Is there art in screenwriting?

How does art figure into the collaborative process of filmmaking in general and screenwriting in particular?

What is art? Here’s a definition: “Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”

Lawrence of Arabia creators David Lean, Robert Bolt, Sam Spiegel, Peter O’Toole

I’ve always argued that screenwriting is a craft, not an art. That what you craft in collaboration with others will one day stand on its own and will be seen on a big or small screen... and then, one day, others may regard that crafted piece of work as art. I believe that Robert Bolt, David Lean and Sam Spiegel sat down to craft a film called Lawrence of Arabia that ended up being a work of art.

I can practically hear some writers huffing and puffing at the above statement right about now. But all of those beloved films, from Lawrence of Arabia to Double Indemnity to Taxi Driver - they are NOT the screenplay. They are, same as all films, the result of often chaotic collaboration of a bunch of creative people getting together trying to make the best film possible. And sometimes, yes, the result is sheer beauty - call it art, if you will. I once read that

“Cinema and art are all about the dialogue with the community. We must engage for it to come alive.”

Films are created for the sole purpose of getting people to experience the story on a screen. And yes, films are far more likely to reach an audience if a strong level of engagement across the many available channels takes place... all of that says “craft” to me. Craft is clear, craft is structured, craft is disciplined and organized - craft is what you need to become a long-distance working professional screenwriter.

Picasso’s Guernica

If you, as a screenwriter, think of your writing as art, it only hampers you - it puts too much pressure on you - you’ll be thinking Michelangelo, Picasso, Rothko - and you’ll be so worried about failing, about not measuring up, you’ll end up blocking yourself. Screenwriting is “just” writing stories, it is putting words on paper.

Think of it as a craft like carpentry because that’s down to earth, that’s doable. Not that making chairs is easy. If you’ve ever tried to craft a chair, you know what I mean. But if you set your mind to it, if you’re willing to put in the time, if you’re passionate about wood, you’ll learn how to craft your chairs. And people will buy them from you, too.

I truly think there are screenwriting artists out there. But the Charlie Kaufmans are like Mozart - pretty damn rare! I prefer living my life as a carpenter, rather than a genius. I mean, just look at what happened to Mozart. Thinking of screenwriting as a craft makes everything less daunting for fresh writers. Maybe you’ll build chairs eventually, chairs that’ll be sturdy and beautiful. And when they’re bought, they’ll be worked on by other people (hopefully together with you) and your chairs may be luxuriously upholstered … and maybe, sometime down the line, people will call that beautiful piece of furniture you’ve worked on, art.

The danger of craft only comes into play when writers, directors and producers give in to common ground, to audience expectations and budget considerations. bThe collaborative team involved in making a film, has to, despite all of the real-life challenges, be always open to the creative spark. We all know these dangers and we’ve all seen the formulas repeated time and time again. And yet, the creative spark is the very thing that can lead to what some may eventually call art. Craft is core - and art is creative spark, art is when you write with all the required discipline… and then the muse takes you to unexpected places.

Screenwriting is about the sheer power of creation; Screenwriting is about the flights beyond anything anyone’s ever dreamed of; Screenwriting is about daring to go to all the darkest places, to live there and to return stronger to reveal the hidden truths. From those creative places it begins, with that material we craft our stories.

In the end, as a screenwriter, think craft, not art. (my screenwriting principle #10). Try not to think about art - it’ll just drive you nuts. Write with clarity and passion and think craft. Think about delivering your best work before the deadline hits you in the ass. That’s all that matters.

If you’d like to peruse my other screenwriting principles, here ya go.