This is a bit different than most posts that I make, but with my internet still out (#StupidTree), I've had a lot of time to watch television. As a writer though, I don't just watch television. I try to learn something from everything that I watch and in the past week I've learned that the moments that really move me are not the ones that are obvious. The moments that catch my attention and really stick with me are the ones that were probably never meant to be that memorable, but they are done with a subtle grace that as writers we should strive to bring to our emotional scenes.
I'll start with one that takes my breath away no matter how many times I watch it. No, it is not the death of Denny on Grey's Anatomy. That was obviously meant to be an emotional scene. What do I remember from it? Just that Denny died.
The scene that gets me is in the episode where Meredith drowned. It's very brief, but it's Denny and Izzie passing each other in the hall. Both stop and even though they can't see each other, between the expressions of the actors and great camera work, you instantly feel that connection and the loss of a great love. I sit through that episode again and again, just for that moment.
The scene that gets me is in the episode where Meredith drowned. It's very brief, but it's Denny and Izzie passing each other in the hall. Both stop and even though they can't see each other, between the expressions of the actors and great camera work, you instantly feel that connection and the loss of a great love. I sit through that episode again and again, just for that moment.
Another great is a film from Helena Bonham Carter's early career about Lady Jane the doomed nine day queen of England. Although she is amazing in her role, it's Cary Elwes that really steels the show. As the guards are about to take him away to be executed, he is struggling against them. Lady Jane begs him to stop and says something that is meant to be moving (See how memorable that is). He stops fighting the guards and a single tear falls down his cheek and he allows himself to be taken away with his head held high. Wow!
Of course no list would be complete without mentioning Gone With The Wind. Now again, it isn't the obvious. When Rhett leaves Scarlett, my only thought is that she would be hard pressed to find a replacement husband as hot as that. When Atlanta burns, I find myself trying to catch a glimpse of the stunt person's face or to try and guess what parts were added as special effects.
No, the part that gets to me has nothing to do with the fall of the south or Rhett leaving Scarlett. Instead, I turn on the water works during the scene on the road to Tara. Rhett has just left Scarlett so that he can go join the army. Scarlett has Melonie, Prissy, and Melonie's baby in a wagon. So here is this once beautiful southern belle pulling this sick horse along this road and she says simply, "Come on you, I'm going home."
Here an entire war has raged all around her and like a child all she can think of is going home. How many of us have felt like that?
No, the part that gets to me has nothing to do with the fall of the south or Rhett leaving Scarlett. Instead, I turn on the water works during the scene on the road to Tara. Rhett has just left Scarlett so that he can go join the army. Scarlett has Melonie, Prissy, and Melonie's baby in a wagon. So here is this once beautiful southern belle pulling this sick horse along this road and she says simply, "Come on you, I'm going home."
Here an entire war has raged all around her and like a child all she can think of is going home. How many of us have felt like that?
I'm going to finish off the list with Titanic and again, it won't be what you think. When Jack dies, it's supposed to be sad, but I'm just thinking that she better pry her hand away from a dead guy and swim like hell before she joins him.
The part that gets me is before the ship even sinks. As many of you know from my previous blog posts, I'm a big fan of the actual Titanic ship and grew up watching stories about the survivors (blog post about The Real Magic of Titanic). One thing that the survivors often mentions was the sight of the flares and how real it all suddenly seemed. Perhaps because of this, the part in the movie that gets me is the sight of the flares lighting the sky over Jack's head as Rose is lowered in a life boat (just before she jumps back onto the ship).
So this is my list of television and movie moments that are amazing because of how very subtle the emotion is. To me, those scenes are more emotional and moving than the scenes that were really meant to move me. As writers, I think it's important that we remember these examples. When writing, as long as we stay in the moment and show what's going on in our story, the emotion will take care of itself so much better than if we're "trying" to make people react a certain way.
What are some of you favorite movie and television moments and what have you learned from them that has carried over to your writing?
The part that gets me is before the ship even sinks. As many of you know from my previous blog posts, I'm a big fan of the actual Titanic ship and grew up watching stories about the survivors (blog post about The Real Magic of Titanic). One thing that the survivors often mentions was the sight of the flares and how real it all suddenly seemed. Perhaps because of this, the part in the movie that gets me is the sight of the flares lighting the sky over Jack's head as Rose is lowered in a life boat (just before she jumps back onto the ship).
So this is my list of television and movie moments that are amazing because of how very subtle the emotion is. To me, those scenes are more emotional and moving than the scenes that were really meant to move me. As writers, I think it's important that we remember these examples. When writing, as long as we stay in the moment and show what's going on in our story, the emotion will take care of itself so much better than if we're "trying" to make people react a certain way.
What are some of you favorite movie and television moments and what have you learned from them that has carried over to your writing?
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