Any Advice on Bio-Pics?

Originally posted by Elisabeth K on 12-04-2003 4:03 AM:

I've stumbled on a terrific historical character, and am attempting to write a screenplay about him -- but am getting hopelessly bogged down.

One thing I do feel fairly sure of: since inevitably he dies, which is a downer, I need to flag that up to the audience (if any!) from the start -- especially as it's the way he dies that sets the cap on his story. But aside from that, I'm floundering. Should I try to tell his whole story, showing all the crucial steps that lead him to this end? Or would I do better to focus in depth on the final period, and sketch in the backstory as best I can?

Personally I never like the breathless 'and then -- and then -- and then' style of biopic; but too many flashbacks can make for a messy movie too. Any advice you can give me? Please???

Posted by ScriptNurse on 1-25-2004 4:08 PM:

Hmmm ... it seems as though you've hit the nail on the head yourself. The quandry you're in is mostly the reason you don't see all that many biopics in the first place ... that and the fact they tend to be period (read: expensive) pieces.

Does everyone know this person dies?

What vantage point are you telling the story from ... through the eyes of someone who knew him (i.e. Brideshead Revisited or anything starting off with, "I'll never forget how I met her.")

What is extraordinary about this ... the person ... the era ... the circumstances?

(I'm sorry I took so long to post here. I shall be more prompt in the future.)

Posted by Elisabeth K on 1-26-2004 1:23 PM:

Thanks for your reply — and yes, it is period, so potentially expensive. Worse, it's a period that seems to have become over-popular of late! Civil War to Custer's Last Stand.

Not everyone knows that this person dies; not everyone knows he even existed. He's come through to history as a minor figure, but some versions (the ones I intend to follow) suggest he's much more important than that. And his interest lies not just in his deeds, but in his very complex and sympathetic character.

As for the viewpoint: up to now, I've been wrestling with ways of telling it objectively. But over the last few days I'd come to the conclusion that the best bet IS to show it through another character's reminiscences. (It's not just a bland 'friend of', but a character who'll be revealing plenty of stuff about him/herself at the same time.) Does that sound good to you? -- Sorry to be so cagey, but the subject-matter makes it very much public domain ... and hence up for grabs to anyone who can get their act together faster than I can!

Very grateful for any thoughts ...

Posted by ScriptNurse on 1-26-2004 4:29 PM:

It doesn't HAVE to be through someone's reminiscences, but maybe someone central to his life ... someone who was there with him through it all -- that sort of thing. In so doing, you can avoid the horiffic task of managing the flashbacks.

Told from a woman's point of view makes it ideal for certain cable networks, if you can do it inexpensively. It all depends on the nature of the story itself. If there's no grandiose battle scenes to portray, then the cost can be reduced very significantly. An ideal situation to be in is to have an epic that SEEMS grandiose, but isn't to film it ... that equals high production value at relatively low production cost.

So, is ti abut an epic series of events in history ... or about a man living through history?

Posted by Elisabeth K on 1-27-2004 5:14 AM:

Thanks for replying so quickly. This is great advice: seem epic, be small!

There's one unavoidable battle scene, but it's a long way from grandiose; it should be do-able via pockets of action here and there, with the focus on individuals, rather than any massive panorama. I'm hoping it'll be possible to create the impression of numbers without the proverbial 'cast of thousands' ... and there are re-enactment groups that could be used. So while it won't be as inexpensive as a contemporary family drama or whatever, it's not up there with 'Lord of the Rings' ...

The interest throughout will be character and relationships, even within the action stuff: this man living amid epic events, rather than the epic events themselves.

What you say about a woman's viewpoint is interesting. It was a woman that I had in mind for the 'narrator' figure: someone who's there pretty well throughout, influences events herself, is a strong character in her own right, and has a development arc of her own -- so that it's her story as well as his. But cable: I'm not sure. It'd depend on the channel. Some of it can't help but be a bit, er, raunchy ...

Posted by ScriptNurse on 1-27-2004 7:47 AM:

The seemingly epic part of the battle stuff can be effectively done in post-production ... if it SOUNDS epic, it is epic. Perhaps he's doing something that's not central to the main battle ... spying? ... special mission? Something that puts him there, but not in the middle of the battle.

The woman's view is also one that's different and untraditional. Don't worry about the raunchiness, that's WHY many stories are on cable ... it would be censored by broadcast television. The fact that she's "narrating" the story needs only be established at the outset and then it's a story about two people that takes place during the Civil War. You can tell the rest of the story in the "now," very much like the opening of TITANIC.

Write the story as it is ... forget about WHO it's "right" for. Sooner or later, GREAT stories get made ... it's the less than great that have to be sold.

Posted by Elisabeth K on 1-28-2004 6:20 AM:

Thank you — this is all very encouraging. I've been bogged down for so long; you're making me feel it CAN be done after all.

Posted by ScriptNurse on 1-28-2004 8:24 AM:

Of course it can be done. They're just words on pieces of paper. You'll do it.

I would also recommend you contact Script Nurse member Jill Jago, who also lives in London. She's written a few documentaries and has completed a historical drama not long ago. She might be able to give you pointers and moral support.

Just click on the "Members" button button above and you'll find her in the list. I'd recommend you send her an email not a PM. Please tell her I suggested you contact her and be sure to say "Hi" for me.

Posted by Elisabeth K on 1-28-2004 9:59 AM:

Actually, she's an old buddy of mine! It was Jill who told me about your website. And I've been extracting moral support from her to a shameless degree. I'll continue to do so ... and yes, I will say 'Hi'!

Posted by ScriptNurse on 1-28-2004 10:08 AM:

Small world, eh? She's lovely person and very creative.

Posted by Elisabeth K on 1-29-2004 6:40 AM:

I'll pass that on!