How to Write Your Own “A24-Style” Story
Are you inspired by the haunting narratives and unique storytelling of A24 films? Whether you're crafting a screenplay, novel, or short story, adopting the A24 style can elevate your work with depth, originality, and emotional resonance. In this guide, we'll explore the key elements that define A24’s distinctive approach and provide actionable tips to help you create compelling, character-driven stories that captivate your audience.
Understanding the A24 Aesthetic
A24 has become synonymous with innovative, thought-provoking cinema. To emulate their style, it's essential to grasp the core elements that make their stories stand out.
Embrace Character-Driven Narratives
A24 stories prioritize complex, multifaceted characters over plot-driven action. Focus on developing protagonists with rich backstories, internal conflicts, and nuanced personalities.
Example: Lady Bird centers on a high school girl's evolving relationship with her mother, exploring themes of personal growth and familial dynamics.
Prioritize Emotional Authenticity
Aim for genuine emotional experiences that allow readers to connect deeply with your characters' journeys. Portray emotions realistically to enhance the story's impact.
Example: Moonlight delves into themes of identity and self-discovery with profound emotional resonance.
Incorporate Genre Blends and Innovation
A24 frequently blends genres or subverts traditional genre conventions, creating fresh and unexpected narratives.
Example: The Witch combines horror with historical drama to craft a haunting and atmospheric tale.
Developing Compelling Characters
Characters are the heart of any A24-style story. Here's how to create memorable and relatable protagonists and supporting roles.
Create Multi-Dimensional Protagonists
Avoid one-dimensional heroes or villains. Give your characters strengths, flaws, desires, and fears that drive their actions and growth.
Exercise: Write a character sketch detailing your protagonist's background, motivations, and internal conflicts.
Focus on Character Arcs
Ensure your characters undergo significant development throughout the story. Their experiences should lead to meaningful change or realization.
Exercise: Outline the key turning points that will challenge and transform your main character.
Utilize Subtle Interactions
A24 stories often highlight understated interactions that reveal deeper truths about characters.
Exercise: Craft dialogues that show character traits and relationships without overt exposition.
Crafting Atmospheric Settings
The setting in an A24-style story is more than just a backdrop—it's integral to the narrative.
Use Setting as a Character
Make the environment influence the mood and reflect the internal states of your characters.
Example: The Lighthouse uses its isolated setting to amplify themes of madness and obsession.
Employ Sensory Details
Incorporate vivid sensory descriptions to immerse readers in the world you're creating.
Exercise: Describe a key setting using all five senses to enhance its presence in the story.
Create Symbolic Landscapes
Use settings and environments symbolically to represent larger themes or character emotions.
Exercise: Identify a recurring symbol in your setting and explore its significance to the narrative.
Focusing on Theme and Subtext
Deep, universal themes and subtle subtext add layers of meaning to your story, characteristic of A24 productions.
Explore Universal Themes
Address themes that resonate broadly, such as identity, love, loss, and existential questions, through a unique lens.
Example: Hereditary examines family trauma and inheritance, blending psychological horror with emotional depth.
Utilize Subtext to Enhance Storytelling
Let the underlying messages and themes emerge naturally through characters and plot, rather than explicit statements.
Exercise: Identify the core message of your story and find ways to convey it through actions and symbolism rather than dialogue.
Innovative Genre Blends
A24 excels at merging different genres to create something entirely new and unexpected.
Experiment with Genre Hybrids
Combine elements from various genres to craft a unique narrative that defies conventional expectations.
Example: Midsommar blends horror with folk traditions and psychological drama, creating an unsettling yet visually stunning experience.
Subvert Traditional Genre Conventions
Take familiar genre tropes and twist them to surprise and engage your audience.
Exercise: Choose a traditional genre (e.g., romance, horror) and brainstorm ways to challenge its standard conventions in your story.
Writing an A24-style story is about more than mimicking a particular aesthetic—it's about embracing depth, originality, and emotional truth in your narratives. By focusing on character-driven plots, atmospheric settings, universal themes, and innovative genre blends, you can create stories that resonate deeply with your audience, much like the acclaimed films produced by A24.
Start experimenting with these techniques in your writing today, and embark on a journey to craft compelling, memorable stories that leave a lasting impact.