Which comes first, theme or plot?

#screenwriting #filmmaking #writing #screenplay 

Well, it depends where your ideas come from. Either can come first.

Lets take Trading Places (1983) and lets say the theme is around the nature nurture concept and the plot is the machinations which reverse Louis and Valentine's positions. It's perfectly feasible to believe the writers came up with a role reversal scenario involving certain actors (who may or may not have ended up playing the eventual roles) and then enhanced the machinations with the nature nurture theme.

On the other hand, lets take When Harry Met Sally (1989). It's perfectly feasible that Nora Ephron came up with the theme first (around the idea that, "can men and women be friends?") and then decided to show that being answered by having two people meet and then eventually fall in love.  

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