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| Fear screenwriters toolkit  Our own fears can limit what we do and who our characters are. Acknowledging these fears can release their grasp on our work. Your task: Visually brainstorm the topic, “My fears” by creating a mind map. Now, write for ten minutes, answering the question: What does fear look like in my writing life? More info on making mind maps can be found here: http://www.jcu.edu.au/studying/services/studyskills/mindmap/howto.html http://www.peterussell.com/Mindmaps/HowTo.html... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 HBR Fest: Paulista Reel Artsy Roberto Moreira's new film Paulista (meaning someone from São Paulo) is an ensemble piece, following three connected stories. Aspiring actress Marina (Sílvia Lourenço) arrives in São Paulo with dreams of independence and fulfillment. She shares an apartment with Suzana (Maria Clara Spinelli), a lawyer who was born a man. A few floors up lives Jay (Fábio Herford), a frustrated writer seeking for meaning in his life. At a nightclub, Marina becomes obsessed with a singer, Justine (Danni Carlos). At the courthouse, Suzana begins a relationship with a colleague, Gil (Gustavo Machado). In the streets, Jay takes a prostitute named Michelle (Leilah Moreno) as his muse. I really liked the tone that the director establishes. It is a somber film about lost love and the loneliness of a big city, recalling the work of Wong Kar-Wai. The dreamy cinematography is wonderful and is the first Brazilian production to be shot on the RED camera. It also marks one of the first times a transgender charac... [ Read more ] Personality screenwriters toolkit Your character’s personality has a direct effect on the way they talk. Your Task: Write 2 brief character descriptions and 1 goal for a scene. Invite 2 people over. Using improvisation, act out the scene 3 or 4 times, changing your character’s personality each time. Tape each one and transcribe it. Free write. Answer the question: What have I learned?... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Episode 2: Screenwriter’s Toolkit Podcast screenwriters toolkit Screenwriter’s Toolkit Podcast: Episode 2.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 The Book of Eli Screamwriter Their pimp fascination notwithstanding, I've been a long-time fan of the Hughes Brothers. I admire the way they refuse to be pigeon-holed by the industry. One minute they're doing a gritty urban drama like Menace II Society and the next, they're off helming a graphic novel adaptation based on the killings of Jack The Ripper, From Hell. It's fun to hear about their coulda-been projects like a Batman reboot with Clint Eastwood, a Pirates of the Caribbean sequel or The Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp. You might not always like the work, but they bring a unique perspective to the table. Even their misfires are worth watching. After a self-imposed exile from Hollywood, it's nice to see them back on the scene with the Book of Eli. Below is a two-part motion comic prequel that does very little in terms of backstory, but sure does look cool...This is starting to become the norm in the marketing of genre flicks. I have my doubts about their effectiveness, but they probably aren't that expensive to... [ Read more ] Uh, What? Dead Things ON Sticks Y'KNOW, this isn't exactly the feel good follow up to that last post I wanted, but, um...Could someone please explain this Google most-linked or queried predictive text to me? First result. Seriously, I'd love to hear any theories that won't send me diving for a heating pad and a bottle of bourbon.--for updates and to continue the discussion in comments, please go directly to http://heywriterboy.blogspot.com--... [ Read more ] Can’t Stand It screenwriters toolkit I was talking to a grocery store clerk about writing the other day, when he asked, “How do you write about characters that you can’t stand?” I responded with saying, “finding compassion for our characters gives us the ability to understand them more which helps when we write their lives.” Your task: Pick a person you dislike. Write a 1-page synopsis for a plot based on their life as a hero’s journey.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Timelines screenwriters toolkit Are you a visual person? If so, how do you structure your writing? Timelines are visual tools that help create chronological outlines of your characters lives. Your Task: Create a timeline for the internal and external events in your character’s life from the beginning to the end of your story. Internal events are things that happen to your character inside their mind or body. External events are those that happen on the outside (ie. meeting people, going places, etc.).... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Sherlock Holmes And Moriarty screenwriters toolkit Written/Contributed by Hal Ackerman Do this with a writing friend. Each of you separately concoct a perfect crime: Circumstances, motive, execution, getaway. Perpetrator. Victim. Write it out in some detail. Then exchange papers. Create a character who will solve this crime. How will the hole in the plan be discovered? By what means of detection?... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 A Slow-Paced, High-Concept Action/Thriller screenwriters toolkit Is all action fast paced? What other ways are movies paced that draw audiences in? Your Task: Find a movie with slower pacing that you find compelling. Answer these questions: What are 4 elements that draw you in? How did the movie makers use other things to make it interesting?... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Opening Scenes screenwriters toolkit It’s repeatedly said that if you can’t grab your audience in the opening sequence, you’ll find it more difficult to grab them as the story moves on. You’re task: Watch the opening scenes for 10 movies. Now, answer the following questions: 1. What pulled you in to the story? 