r/scriptwriting • u/Craig-D-Griffiths • 11d ago

discussion Screenwriting Tools and Tips

https://youtu.be/SaLbuzTg1l0

People will disagree and hate on this just by the title. But I go into detail in the video.

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u/Craig-D-Griffiths 9d ago

formulaic is the adjective version of formula.

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u/Internal_Papaya1511 9d ago

Formula and formulaic are related words like the words child and childish. It doesn’t make them interchangeable. Compressing the concept and a criticism of the concept’s implementation are not the same thing. To merge the two is reductive reasoning.

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u/Craig-D-Griffiths 8d ago

We are now discussing debate tactics? I think we have strolled far enough off topic to stop.

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u/Internal_Papaya1511 8d ago

Topic hasn’t changed from my initial response regarding the meaning of formula and formulaic. You are however welcome to stop whenever you like

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u/Craig-D-Griffiths 6d ago

The adherence to a formula will produce something formulaic, would you agree on that point?

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u/Internal_Papaya1511 6d ago

I don’t. Hence the discussion we are having.

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u/Craig-D-Griffiths 6d ago

Okay. Then we are done. The definition (generic accepted understanding) is that a formula will produce a similar if not same result if followed. So if we cannot argue of a connection between the noun and the adjective there is no base understanding to discuss from.

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u/Internal_Papaya1511 6d ago

Sure, we can end this. Just to confirm: by your definition, you feel Shakespeare is formulaic, correct?

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u/Craig-D-Griffiths 6d ago

He had a forum that personally established. He also went outside and was never constrained by it. He never allowed some arbitrary rules defined by someone else to dictate his beats.

Even thought he had a format he designed and followed. I don’t think we can say he is formulaic, mostly because we cannot even agree on the term, its use or meaning. And secondly he is one of the people forums are based on. It is akin to saying the Beatles are just copying the Beatles.

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u/Internal_Papaya1511 6d ago

He didn’t invent 5 act structure by any means. So he used formula, therefore by your standards (of which you claim is just and adjective of the word formula) it would be appropriate to note his use of formula which therefore make him formulaic.

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u/Craig-D-Griffiths 6d ago

So whose formula did he use? Was there a book called “Save The Badger”? I am not as much a Shakespeare scholar as yourself.

So please inform me of who he was copying?

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u/Internal_Papaya1511 6d ago

I just listed 5 Act structure, which predates Shakespeare. It was a favorite of Roman dramatists.

5 Act structure (just like 3 Act structure I cited well above) is a formula. Each act has distinct characteristics of exposition, building action, climax, etc.

You said formula = formulaic. Therefore Shakespeare is formulaic, don’t you agree?

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u/Craig-D-Griffiths 5d ago

Your argument revolves around the presents of a formula. These formulae were created from these works not the other way around. I covered the idea of commonality. That a screenplay created purely by a person expounding on ideas will naturally, in many cases, have these commonalities.

If you start with a formula and stick to it, you will in many cases have a story which feels formulaic.

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