SPOILER ALERT: The following series of posts are spoiler-heavy. But, seriously, the movie is from 1997!!! If you haven’t watched it by now…
There are a number of screenwriting gems to be gleaned from a careful read of L.A. Confidential. Here are a few of them that are particularly relevant for me as I write my own script.
Reveal pieces of the plot slowly
Helgeland does a masterful job of pacing the exposition. Plot points are dished out so that the links aren’t obvious. As readers, we find out information as the characters find it out. We can see that things will be important, but not exactly how everything fits into the overall narrative.
Ensure the characters are clear and consistent
Helgeland shows who the characters are through strong, succinct description. His early scenes clearly show character in action. It is important to establish who your characters from their first moment on screen.
Give minor characters witty, cool one-liners
A screen story needs supporting and bit characters. It is important, though, that these characters are vibrant, interesting and memorable. Give them some great lines, and this helps embed them in the audience’s mind.
Ensure fake-ally opponent characters appear sympathetic and honourable
Fake-ally, a term used by John Truby in his book The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller
Make the read interesting
Seems obvious, doesn’t it? But what I mean is that it is alright to include things in the script, even if they are not to be filmed. Helgeland sometimes includes a sentence or two that informs the reader about the character, even if it is not directly filmable. Of course, don’t include action that can’t be filmed, but keep the reader in mind and do what you can to give them an exciting, interesting read. Use these sparingly, though.