Writingf War Movies

The next series of articles are on the writer and the war movie. If you look at the motion picture or television process, the first step has always been with the writer. This person, who is the worst paid of all the participants, is the original creative force behind any idea. Therefore, if that original creative force starts off-kilter then the rest of the story will continue off-kilter. No amount of coaxing from producers, directors, or military advisors will ever be able to get the story back on track.The reason I mention this is because of the many questions that are asked of me by writers, not producers, not directors, not artists, not gaffers, but writers. They want the story to be right. They want the dialog to be authentic. They want the scene and time to be true to the story. They want accuracy.

Writers are a unique breed. They work and strive to prepare honest copy. They work long and hard in front of a typewriter or computer to create a world populated with believable characters in a believable world to lift you, the viewer, to another place and time.

To that end, if you as a writer do not have umpteen years of experience working in Uncle Sam's service then please read some of the people I am going to highlight over the next few weeks. While you might not agree with their politics, you have to look at their knowledge and experience. By reading what they have to say, you might get a better idea of what it means to be a solider, sailor, airman, or marine. By learning more about that subject, you can better project your characters into better, more believable stories.

One of the best writers on the soldier's experience is COL. David H. Hackworth (ret.). You can find him at http://www.hackworth.com/. In one of his columns, he writes what I think are the most concise rules for any writer to remember in writing any war movie:

Never use trails. (John's Addendum: Real soldiers never use trails or roads. Keep that in mind when writing your characters.)

Always take it for granted that the enemy's watching. (John's Addendum: Soldiers do not go bee - bopping down the trail. They have their equipment taped down. Their canteens are full. They do not talk on patrol.)

Always have a go-to-hell plan. (John's Addendum: What happens when the sh*t hits the fan. As a writer, you should know that real soldiers do not panic in firefight. They react. Write accordingly.)