Incoherent or Impossible Stories

Crafting Stories in Indie Filmmaking

In episode one of the Indie Film Podcast, Victoria and Chuck tackled the challenges of pre-production with a focus on avoiding incoherent or impossible stories—a common pitfall for indie filmmakers. Their discussion kicked off with an essential clarification: the difference between a story and a script. As Victoria explained, “Your story is what you’re trying to convey—the narrative or message—while the script is just the line-by-line blueprint.” Both, they agreed, can independently succeed or fail.

The Balance of Story and Script

Using examples like the recent Long Legs, the duo illustrated how even a bad script can be salvaged by strong acting and creative cinematography if the story remains compelling. Conversely, a great script with poor storytelling often falls flat. They humorously reflected on their own early mistakes, such as House Sitting, an entirely scriptless film crafted from cocktail napkin notes—an “entertaining disaster” that underscored the importance of preparation.

Avoiding the "Impossible Script"

Victoria and Chuck emphasized the importance of realistic constraints in indie filmmaking. They recounted instances of over-ambitious scripts featuring car chases, complex stunts, or parachuting cats—all virtually unachievable without a blockbuster budget. As Chuck noted, “In the indie film world, you’re not filming a car chase unless you’re in Idaho in 2004.”

They shared a particularly precarious story about adapting a Stephen King short story, which required creative solutions to depict a man’s hanging without risking safety. “You have to find ways to film within your means,” they advised, “but never compromise the core of your story.”

Lessons from the Trenches

Their key advice for aspiring filmmakers was to “know your limits” and adapt scripts to fit practical realities. They also championed iterative feedback: “Sending your script to trusted peers and revising it costs nothing but time,” Victoria said. Borrowing wisdom from Bill Hader, they encouraged writers to recognize when something isn’t working and focus on solving the underlying issue.

Strive for Timeless Storytelling

Victoria and Chuck closed the episode by citing The Matrix and Forrest Gump as gold standards of storytelling. While these films had sizable budgets, their success hinged on timeless narratives rather than extravagant effects. Indie filmmakers, they argued, can achieve similar resonance by prioritizing character-driven, coherent stories over flashy gimmicks.

As Chuck succinctly put it, “Your story is more important than your budget.” For indie creators, this mantra serves as a guiding light in the often chaotic, always rewarding world of filmmaking.

Subscribe on YouTube