How to Write an A24 Screenplay (Writing Advice)

Summary

The video script discusses the success of A24, a film studio known for its unconventional approach to movie-making that has garnered critical acclaim and commercial success. It outlines seven tips for writers to emulate A24's style: casting atypical protagonists, making personal stakes matter, depicting characters in desperate situations, going to narrative extremes, using specific settings as a character, keeping the production contained to control budgets, and writing for a niche audience rather than trying to please everyone. The script emphasizes the importance of taking risks and creating unique, memorable films that resonate with dedicated audiences.

Takeaways

• 🎭 **Atypical Protagonists**: A24 films often feature lead characters from marginalized communities or unconventional roles that deviate from typical movie leads.
• 🚀 **Personal Stakes**: A24 stories focus on personal, relatable stakes over high-concept, world-saving narratives, making the audience care deeply about the protagonist's journey.
• 🔥 **Desperation Drives Action**: Characters in A24 films are often in desperate situations, which fuels their actions and adds depth to their stories.
• 🌟 **Extremes in Storytelling**: A24 is known for pushing boundaries with extreme and memorable scenes that provoke discussion and linger in the audience's memory.
• 📍 **Specificity in Setting**: Settings in A24 films are integral and often act as a character themselves, with stories deeply tied to their location or time period.
• 🏠 **Contained Worlds**: Many A24 films have a contained feel, with limited locations and a focus on a few key areas, which helps manage budgets and enhance storytelling.
• 💰 **Budget Consciousness**: A24's smaller budgets allow for risk-taking and unique films that don't need to appeal to mass audiences, leading to distinctive and memorable cinema.
• 🧑 **Writing for a Specific Audience**: A24 creates films for niche audiences who appreciate their unique, authentic, and sometimes uncomfortable storytelling.
• 🤔 **Defying Generic Storytelling**: A24 avoids generic plots and focuses on creating original content that stands out, even if it doesn't always achieve critical acclaim.
• 🎬 **Risk-Taking Approach**: A24's philosophy involves making movies that are weird and daring, often with small but dedicated audiences, rather than aiming for mass appeal.
• 👥 **Creating for an 'Avatar'**: Writers should focus on creating content for a specific, ideal audience member, ensuring the film resonates deeply with that individual.

Q & A

What is the secret to A24's success in the film industry?

A24's success is attributed to their unique approach to storytelling, which includes casting atypical protagonists, focusing on personal stakes, creating extreme and memorable scenes, using specific settings as characters, maintaining a contained production scope, and targeting a niche audience rather than trying to please everyone.

How does A24 challenge conventional storytelling by casting their protagonists?

A24 often casts unconventional lead characters that come from marginalized communities or are simply not the typical heroes seen in mainstream cinema. This approach allows for a fresh perspective and can make the characters more relatable or intriguing to the audience.

What is the significance of personal stakes in A24 films?

Personal stakes in A24 films make the narrative more relatable to the audience, even if the overall plot does not involve world-ending threats. By focusing on the personal journey and struggles of the characters, A24 creates an emotional connection with the viewers.

How does A24 use extreme scenes to engage the audience?

A24 is known for pushing boundaries and including extreme and excessive moments in their films. These scenes often become memorable talking points, sparking discussions and debates among viewers, which contributes to the film's cultural impact.

Why is the specificity of setting important in A24 films?

The setting in A24 films is treated as a character itself, with stories often being period pieces or set in specific locations that are integral to the plot. This specificity helps to create a contained and immersive world for the characters and the audience.

How does a contained production scope benefit A24 films?

A contained production scope allows A24 to manage costs effectively, enabling them to take creative risks without the pressure of needing a high return on investment. It also helps to maintain a focused narrative and can contribute to the uniqueness of the film.

What is the philosophy behind not writing for everyone when creating an A24 style film?

By targeting a specific niche audience, A24 ensures that their films resonate deeply with a dedicated fan base. This approach allows for more creative freedom and authenticity, resulting in films that are memorable and have the potential to achieve cult status.

How does A24's approach to film production influence the film industry?

A24's commitment to unique storytelling, risk-taking, and targeted audience engagement is changing the film industry by demonstrating that there is a market for unconventional films. This encourages other studios to explore new ideas and challenge the status quo.

What is the concept of an 'Avatar' in the context of writing for a specific audience?

