Crafting a biographical drama requires a balance of research and storytelling. Our Writing the Fact-Based Film 101 series looks at the basics of writing a compelling biographical drama which engages audiences and reveals a truth about the subject’s life.
Choose a subject
The foundation of any great biographical drama is a captivating subject. Selecting a person with a compelling life story is crucial to capturing an audience’s (or reader’s) attention. Whether it’s a well-known historical figure or an unsung hero, the subject should have a narrative which can be developed into a script which resonates emotionally and thematically.
Research
Once you’ve identified your subject, conduct your research. Depending on your subject, this could include historical records, interviews, personal letters, and available biographies to gather a comprehensive understanding of the individual’s life (ideally from different perspectives). Uncover the significant events, relationships, and challenges which shaped their journey.
Define a central theme
Every engaging biographical drama is built around a central theme or message. Identify the core essence of your subject’s life and distil it into a theme which will resonate with viewers. Whether it’s resilience, love, redemption, or societal change, a well-defined theme will guide your narrative and give your script a sense of purpose. For example the theme of corruption is woven throughout Serpico (1973).
Structure your story
One option is to structure your story to reflect the key stages of the subject’s life. Consider starting with a pivotal moment, perhaps a turning point or a dramatic event, to grab the audience’s attention. A pitfall here is that the story becomes too far-reaching to be impactful. A chronological structure also requires a smooth flow between different periods of the subject’s life to avoid the story becoming episodic. Examples include Walk the Line (2005), Respect (2021) and Elvis (2022).
Alternatively, you could adopt a non-linear or more experimental approach, which can be effective but hard to pull off well. Examples include I’m Not There (2007), Love & Mercy (2014), and Miles Ahead (2015).
Read more in our article: Music Biopics: Imitate/Innovate
A further option is to focus on a short period within a longer life of achievement. This is often a better route as it allows for a deeper exploration of the character at a pivotal moment of their life, leading to a more compelling and focussed story. Examples such as Lincoln (2012), Jackie (2016) and Nyad (2023).
Create complex secondary characters
While the focus is on the central figure, it’s essential to develop well-rounded supporting characters. Explore the relationships that influenced the subject, be it family, friends, or adversaries. Each character should contribute to the overall narrative and provide a deeper understanding of the protagonist. Also, take advantage of opportunities to infuse the script with conflict.
Artistic license
While grounded in factual accuracy, biographical dramas require a degree of artistic license for dramatic effect. The big challenge is finding a balance between staying true to the essence of the subject’s life and infusing the story with the cinematic elements that make for an engaging viewing experience. If you conduct thorough research, this process is easier as you can make informed choices. Useful tools include compressing timelines and developing composite characters which present a specific viewpoint.
Craft authentic dialogue
Dialogue plays a crucial role in conveying the personalities and emotions of the characters. Strive for authenticity by incorporating the language of the time and place in which the events occurred. Dialogue should feel natural while incorporating subtext and effectively conveying the nuances of the characters.
Showcase transformative moments
Focus on transformative moments in the subject’s life which define their journey. Whether it’s a personal revelation, a triumph over adversity, or a moment of self-discovery, these pivotal moments provide emotional depth and resonance to the narrative. How your subject deals with these moment also shows that all-important character development.
Legal implications
This is a complex topic. However, it is important to be aware of any rights attached to the story you want to tell. This might involve the need to secure a Life Rights Agreement for a living subject or to investigate any copyright issues attached to the source material you use.
Overall
Writing a biographical drama is a complex process, which requires balancing factual accuracy with creative interpretation. An interesting life by itself does not equal compelling drama, so it is important to define the central story thread and to develop a structure which showcases your subject in a dramatically compelling way.