Squid Game


World Building
  • Physical environment: The world depicted in the screenplay is a mix of different physical environments, including a game arena, a semi-basement apartment, a subway car, a snowy street, a private hospital room, an airport, and various other locations. Each environment has its own unique characteristics that contribute to the overall atmosphere and tone of the scenes.
  • Culture: The cultural element present in the screenplay is the Squid Game itself, which was originally a children's game played in Korea. The game has been transformed into a deadly competition with high stakes and life-or-death challenges. The cultural significance of the game adds depth to the narrative and explores themes of childhood innocence, societal pressures, and the dark side of human nature.
  • Society: The societal structure in the screenplay is depicted through various characters and their interactions. There are VIPs who watch the Squid Game, a hidden organization orchestrating the game, and ordinary people struggling to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world. The societal structure highlights the power dynamics, inequality, and exploitation present in the world of the screenplay.
  • Technology: The technological aspects in the screenplay include the use of walkie-talkies, cell phones, an ATM machine, and a coin toss. These technological elements serve as tools for communication, decision-making, and survival. They also reflect the modern world and the role of technology in shaping human experiences and actions.
  • Characters influence: The unique physical environment, culture, society, and technology shape the characters' experiences and actions in the screenplay. The physical environments create a sense of atmosphere, tension, and isolation, which influence the characters' emotions and behaviors. The cultural element of the Squid Game affects the characters' motivations, as they are driven by the desire to win and survive. The societal structure and power dynamics shape the characters' relationships and choices. The technological elements provide opportunities for communication, decision-making, and manipulation.
  • Narrative contribution: The world elements in the screenplay contribute to the narrative by creating a rich and immersive world for the characters to navigate. The physical environments, cultural elements, societal structure, and technology provide the backdrop for the characters' journeys, conflicts, and transformations. They also drive the plot forward, as the characters are forced to confront the challenges and dangers of their world. The world elements add depth and complexity to the narrative, allowing for exploration of themes such as survival, morality, identity, and the human condition.
  • Thematic depth contribution: The world elements in the screenplay contribute to the thematic depth by exploring various themes and ideas. The physical environments reflect the characters' internal states and external circumstances, highlighting themes of isolation, despair, and hope. The cultural element of the Squid Game raises questions about the nature of competition, the loss of innocence, and the consequences of societal pressures. The societal structure exposes the inequalities and power dynamics that exist in the world, touching on themes of class, exploitation, and corruption. The technological elements raise questions about the role of technology in shaping human experiences and actions, and the ethical implications of its use. Overall, the world elements contribute to the thematic depth of the screenplay by providing a rich and thought-provoking exploration of human nature, society, and the complexities of the human condition.
Voice Analysis
Summary: The writer's voice is characterized by concise and impactful dialogue, minimalistic description, and a focus on tension, suspense, and moral dilemmas. The writer's voice contributes to the script by creating a sense of urgency, exploring deeper themes, and developing complex characters through dialogue and action.
Voice Contribution The writer's voice contributes to the script by creating a tense and suspenseful atmosphere, exploring moral dilemmas and philosophical themes, and developing complex characters through concise and impactful dialogue. The writer's voice also adds depth to the screenplay by effectively conveying emotions and actions without relying heavily on dialogue or description.
Best Representation Scene 6 - The Final Showdown
Best Scene Explanation This scene is the best representation because it showcases their ability to create tension and mystery through concise dialogue and descriptive narrative.
Top Correlations and patterns found in the scenes:

Pattern Explanation
Tone and Emotional Impact There is a strong correlation between the tone of the scene and its emotional impact. Scenes with intense and emotional tones consistently score high in emotional impact.
Dialogue and Character Changes Scenes with strong dialogue tend to have more significant character changes. This suggests that dialogue is an effective tool for character development.
Conflict and High Stakes Scenes with high conflict tend to have high stakes. This makes sense, as high stakes often drive conflict.
Concept and Plot There is a moderate correlation between the concept of the scene and its plot. Scenes with strong concepts tend to have more complex plots.
Characters and Emotional Impact Scenes with well-developed characters tend to have higher emotional impact. This suggests that readers are more invested in characters they care about.
Move Story Forward and Overall Grade Scenes that effectively move the story forward tend to score higher overall grades. This suggests that readers value scenes that advance the plot.
Tone and Conflict Scenes with intense tones tend to have high conflict. This makes sense, as intense tones often create tension and conflict.
Character Changes and Emotional Impact Scenes with significant character changes tend to have higher emotional impact. This suggests that readers are invested in character growth and development.
Dialogue and Conflict Scenes with strong dialogue tend to have high conflict. This suggests that dialogue can be an effective tool for creating tension and conflict.
High Stakes and Emotional Impact Scenes with high stakes tend to have higher emotional impact. This makes sense, as readers are more invested in outcomes that have significant consequences.


