Ignore Subplots and Your Screenplay DIES

[@heavymetalelf]

I really like your videos. I'm working to figure out subplots and this was a well timed appearance in my feed. It's disappointing that your views are so low. People should be seeing these videos

[@BigRedStripe]

I appreciate that. They'll get there. And I'm not aiming to reach a gazillion people... I'd rather connect with people serious about the craft. Thanks for watching!

[@StevenCavanaugh]

This is something I need to work on. I have a tendency to just want to tell my story without interruption. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

[@BigRedStripe]

You're welcome.

[@mariaalaniz719]

I am working on multiple screenplays. There is not a one of them that could not benefit from some well-rounded subplots. This is an area I very much need to work on. Thank you again for your good-humored guidance.

[@BigRedStripe]

You're welcome.

[@sachads5322]

Was having an issue breaking a story open.. this video really helped me realize there was a character I wasn’t using as much as I could have. Thanks!!

[@mariabonita5471]

Subplots is a theme I need to learn about- In Ixtapapalotl indian princesses from Tepoztlan turn Hernan Cortez and Alvardo and several other Conquistadores into their beasts of burden after ambusing the party with rocks and obsidian lances; their were all mortally wounded, when valiantly resisting the invaders to defend their families and Civilization. The weakened Spanish were forced to surrender to the fresh maidens, who with nothing left to lose; left for the mythical mountain, by the name of Noxtepec.

[@sagestudy]

Hats off to you Jacob you are so regular on this channel. love that your videos are coming out quickly.

[@BigRedStripe]

Some weeks, it's a challenge. Like this next round. Trying to record four videos today for the next couple of weeks (I record in batches), but I'm four days behind. With my schedule getting a bit more full, I might have to drop to one video a week, but I'm really trying to keep two vids a week coming. And the screenwriting contest tips video is one of the ones I'm recording today... I know you're looking forward to that one, so I hope it's helpful to you. And for you or anyone else reading this, I'm always open for suggestions on new topics or videos that you want more information on. So drop video suggestions as a comment in any video, and I'll try to work it into my schedule. -Jacob

[@sagestudy]

@@BigRedStripe Jacob can you start making videos about producers perspective in approaching the script. I know every producer will be skimming our screenplays rather than reading it. How to make up or cosmetics to be used in our screenplay so that producers falls in love at first sight with our screenplay. LET US BE CLEAR : So our target is producer not the audience, beacuse audience is gonna seeing the film not the screenplay. Note: I didn't mean that we start making screenplay, only for the taste of producer. I know very well what audience want, I am sure you can understand what I am trying to say. Right now audeince is demaning that all the spiderman ( Tobey Maguire, Andrew and Tom ) to be seen in the upcoming spiderman no way home, but really don't know what producers are seeking for.😑😑 So a video on producer's perspective could be added to your topic list. What do you say?? 😁😁

[@BigRedStripe]

Yes, I 100% understand what you mean. Added to the queue... a great topic for sure. Thanks!

[@sagestudy]

@@BigRedStripe I have a question, the script on which I am working its title is INFECTED. When i seached on google infected movie, so a movie has already been made with the same title in 2013 so should i continue giving my screenplay the same name or should i change. But that 2013 infected, did not hold those stuff which i am showing in my screenplay, they both are totally different in thier themes. Please i want your opinion on this.

[@BigRedStripe]

There are several movies with the same or very similar titles. Titles aren't covered under copyright protection, so that's why this happens... and why it's okay for you to name your movie in a similar vein. However, you want to stay away from well known movies. So don't write a space epic called _Star Wars_ as that'd be a problem (and Star Wars is trademarked as a brand). Can you use _Infected_ ? Yep. But then comes the next question: do you want to? It makes me think it's a Covid story. You're on the right track, though, with a title, and in five years, _Infected_ may be great. It's just right now everyone is going to think it's a Covid-type of story, and they'll shy away from it. What about changing one letter? _Infested_ or even _Infestor_ ? (I have no idea what your story is about so those may not work at all, but you may want to consider some options.)

[@martinrizzi8419]

Very helpful tutorial video. Concentration on the supporting characters and sub-plots is something deserving my attention as a screenwriter. Thank you!

[@deejayransom]

Really appreciate your videos!

[@deejayransom]

The movie clips were a great touch

[@BigRedStripe]

Trying to include them a bit more, but avoiding copyright infringement sometimes feels like hit or miss. Still, glad you liked them and know I'm trying to do more of that as time goes on... it's just tricky.

[@InsertDisc2tv]

This is really great advice, really helped me think through my script. Subbed 🤙

[@BigRedStripe]

Thanks for the sub! And glad it was helpful!