An 'Avatar' is an idealized representation of the target audience member for whom the film is being created. By imagining how this individual would interact with the story, writers can tailor the film to appeal to their specific tastes and expectations.

Why is it important for a writer to establish the protagonist's personal stakes early in the film?

Establishing the protagonist's personal stakes early on helps to create an emotional investment in the character's journey. It also sets the tone for the level of difficulty and tension that the character will face, which can heighten the audience's engagement with the story.

How does A24's approach to casting and character development contribute to the cultural impact of their films?

A24's focus on atypical protagonists and personal stakes allows them to tell diverse and authentic stories that resonate with a wide range of audiences. This approach often results in films that are critically acclaimed and culturally significant, contributing to the company's reputation for producing high-quality, thought-provoking cinema.

What advice would you give to a writer looking to create a script in the style of A24?

To create a script in the style of A24, a writer should focus on developing an atypical protagonist, crafting a story with personal stakes, exploring extreme scenarios, utilizing a specific and contained setting, considering budget constraints, and writing for a niche audience rather than trying to appeal to everyone.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 A24's Unique Approach to Filmmaking

This paragraph discusses the success of A24 in the film industry, contrasting it with the struggles of Hollywood and Blockbuster. A24 is praised for its consistent success at the Oscars, creating iconic films like 'Midsummer,' 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' 'Moonlight,' and 'Lady Bird.' These films not only garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards but also turned a profit. The paragraph also poses questions about A24's secret to success and how writers can emulate their style. It then lists seven tips for writing an A24-style script, emphasizing casting atypical protagonists, making stakes personal, and writing about desperate characters, among others.

05:01

🌟 Crafting Personal and Extreme Stories

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of A24's storytelling approach. It argues against the common notion that stories must have high stakes to be impactful. Instead, it suggests that personal stakes are more effective, as seen in films like '8th Grade' and 'Mid90s.' The paragraph also highlights A24's willingness to go to extremes, which sets their films apart and often leads to memorable, talk-worthy scenes. Furthermore, it discusses the importance of setting in A24 films, where the location becomes a character in its own right, and the benefits of keeping the story's scope contained to manage budgets effectively and take creative risks without needing to appeal to a broad audience.

10:04

🎭 Writing for a Specific Audience

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of writing for a specific audience, or 'avatar,' rather than trying to please everyone. It suggests that by focusing on a particular niche, filmmakers can create unique and memorable movies that resonate deeply with their target audience. The paragraph also touches on the idea of creating a dedicated fan base that appreciates the authenticity and risks taken in A24's films. It concludes by encouraging writers to embrace their uniqueness and to create movies that challenge and engage their chosen audience, leaving a lasting impression.

Keywords

💡A24

A24 is an American independent entertainment company known for producing critically acclaimed films and television series. It has become synonymous with a certain style of cinema that is innovative, culturally resonant, and often features unconventional narratives and characters. In the video, A24 is highlighted as a company that has consistently delivered successful films that resonate with audiences and defy traditional Hollywood norms.

💡Atypical Protagonist

An atypical protagonist refers to a main character in a story who does not conform to the typical or expected archetypes. A24 films often feature such characters, who may come from marginalized communities or possess traits that are not commonly associated with leading roles. The video mentions characters from A24 films like 'Moonlight' and 'The Florida Project' as examples, emphasizing the importance of breaking away from conventional protagonists to create more engaging and diverse stories.

💡Personal Stakes

Personal stakes in storytelling refer to the emotional or personal significance that a character attaches to the outcome of their journey. The video argues against the common misconception that every story must have high, world-altering stakes. Instead, it emphasizes that stakes can be small and personal, yet still deeply meaningful to the protagonist and, by extension, the audience. Examples from the script include the personal struggles and desires of characters in '8th Grade' and 'Mid90s'.

💡Desperation

Desperation is a powerful emotion that can drive a character to take extreme actions in pursuit of their goals. A24 films often feature protagonists who are in desperate situations, which adds depth to their character and heightens the drama. The video uses 'Pearl' from 'Midsommar' as an example of a character whose desperation is a key driver of the narrative, illustrating how this can lead to compelling storytelling.

💡Extremes

Going to extremes in storytelling involves pushing the narrative, characters, or situations to their limits to create memorable and impactful scenes. A24 is known for not shying away from extreme moments, which often become talking points and contribute to the cultural impact of their films. The video cites examples such as the intense scenes in 'Under the Skin' and the unique ending of 'Hereditary' to illustrate how A24 uses extremes to create a lasting impression.

