10 Screenwriting Lessons You Can Learn From Something Wild
3. Use Colorful Side Characters
Something Wild is full of incredible actors working a lot of on-off, almost throwaway scenes: Robert Ridgely as Charlie's Boss, John Waters as a car-salesman, Charles Napier as a restaurant cook, Tracey Walter as a liquor store clerk (with a giant pipe that makes you think "Captain Hans Landa" immediately...), etc. In the special features, Jonathan Demme talks about casting these small roles with such distinct actors. "They own your movie for those frames," he says. This mindset can make the blandest, most rote scenes in your script leap right off the page. No matter who it is in your story, if the character just wanders on and says one line, make that character the most unique details or attitudes you can. Give your character character.
While studying English and Philosophy at Rutgers University, Andrew worked as a constant contributor to the The Rutgers Review. After graduating in 2010, he began working as a free-lance writer and editor, providing his input to numerous areas including reviews for the New York Film Series, The Express-Times, and private script and story consulting. He is currently the Director of Film Studies at The Morris County Arts Workshop in New Jersey and publishes essays on the subject of film and television at his blog, The Zoetrope.
