The Magic of Guillermo del Toro’s Script Writing Techniques: A Deeper Look into “The Shape of Water”
Screenwriting is an art of visual storytelling. The magic of a well-structured screenplay lies in its ability to lead the viewer through a universe crafted by the mind of the writer. A master of this art, Guillermo del Toro, employs unique script writing techniques that imbue his narratives with a distinct charm. One of the shining examples of his talent is the award-winning film “The Shape of Water”.
In the universe of “The Shape of Water”, del Toro blends the ordinary and extraordinary to create a dreamlike yet grounded reality. This delicate balance is achieved through a solid script that merges tangible characters with fantastical elements, creating a narrative that feels both impossible and inevitable at the same time.
Creating Tangible Characters
In “The Shape of Water”, characters are crafted with distinct motivations, vulnerabilities, and strengths. Our protagonist, Elisa Esposito, is a mute janitor who seeks to fill a void of loneliness in her life. Despite her inability to speak, Elisa’s character is robust and well-expressed, proving the saying, ‘actions speak louder than words.’ Elisa’s interactions with her environment, including the love she develops for the aquatic creature, are shown rather than told, following the golden rule of scriptwriting, ‘show, don’t tell’.
On the other hand, the antagonist, Colonel Richard Strickland, is a well-defined character who represents the antithesis of Elisa’s world. Despite his reprehensible actions, Strickland is not portrayed as a one-dimensional villain. Del Toro adds layers to his character by showing his struggles with maintaining a perfect image and his desperate need for approval. This nuanced portrayal of characters is a hallmark of del Toro’s script writing techniques.
Weaving the Extraordinary and the Ordinary
In “The Shape of Water”, the extraordinary coexists with the ordinary. The aquatic creature, an unlikely hero in an ordinary world, embodies this concept. The creature is far from human but still capable of empathy and love. Del Toro’s screenplay underlines this ‘otherness’ by integrating scenes of wonder (like the creature’s bioluminescent display) with mundane routine (like Elisa’s daily schedule).
This blend of the ordinary and extraordinary amplifies the viewer’s ability to empathize with Elisa and the creature’s plight. As Elisa and the creature form a bond, the boundary between ordinary and extraordinary blurs. The love story, against all odds, feels organic rather than forced, because the screenplay carefully interweaves these disparate elements into a harmonious narrative.
Using Visuals as a Storytelling Tool
Del Toro is renowned for his visual storytelling. In “The Shape of Water”, his screenplay employs visual motifs and symbolism to enhance the narrative depth. The motif of water, for instance, represents transformation and freedom throughout the film.
From Elisa’s nightly routine bath to the final underwater embrace between her and the creature, water is constantly present as a symbol of escape and change. This strong visual element not only adds depth to the narrative but also transcends language barriers, aligning perfectly with the film’s themes of communication and understanding.
Unraveling the Screenplay Structure of “The Shape of Water”
The film industry, despite its creative freedom, often adheres to a specific structure when it comes to screenwriting. This structure is typically split into three acts: setup, confrontation, and resolution, which are integral to telling a compelling story. Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water”, while maintaining its unique storytelling, largely conforms to this established screenplay structure, and yet in certain areas, it deviates, offering an intriguing study for anyone interested in screenwriting.
Act I: Setup
The first act of “The Shape of Water” introduces us to the key players in the story and the world they inhabit. Elisa Esposito, our protagonist, is presented as a mute woman leading a mundane life as a janitor in a high-security government lab. We get glimpses of her routines, her loneliness, her interaction with her close friends Giles and Zelda, all of which establish her life before the arrival of the unnamed aquatic creature.
The lab’s dangerous experiment, represented by the mysterious creature and the antagonistic Richard Strickland, sets the plot in motion. Del Toro effectively uses this act to not only set up the principal characters and their relationships but also build the narrative tension necessary to propel the story forward.
Act II: Confrontation
In the second act, the conflict of the story escalates. This is where Elisa’s world collides with the extraordinary in the form of the aquatic creature. Del Toro develops a bond between Elisa and the creature, pushing her to make risky decisions that intensify the conflict.
It is crucial to note how del Toro infuses the narrative with turning points to keep the momentum of the story. An example of this is when Elisa decides to rescue the creature, plotting an intricate escape plan. The tension builds up to a climax where Elisa, Giles, and Zelda successfully free the creature.
Another narrative tool that del Toro uses is the subplot. The subplot involving Strickland’s increasing pressure from his superiors and Giles’s struggle with his sexual orientation and career adds complexity and depth to the narrative. These subplots not only enrich the narrative but also echo the central theme of the movie – the marginalized seeking acceptance and love.
