Verbing a Title

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Today I decided to change the title of my screenplay. The working title didn’t, well, work anymore.

But in giving it a new title, I did something that I usually criticize in screenplay titles.

I began it with a present participle.

There are so many movies out there that begin with present participles, and for some reason it’s always gotten on my nerves — precisely because it’s done so often. For example:

Educating Rita

Eating Raoul

Breaking Away

Trading Places

Kissing Jessica Stein

Boxing Helena

I guess I’m selling out.

What examples can you come up with?

(That is, examples of movies that follow this title format — not examples of me selling out.)

9 thoughts on “Verbing a Title”

  3. Then there’s..

    Killing Zoe,

    Breaking the Waves,

    Spanking the Monkey,

    Flirting with Disaster,

    Raising Arizona,

    Looking for Richard,

    Sleeping with the Enemy.

  4. 1. Rimming Slaves

    2. Ridin’ the Latin Train

    3. Fucking for Fun 1

    4. Fucking for Fun 2

    5. Gettin’ a Nut

    6. Receiving End

    Does it make a difference whether the nouns are subjects (as in examples 1 and 6 above), direct objects (as in examples 2 and 5 above), or indirect objects (as in examples 3 and 4 above)?

    And what about titles that start with past participles instead of present participles, like Seduced Tattooed Straight Guys and Pumped Up for a Gang Bang?

    Of course, it’s debatable whether the writers of these films can be said to have sold out, especially given that none of them has had the commercial success of movies like the incorrectly punctuated Lukas’ Story or The Other Side of Aspen 1-5.

    Unless this wasn’t the kind of movie you were talking about.

  5. Well, I was thinking more of nouns as direct or indirect objects, or even as predicate nominatives, as in “Being John Malkovich.” Basically, I was thinking of movies titles with present participles used verbally, not adjectivally.

    (I haven’t seen “Rimming Slaves,” so when I first read the title, I thought “Slaves” was a direct object. But maybe you’re better informed on this.)

    Past participles aren’t allowed.

    As for types of movies, hey — I’m open-minded!

  6. My porn film knowledge is woefully inadequate – but I thought of more relatively innocent ones:

    Meeting Venus

    Looking for Mr Goodbar

    Swimming with Sharks

    Falling in Love

    This little Tin Man task is turning me into a bit of a train spotter. I’d better stop, ‘cos hardly anyone else is playing.

  8. Drowning Mona

    Stealing Beauty

    …I couldn’t help myself – I’m obsessed. Love those present participles. I’m an only child – so I’m used to playing alone.

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