How
to Write Your Screenplay's Hook
by
Gina VanName
The
hook is just that--a hook. It must "hook"
your reader into the story.
The
hook needs to be established within the first five
pages of your screenplay.
Hooks
became necessary after the MTV age, where shorter
attention spans required the writer to jolt the
viewer. Movie-goers and readers now have less patience
to wait for a screenplay or a movie to "get
going." Horror, suspense, and crime films are
notorious for using a death or a murder as a hook.
Nowadays, a murder has become cliché and
if one is going to be used the writer must make
sure the rest of the trip is a damn exciting journey.
What
makes a hook more powerful?
It becomes more powerful if the writer establishes
not only the hook, but raises a question from it.
The question could be the same as Central Question
of the movie, could be related to the Central Question
of the main character, or could be totally unrelated.
The more related the question--the more powerful
it becomes.
Let's
look at three screenplays that cover horror, suspense
and crime genres.
Face/Off
Revised Draft, 9/10/96
Written by Mike Werb & Michael Colleary |
Read
the script pages
(Click "back" button to get back
to this page)
The
hook is a father's little boy was murdered
by the bad guy from a bullet that was meant
for him.
What
is the hook's question?
It's tied to Central Question of the m/c
and the story's Central Question; Will Archer
get revenge and kill the bad guy who killed
his son?
|
Silence
of the Lambs
Shooting Draft, 4th Draft
October 8, 1989
Written by Ted Tally, Novel by Thomas Harris |
Read
the script page
The
hook is this FBI newbie, trying to prove
herself, is catapulted into the underworld
of psychopathic serial killers.
What
is the hook's question?
The hook's question is "Will Clarice
succeed in interviewing the psychopathic
Hannibal, bring home the information and
avoid the danger?" It's fully integrated
into the m/c and the story's Central Question.
It
is an example of excellent writing. |
Opposite
genres usually have a less definitive hook.
Swingers
Fourth Draft, Jan 22, 1995
Written by Jon Favreau |
Read
the script pages
The
hook is about friends living in Hollywood
and dealing with women.
What
is the hook's question?It's
subtle, but "Will Mike break down and
call the girl that he's obsessed with?"
This question triggers Mike's journey of
growth throughout the story. And so it works
well.
|
The
Verdict
Final Draft, Nov 23, 1981
Written by David Mamet |
Read
the script pages
The
hook is this desperate, but inventive attorney
who goes after bereaved widows to make money
on their desperation.
What
is the hook's question?
The hook asks the questions, "Will
Galvin continue such a low-level life style,
and being an attorney and How did he get
himself to that point?" These questions
will be answered before the end of the story
because they're tied into the plot. The
hooks' questions are well integrated with
the m/c and story's Central Question. |