2. What would you change? 3. At what point did you start wanting to know more (or feel like you wanted to keep watching the movie)? 4. What happened in that moment? 5. Are there any similarities between the opening scenes in the movies you’ve watched?... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 What Do You Like? screenwriters toolkit You can learn a thing or two about the way you write by delving into what you like. Your Task: Identify your favorite scene of all times in a movie. Get that movie and watch the scene. Now, let your mind go with a 20 minute Freewrite.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 New Genre screenwriters toolkit In the world of music, most bands, when asked what their style of music is, will say that it is “unique.” The same can be true for genre. Many independent films are mis-categorized by the mainstream genres out there. Your task: Make up your own genre. Give it a name and define 2 of its’ main characteristics. Now, write a 1 to 2-page scene in your genre.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Talk Natural screenwriters toolkit Many writer’s books and seminars push writers to create dialogue that’s more natural. There is, however, a big difference between screen dialogue and real life. Your Task: Tape 2 scenes worth of dialogue from a movie and transcribe it. Ask yourself, what attitude or tone is being portrayed? Now, find a real-life situation with the same attitude or tone and tape a conversation. Notice what’s different about each piece of dialogue.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Depth & Balance screenwriters toolkit Adding depth and balance to your characters will create a richer story. Your Task: Take an over-the-top character from a hilarious comedy you’ve seen and write a one-page essay about their emotional life. Now, take a character from a moving drama that you’ve seen and list 10 things they do for fun.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 The Way We Talk screenwriters toolkit What defines the way you talk? Do people see you differently because of it? Your task: Make a list of 3 things that define your characters personality. List 2 ways this personality reflects in the way they talk. Now, write a 1-page scene with dialogue that represents their personality.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 24 hours screenwriters toolkit You’ve been hired by a major motion picture company to do a re-write on a screenplay that’s in pre-production. And, you have 24 hours to do it. Your task: Download a script for one of your favorite movies. Re-write the ending in the next 24-hours.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Beyond The Internet screenwriters toolkit With the Internet around, it’s easy to forget other avenues of research. These other sources, however, can oftentimes provide more thorough information. Your Task: Re-acquaint yourself with research methods. One quick way to do so is to read this tutorial from the Houston Community College Library.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Feedback: Out Loud screenwriters toolkit The first time I had my screenplay read out loud, I immediately knew many of the things that had to change. Try it! Your Task: Get hold of a finished screenplay. Get a group of people (at least 2 others). Assign parts to each person and read the screenplay out loud. Finished? Now, have each person do a 10-minute freewrite answering the following questions: What are my impressions of this work? What do I wish was in it? What am I glad that was included? Share.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 The Writing Environment screenwriters toolkit Creating our writing environment can be crucial for maintaining our inspiration and desire to write. Your task: Do a 10-minute free-write on the topic, “My writing space is…” Out of this free-write, make a list of things you need to create or enhance your writing space. Take care of one of these things this week.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Plot Device screenwriters toolkit A plot device is a person or object in a story that is used to advance the plot. Your task: Identify the plot and at least one plot device in 5 movies.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Defense Against the Critics screenwriters toolkit Can you defend the choices you’ve made in your own writing? Try it. Your Task: Take a screenplay that you’ve written. Pick out the major plot points and defend your decisions for the way you’ve written them. Write a short essay detailing the decisions you’ve made for the plot of your story and defend these choices against potential criticism.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Examining Action screenwriters toolkit How does action grab us? Your Task: Watch a movie – any movie. Now, look back at your movie watching experience. Answer these questions: When did you feel the first sense of excitement (and starting to get drawn in)? What captivated you? What actions did you take when responding to the movie (did you move forward in your seat?)? Now, describe in detail what happened when you first got pulled into the movie. Try to write this as an action sequence.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 4 Outside screenwriters toolkit So many new writers make place a sidenote in their scripts. Let’s change place around and see how it effects everything. Your Task: Write (or find) a 2 page scene that takes place outside in the sunshine. Now, rewrite it 3 times — once while it’s raining; once while it’s snowing; and once at night.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 Episode 3: Screenwriter’s Toolkit screenwriters toolkit Screenwriter’s Toolkit Podcast: Episode 3.... [ Read more ] Written by on Feb 9th 2010 | |
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