Writing Manga :: Part 3: Wilder Wisdom is Wiser Wisdom

Writing manga, I firmly believe, is essentially the same as writing in any medium in which the story is told through static or moving pictures: the script used to tell the story is paramount to the success of the story.

Elicia argues sometimes that the pictures are the most important element, but I disagree: The pictures are the hook that entices the reader in, I think, but ultimately it is the story that keeps them there at the end. I have read a lot of online comics or manga in which the pictures were wonderful but the stories didn't grab me—usually because they were too slow or too confusing or simply bored me. Am I still following those stories? No. I might save the pretty images for further reference, but other than that I am done. To contrast that, there are stories—mostly online—where the art wasn't so great but it is funny and/or wonderfully written. And those are the ones I find myself returning to over and over again. And often, the creator's art skills caught up with the writing part eventually—isn't it funny how that so if often happens in online comics?—and then the true brilliance of the creator bursts forth unhindered.

Which gets to my final point: we can argue 'till on our deathbeds about which part of the story—the visuals or the words—are the most important, but the truth of the matter is this: when both come together seamlessly and beautifully, true magic happens. And a story is made that will end up thrilling and inspiring audiences and artists for generations to come. And that is what we all should in our own creative endeavors be aiming for.

Now back to the writing part:

In order to write great scripts, it is important to learn from the masters. And one of the very best screenwriters ever was the writing god that is Billy Wilder. His knack for storytelling, especially comedy, is practically unparallelled—Some Like it Hot is by far the best example. And I think there are few people out there who would disagree with me.

So the fact that NPR did a segment on Wilder's rules for good storytelling made me want to squee in delight; a genius openly revealing his knowledge, secrets, and tricks always piques my interest. So here they are below, straighforward rules for writing and filmmaking that are surprisingly elusive in our day and age to replicate. Here's hoping that the stories Elicia and I are currently dreaming up can accomplish even half of these rules for our audience—if so it will be a job (pretty) well done.

Again, I feel that rules of writing extend to every similar genre. So TV, movies, books, manga, comics—all are potential beneficiaries from Wilder's solid advice, if they so choose. Enjoy.

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Billy Wilder's Rules of Good Filmmaking
by Nihar Patel
Day to Day, June 22, 2006, NPR

Writer and director Billy Wilder was the man behind some of Hollywood's most beloved films—Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Double Indemnity and many more. He wrote or directed more than 50 films, winning six Oscars and numerous other awards.

In a modern Hollywood where big-budget formula films often command the box office, many filmmakers still look to Wilder —who would have turned 100 this month—as an example of how to make movies that matter. And his formula for success—from hard-boiled thrillers to daffy romantic comedies—is still available. It's distilled into a basic set of 11 rules.

Some are obvious: be on time to the set, work on schedule—in short, be reliable. But he codified some of his on-set knowledge, as well.

"Some of these rules are straightforward," says writer-director Cameron Crowe, who conducted a series of interviews with Wilder before the great director's death in 2002. "Rule two is 'grab 'em by the throat and never let go.' He means grab us, the audience, with great plots, winning dialogue and big Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe."

Another of Wilder's rules is to let the audience figure out key plot points. "Don't underestimate the intelligence of the audience," says film producer Tom Jacobson, another Wilder acolyte. "Treat your audience intelligently. What movies can do, at their best, is let us in— they show us things, they don't tell us."

Wilder's most important rule is also the simplest: Don't be boring.

Keep these rules in mind this summer, when a Hollywood blockbuster is insulting the audience's intelligence or taking up too much valuable time. And hope whoever made the movie has watched his share of Wilder, too.

Billy Wilder's Screenwriting Tips

As told to Cameron Crowe:

1. The audience is fickle.

2. Grab 'em by the throat and never let 'em go.

3. Develop a clean line of action for your leading character.

4. Know where you’re going.

5. The more subtle and elegant you are in hiding your plot points, the better you are as a writer.

6. If you have a problem with the third act, the real problem is in the first act.

7. A tip from Lubitsch: Let the audience add up two plus two. They'll love you forever.

8. In doing voice-overs, be careful not to describe what the audience already sees. Add to what they’'e seeing.

9. The event that occurs at the second act curtain triggers the end of the movie.

10. The third act must build, build, build in tempo and action until the last event, and then—that's it. Don’t hang around.

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Nice, huh? I don't really envy Crowe his Rolling Stones stint, but I do envy him having multiple conversations with such a great artist. Meh. But now I have a new book for my summer reading list: Crowe's compilation of his interviews with Wilder. Some interesting articles about the book can be found here, here, here, and here. (Yes, a lot of "here's," but all are interesting links. Man, I'm such a crazy film junkie; stuff like this totally makes my day. Ah well, to each his own.)