Writer’s Panel at SBIFF 2009

Reviewed by Darryl Walden. Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival 2009.

from left to right: Tom McCarthy, Andrew Stanton, Anne Thompson, Robert Knott, Dustin Lance Black

The SBIFF Writer’s Panel was conducted at the Lobero Theater. Its moderator was Ann Thomas and the panel featured Robert Knott (Appaloosa), Tom McCarthy (The Visitor), Andrew Stanton (Wall-E) and Dustin Lance Black (Milk). The theme of the panel was “It Starts With The Script.”

Ann asked the four panelists how they arrived at writing.  I think I was intrigued most with Dustin’s reply when he stated, “I grew up as a Mormon kid.”  He went on to say that he did not come in contact with the Harvey Milk documentary, the inspiration for the film’s screenplay, until he was a film major at UCLA.  Judging from what I understood about Mormonism, I could not help but admire and appreciate the objective sensitivity that had to go into the shaping of the Milk narrative.

I was also impressed by Robert’s bluntness who explained that it was his frustration with scripts as an actor that prompted his attempts to write.  Notably, he stated, “A good story is everything.”  Andrew’s experience grew out of working with a Pixar consortium of writers that critiqued each other’s films to hone the scripting process.  Tom, unlike Andrew, works alone.

Admittedly, I found it hard to take notes while screening a film, but with the panel, I was able to jot down specific quotes.  Here are some on what the panelists thought about character formation.  Andrew:  “Plot is your way of getting to character.”  Dustin:  “Developing character is the most important work.”  Tom:  “How characters are defined is important, immediate and essential.   Actors must mesh into the portrayed character.”  Robert:  “Actors must be allowed to project the elements of the character, emotionally and plot wise.”  It was Tom that concluded this segment with the rationale that, “If the audience does not believe in the circumstances that form the relationship, the narrative does not fly.”

 Finally, Ann asked each panelist to concisely describe their respective methodology to writing a screenplay.  Andrew:  “Be as wrong as fast as you can.  Develop.”  Tom:  “Revisions.”  Dustin:  “Research.”  Robert: “It’s the mental formation of the plot from beginning to end before you write.”

This portion of the film festival which took you behind the screen into the innovative realm of filmmakers was as enlightening as it was enjoyable.