💡Specificity of Setting

The specificity of setting refers to the deliberate and detailed creation of a story's environment, which can become a character in itself. A24 films often use setting to enhance the narrative and reflect the characters' identities. The video points out that settings in A24 films like 'The Florida Project' and 'Lady Bird' are integral to the story and cannot be separated from the characters' experiences, emphasizing the importance of a well-defined setting in storytelling.

💡Contained

A contained story is one that takes place in a limited number of locations or within a confined environment. A24 often opts for contained stories to manage budgets and focus on character development and narrative depth. The video contrasts the bloated budgets of Hollywood with A24's approach, highlighting films like 'Locke' and 'Green Room' as examples of how to tell compelling stories with minimal settings and a focus on the core narrative.

💡Budget Constraints

Budget constraints refer to the financial limitations that filmmakers must work within to produce their films. A24 is praised for making movies with smaller budgets, which allows them to take creative risks and focus on quality over spectacle. The video discusses how A24's 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' was made on a relatively modest budget compared to the salaries of big Hollywood stars, allowing for a more focused and risk-taking approach to filmmaking.

💡Writing for a Specific Audience

Writing for a specific audience involves creating content that resonates with a particular group of people rather than trying to appeal to everyone. A24 is known for making films that cater to niche audiences who appreciate their unique and often challenging content. The video encourages writers to forget about pleasing a wide audience and instead focus on creating content for an 'avatar' – an ideal, specific audience member who would truly appreciate and connect with the story.

💡Risk-Taking

Risk-taking in filmmaking involves pushing boundaries and trying new, unconventional approaches to storytelling. A24 has built its reputation on making films that are willing to take risks, which has led to a distinct style and a loyal fan base. The video discusses how A24's willingness to take risks has resulted in films that are memorable and culturally significant, even if they do not always achieve mainstream success.

💡Cultural Iconic Moments

Cultural iconic moments are scenes or elements from a film that become ingrained in popular culture and are widely recognized or referenced. A24 has created several such moments through its films, which often deal with unique themes and present them in a powerful way. The video mentions films like 'Moonlight' and 'Lady Bird' as examples of A24's ability to create moments that resonate with audiences and become part of the cultural conversation.

Highlights

A24 has dominated the Oscars for the past 5 years and produced critically acclaimed films such as 'Midsummer, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Moonlight, and Ladybird'.

A24's films often feature atypical protagonists from marginalized communities or unconventional character types.

The stakes in A24 films are personal and relatable, rather than focusing on high-stakes, world-saving scenarios common in other movies.

A24 movies like '8th Grade' and 'Mid90s' showcase characters with strong desires and absolute desperation, driving the story.

A24 is known for going to extremes in storytelling, with memorable and extreme scenes that provoke audience discussions.

The specificity of setting is crucial in A24 films, where the location becomes a character and is integral to the story.

A24 scripts are often contained, with limited locations and a focus on a few key areas, which helps manage budgets and allows for risk-taking.

A24's approach to filmmaking involves making movies that don't aim to please everyone, focusing on creating unique content with dedicated audiences.

A24's success is attributed to their understanding of what audiences want and their ability to create culturally iconic moments.

Writers can learn from A24's philosophy by focusing on personal stakes, extreme storytelling, and a strong sense of setting.

A24's films often have a contained scope, with stories set in a specific part of the country or period, making the setting a character in itself.

The budget constraints of A24 films allow for risk-taking and unique storytelling, avoiding the need for massive budgets and high-profile stars.

A24's films are characterized by their willingness to explore weird, uncomfortable, and out-of-the-ordinary ideas, setting them apart from generic blockbusters.

Writers are encouraged to focus on a specific 'Avatar' or ideal audience member, tailoring the story to resonate deeply with that individual.

A24's commitment to unique storytelling and not compromising has changed the face of the film industry, influencing how movies are made.

A24's films like 'Under the Silver Lake' and 'B is afraid' may not always receive critical acclaim but are memorable and resonate with specific audiences.

A24's success formula includes casting unconventional leads, focusing on personal rather than high stakes, and creating a strong desire in characters.

The company's films are often set in confined spaces or limited locations, which helps keep production costs low and the narrative focused.

