Location is everything, and how the setting works with the characters can make or break a story.
The place we grew up is a home we didn’t choose, but often we find a way to love it. As someone who moved far away from my hometown the second I got a chance to, I look back at the people I once knew and try to imagine how they came to be satisfied with their lives in that Midwestern highway town.
It’s common to look back at your hometown or current hometown when finding the right setting for your story. Many directors become synonymous with specific cities because of the love they have for the place.
Paul Thomas Anderson, for example, loves his home in the San Fernando Valley. Licorice Pizza is PTA’s fourth original screenplay to take place in the director’s childhood setting. His love for the Valley is evident in how he gives care and dignity to his characters, no matter how silly or ignorant they can be.
Author: Alyssa Miller
This article comes from No Film School and can be read on the original site.
