30 Days of Screenplays, Day 19: “Broadcast News”

Why 30 screenplays in 30 days?

Because whether you are a novice just starting to learn the craft of screenwriting or someone who has been writing for many years, you should be reading scripts.

There is a certain type of knowledge and understanding about screenwriting you can only get from reading scripts, giving you an innate sense of pace, feel, tone, style, how to approach writing scenes, how create flow, and so forth.

So each day this month, I will provide background on and access to a notable movie script.

Today is Day 19 and the featured screenplay is for the 1987 movie Broadcast News. You may read the screenplay here.

Background: Original screenplay written by James L. Brooks.

Plot summary: Take two rival TV reporters: one handsome, one talented, both male. Add one producer, female. Mix well and watch the sparks fly.

Tagline: It’s the story of their lives.

Awards: Nominated for the WGA Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Trivia: Albert Brooks revealed that when he first read the script, the scene where Aaron does a weekend broadcast simply noted “Something bad happens to Aaron on the air.” Albert was watching CNN when a reporter he’d never seen before (and hasn’t seen since) began sweating badly. Albert phoned writer/director James L. Brooks at three in the morning and stated that Aaron HAD to start sweating profusely.

Broadcast News is a smart romantic comedy with three strong lead characters, and filled with fantastic dialogue. In particular, pay attention to how Brooks handles scenes. Most of them are pretty straight ahead with a clear, single point to them, but there are others which in the hands of a less experienced and talented writer would come off as unwieldy and confusing. It seems that Brooks embraces life (and movies) as full of little moments, and so many of his scenes dart from this aside to that remark, yet somehow manage to stay on target, and just… work.

Also as with any romantic triangle, Broadcast News has a strong dramatic center, but here the issue is never if she will end up with Aaron. It’s something else. And yet it still — again — just works.

In looking at the script, I’m struck by a number of things. First, Brooks’ approach to introducing the story’s three main characters — Tom (William Hurt), Aaron (Albert Brooks), and Jane (Holly Hunter — as youths is utterly inspired. In a mere 7 pages, Brooks manages to give the reader a clear sense of each character, their respective personalities, voices, and most importantly the core issues that will dog them throughout their lives. Take young Jane’s response to her father interrupting her as she’s typing a letter to one of her many pen pals and her father’s use of the word “obsessive”:

Another aspect of the script that is instructive are the many ‘bits of business’ Brooks uses about the TV news business. They not only give the script a sense of authority — the writer knows this world (indeed Brooks started out his writing career in TV news) — but also provide insight into the characters as well as entertain us. One little sequence I’ve always remembered is this moment, where an international incident over Lybia has created an opportunity for Tom to anchor a special news update. Problem is he doesn’t know anything about military planes. Enter Aaron who relays information to Jane via his telephone:

But perhaps the most notable narrative element in Broadcast News is it’s a romantic triangle where the Protagonist (Jane) does not end up with either possible partner. Here is the scene where Jane decides not to go on a trip with Tom and in essence ending their romance:

I guess you could say it’s a “mature” moment, two reasonable and feeling adults who recognize their attraction for each other, and yet know that finally their personality differences prevent them from being together as romantic partners. Not your typical rom-com ending, but one that respects Jane, Tom, and Aaron for the characters they are.

What’s your take on Broadcast News? Stop by comments and post your thoughts.

To see all of the posts in the 30 Days of Screenplays series, go here.

This series and use of screenplays is for educational purposes only!