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HARD WORKING TITLES ~~ Optimize Your Title Search

Copyright © 2003, Lenore Wright

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I had so much fun feedback from my recent tutorial on choosing the best title for a script that I decided to do a follow up column on this topic. Here's what I learned from your feedback: Effective titles can be gaudy or elegant or stinky or clever so long as they WORK.

Title selection is one of the most important and yet fun decisions of the writing process. Put some creative thought into your search.

If you missed my original tutorial on choosing titles, you can read it here => www.breakingin.net/tswtitles.htm

In that title tutorial I outlined ten ways titles can work for you. To jog your memory, here's the list:

-> Titles convey the GENRE of your movie.

-> Titles emphasize the central CRISIS of your movie.

-> Titles pose an INTRIGUING QUESTION.

-> Titles conjure up a VIVID IMAGE.

-> Titles connect to a MEMORY.

-> Titles highlight the STAR'S ROLE.

-> Titles exploit CULTURAL REFERENCES.

-> Titles establish an EXOTIC SETTING.

-> Titles create a VIVID METAPHOR.

-> Titles cash in on CURRENT SLANG.

Our readers suggested several other creative ways to put your title to work for you and your script.

Here they are:

Titles can CREATE MOOD and STIR EMOTION

When a title sets the mood of your movie, it draws in your audience and connects them emotionally to the story. When a title works this way, the audience responds with an enthusiastic -- Hey, count me in!

Some examples:

SOMETHING WILD
WHAT'S NEW, PUSSYCAT?
MEAN STREETS
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
REMEMBER THE TITANS

Titles can ESTABLISH an ENSEMBLE

Not all movies are star vehicles, many stories feature a team of characters on a mission or facing a crisis together. When your story features an ensemble of characters, your title should reflect that power. Some examples:

THE DIRTY DOZEN
RESERVOIR DOGS
THE DREAM TEAM
THE MIGHTY DUCKS
THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS

Titles can feature a PLAY ON WORDS

ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
THAT THING YOU DO
SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

Titles can REVIVE a CLASSIC

When popular books or plays are adapted as movies, their titles often don't change because the title has been 'presold' to the audience. But that's not the only reason to hold onto a familiar title. The adapters of the following popular books and plays were savvy enough to recognize a great title and not be tempted to change it just to exercise their ego.

PRINCE OF TIDES (novel)
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (novel)
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM (play)
SOPHIE'S CHOICE (novel)
THE ODD COUPLE (play)
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (novel)
THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK (novel)

Titles can WORK OVERTIME

Some titles perform a double duty, working in two ways at once. The following titles work two ways: They create an intriguing metaphor and they highlight the Star's role:

THE JACKAL
DRUGSTORE COWBOY
THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE
MIDNIGHT COWBOY

Titles can Perform TRIPLE DUTY

These terrific titles resonate on many levels:

RESERVOIR DOGS
-- Creates metaphor
-- Asks a question: What the heck is a Reservoir Dog?
-- Establishes ensemble

MEAN STREETS
-- Creates metaphor
-- Establishes unique location
-- Creates mood, evokes emotion

DO THE RIGHT THING
-- Sets up central crisis
-- Asks provocative question - What is the right thing?
-- Plays on street slang

THE BLACKBOARD JUNGLE
-- Creates metaphor
-- Establishes specific location
-- Creates mood by juxtaposing school with jungle

BLOOD SIMPLE
-- Vivid metaphor
-- Creates mood
-- Suggests genre (mystery-thriller)

THE UNFORGIVEN
-- Asks question: What did they do that was unforgivable?
-- Sets tone (moral) + mood (life and death drama)
-- Establishes conflict - Will they be forgiven?

Nominee for the Worst Title Ever:

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (But the movie was great!)

Thanks to all the Script Market News readers who sent feedback on this topic, especially to these creative powerhouses: Brian, Alex, Joel, Adam and Eric.

Your title is the first writing sample that producers, agents, readers, actors and the audience experience. Through your title you can give them a taste of everything your script offers: juice, power, gravity, intrigue, mood, fun, adventure and most of all emotion. Don't squander this opportunity - put your title to work.

GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING YOUR TITLE

--> Reflect the content of Your Movie on as many levels as possible.

Let your title work as many ways as possible: exploiting genre, establishing tone, defining the star's role, creating a central metaphor, emphasizing the central conflict, defining the crisis moment.

--> Your title should be understandable (by a majority of your target audience) but not mundane.

Don't burden your unique, wonderful script with a shopworn title or a cliche phrase. Audiences can only endure so many TERMINAL MOMENTS, FATAL ATTRACTIONS and PRIMARY DANGERS.

JUST FOR FUN!!

Here are some lousy movie titles (only my opinion) that didn't stop their movie from being enormously $uccessful:

~ HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (Who knew.)

~ IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Cheesy title, perfect movie.)

~ LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (Maybe this title is better in Italian.)

~ THE PRODUCERS (Title not funny, movie hilarious)

~ LOVE STORY (Nobody knows why this was a hit, but it was.)

MORE TIPS ON TITLES => CLICK HERE

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About the Editor:

Lenore Wright has 15 years experience writing and selling screenplays in Los Angeles and New York. For free marketing tips and tools SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter Script Market News by sending a blank email to newsletter@breakingin.net

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