From Faces, A Woman under the Influence, and Love Streams, the independent films of John Cassavetes serve as inspiration for many aspiring indie directors here at Filmride. His work in micro-budget filmmaking overturned many preconceived notions about cinema, particularly in regards to screenwriting. In a series of illuminating interviews, Cassavetes laid out his unique scriptwriting philosophy, giving independent directors some tips on making stories in a completely new way.
1. A script is a basis for discovering your story, not the story itself
Cassavetes hated films that did nothing more than follow the predetermined narrative found in the screenplay. He thought this made stories predictable and forbid characters from behaving more truthfully. Counterintuitively, Cassavetes saw screenwriting not as storytelling per se, but as a starting point from which one can discover the real story. Like a jazz musician developing on a simple theme, Cassavetes used his scripts as raw material for his actors to elaborate and complicate into something more lifelike and truthful.
2. Follow your characters before you structure your screenplay
Many low-budget films from indie directors are known to be character-centric. However, most of these film still rely on a three-act structure that dominates screenwriting courses. Against this, Cassavetes emphasized the need to prioritize character over narrative. He believed the truthful presentation of characters, including their erratic behavior and emotions, will eventually dictate how the narrative will play out.
3. Don’t be afraid of rewrites
For Husbands, Cassavetes once rewrote the same scene 200 times. Since he detested putting characters in prearranged character arcs, Cassavetes welcomed rewrites because it allowed him to constantly discover new things about his characters. This sense of discovery, of going against the prevailing trends, is something more indie micro-budget filmmakers need to take into account.
