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Date: | Thu, 5 Aug 2004 11:59:05 -0500 |
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This is a topic on the top of my mind from time to time. I write short
stories. I've tried my hand at screenwriting. There are a few things I can
share with the group about the craft of screenwriting.
First, it would be useful to know that the typical screenplay for a movie is
only 100 to 150 pages long. These pages include all the dialog and
direction for scenery, action and camera movements.
Secondly, the director can order rewrites on the spot. A good director will
find weaknesses in the script, utilize the strengths of actors or enhance
particularly strong scenes or concepts. The screenplay as it was originally
conceived can go in the dumper in total, or it can be changed beyond
recognition at the whim of a director.
Movies aren't history and should never be treated as such. Movies are
simply the creation of a lot of creative people with varying degrees of
input. The first responsibility of a movie cast and crew is to bring an
compelling story to the public in a commercially successful vehicle. If the
movie is historically accurate, it only because it didn't get in the way of
being commercially viable.
In my opinion, we should niether expect nor be bothered by the lack of
historical accuracy in movies. Movies are made to speak to audiences on
contemporary themes.
Robert Marcom
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Moore" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 1:57 PM
Subject: Archaeology and the various medias
> Regarding the posts about the lack of historical accuracy of films and
other forms of media I think Alasdair Brooks' questions “ Should we be
bothered by any of this? To what extent should we care?” are good ones.
>
> These questions point to the key issue that I get from these posts--that
archaeologists, in their efforts to inform lay persons about the past, have
some stiff competition from movie makers, novelists, and the world of gossip
and oral history (in other words, mythology).
>
> So folks, why do you care if a movie is historically accurate or not?
>
> Having an answer to this will be a large first step toward answering the
most fundamental challenge for archaeology today “what relevance does
archaeology have for our current society?” Verbalize an answer to this and
you ll be able to compete.
>
> Larry Moore
> Cultural Resource Specialist
> Wyandotte Net Tel @
> Southwestern Power Administration
> One West Third Street
> Tulsa, OK 74103
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