Screenwriting 101: Lesson 9
Theme
What is theme?
Theme can be defined as the central idea explored within a story. While your script is very specific to the characters/setting/plot…the underlying theme represents a more universal concept which can be applied to a wider range of people, settings, and situations.
And it’s not just the idea itself…theme also includes the writer’s opinion regarding the central idea.
Should theme come first…or last?
Some writers prefer to define the theme early in the planning process…others like to wait for the theme to emerge as they write. Both are valid approaches! Figuring out which works best for you will likely take some trial and error (and may change depending on the project!).
One advantage of considering theme early is that you can work the theme into the foundations of the story—character arcs, plot points, etc.—from the very beginning. However, one downside is that it can be easier to become heavy handed with the theme.
An advantage of letting the theme develop naturally as you write is that you may discover themes in the story that you would never have considered. However, one downside is that once that theme is discovered, you will need to go back and weave it deeper into the different story elements…which may require changes to what you’ve already written.
Defining your theme
When defining your theme, start broad. Identify a broad category that encompasses the theme of your story. Love. Power. Friendship. Loss. Destiny. Family. Etc. These categories are often huge and somewhat nebulous topics. But they are important as a starting point for defining your theme.
Then…get specific. What is it that your story specifically says about that particular broad category? These specific themes are often expressed as a question or a statement.
For instance, two separate scripts may approach the broad thematic category of ‘family’ in two very different ways. One may take the side of ‘blood is thicker than water’…while the other may argue that ‘individuals make the decision who to include in their family, not genetics.’
This specific thematic definition is often related to how you wish the audience to feel about the theme at the end of your story.
One or More Themes?
Whether your script has one or more themes present depends on the complexity of the story you’re telling. If additional themes are present, these are often utilized to complement or contrast the main theme and may be woven into subplots or assigned to specific secondary characters.
Stated or Implied?
Some writers prefer to have a character state the theme somewhere in the script. Others prefer to merely suggest the theme and allow the audience to come to their own conclusions. Both of these are valid approaches.
In general, scripts written for younger audiences will tend to utilize stated themes…where as more complex stories with multiple themes will trend towards implied.
Avoiding the Soapbox
Regardless of whether you utilize stated or implied method to communicate your theme, it’s important not to lecture your audience. Audiences bristle at being told how to think and prefer to come to their own conclusions. Instead of lecturing, guide your audience along the path of your choosing (making!) so that they come to your predetermined conclusion at the end.
But…my story doesn’t have a theme.
Yes. It does.
All stories have at least one theme present.
That theme is why you’re telling the story in the first place.
Recommended Reading/Viewing:
What is theme? by StudioBinder (free)
What actually is Theme in your Screenplay? by Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna [TSL Ep 3] (free)
Uncover the Theme of your Screenplay by Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna [TSL Ep 4] (free)
The Ultimate Guide to Theme in Screenwriting by Noi Sabal (free)
Improving your Screenplay’s Theme by Kevin Nelson (free)
How to Find the Right Theme for Your Screenplay by Audrey Knox (free)
10 Classic Movie Themes with Examples by MasterClass (free)
Assignments:
Read 1 full length TV or movie script (from Script Slug or the BBC Script Library)
In the script you’re reading this week:
Determine the broad category for the script’s main theme (e.g. love, revenge, friendship, loss, etc.)
Write a sentence or question that more specifically defines the main theme (e.g. people can have more than one soulmate, revenge is a dish best served cold, can childhood friendships last a lifetime?, the first loss is the hardest, etc.)
How do you think the writer wanted you to feel about the theme?
Are there secondary themes present in the script? How do these relate back to the main theme?
Select a proverb and write a short script (no more than 10 pages) that uses it as the theme (without ever stating it!).
Pick three short scripts from the ones you’ve written in previous lessons. Read through the scripts and determine what the theme would be for each one. Are the themes similar or different?
Compare these themes back to the assignments about figuring out who you are as a writer in Lesson 1. What might these themes have to say about your own personal voice?