Solving Equation of a Hit Film Script, With Data – NYTimes.com

Solving Equation of a Hit Film Script, With Data - NYTimes.com

Solving Equation of a Hit Film Script, With Data – NYTimes.com.

Interesting comments on the use of statistical-story-telling in Hollywood.

On the one hand I’m happy that my “targeting demon” horror action project will, if made, be likely to achieve higher opening weekend sales than a similar “summoned demon” story, but can’t help but agree with Ol Parker that it’s the “enemy of creativity”.

Scriptwriting courses suggest that Hollywood looks for genre stories that are “the same, but different.” Statistics might help the first part, helping to define what’s “worked” before from a business point of view and give some reassurance that the right projects are being green-lit.

But creativity is where you conjure something new for audiences to engage with, so that they don’t feel like they’ve seen it all before, that they don’t feel short-changed by your story, that they get new insights and are entertained in new ways, so much so that they’re happy to rewatch the film and recommend it to their friends.

Statistics might get you in the right ballpark, but you’ve still got to dig up that inspired final play.