Act III: Resolution
The third act, the resolution, brings the narrative threads to a close. It’s where the consequences of the character’s decisions are explored, leading to the final dramatic showdown. In “The Shape of Water”, the climax occurs when Strickland confronts Elisa and the creature at the dock.
Del Toro brilliantly subverts audience expectations in the resolution. The transformation of Elisa, a twist revealed through the opening up of her neck scars into gills, is a departure from conventional narrative expectations. This unexpected resolution encapsulates the movie’s recurring theme of transformation and freedom.
Simultaneously, it ties up the loose narrative ends, providing a satisfactory resolution for Elisa and the creature while dealing with the antagonist appropriately. The movie closes as it began, with a monologue from Giles, bookending the narrative effectively.
Deviation from the Traditional Structure
While “The Shape of Water” adheres to the traditional three-act structure, it also deviates in significant ways, enriching the narrative. For example, it rejects the conventional paradigm of the hero’s journey. Instead of Elisa embarking on a quest, the adventure, in the form of the aquatic creature, comes to her.
The film also subverts the usual narrative pattern of transformation. Usually, characters undergo an internal transformation, but in “The Shape of Water”, Elisa’s transformation is quite literal. These deviations underline the film’s themes of acceptance and transformation.
Screenwriting Tips and Writing Prompts from “The Shape of Water”: Lessons for Aspiring Screenwriters
The art of screenwriting involves a careful blend of creativity, discipline, and an understanding of the craft’s technical aspects. Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” offers valuable insights into the art and craft of screenwriting. This section aims to distill some practical screenwriting tips and writing prompts from our analysis of the film.
Screenwriting Tips
- Craft Well-Rounded Characters: Characters are the heart of any story, and “The Shape of Water” demonstrates how to create well-rounded, compelling characters. Both the protagonist, Elisa, and the antagonist, Strickland, have clear motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. A practical tip for screenwriters would be to spend significant time during the pre-writing phase understanding their characters’ desires, fears, and internal conflicts.
- Merge the Ordinary and the Extraordinary: The film excels at seamlessly integrating fantastical elements into a grounded reality. For screenwriters, this could be a technique to explore – combining the extraordinary with the mundane to create a unique, captivating narrative.
- Use Visuals as a Narrative Tool: Del Toro’s use of visual motifs, particularly water, adds depth to the narrative. Aspiring screenwriters can learn the importance of visual symbolism in their script, utilizing it to underline themes, evoke emotions, or highlight character traits.
- Understand and Experiment with Structure: While “The Shape of Water” conforms to the traditional three-act structure, it also deviates from it. This demonstrates the importance of understanding conventional structures and the creative potential in bending or subverting them.
- Balance Subplots with Main Narrative: The film skillfully balances several subplots without overshadowing the central narrative. For aspiring screenwriters, this emphasizes the importance of subplots in enriching the story and echoing the primary theme.
Writing Prompts
Drawing from these tips, here are a few writing prompts based on “The Shape of Water” that can help aspiring screenwriters hone their craft:
- Create a Character Outline: Design a protagonist and antagonist for your screenplay. Define their desires, weaknesses, strengths, and internal conflicts. How do these characteristics inform their actions and decisions?
- Combine the Ordinary with the Extraordinary: Write a short scene where a mundane, everyday life event is interrupted by something fantastical. How do your characters react, and how does this event propel the story forward?
- Visual Storytelling: Choose a visual motif (it can be an object, a color, a type of weather, etc.) that represents a particular theme or emotion in your story. Write a scene where this motif plays a central role.
- Experiment with Structure: Write a scene that takes a conventional narrative pattern (like the hero’s journey) and subverts it. How does this change the dynamic of your story, and what does it reveal about your characters?
- Balancing Subplots: Create a subplot that enriches your primary narrative. This subplot could involve a secondary character’s journey or a secret that affects the plot’s outcome. Write a scene where this subplot interacts with your main story.
Conclusion
“The Shape of Water” serves as a masterclass in screenwriting, offering valuable lessons for aspiring screenwriters. Its approach to character creation, its intertwining of the ordinary and the extraordinary, its use of visual motifs, its understanding and subversion of traditional structure, and its delicate balance of subplots provide a roadmap for anyone interested in honing their scriptwriting skills.
By examining and practicing these aspects, screenwriters can develop a nuanced understanding of the craft, enhancing their ability to create compelling, engaging narratives. Remember, in the words of Guillermo del Toro, “To learn how to make a movie, you have to make a movie.” So take these lessons and apply them to your screenwriting journey.
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