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My POV
Brian A. Wilson
BOOK REVIEW
Script Magic: Subconscious techniques to conquer writer's block
By Marisa D'Vari
Marisa D'Vari has done the nigh-impossible: she has come up with a fresh, and refreshing, new angle on the "how to write a screenplay" discussion.
Her nifty little book, "Script Magic," works the other side of the street by exploring the other side of the brain. Unlike the Field-Truby-McKee axis of structure, D'Vari delves into the writer's right brain, home of intuition, dreams, serendipity and--GASP!--fun as a source for screenwriting creativity.
This book falls somewhere between the mythic message of Chris Vogler's "Writer's Journey" and the immersion in the creative process prescribed in Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way." It applies creative brainstorming to the many facets of a screenwriter's endeavor.
The book does a good job mixing and balancing diverse elements including:
--analysis of a screenplay that's especially helpful to beginners and mid-level writers,
--exercises for freeing up your thinking and writing,
--explanation of the inner workings of showbiz based on her development executive experience,
--references drawn from Jung, Freud and others who spent careers trying to figure out the workings of the mind,
--a breakdown of several classic films that illustrate the points D'Vari makes.
D'Vari is the first to admit that some of her techniques of using scented pens, colored paper and cut-out photos for braingstorming exercises can seem flaky. As she goes on to point out, and rightfully so, such analysis and reaction would be your left brain, conscious mind trying to squash your creative impulses and save you from yourself.
The objective of the book is to lead you into that wacky, daring, playful, exciting, unconventional, abstract, powerful side of yourself that's the wellspring of your creativity, and of creative, original screenplays.
I think the book succeeds admirably in this quest. No, it can't be an exhaustive, scholarly study at 180 pages, but there's certainly plenty of material here to wean you off strict rationality and get the creative engine within humming along.
While the subtitle suggests the Script Magic system as a cure for writer's block, I think it applies to all writing and creative pursuits, whether one is "blocked" or not.
A fast, fun read, "Script Magic" packs plenty of power in a small package. Pick it up and give it a try.
Available at mwp.com, amazon.com or the ever-popular bookstore near you.
Keep writing.
BW
LA
PS If you haven't yet registered for the wga's Words Into Pictures event, now's the time. The first early-registration discount ends this week. Check it out at wordsintopictures.org
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