Um...Buzzfeed's "Unsolved," anyone?
When we see those words, “based on a true story,” flash across the screen, our heart skips a beat. The story we are about to see is true. It’s real. It happened.
I double majored in screenwriting and criminal psychology, and I've always had a thing for true crime shows, especially psychological thrillers. Right now, I'm bingeing "Mindhunter," which is basically a show about the creation of "criminal psychology." Sounds pretty cool, right?
But just last week, I was talking to my coworker about ideas for a new serialized show. I brought up the popularity of a particular True Crime podcast, and she said something that took me for a spin:
"I find true story content boring. I watch stuff to escape, not to relive what's already happened."
What? I thought everyone loved this stuff!
But what could I say? Of every television pilot, short, and feature I've written (or, ahem, started writing), none of them are nonfiction. In fact, most of them border on the fantastical and the out-there supernatural. I personally don't like writing nonfiction because, like my coworker said, I want to escape through my stories. However, ya girl loves to watch "true story" content. I just let other writers to the work for me, okay? And especially when it comes to true crime, most bingers would kill for streaming content. Myself among them!
But as we've braved through the pandemic these past two years, perhaps the general public will start veering towards something...a little less depressing. Maybe 2021 will be the year of true escapism. What if a break from reality is what the entertainment industry will give us, rather than more apocalypse horror stories and teary dramas? A good romcom does sound pretty nice, tbh.
But maybe Hollywood will continue to bust out true stories because they seem to make the most money. After all, there's more than one way to tell a "true" story. So, while these next few years may shy away from hard-hitting, in-your-face reality media, we'll still get to enjoy true story content...just presented a bit more creatively.
Here's why:
Hollywood Loves Them
Half of the Best Picture Nominees for the 2021 Oscars were based on a true story. We have Minari, Mank, Judas and The Black Messiah, and The Trial of the Chicago 7. We know Hollywood loves true stories because that’s what they make more often than not.
What's more, 60% of the Best Original Screenplays were "Based on a True Story." Here we have Minari, Trial of the Chicago 7, and Judas and the Black Messiah. More than half of the 2021 original screenplay nominees were based on a true story!
But Hollywood isn't the only thing making these types of stories so popular. After all, if consumers weren't loving it too, there's no way they'd keep making them.
People love true story content because it provides a fresh, creative way of looking at something that's already happened. Sounds kinda like a paradox, huh? But remember, not all true story content is a Ken Burns historical documentary.
You've got When They See Us, Lion, The Conjuring, The Wolf of Wallstreet - all of which have different vibes and constitute different genres. They elicit different reactions, but they're all in that "based on a true story" category.
There's More than One Type of True Story
“Based on” a True Story: the characters, storylines, and most of the scenes you present within the script are primarily based on actual occurrences. There are creative liberties taken for sure, but most of the depictions within the script are based on what actually happened and how it happened.
“Inspired by” a True Story: there is more leeway with the facts, allowing you to take the real story and mold it into whatever feels like the best cinematic experience. The story is inspired by a specific story of a real-life person (or type of person), but more creative liberties are taken.
“Based on” True Events: with these stories, you’re taking a historical event and creating a story within it using primarily fictional central characters. Names, people, locations, and happenings may be made up within the historical event’s confines as a setting! And, yes, to enhance the desirable true story aspect that audiences love so much, you can populate your story with historical figures and events as well.
“Inspired by” True Events: these scripts take a true event and tell a cinematic story with nearly all fictional characters and fictional macro events. So, if a someone killed a person in a certain stand-out way — per a public criminal case — a screenwriter could use that case as a basis for their story.
So where do you find true story inspiration? Without being redundant, that is. Because let's be honest, I'm dreading the pandemic-based stuff that's probably coming in the next year or two. Remember, you heard it here first.
But let's get #creative with our stories, okay?
True Stories are Easier to Find Than You’d Think
True stories are everywhere. You can find them:
Within your family
Within your friend circles
Within your peer groups
Online
In newspapers, history books, etc.
Remember when your Uncle was gossiping about his brother's friend's experience in the Vietnam with the sugar baby who crossed borders to find their long lost father, only to discover he was their sugar daddy all along?
(don't steal that premise, it's mine).
So, here's the tldr:
If you're a writer, take your time to see if you can find true stories that no one has tackled. Do your research. Keep your eyes and ears open. Intriguing, shocking, and inspiring true stories are out there — everywhere.
And, to all my consumers, don't be surprised if "Sugar Baby" hits theaters sometime in 2028.
