Authors

Writing Meaningless Themes? You’re Doing It Wrong – John Vorhaus

[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]

 

Film Courage: What is the truth that the main character believes at the beginning of the story?

John Vorhaus, Author/Speaker/Artist/Screenwriter: What is the truth that the main character believes at the beginning of the story? I would say it is if I keep doing what I’m doing I’ll have everything I want and that truth is revealed to be false. There must be some change in order for you to get what you really want. How do we know because if it were true, if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’ll get what he wants, the story’s over. He keeps doing what he’s doing and he gets what he wants, he wins. If I keep playing the lottery, eventually I’m going to win and be rich. Okay I won the lottery, no I kept playing the lottery…this a bad example. Let me try a different one.

That is the truth he believes in at the start of the story.

Pretty Woman: Richard Gere the heartless industrialist. He says: 

If I keep buying and stripping companies, firing employees and reaping assets, I will be happy, my life is good, my life is right. I’m living according to principles I believe in. If I keep doing what I’m doing, I’m going to continue to be happy.

 That is the truth he believes in at the start of the story. Then he meets Julia Roberts…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).

BIO:

John Vorhaus is best known for his comedy-writing classic, The Comic Toolbox: How to be Funny Even if You’re Not. He has taught and trained writers in 37 countries on five continents at last count, and created TV shows of his own in Nicaragua, Romania and elsewhere. His writing credits include dozens of teleplays and screenplays, plus seven novels and some two dozen works of non-fiction. His latest book is the little book of STANDUP. Vorhaus is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and a member of the Writers Guild of America. He lives in Southern California and secretly controls the world from JohnVorhaus.com.

 

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