Robert McKee - Big Think Interview

This in-depth interview with Robert McKee, one of the original screenwriting gurus, covers a lot of subjects, from the importance of mastering the craft of exposition, to whether the best screenwriting opportunities are in television. In regards to the latter he says, "television without question, is the most creative medium to write in today."

It's also encouraging when he discusses the benefits of failing, about how you have to write a bunch of unproduced screenplays because it's all practice, practice of the craft, as well as practice of life, and building up material and ideas. So we shouldn't get disheartened if we're not that 23 year old writer who got their first screenplay made, because when you finally do get something produced it'll be of real quality.

The Other Guys - Plot Point Breakdown

This is the first of a new series of posts breaking down the act structure of popular films, both old and new. All stories, especially but not only films, can be broken down to 5 key plot points; the inciting incident, the lock in, the midpoint, the climax and the resolution.

The Other Guys (2010) is a fantastic take on the buddy cop film. Full of genre jokes, classic Will Ferrell moments and absurdest humour (Michael Keaton's police captain repeatedly quotes TLC songs) the movie is consistently funny, and sharp for an action comedy these days.

Inciting Incident - Cocky detectives Chris Danson and P.K. Highsmith (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson) are the city's top cops, they're The Guys. But while pursuing a gang of jewelry robbers they jump to their deaths. This leaves a hole in the precinct, ready to be filled by mild-mannered forensic accountant Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and hot headed Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlburg) - they're The Other Guys.

Lock In - While investigating a scaffolding violation Allen and Terry uncover a plot by billionaire David Ershon (Steve Coogan) to cover up the losses of his client Lendl Global. They arrest David Ershon but when escorting him back to the station he's kidnapped by a team of mercenaries headed by Roger Wesley (Ray Stevenson) - revealing to Allen and Terry that they're onto something big.

Midpoint - Frustrated with their lack of progress and unwilling to ruffle the feathers of those above him, Captain Gene Mauch (Micheal Keaton) takes Terry and Allen off the case. Terry is assigned to traffic duty and Allen is made a beat cop patrolling the streets. This is when our heroes are at their lowest and furthest from solving the case. 

Climax - After uncovering crucial evidence Allen convinces Terry to return to the case with him, off the books. They attend an investment meeting hosted by Ershon and realise the $32 Billion Ershon needs to cover Lendl Global's losses is coming out of the NYPD's pension fund. They escape with Ershon and the next morning take him to the bank to stop the transfer, evading gangs of Nigerian and Chechen investors as well as Wesley's mercenaries. 

Resolution - Allen and Terry reach the bank with Ershon and successfully halt the transfer but Wesley and his mercenaries arrive, shooting Allen, Terry and Ershon. Captain Mauch then arrives with backup, rescuing our two heroes and arresting Ershon for embezzlement, as well as Wesley for multiple murders. Ershon's arrest leads to a stock market crash and the subsequent federal bailout of Lendl Global.

Tetra Vaal - Neill Blomkamp short

'Elysium' opened last week and although it's a more than decent sci-fi actioner with Neill Blomkamp signature social political themes, it doesn't have the incisive prawn bite that 'District 9' did. In the wake of both, 'Chappie' has been green lit for development, and although it sounds like a family movie about a cheeky dog who's sarcastic wit has seen him change owners more times than he's changed food bowl, it's actually about a security robot - the eponymous 'Chappie' - and will be "comedy based."

It's based on his 2003 short called 'Tetra Vaal', a nifty little film framed as a corporate marketing video advertising a law enforcement robot. Although the full feature is said to be comedy based, I'm sure we can expect more intelligent ideas on politics, technology, police, and the trust society invests in them.