Transcripts

in an era where Hollywood is falling

apart every Blockbuster seems to crash

at the box office it seems like no one

knows how to make movies anymore except

a24 a24 has ruled the Oscars for the

past 5 years it's had hit after hit

after hit created culturally iconic

moments with films like Midsummer

everything everywhere all at once

Moonlight and ladybird one dozens of

oscars gathered critical Acclaim and

just about every movie they make turns a

profit personally a dozen of my favorite

movies from the last decade were made by

a24 the Florida project everything

everywhere all at once hereditary

Moonlight Under the Skin exmachina all

made by the same company they're just

about the only Studio left that seems to

understand what audiences want so how

can a writer learn from a24 success and

write something that fits the a24

philosophy what is their secret formula

here are seven tips on how to write an

a24 style script Number One cast an

atypical protagonist a24 movies have

lead character characters that are not

your typical movie lead the characters

may be unconventional because they come

from a marginalized Community like in

Moonlight or the Florida project or

manari or because the character is just

not the type of person we usually see

leading a movie you would not picture a

middle-aged Chinese lrat owner as the

protagonist of a matrix style action

epic or an alien masquerading as Scarlet

Johansson there are a few stories told

from the perspective of awkward eighth

grade girls or wannabe skateboard kids

in the mid90s to write an 24 style

script you need to go beyond the normal

protagonist the opening of ladybird does

a great job of showing us that a

protagonist is anything but ordinary in

the middle of an argument with her

mother Lady Bird opens up the car door

and leaps out of the moving car

everything after that we don't know what

she'll do next number two the stakes are

personal one of the most commonly

propagated myths of Storytelling is the

idea that everything must have high

stakes meaning the story must matter to

civilization and be about one of the

main driving forces of Life survival

Vengeance Justice where this gets us

into trouble is the scale of movies

getting out of control this is one of

the big problems with the superhero

movie which maybe is the opposite of an

a24 movie how many times can we watch

someone say hey let's go save the world

yet writing teachers everywhere still

claim you must have high stakes the

truth is the search for high stakes can

lead you off the path and cause you to

write something generic the stakes don't

have to be high as long as they are

personal take 8th grade or mid90s for

example the stakes of these films are

basically non-existent the desire to fit

in and be accepted by your peers but the

stakes matter to the protagonist and so

we care in contrast think of how many

superhero movies fall apart under the

weight of their high stakes the world is

always going to end but we don't care

because it is not personal in everything

everywhere all at once we are given the

high stakes of a superhero movie The

Very fabric of time in space will fall

apart if Evelyn does not succeed but

what takes this to another level is that

in addition to the high stakes the

stakes are personal it is about Evelyn

reconnecting to her daughter and husband

standing up to her father and

recognizing her place in the world but

here it brings a good question how do

you make the stakes personal well a

writer defines the stakes of the story

by showing us how terrified our

characters are about the journey they're

about to undertake so early on you need

a scene that establishes how hard the

story will be for the protagonist for

example in BO is afraid Bo is AF afraid

of everything sending a guy this

devastated by anxiety into the world

makes the journey far more difficult

amping up the

stakes although the stakes in eighth

grade are not the world- ending threat

of a superhero movie Kayla's anxiety

makes the story matter this can also be

done by giving your character a strong

desire that drives the story another

secret of 82 24's Effectiveness is they

take this desire to a level of absolute

desperation number three write about

desper

people in the anatomy of story John truy

discusses how a powerful desire can be

the ultimate driver of the story what

elevates a24 films is the protagonist

absolute desperation in pursuing this

desire M Goths Pearl doesn't just want

to be a star she needs to be to escape

her miserable and hopeless life when she

takes action to get what she needs we

don't feel sympathetic necessarily as

you can't really sympathize with her but

we see how she got there Moonlight red

rocket Under the Skin uncut gems all

deal with characters put in impossibly

Desperate

situations this allows the filmmaker to

take the film in extreme directions

number four go to extremes a24 is

unafraid to go where other storytellers

will not and there are often extreme and

excessive moments that get the audience

talking where this the grotesque horror

of Scarlet Johansson destroying her

victims in under the skin or the butt

plug Kung Fu battle and everything

everywhere all at once or the batshit

insane endings of hereditary and

Midsummer a24 gives us memorable extreme

scenes that leave us talking number five

the specificity of the setting a24

movies use setting in a way other film

companies ignore so many of the films

are period pieces or take place in a

specific part of the country and it

would be hard to imagine moving these