[@TGo-n-Roscoe]

As usual, great video... one note though, please don't put in emotionally jarring scenes please. That Randy Quade scene brought me right back to that moment, and at the end of your video I'm getting misty... 😆 🤣 🤣🤣🤣

[@BigRedStripe]

Gotcha. [make a note to include a clip from the end of _Return of the King_ when Frodo gets on the boat and everyone's crying in a future video for T] :-)

[@TGo-n-Roscoe]

@@BigRedStripe just please don't include the ending of Jurassic Bark from Futurama, and you can share whatever you want... lol

[@sagestudy]

What do screenwriters and producers mean when they say, your script needs more conflict. Do they mean we need to add more car chase scene, brutal fights, kingdom falling, hungry dinosaurs eating people??? But what about Drama genre, how to add conflict in it. This can also be a good topic for a video. To tell new screewriters about the adding more conflict in their screenplays. BE SURE TO ADD THIS TO YOUR UPCOMING VIDEOS LIST... 😄😄 Beacuse I am looking for such a video on youtube but still can't get it, which can be a one stop solution to my and my friend's problem, as we are writing a Drama feature, we think we need more conflict in it to hook the reader. And to give them a satisfying experience. Please tell us about the real meaning behind increasing conflict in a screenplay. As I have watched your all videos, present on your KZbin channel, and your advice is always 100 percent true and practical, maybe your advice on this conflict topic can solve our problem as well. Thanks if you read this full query....

[@BigRedStripe]

Thank you for the kudos. Always appreciated. As far as conflict, two things. One, I'll look at adding a video into the future queue, so you can look for that. Two, I do have a decent section on conflict in my Screenwriting Fast Track course (link in the description). And in that course, I deal a bit more with creating characters as well, which might be of interest and help. Short answer to your question, you don't need a dinosaur running through your scene to have more conflict. Generally, what a producer means when they say, "You need more conflict" is, "You've made things too easy for your main character." That means you need to find ways to make it more difficult for them, hence more conflict. But we often think of conflict in either physical terms (being late, or the random dinosaur) or emotional terms (feelings of loss or loneliness, etc.), but don't forget other obstacles related to: ethical dilemmas, spiritual dilemmas, mental issues, etc. Now, every character doesn't (and shouldn't) be a complete train wreck either, but if you haven't considered their moral or ethical or spiritual beliefs and how you might create problems for them in those areas, that would be a great place to start. -Jacob

[@ahmedhasni3200]

can l insert a subplot of the supporting character in the first act (since I have two seq ) or Ijust do it in act two after the inciting incident which is in sequence two

[@BigRedStripe]

First, yes, you can do that. Technically, the antagonist is doing their own thing... they have a subplot, and that is often introduced in Act 1. But second, realize that the story elements (the things you need for the story to work, like having an inciting incident) don't necessary have to be told in the same order. You can mix things up. Move things around. All for the sake of _telling_ the story. So, sure, you can move stuff around and introduce things earlier... just make sure your main story is clear because if the reader can't track with your "A" story, then the subplots are getting in the way. Hope that helps.

[@matthewlavagna6080]

I think any subplot must be absolutely necessary to the telling of the main story. If your main story works without the subplot then edit it out.

[@BigRedStripe]

I don't know if I'd say "absolutely necessary..." might be too far for me. I could say that every subplot must help or hinder the protagonist. For example, many subplots of romance aren't necessary for the main plot, but they make the story richer and they usually make it either more difficult or easier for the protagonist. But subplots definitely need to contribute to the overall story in some way.

[@keithshaw2416]

CUT: Interaction. Now, back to the movie . . .

[@BigRedStripe]

Sometimes, yeah.

[@jaredcrane3845]

Good vid but have to disagree with one point. Characters should be interesting, but some are gonna be more so than others. It's okay if the main character isn't as interesting as some side ones. Jack is cooler than Will Turner. Snape is more mysterious than Harry Potter, and any of the Fellowship members are way more interesting than Frodo, yet these stories are popular and successful

[@garysimmons3362]

I thought Jack Sparow was the MC of all the Pirates of Caribbean movies, but now following the main plots, i see he's not. How come this is a common mistake?

[@friendlyyeen4844]

Does every story even need a main character? Anthology series say the exact opposite. So I'm inclined to disagree with the notion anything was wrong with that scene. It was a pleasant watch for me. Just personal preference.

[@BigRedStripe]

You're allowed to disagree about the enjoyment of that scene. it definitely had some merit for fans of Jack Sparrow... but it makes zero impact on the story as a whole. You could take it out, or shorten it dramatically, and the rest of the film plays out just fine. To the bigger question: does every story need a main character? Yes. Some stories (very, very, very few) have more than one main character, like anthology series as you mention. But these are the exception and not the rule. One character still has to drive the story in some way, and that responsibility is nearly always the main character's.

[@TalmoTheSell]

Even a super concept heavy story like Inception has a main character

[@friendlyyeen4844]

@@TalmoTheSell Look up TALES OF ALETHRION on KZbin. Changes main character each episode. Meanwhile the show Infinity Train changed main character every Book/Season Just cause it's rare. Doesn't mean it doesn't ever happen

[@peterdollins3610]

I'd take you more seriously if you used examples from serious & great films not Hollywood film-flam. Like 'La Strada' by Fellini 'Seven Samuria' by the Japanese master 'Ivan's Childhood' by Tarkosky or a Hitchcock masterpiece or 'Citizen Kane' by Orsen Wells or 'Shop on the Main Street' by that other guy or another one of a hundred such.