Guillermo Arriaga on writing Babel

[RylenolFlu]

So, I referenced a pretty neat screenwriting podcast in an earlier that I find helps my motivation during periods of creative drought. I am in the process of listening to the interview with Arriaga, the writer of Babel, and he was asked how he wrote this complex script, his answer was interesting nonetheless:
"I never have notes, I never write notes...I don't write notes, I don't have index cards, I don't write outlines, I don't do any kind of research, I've never been to Morroco, I've never been to Tokyo"

"My producer told me to go to a screenwriting guru meeting, the guy kept talking about how we need to know everything about your characters...well...I didn't know anything about my characters, I want them to surprise me"

While it sounds extremely cocky to me, it's also really inspiring to hear something so fresh. The part that resonated the most with me is when he was saying how he's never been to Morroco or Toko yet the film would have you believe the writer to be quite worldly and culturally educated considering it takes place across two continents. Anyway, just a little food for the brain, what do you guys think about the statement?

Sidenote: Arriaga also claims that his re-writes, of which there are 25, were each blank page re-writes. Pretty incredible.

[althrasher]

I think it's a very dangerous place to tread. Because somebody who is watching/reading WILL have knowledge of that.

If someone is writing a movie in the 1800s featuring Bach, I'm going to know. If someone tries to write about a Honky-Tonk who's never been to one, it's going to be painfully obvious.

Just my $.02.

[OddButInteresting]

Anyway, just a little food for the brain, what do you guys think about the statement?

Let's see him write a good novel.

It's definitely possible to write a good screenplay without outlining, taking notes, or compiling a thick body of research (unless you're adapting or re-presenting something). Not easy, but at the same time not difficult.

Unlike a novel, writing a screenplay's not even half the battle. Sure, you have to pay attention to structure and the like, but compared to actually filming and editing the thing, writing's a doddle. It's a skeleton, nothing more. And you can make edits to it on-set if necessary (a lot of directors do, after all).

Good dialogue is dependent upon the performer's delivery of it. Sure, it could prove entertaining to read, but a good actor can give it that extra impact. Imagine Hayden Christensen in Anakin Skywalker Mode (he's a fine actor in most of his other films) delivering Samuel L. Jackson's famous "Royale With Cheese" monologue in Pulp Fiction. Jackson made that scene, not Quentin Tarantino.

A good script needs to translate well to the screen. It serves as a foundation upon which a potentially good film can be built.

My answer is quite simply: I'm not in the least bit surprised.

[NikeeGoddess]

you know - whatever works for him may work. and if you feel that way will work for you too then do it that way. there is no right or wrong approach. the ways to get the means don't matter. it's all about the results.

lars von trier is another screenwriter who has never stepped foot in the US but has somehow written and directed these very american cultural plays. he's currently working on his third installment from a trilogy: US Land of Opportunities that started with Dogville and later Manderlay. i think he's somehow a genius.

[RylenolFlu]

I'm not saying that I'm adhering to his own personal writing methods and techniques, it was just interesting to hear. For me, I need to have a synopsis or outline of some sort in order to comprehend the stories I come up with.

[dpaterso]

Seems to me that Señor Arriaga is using the re-re-rewriting process to kick off fresher and better ideas that evolve and improve the story. It works for him, so more power to his typing finger. Me, I'll stick to writing outlines and short stories and rework them until the story works.

-Derek