Screenwriting Masterclass | Subtext

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00:00 | START
00:24 | Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place
03:00 | When the scene is about what the scene is about…
04:24 | Schitt’s Creek
06:10 | The Invention of Lying
07:32 | The Wire
10:43 | Double Indemnity
15:16 | Innuendo
15:46 | Midnight in Paris
17:06 | Breaking Bad
21:10 | Thematic Subtext
21:42 | Sideways
23:01 | Subtext Becoming Text
24:19 | Phone Booth
25:38 | Back to Thematic Subtext
27:43 | Jaws
30:29 | Little Miss Sunshine
33:00 | Dramatic Subtext
33:33 | Gravity
35:31 | Foreshadowing
36:13 | Citizen Kane
39:07 | Toy Story 3
40:47 | Complex Subtext
43:35 | Types of Subtext Overview
44:15 | Questions
In this video, writer, story developer and screenwriting lecturer Karel Segers takes a different approach to subtext.
This is the recording of a live masterclass. For the latest masterclasses, enrol in the Immersion course, or the masterclasses (links below).
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What many call subtext, is in fact just an indirect way of getting the story across. This doesn't mean the moment or scene is multi-layered. To have proper subtext, you first need a 'text'. Under the surface of this sits the actual subtext.
Watch this video, and learn the difference between Dramatic Subtext and Thematic Subtext.
If you find the video enjoyable or educational, please give us a like.
Or even better, please support us by subscribing to the channel, and to be notified of new videos.
Thank you.
Karel
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LINKS
The Masterclasses: mc.screenwriting.courses
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Immersion Courses: screenwriting.courses
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Screenwriting Masterclass | Subtext
• Screenwriting Mastercl...
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[@arzabael]

This video doesn’t leave my watch later playlist. I watch it/listen to it all the time. This and a couple other long videos are like that. All on dialogue too. Thanks a million mate seriously.

[@TheStoryDepartment]

Thank you for the kind note!

[@snazpizaz7706]

excellent - cheers

[@santhansbarn80]

Great class, Karel! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge :-) Still here for your wise words soon to be five years after Immersion ;-) Cheers from Norway!

[@TheStoryDepartment]

You're so welcome!

[@johnjohnson2194]

Great channel!

[@DanielAVphotomassacre]

Great!!!

[@mercurious6699]

great class, thank you so much

[@TheStoryDepartment]

Glad you liked it!

[@mickeyaugrec7560]

Heh heh love it - Adam Levy merlot scene recalls Laurence Olivier snails-oysters bathhouse monologue censored from 1960 "Spartacus." Powerhouse scenes from Billy Wilder. Great vlog mate!

[@TheStoryDepartment]

Thanks, Mickey! And thank you for subscribing. There's more goodness to come, if time and circumstances allow. Cheers, Karel

[@terrydray]

Just came across your channel, I’m hooked. Immediately subscribed. Thank you for taking the time to put this together. Looking forward to watching more.

[@Bradleersmith]

Same …. As a upcoming cinematographer

[@YouCanCallMe-X]

big Thx

[@rogerdsmith]

They’ve actually done studies, films with good subtext, have a better box office performance.

[@TheStoryDepartment]

Do you have a reference on this? I'm interested.

[@oliverford5367]

Good writing is underrated. Dialogue is what makes people remember movies, quote them and recommend them

[@rothmayproductions6588]

Firstly, I really appreciate your videos. Great work. But I had to drop a comment, being a huge 'The Wire' fan. The example you gave regarding subtext, I found it hard to agree with. It was filled with layers. To me the subtext in this example was the demonstration of good po-lice. Both Bunk and McNaulty communicated with each other throughout the entire scene by using a phrase or a variation of that one phrase, only themselves understood (Friendship Subtext). No other officer in their department would have discovered the shell casing at the end of the scene (Natural Police Subtext). The case they built on Barksdale's crew wasn't enough until this discovery breakthrough to further support the wire tap, which also became quintessential to Barksdale's nephew story arc. We could talk about Baltimore being a subtext in the scene, or allowing the landlord to observe and be part of a crime investigation. I could be way off base regarding what the Subtext criteria is in your example, either way, I had to add a comment and would love to learn more. I think It's one of the best scenes from The WIre!! 😄

[@TheStoryDepartment]

Now I re-watch my own video, because you make excellent points. When THE WIRE celebrated its 20th anniversary a few years back, I wanted to create a series of videos about it. But I had so much to say and so little time that nothing happened! Today, I would rather use that drinking scene at the end of the pilot as an example of subtext. David Simon writes subtext EVERYWHERE, but particularly the teasers of each episode are brimming with it. Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate it, and it's inspired me to go back to THE WIRE and do that video about that drinking scene. :) Cheers, Karel

[@Bradleersmith]

Question: Is subtext used to create familiarity with the audience like nostalgia to increase view retention along with visuals ? Brad from Jamaica 🇯🇲

[@TheStoryDepartment]

Hey Brad, I think subtext is used because we do it in real life all the time. We rarely address the difficult subjects head-on... Thank you for your question! And please consider subscribing. Thank you. :) Cheers, Karel

[@Bradleersmith]

@@TheStoryDepartment thank you for responding and I am already subscribed. 🇯🇲🙏🏽

[@MegaUltraSuperKimeh]

what film is the first example clip from?

[@TheStoryDepartment]

I forgot! I found it on Vimeo, where it was one of the lowest ranked videos of their entire collection. I'll look it up for you! Cheers, Karel

[@TheStoryDepartment]

I found it. It's called "Demur": www.imdb.com/title/tt2363531/

[@ilovepavement1]

wait what does 'scripted' mean in this context?

[@TheStoryDepartment]

What is the context? (timestamp?) Typically it just means that it was not improvised or ad-libbed, but written by the screenwriter.

[@1995yuda]

The start confused the hell outta me, was unsure what I was watching.

[@TheStoryDepartment]

I must say I had the same response when I saw it the first time! Cheers, Karel