Summer Movies--#3

OK, we’re talking about writing summer movies, right? So I should be focusing on great summer films to inspire you, right? So why, this week, am I talking about a documentary?!

The Endless Summer [1966] written by Bruce Brown [yes, documentaries do have writers] follows some surfers around the world as they look for the perfect wave. That’s it—the entire plot… if you can even call it a plot which I suppose you can’t because it’s a documentary. But before I explain, take a look at a clip for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=4tsHF020-1k

Now, doesn’t that feel like summer? Can’t you just imagine the feel of riding that wave? Does this not take you out to the beach for the perfect day in the sun?

If you get a chance to watch the whole documentary, you’ll see that while it’s certainly about the quest for the perfect wave, it’s also full of vignettes these characters fall into and encounters with all kinds of people who enhance their story. And it is a story—in this case, a true story, which is why it’s a documentary.

I think looking at a film like this—one that was so iconic—can often work as a jumping off point as you plan writing your own film. Just using this premise—heading out to find the perfect wave—you could write an original summer movie. Remember, ideas can’t be copyrighted and the idea of someone or a group of people going around the world in search of the perfect wave is just an idea—one that you could think about doing.

So let’s imagine you wanted to do this. What would you need to do? First, ask yourself who your main character[s] would be—maybe a teen who’s running away from home. Or how about a woman who just lost her husband? Or maybe a couple who are about to divorce and decide to take this trip as a way to create some good memories before they part? Or maybe a gay surfer who doesn’t fit in with the macho surfer culture he’s been exposed to but goes for it anyway and in the process changes everyone’s mind about what it means to be a surfer? Or maybe a teen whose dad died in a surfing accident who tries to get close to his memory doing what her dad did?

The examples are endless. I wrote those in about 5 minutes—sit down for 5 and do the same—just as an exercise, come up with three or four scenarios for a surfer film.

Surfer films are summer—how could they not be? The beach, the waves, the sun… and for those, say, landlocked in the Midwest, wow! What a great adventure to go to a summer film that can let them feel like they’ve caught the wave!! So go on—shoot the curl—and see what you come up with.

Next week, it’s onto the 70s!

Copyright © Diane Lake

12Jul20

Email Diane a question to Diane@DianeLake.com