GITS reader David A sent me a link to an amazing set of videos, a sit-down conversation with TV and screenwriter Rod Serling. Most well-known for the long-running TV anthology series “The Twilight Zone” (148 episodes, 1959-1964), has over 70 writing credits including the screenplays for movies such as Seven Days in May and the original Planet of the Apes.
This week and next, we’ll feature Serling’s thoughts on writing each day with short (1-2 minute) interview excerpts. Today Serling ruminates on the question: Does espousing a cause lose character credibility?
“Leave that soapbox behind. Carry it with you at all times, your sense of caring and concern. But put it into the mouths of flesh-and-blood people. If not, write tracts.”
Thanks to David for finding these videos!
NOTE: At 0:32 in this video, Serling mentions the phrase “plot point.” And here I thought that Syd Field created that idea. I don’t know when these Serling interviews were produced, but they were certainly before 1984, the year Field’s first book, “Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting” was first published. So perhaps time to revise screenplay history.
The phrase "plot point" jumped out at me, too! Interesting that older screenwriters used this term. Perhaps it came out of play writing and earlier story theory (Freytag?).
I tend to find myself always falling into this category, always incorporating issues. But I definitely want to avoid having a soapbox trait. So definitely much for me to think about in the sense of balance.