“A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.”
Napoleon Dynamite was co-written by Jared & Jerusha Hess after the two met at BYU film school. Made on a budget of only $400k, this goofy indie film became a cult classic, earning over 115x its budget and is still quoted today.
Here are three lessons learned from reading the Napoleon Dynamite screenplay:
#1. BY WRITING WITH PURPOSE, RIPPLING ACTIONS BECOME CLEAR
On the following page of the Napoleon Dynamite screenplay, Napoleon’s creepy Uncle Rico lies to Deb — the girl Napoleon is interested in — behind his back in the hopes of making money:
The moment is uncomfortable, both on the page and on screen. It feels like karma. The last time Napoleon and his Uncle Rico interacted, Napoleon threw a grapefruit at his car and Rico chased him through a field. This was Napoleon’s angry response to his Uncle passing out fliers to the girls at school in an attempt to sell breast enlargement supplements, leading to Napoleon getting bullied further.
Actions ripple. For better or worse.
#2. KINDNESS REIGNS. DON’T LET BULLIES WIN
On the following page of the Napoleon Dynamite screenplay, Napoleon offers protection to a bullied boy at school and follows through:
I want the heroes to win. The above scene contains one of my favorite lines from the film, “Pedro offers you his protection.” Napoleon can’t fight them himself, so he finds another way. In pursuit of helping his friend Pedro, he utilizes Pedro’s connections to protect classmates from the sharks within their midst.
His solution isn’t strength. It’s support.
#3. HEROES LEARN FROM MISTAKES
On the final page of the Napoleon Dynamite screenplay, we see the contrast between two characters, one tragic, one heroic:
Heroes learn from their mistakes. They grow. Tragic characters don’t. Our actions cause ripples beyond our perception. We affect others. Napoleon changes course. When his Uncle Rico pisses off Deb with lies and backstabbing, Napoleon directly suffers the consequences. Rather than continue to react angrily, Napoleon makes a shift, choosing to perfect a dance routine and help his friend Pedro…in turn winning back the girl.
Rico faces the consequences of his actions, getting beat up, losing the respect of his family, etc. and yet…learns nothing. He continues on as he started, in front of a video camera beside his van, throwing footballs and living in the past.
Napoleon grows. Rico doesn’t. That’s the difference.
Sean Taylor Creates 