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Top Irish-Themed Movies for St. Patrick’s Day

Writing a movie script isn’t always all work and no play. That saying is especially true on St. Patrick’s Day. When you are writing a screenplay, inspiration can come from many surprising sources. My book, The Story Solution: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take, provides insights on screenplay writing andtips for imbuing characters with heroic qualities. Last year I commented on how aspiring screenplay writers could use St. Patrick as inspiration for their hero’s actions. This year, let’s take a look at some of the top Irish-themed movies to see how their screenplay writer managed to garner audience approval:

  • Good Will Hunting: It’s hard to get more Irish than South Boston. Freshmen screenplay writers Matt Damon & Ben Affleck took home Oscar gold for Best Writing of a Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for their realistic story of a janitor at M.I.T. who has a startling gift for mathematics, but needs help from a psychologist to find direction in his life.
  • My Left Foot: Jim Sheridan & Shane Connaughton received an Oscar nomination for Best Writing of Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for their true story of Irish cerebral palsy victim Christy Brown. Although paralyzed from birth, Brown learned to paint and write using only his left foot. He eventually became a well-known author and painter, and fell in love with his nurse, Mary Carr.
  • The Quiet Man: This classic from director John Ford stars John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in the story of an Irish-American’s journey to Ireland to reclaim his family’s homestead. Frank S. Nugent received an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Screenplay.
  • The Commitments: Voted “Best Irish Film of All-Time” by Jameson Whiskey in 2005, The Commitments is the story of unemployed Dubliners who form an off-beat soul band. It won Best Screenplay – Adapted, at the BAFTA Awards in 1992, screenplay by Dick Clemment & Ian La Frenais and Roddy Doyle, book by Roddy Doyle.
  • Angela’s Ashes: Frankie McCourt is born into poverty in the U.S.A. of Irish immigrant parents, who eventually decide to move the family back to Ireland. After many years Frankie eventually returns to New York, later becoming an author and screenwriter.  Book by Frank McCourt, screenplay by Laura Jones and Alan Parker.

If you’re interested in scriptwriting,be sure to download my completely new Hero Goal Sequences® method for screenwriters and novelists based on the movie “Bridesmaids” by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo. I provide screenwriting tips about how these screenwriters created a dynamic hero and powerful story that resulted in a Hollywood movie deal which resonated with the audience.

May Irish Eyes Smile on Your Scriptwriting!

Eric Edson

Eric Edson

About The Story Solution:Eric Edson’s The Story Solution was written to provide concrete ideas and insights for those interested in writing screenplays. Acclaimed as one of the best screenwriting books available today, Edson explains the 23 actions screenplay writers use to create three dimensional heroes. Visit the website at https://www.thestorysolution.com to download the Bridesmaids Hero Goal Sequence® breakdown. “Like” the Facebook page to receive screenwriting tips. Call 818-677-3192 for more information about writing a movie script.

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