Using lines from other movies in your screenplay

mike72688

How do you feel about using lines from other movies in your screenplay?

As a father of young kids, I watch quite a few kids’ films. One in particular sticks out in my mind, Chicken Little. In this film the writers use quite a few lines from other movies such as "You had me at hello" (Jerry Maguire) or some similar phrase with one word changed from the original line. I know what I'm referring to mainly happens in comedies.

My original feeling on this was that it's just lazy writing. I actually sometimes feel disdain toward the writers.

However, as a wannabe comedy writer who has sworn never to do this, I find myself coming up with these borrowed lines. Not that I would overdo it, like Chicken Little, or even feel like I wanted to use them, but just that they keep coming up in my mind as I write.

I guess it’s okay with Hollywood (but to what extent?) Will I give in? Or change how I feel about it? I don't know, but I would like to know how you feel about it.

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nor often even nodding acquaintences.

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quade · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:21 pm Post subject:

I think it depends on the context.

There is a difference between quoting a line for meaningful, satirical or obligatory purposes and being a no talent hack.

If, in the movie Battleship, there occurs the line, "You sunk my battleship!" it's not stealing from the old TV commercial. In fact, it's probably the only obligatory line in entire script.

If, in Toy Story 4, Woody goes into a longwinded attempt to convince Jessie to come with him on some grand adventure and she says, "You had me at 'howdy'." that's also not stealing. It's a nice bit of character homage/satire.

If, on the other hand, in any movie somebody says, "I'm getting too old for this; shit, crap, poop or excrement" then we can safely assume the writer is, in fact, a hack.

If you can take a cliche line and turn it on its head by making the end meaning something unique and unexpected, I have no problem with that and especially if it's well done.

Only you can really decide what you want to be, but I think if you, the writer, realize you're simply tracing over somebody else's work, I really don't know how you can call yourself a writer.

That said, I see it in films and television all the time. It also makes me think bad thoughts about the writer.

Then again, he has at least a screen credit, WGAw minimums and royalty checks arriving in the mail.

So, what the F do I know?

I don't know, maybe I just don't get it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KoKWf6pLs8

http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2009/11/definitive-list-of-cliched-dialogue.html

Mike Rinaldi · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:33 pm Post subject:

quade · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:00 pm Post subject:

I assume satire here. Very Happy

Mike Rinaldi · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 3:05 am Post subject:

Barely. I thought the scene worked remarkably well.

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mike72688 · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:46 am Post subject:

Crusader Cat · Bengal Tiger Joined: 01 Oct 2010 Posts: 246

Here's one I think the list forgot: "You can't do that, it's suicide!"

This brings me back to a script I worked on recently where the line I was planning to write was "I don't give a sh*t" but then I though to my self, I can be more creative than that. The end result was how shall we say...unique.

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Rachel T. · Ocelot Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 1912 Location: Michigan

quade · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:29 pm Post subject:

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