Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey
his script around a young love story, which is widely regarded as a significant factor
in the film's success. It's becoming a rule of thumb in Hollywood that an expensive
period piece has a better chance if it features a romantic melodrama, preferably with
young lovers to make it inviting for the core of the moviegoing audience.
Some critics worry that the weaknesses o f the script will become institu
tionalized because Titanic made so much money, and that future writers will be
forced to "dumb down" their scripts to appeal to the mass audience needed to
offset the big budgets. T h a t would certainly be nothing new; studios and producers
have always argued for broader appeal in expensive productions. But maybe there's
another scenario, in which audiences thirst for more sophistication and reward
filmmakers who try harder to make their stories b o t h more intelligent and more
annaabi.ee 
