Uncover the Untold Secrets of Screenwriting with Jack Epps in This Exclusive Go Into The Story Interview
Scott: You mentioned the importance of theme, the glue that holds the whole thing together. That seems like one of the more amorphous concepts in terms of screenwriting. How do you define theme?
Jack: Theme is central unifying idea that runs like DNA code throughout the screenplay. In Top Gun, my theme was simple, “No man is an island.” When I’m building scenes and developing characters and relationships, I look for ways to restate and reinforce my theme dramatically. Maverick is selfish and is out for his own personal glory. Meanwhile, the other fighter pilots work together as a team which further underscores the theme.
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