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My POV
Brian A. Wilson
Vincent Bugliosi: One Good Writer, One Great Presentation
Vincent Bugliosi did OK as a prosecuting attorney.
Out of 106 felony cases he prosecuted for the LA District Attorney's office, he won 105.
That'd be your proverbial 99% success rate.
His most famous win was the one that put Charlie Manson in the hoosegow.
For most, that would be a career. But Bugliosi has found a second calling as an author. He discussed his writing efforts at a speech in Van Nuys last week.
Bugliosi turned the Manson case into "Helter Skelter," one of the creepiest books of all time. Later, it became a TV movie. Currently, the bigscreen feature is in production, with Bugliosi shepherding the project along.
Bugliosi has written other books, including the appropriately-titled "Outrage" that tells you all you ever feared to know about the O.J. Simpson case. His latest effort, "Betrayal," addresses his outrage over another landmark criminal case: last year's presidential election.
In his book, it's Bugliosi's contention that the U.S. Supreme Court stole the election and handed it to George Bush. It is his position that the five justices involved broke the law and should be impeached and put in jail.
How's that for a premise? It's like the perfect Las Vegas betting line: half the people think it's great, half think it's preposterous, and everybody wants a chance to put in their two cents about it.
Bugliosi is a textbook case for screenwriters.
How many times have you been told the "write what you know" adage? This guy is half the reason people keep saying that! Certainly, not all of us can prosecute the Manson family and have that to write about. Then again, it's a rare gift Bugliosi has that allows him to not only prosecute cases and comprehend the law, but to write about it in such a compelling fashion.
Think about this latest story in screenplay terms.
You've got five fresh, original villains. Have YOU ever seen the Supreme Court justices cast as the evil-doers? Look at the stakes: Control of the presidency, and the de facto guidance of the free world! A scheme that can, literally, change the course of human history.
Who wouldn't want to see how that one comes out?
All that's missing is the hero. In book form, Bugliosi is the author-hero, hoisting the justices on their own petard in the court of public opinion. Obviously, that would need some massaging before filing began; a movie demands a more active, involved hero.
Even so, the elements he's assembled and the premise he has created make for one fine pitch.
Can you find something as compelling in your own experience? Or imagination?
The last screenwriting lesson of the night came in the form of Bugliosi's presentation.
This guy could sell Penthouse subscriptions to the Taliban.
He's unbelievably passionate about his material. He's loose, conversational, humorous when he needs to be, and he knows his material twelve ways from Sunday. Whether he's explaining his latest book or trying a case, I suspect his presentation is the same. He makes a clear declaration of his story, supports it with precedent and anecdote and evidentiary citations, compels you to care about those involved and what's at stake, then demands to know what you're going to do about it.
Love him or hate him, agree with him or despise his opinion, you've got to respect his mastery of his material and his passionate presentation of it.
If the Bugliosi book tour hits your town, go see him.
I think it's easiest to learn about screenwriting by running other crafts and people through our screenwriting filters. I think we can get too close to screenwriting and all of its baggage, and if we lock in on just that, it stymies our creative thinking. It helps to look at our craft from an oblique angle.
This month, make an effort to see a live presentation or performance by someone who is the best in the world at what they do. See what screenwriting lessons you can find in this related area. Then let me know what you discover.
Keep writing.
BW
LA
bigtex@loop.com
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