Fact to Film: Historical Fiction Screenwriting

At Marlborough, in the heart of Los Angeles and with the Hollywood Sign within view of campus, the entertainment industry is all around us. On occasion, the learning happening at Marlborough overlaps with the creative world just outside the gates and there is an opportunity to bring the two together in a meaningful way. On December 16, Dr. Dan Lynch’s Modern World History students were able to hear from screenwriter, and Marlborough parent, Nathan Alexander who co-wrote the 2008 film Valkyrie. 

The film dramatizes the July 20, 1944 assassination attempt and political coup by German Army officers against Adolf Hitler. The students watched the film as part of the course curriculum and had the unique opportunity to hear from Mr. Alexander, who shared his experience researching and writing about this moment in history.

Each year, students in Modern World History are tasked with writing a narrative essay focused on an individual involved in either World War I or World War II. The goal is to write about someone whose experiences offer meaningful lessons for today. Over the years, many students have elected to write about Claus von Stauffenberg, a German officer central to the plot in Valkyrie. Dr. Lynch explained, “When I learned that Mr. Alexander was a writer and producer on the film, I invited him to speak with the class, as I felt his experience would resonate with the research and writing process that the narrative essay project entails.”

During the visit, Mr. Alexander described the extensive research process for the film: “When I start a project like this, I start with a timeline and we get super general. We look at it from ten thousand feet and start building out the big events, and then zero in until we have narrowed down to minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.” Students were eager to hear about this process and the lengthy, detailed journey from the research stage to what ends up on screen.

Mr. Alexander emphasized that this was a historical film rather than a documentary. Though based on real events and heavily researched, the priority was to create a compelling film while honoring the history within the constraints of the medium. He described how understanding the timeline at a granular level supported character development for the story: “It allows you to realize what characters you need, what events are important, and you start to compress time and combine characters to craft a narrative that is a compelling dramatic story.”

As students work on their own essays in the course, this advice was invaluable. Chloe T. ’27 commented: “Learning about his process helped me in my own narrative essay when making intentional choices regarding setting, dialogue, and character development to enhance my story.”

Students asked thoughtful questions about the research process, the film, and production, which took place primarily in Germany. When asked about the decision to film overseas, Mr. Alexander shared, “It’s a very German story so it was important to us [to film in the country].”

He elaborated on the film’s larger significance: “There's a misconception about Germany and World War II, particularly that every German was a Nazi, and it's not as simple as that. It was important for [the characters] to show the world that not everyone was like [Hitler] and not everyone believed in what he did. That message is part of what drove us to make this film.”

It was insightful and illuminating for students to hear the motivation behind the film and the choices Mr. Alexander made to honor the message. Mabel A. ’27 described her favorite moment from the visit: “When discussing his inspiration for making this film, he referenced the quote ‘Evil is what happens when good people do nothing.’ Although Operation Valkyrie was unsuccessful, it demonstrates the power of doing the right thing, even when it goes against the majority.”

Mr. Alexander’s visit provided an important bridge between classroom learning and professional practice. By describing his research process and editorial choices, he demonstrated methods for compelling storytelling. Dr. Lynch commented, “The film and Mr. Alexander’s visit not only exposed students to a powerful story of resistance against fascism but also taught them a great deal about how vital stories from the past can be effectively told to a broad audience.” Students left with a unique glimpse into a professional writing process, allowing them to carry those lessons into their own writing, research, and engagement with history.