One of the aims of this course is to see how writing is woven through all three stages of production. In general, we see writing as being only the first stage of production. Then the script is passed on, filmed and then edited, never straying far from the original written word. I am interested in seeing how this can be flipped on its head, how we can include writing in all stages of production.

The first film I thought of when I read the studio brief was Boyhood. Shot over 12 years, I assumed the film could not have been written traditionally; there are too many uncontrollable circumstances that can happen over 12 years that would screw up a script. I was right.

Anyone that has seen Boyhood knows that it is a film in which not much happens. It is a portrait of childhood, and in some ways, of parenting. It tracks the process of growing up, there is no real beginning, middle or end. That in itself is a different way of writing; not following the standard conventions of a story.

Richard Linklater, who directed Boyhood, mentions that because he shooting only 10-15 minutes of footage per year, filming took place generally over 2-3 days. This meant Linklater had an entire year to think about what would happen in the next year. He did not have a script, per say, but rather an idea of when his portrait begins, and when it ends. Linklater told IndieWire that  ‘I knew the structure… I knew the last shot of the movie 11 years ago’ (Kiang, 2014). Having not written a script, Linklater had to write the film as it was made, skewing Hollywood conventions and giving him more freedom within his work.

Each segment of the film was shot based on what would naturally happen, helped along by suggestions from the lead actor, who was virtually living the film (Film4Video, 2014). Linklater collaborated with his lead, asking him to write down conversations he had in his real life. This allowed Linklater to truly make his film into something ‘real’. He did not have to follow a script he wrote years ago, he had real input from people who were living the film as he made it.

For me,  Boyhood is the prime example of how a film can be scripted – the film is not purporting to be ‘reality’ – yet still be written in a way other than the traditional script to shooting to editing style. I am intrigued to learn more in this course about how writing can be incorporated into the entire process. Boyhood was unique in that it was shot over such a long period of time, so I hope to see how similar writing practices can be used in a shorter time frame. I also hope to see how writing can be incorporated into editing. I know that the way something is edited can change it’s entire direction, and I want to see what I can do in that way.

Film4Video. (2014). Richard Linklater on Boyhood | Interview Special | Film. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-selLiYt94. Last accessed 29th July 2015.

Kiang, Jessica. (2014). Richard Linklater Discusses His 12-Year Project ‘Boyhood,’ Chronology, Memory & A Movie That Occurs Offscreen.Available: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/richard-linklater-discusses-his-12-year-project-boyhood-chronology-memory-and-a-movie-that-occurs-offscreen-20140218. Last accessed 29th July 2015.