Page One: “Vanilla Sky” (2001)

Screenplay by Cameron Crowe, based on a film by Alejandro Amenábar, Mateo Gil

The movie version of the opening:

Starting a script with a character’s morning routine has been done so many times, it can come across as hackneyed. However, this works well in creating a sense of normalcy in the life of David Aames (Tom Cruise). Then he hits the streets of New York City … and there is no one around. Not a soul. Check out Page Two:

The morning routine establishes a seeming normal day in the life of the story’s Protagonist, which makes the contrast with the bizarre empty streets of the City that much more disjunctive. But notice how they shifted the morning alarm (“Open your eyes”) until after the street scene. In the movie, it opens the scene. Curious shift. Since eyes are a huge part of the story’s plotline, perhaps Cameron Crowe decided to open with that repeated line of dialogue to frame a central theme.

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.