> Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by Bruce http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-97822 Bruce Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:38:23 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-97822 Always enjoy your blog, Blake. Shouldn't "kill the cat" refer to the villain (or other baddie) doing the opposite of "saving the cat?" What old-time writers called "kicking the dog" as opposed to "petting the dog?" What you described as "kill the cat," Aristotle called "undeserved misfortune." The more we heap misfortune on a character, as long as they don't deserve it, the more we will like them. A good way to turn your villain into an anti-hero is to show the undeserved misfortune that drove him to his villainy. Dark Knight is filled with Undeserved Misfortune, BTW. Always enjoy your blog, Blake.

Shouldn’t “kill the cat” refer to the villain (or other baddie) doing the opposite of “saving the cat?” What old-time writers called “kicking the dog” as opposed to “petting the dog?”

What you described as “kill the cat,” Aristotle called “undeserved misfortune.” The more we heap misfortune on a character, as long as they don’t deserve it, the more we will like them. A good way to turn your villain into an anti-hero is to show the undeserved misfortune that drove him to his villainy.

Dark Knight is filled with Undeserved Misfortune, BTW.

]]> Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by Blake http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-97761 Blake Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:04:25 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-97761 These are great comments guys! I am using James' fantastic insight, and all of your brilliant thoughts on this vital storytelling convention, in my next speech -- which will be Final Draft's "Take A Meeting" here in Los Angeles on September 6. As to recordings, we are going "into the studio" this weekend, and will be putting those up in the store ASAP. We've been asked for these for a while now and our motto here at Cat! Central is: Ask and you shall receive! These are great comments guys! I am using James’ fantastic insight, and all of your brilliant thoughts on this vital storytelling convention, in my next speech — which will be Final Draft’s “Take A Meeting” here in Los Angeles on September 6. As to recordings, we are going “into the studio” this weekend, and will be putting those up in the store ASAP. We’ve been asked for these for a while now and our motto here at Cat! Central is: Ask and you shall receive!

]]> Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by Michael http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-97759 Michael Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:02:37 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-97759 Recordings? Yes, I'd like a copy. I'm sure they'll be verrrry affordable. :) Recordings? Yes, I’d like a copy. I’m sure they’ll be verrrry affordable. :)

]]> Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by Kat http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-97758 Kat Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:53:00 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-97758 Recordings????? When????? And how do I get them???? Recordings????? When????? And how do I get them????

]]> Comment on More Ways to Save the Cat! by Scott W http://www.blakesnyder.com/2008/08/more-ways-to-save-the-cat/#comment-97610 Scott W Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:07:05 +0000 http://www.blakesnyder.com/?p=441#comment-97610 One could argue that Batman's STC moment is simply donning the costume; it's very reason for being (and Batman's reason for being) is to save the people of Gotham, its cats and its non-lethal canines. One could argue that Batman’s STC moment is simply donning the costume; it’s very reason for being (and Batman’s reason for being) is to save the people of Gotham, its cats and its non-lethal canines.

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