How can you use theme to elevate your screenplay?

1 Why theme matters

Theme matters because it gives your screenplay depth, coherence, and resonance. A strong theme can elevate your screenplay from a generic or formulaic story to a unique and memorable one. A strong theme can also help you connect with your audience on an emotional and intellectual level, as they relate to your characters and their struggles. A strong theme can also guide your creative choices and decisions, as you align your plot, characters, dialogue, and visuals with your core message.

2 How to find your theme

Finding your theme can be a daunting task, but it can be quite rewarding. There is no one right way to do it, but there are some steps you can take. Begin with a premise or logline that summarizes your story in one or two sentences. This will help you identify the main conflict and goal of your protagonist. Consider what your protagonist wants and needs, and how they change or grow over the course of the story. This will help you determine the character arc and moral dilemma of your protagonist. Think about what your story is really about, beyond the surface level. What is the underlying question or issue that your story explores or challenges? This will help you identify the thematic statement or question of your screenplay. Finally, write down your theme in one or two words, or in a simple sentence. This will help you clarify and refine your theme, so that you can use it as a compass for your screenplay.

3 How to express your theme

Expressing your theme can be a delicate art. You don't want to be too on-the-nose or obscure, but you also don't want to be too transparent or confusing. There are several ways to express your theme, such as through your protagonist's journey and transformation, the contrast of your antagonist's opposition, the influence and reflection of supporting characters, the dialogue and subtext, and the visuals and symbols. Show how your characters' actions and choices reflect their values and beliefs, how they represent different aspects of your theme, how their words communicate or clash with each other, and how settings, props, costumes, colors, lighting, and camera angles convey or contrast your values and beliefs.

4 How to test your theme

Testing your theme can be a helpful tool to evaluate and improve your screenplay. Ask yourself or others critical questions to assess your theme, such as if it is clear and consistent, original and compelling, relevant and relatable, balanced and nuanced, and shown and implied. Alternatively, is it vague and contradictory, cliché and boring, outdated and alienating, biased and simplistic, told and explained? Through this process of reflection, you can gain valuable insight into how to make your theme stronger.

5 How to refine your theme

Refining your theme can be a continuous and iterative process as you rewrite and polish your screenplay. To do this, you should cut or revise any scenes, characters, dialogue, or visuals that do not support or enhance your theme. Additionally, it’s important to add or enhance any scenes, characters, dialogue, or visuals that can support or enhance your theme. You may also want to compare and contrast your theme with other similar or different themes, genres, or stories to make it stand out. Finally, seek feedback from trusted readers, mentors, or peers to see how they interpret or respond to your theme and how you can improve it.