I believe Weston’s method for script analysis is more difficult but it’s more useful. Mckee’s method is very dogmatic, cut and dry, and mechanical. Weston’s method is very useful because it forces you to ask questions more than provide answers, this forces the analyzer to look deeper into the script rather than just look at a beat here and there, a turning point. An analogy of the two methods is a computer scanner and an art appraiser, Mckee scans a script, Weston appraises a script. Both methods can be helpful but in a dialogue rich screenplay such as Sex, Lies, and Videotape Weston’s method is clearly superior. Mckee’s method can be confusing with a scene like this especially when you try to answer questions such as, who is driving the scene? One can easily argue that Graham is driving the scene, on the other hand one can also argue that John is instigating and driving the scene. The foreshadowing is evident whether one knows that John is cheating on Anne or not, the marriage is on the rocks and Graham Is exactly the type of man that Anne is looking for now. Reading the dialogue between John and Graham is like watching a medieval jousting event, or fencing, the prize is Anne. What’s not being said is more important in this scene and that’s why Weston is so important. Where was Graham, is his experience the sole reason why he acts the way he does? How close were John and Graham exactly? What would make you not speak to or see a friend for nine years? The questions are seemingly endless, one can go on and on, and that’s why Weston’s method is better suited for a scene like this.
Alexander “Jay” McAllister
1. Do you believe that the methods are better suited for a specific genre?
2. Do you believe you can make a better method or blend them to make a superior method?
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3 comments:
I think if you use Mckee's method to get the general action/reaction, and use Weston to put the pieces together, then yes.
I think that the two methods can be applied together. It seems like McKee's approach does not explain how to apply it to a scene with only one character, but Weston's beats described as mere subject changes would help a director to interpret the scene just fine. I'm not sure if I would call it a supreme method, but it seems to work just fine for me.
If you use Mckee's structured method to find the beats, you can add to it with Weston's.
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