Today is the second part of a post where I examine the approach screenwriters should have when choosing careers and jobs for their screenplay characters. The first part examined if your hero really needs a job–fictional characters are lucky enough that their bills still get magically paid even if they don’t put in their 40 hours. Even if his professional life doesn’t play a huge role in your plot, your hero’s job can achieve other screenplay goals like: increasing story stakes, creating irony and showing personal growth.

Sadly, most aspiring writers get lazy about which job to choose for their characters, and opt for one of the following: lawyer, aspiring actor (or model), ad executive…and god forbid, blogger! Choosing a more unique profession for your characters is an easy way to make your screenplay stand out from its competition. But where to find these unique professions? And what to do if you’re main character cannot logically be anything but a lawyer…actor…or model?

Gimme more screenplay tips!

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Recently, I reviewed the body switching comedy The Change-Up, written by screenwriting duo Scott Moore and Jon Lucas, who also wrote a movie called The Hangover. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? The Change-Up starred Jason Bateman as a lawyer about to make partner who switches bodies with his slacker best friend, Mitchell, an aspiring actor who just scored a role in an upcoming porn film. The movie didn’t do so great at the box office, despite its comedic pedigree. One of the reasons has to do with the main characters’ professions. Lawyer and actor — how many times have we seen these careers on screen before? Although these particular job situations have comic potential, and I can see why the screenwriters used them, they didn’t feel fresh.

So it got me thinking…what kind of approach should screenwriters have when choosing a profession for their protagonists? My answers are divided into two parts. Today’s post addresses whether or not your main character actually needs a job and what kind of screenplay objectives can be accomplished with a character’s line of work. The second part will give you ideas on where to look to find unique jobs for your screenplay characters, and how to add some originality to your character’s profession…if his job is not so unique.

Show me the money!

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If you’ve ever read a well-written murder mystery, the chances are you’ve also entertained the idea of writing one. But how exactly do you go about it? What should you be keeping in mind as you plot your own murder mystery? Gosford Park is a murder mystery artfully written for the screen, which garnered 7 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. The movie did indeed take home a little golden statue for a screenplay written directly for the screen, beating out Amelie, Memento, and Monster’s Ball, so it’s clear there are a number of murder mystery tips to be gleaned by studying the movie.

More on mysteries, please!

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