Writer's Craft Overall Analysis

The writer demonstrates strong technical writing proficiency and an ability to create suspenseful and engaging scenes. However, there are areas for improvement in terms of character development, exploring different conflicts, and crafting emotionally resonant scenes.

Key Improvement Areas

Character development
While the scenes effectively establish the setting and challenges of the game, there is room for further development of the characters. This can be achieved by exploring their motivations, backstories, and internal conflicts.
Exploring different conflicts
The writer shows promise in creating tension and exploring moral dilemmas. However, it would be beneficial to practice creating conflicts with different philosophical viewpoints and motivations to add depth and complexity to the scenes.
Crafting emotionally resonant scenes
The scenes effectively convey tension and suspense, but there is an opportunity to further develop the emotional impact. This can be achieved by focusing on conveying emotions through actions, visuals, and minimal dialogue.

Suggestions

Type Suggestion Rationale
Book Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody This book provides insights and exercises to improve the craft of screenwriting, including creating engaging scenes and developing unique voices.
Book Story by Robert McKee This book provides insights and techniques for crafting compelling and emotionally resonant scenes.
Exercise Write a scene with a different game and set of challengesPractice In SceneProv This exercise can help the writer explore different scenarios and develop their creativity in creating unique and engaging scenes.
Exercise Write a scene with a different philosophical conflictPractice In SceneProv This exercise can help the writer further develop their ability to create complex conflicts and explore different moral dilemmas.
Exercise Write a scene with minimal dialogue, focusing on conveying emotions through actions and visuals.Practice In SceneProv This exercise can help the writer further develop their ability to create engaging and impactful scenes.

Here are different Tropes found in the screenplay

Trope Trope Details Trope Explanation
Final Game ShowdownSang-woo and Gi-hun engage in a bloody knife fight in the final game.The Final Game Showdown trope is a common trope in which the main characters face off in a climactic battle or confrontation. An example of this trope can be seen in the movie 'The Hunger Games' when Katniss and Peeta fight against the other tributes in the final game.
FlashbackA scene takes place in a playground during a flashback where Sang-woo and Gi-hun reminisce about their childhood.The Flashback trope is used to provide background information or context by showing events that happened in the past. An example of this trope can be seen in the TV show 'Lost' where flashbacks are used to reveal the characters' backstories.
Tragic DeathSang-woo unexpectedly stabs himself and dies in Gi-hun's arms.The Tragic Death trope is used to create a dramatic and emotional moment in a story. It often involves the sudden and unexpected death of a character. An example of this trope can be seen in the movie 'Romeo + Juliet' where Romeo and Juliet both die tragically at the end of the story.
Emotional TurmoilGi-hun experiences emotional turmoil over his mother's death and his uncertain future.The Emotional Turmoil trope is used to depict a character's inner struggles and conflicts. It often involves intense emotions such as grief, sadness, or confusion. An example of this trope can be seen in the TV show 'Breaking Bad' where the main character, Walter White, experiences emotional turmoil as he becomes involved in the drug trade.
Philosophical ConversationIl-nam and Gi-hun discuss the purpose of the game and their differing views on the value of human life.The Philosophical Conversation trope is used to explore deeper themes and ideas through dialogue between characters. It often involves discussions about morality, ethics, or the meaning of life. An example of this trope can be seen in the movie 'The Matrix' where the characters engage in philosophical conversations about the nature of reality.
Life and Death ReflectionIl-nam dies as the clock strikes midnight, and Gi-hun reflects on their time together.
Confronting the VillainGi-hun walks away from the plane, determined to confront the people behind the game.The Confronting the Villain trope is used to create a climactic moment where the protagonist confronts the main antagonist or the source of conflict. It often involves a final showdown or confrontation. An example of this trope can be seen in the movie 'The Dark Knight' where Batman confronts the Joker in a final battle.


Memorable lines in the script:

Scene Number Line
2 Gi-hun: You killed them. You’re the one who killed them!
3 Sang-woo: Gi-hun. I’m sorry.
6 Il-nam: You asked me why I let you live. Because it was fun playing with you.
5 Il-nam: If you play the game, I'll answer your questions.
7 Gi-hun: That's why I can't forgive you for everything you're doing.
Some Loglines to consider:

A down-on-his-luck gambler wins a deadly competition but must confront the moral consequences of his survival and the enigmatic organization behind the games.
Childhood friends become bitter rivals in a high-stakes game of life and death, where the ultimate prize is a life-changing fortune and the chance to escape poverty.
A group of desperate individuals risk their lives in a series of deadly children's games, orchestrated by a mysterious organization that preys on the vulnerable.
As the sole survivor of a brutal competition, a man grapples with guilt, trauma, and the corrupting power of wealth, leading him to seek answers and justice from the game's organizers.
In a world where the wealthy gamble on human lives for entertainment, one man must choose between accepting his fortune and fighting back against the system that nearly destroyed him.