Page One: “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008)

Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, novel by Vikas Swarup

The movie version of the opening:

The movie follows the cross-cut approach of the script, however, its focus is not on the bathtub filled with cash, but on the Protagonist (Jamal), a series of jump cuts between him being interrogated (beaten and nearly drowned) and being introduced on the TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Why the change? As we have seen time and time again in the Page One series, the answer is quite simple: Focus the story’s narrative point of view on the Protagonist. They are the primary conduit for the audience into the story, so it only makes sense to begin the story with them.

You may download the screenplay here.

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

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