The simpler the character’s motivations, the more complex the plot surrounding them becomes. It was this storytelling philosophy that helped legendary screenwriter Eric Roth, by his own admission, write some of his most beloved films in his extensive filmography filled with critical and commercial successes, forrest Forrest Gump.
Released 30 years ago this summer, the film is a hilarious and heartbreaking romp that stars Tom Hanks as a protagonist who unexpectedly becomes the center of some of the most important moments in modern American history. : Civil rights; the rise of Elvis Presley; the fall of Richard Nixon; fighting back against the Vietnam War; Hurricane Carmen…the list goes on and on.
In theory, no movie should contain so many crazy tangents (Forrest Gump If you count the time Forrest spends on his adventures across America, it’s simultaneously a war movie, an AIDS drama, a disaster movie, and a sports movie. How does Rose make this all coherent? One word: “Jenny.”
In the latest episode of my podcast Script Apart , where beloved screenwriters discuss the first drafts of their great movies and TV pilots, Ross explains how he paired Forrester with childhood friend Jenny Curran (Robin White)’s romantic story serves as the main line of the story.
How Eric Roth inspired the world Forrest Gump
While the entire world around the protagonist changes, one thing remains the same: his love for the estranged girl in his dreams (played by Robin Wright).
“She’s what he really wants. It’s simple,” Ross explains. “Basically.” “That makes the story a little crazy, and his motives are pure. He loves his mother. He loves his country. But most of all What’s important is that he wants to be with Jenny and do the right thing for Jenny,” Ross said.
This is the kind of great storytelling advice you’d expect from the writer behind the movie Munich, dune, a star is bornand Killers of the Flower Moon.
Having a script that runs through the plot and story events is fine as long as there is a trackable “need” at the core of the script that ties the entire story together. exist Forrest GumpThat’s what romance is, Ross says, but it can be anything as long as it’s communicated effectively to the audience—respect from a father, a promotion at work, whatever.
Try this at your own job – write a sticky note with your role’s goals, distill it down to a simple sentence, and place it above your workspace. Giving your story an emotional punch can make a big difference, and for three decades, that punch has been there Forrest Gumptrademark.
Listen to the full episode of Script Apart powered by ScreenCraft, WeScreenplay and Final Draft above.
Read more: How to make a character’s death more memorable
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