stories to a different location and have

the movie still be the same to write a

movie like a24 the setting becomes a

character the key to making your setting

into a character is to keep it contained

imagine creating a map like JRR tolken

would laying out the world of the story

and where everything is in relation to

each other the world of the characters

will be contain to a handful of places

the world of the Florida project extends

to whatever is walking distance to the

hotel they live in right next to Disney

how they share space with other hotels

in the area and the abandoned hotels in

the distance ladyb Bird's World is her

hometown of Sacramento we see the Border

she crosses to go from the bad side

where she lives to the good side where

her dreamhouse lives setting can express

character we understand who ladybird is

by the way she reacts to her

surroundings she rejects her home the

way she rejects her

name sometimes it may mean the time

period is as essential as the place as

in the witch or in mid99s by limiting

the scope of the map we create a world

the audience can imagine it also helps

keep it contained making the movie

easier to make number six make it

contained one of the things wrong with

Hollywood is the bloated budgets and

ridiculous salaries of movie stars every

movie seems to need 3,000 extras endless

CGI and a movie star that cost the

budget of the entire movie but the

entire budget of everything everywhere

all at once was $25 million that's

roughly what Tom Cruz gets to appear in

a movie the smaller budgets allow a24 to

take risks and make movies that don't

have to please everyone all around the

world writers need to keep budget in

mind every time you move the scene to a

new location it costs money everything

everywhere all at once spans locations

and realities but it is the outlier so

many more a24 films are contain scripts

allowing the filmmakers to keep the

budget low and maximize profits take

luck the entire movie is Tom Hardy

driving in a car and it's fantastic or

bodies bodies bodies which takes place

entirely in one house or green room

which takes place almost entirely at a

bar sometimes a24 expands from one

location but still keeps the setting

manageable like the English Country Town

that is the setting for men or the area

around Disney world that is the world of

the Florida project or the New England

town that inhabits the witch one of the

most expensive things in a movie

production is what is called a company

move where you pick up the whole

production and transfer to a new

location by minimizing company moves the

filmmakers keep the budget under control

now sure there's something to be said

for letting your imagination run wild

and going wherever you want to go but a

bigger budget means you need a higher

return on your investment and there may

be ways to tell a big story and minimize

the company moves for example while

everything everywhere all at once it's a

massive reality hopping epic the

majority of the story takes place in the

IRS office in the laundromat and finally

on a green screen this is not all about

money either this is about making unique

movies that can take risk rks because

they do not need to please all audiences

and that's another thing maybe the most

important thing number seven don't write

for

everyone if you write for everyone you

may find a wide audience but no one will

truly love what you do but a24 doesn't

worry about this they make movies that

are weird risk-taking and have small

dedicated audiences the kind of

audiences that care about the authentic

feel of the New England Village in the

witch or the audiences that want to be

made to feel uncomfortable like anyone

watching the killing of a sacred deer or

people with weird senses of humor like

anyone who like the lobster sometimes

a24 fails and makes a movie that doesn't

get their usual critical Acclaim like

under the Silver Lake which was not

well- loved but for me is in my top five

favorite movies of that year or B is

afraid which flopped but some claim is a

masterpiece you don't need to make a

movie for everyone those movies feel

generic and are forgettable I guarantee

you whether you loved or hated but was

afraid you will not forget it if you

want to write an a24 Style movie you

have to lean into what makes you unique

and forget the idea of catering to a

wide audience instead find an audience

Avatar that one person that you're

making the movie for maybe it's you

maybe it is a friend or an imaginary

person what would they want to see in a

movie that they have not seen before

would they want to see Oscar Isaac do a

dance routine with a robot girl would

they want to see a world where everyone

has hot dogs for fingers not everyone

would write your movie for the person

that would my avatar is Marty they love

horror doesn't care if it's elevated or

splatter Gore they are attracted to

weird the out of- the ordinary idea

instead of writing for some nebulous

audience I write for Marty and myself

this is a common philosophy in

advertising and also YouTube Imagine The

Avatar for your ideal audience member

imagine how they would interact with the

story and cater the experience to them I

don't need the whole world to like the

movie I just need Marty to love it if I

wrote for everyone Marty would lose

interest a24 continues to pump out great

films and not compromise and in doing so

they are changing the face of the film

industry if you want more tips on how to

write check out this video on A2 24's

Midsummer and the story structure of

slowburn Horror