What Can “Forrest Gump” (1994) Teach Us About Scriptwriting? Forrest Gump (1994), an American comedy-drama film based on the novel by Winston Groom, with the screenplay adapted by Eric Roth, tells the story of a mentally disabled and very kind-hearted child that comes to lead an extraordinary life. The movie revolves around the irony that the protagonist, Forrest Gump, even though the most simple-minded character in the film, becomes the most successful, as his talents involve him in US history's most prominent historical events between the 50's and 80's. The storyline is very character-driven and resembles a ‘vignette into one's life' as opposed to having a traditional story structure. This is seen through the feather motif and the well-known …show more content…
The call is seen when bullies are chasing young Forrest, his leg braces break, and Forrest discovers the talent that will allow him to earn a football scholarship to the University of Alabama and put him on the path to lead an exceptional life. Forrest then has a ‘Refusal of the Call' (Vogler,2007,p.11) moment when he, despite the great things he could have ahead of him, still decides to pursue Jenny. However, after she rejects him, he decides to go to Vietnam with the army and chase the call. Forrest Gump is an unconventional hero; he always surprises the audience in what he can achieve and his attempts in making the best out of his unfortunate situation. Everyone laughs at him as he is a child with leg braces, from a very humble background, making it impossible for anyone who watches it not to want him to succeed. However, Forrest doesn't have a definite character arc like the supporting characters Lt. Dan and Jenny do. Instead, Forrest is more of an agent of change, as in he inspires others to change, due to his pure and extremely loyal personality. Forrest also has an exterior and interior conflict that the entire movie profoundly rests upon: his unrequited love for Jenny and his aspiration to be