Tales From The Script
Carpenter, Darabont, Shrader and more talk shop in TALES FROM THE SCRIPT trailer.
50 Scripts To Be Read By The Radmin Company
Producers and Representation Consideration by Leading Hollywood Agencies/Management Companies.
PITCHES
Grand Prize Winner (two PITCH of 5 minutes per pitch) to pitch his/her winning SCRIPT (at the Screenwriting Expo) to Hollywood PRODUCERS and AGENTS looking for and accepting scripts written by unproduced/unrepresented writers.
Elite Prize Winner Category 1 gets 2 chances (one PITCH of 5 minutes per pitch) to pitch their winning SCRIPT (at the Screenwriting Expo) to Hollywood PRODUCERS and AGENTS looking for and accepting scripts written by unproduced/unrepresented writers.
Elite Prize Winner Category 2 gets 2 chances (one PITCH of 5 minutes per pitch) to pitch their winning SCRIPT (at the Screenwriting Expo) to Hollywood PRODUCERS and AGENTS looking for and accepting scripts written by unproduced/unrepresented writers.
Elite Prize Winner Category 3 gets 2 chances (one PITCH of 5 minutes per pitch) to pitch their winning SCRIPT (at the Screenwriting Expo) to Hollywood PRODUCERS and AGENTS looking for and accepting scripts written by unproduced/unrepresented writers.
Mother Lives!
Well, at least I know I have three readers. I have received a few emails with kind sympathies over the loss of my mother and the fact I raised my two brothers at a young age. This is based on my About page where I give the abbreviated version as to how I went on to become the famous wannabe that I am today.
I’ll chalk this misunderstanding up to lousy writing. First, let me say thank you so much for the kind words. Second, allow me to shed some light on this tragic story. My mother did indeed tell me, when I was 14, that she had six months to live. In fact, she has had six months to live for the last 24 years now.
I’m sure there is a hard-to-pronounce word for this compulsive behavior and need for attention. I did, however, essentially take care of not only my brothers, but basically mom too. Until in ’89 I had enough and moved out, never looking back.
My mother still has six months to live. The “middle” brother is with his 2nd wife, who he hates. As far as I know he’s a cook at a sub shop or something. My youngest brother is with a woman exactly twice his age. He’s 27, has never had a job, and loves Guns & Roses. I hope that clears everything up….
We’re Not Borg: P1
I recently had a discussion with a director on the independent scene. I won’t mention names so as not to destroy his credibility, but I was appalled by his complete disregard with what is perhaps the most important aspect of film making; EMOTION!
Long story short, his argument was that all a director needs is technical skill. That he needn’t be bogged down or concerned how a scene, series of scenes or movie comes across on an emotional level. He enthusiastically stated that the prime thing is making a visually aesthetic piece. I can appreciate great cinematography as much as the next person. And a masterfully filmed chase scene or expertly choreographed fight is attention grabbing.
However, we’re not Borg, we’re human.
A film maker must make an emotional connection with the audience. He’s not thinking: “How can I make the audience appreciate the craftsmanship of this work?” He wants us to forget we’re at the movies and immerse ourselves in the story. As a viewer, our focus should be completely on the story. When we’re concentrating on the technical stuff during a movie, we’re ignoring the idea behind going in the first place.
However, remember this; anyone can dip a brush into some paint, swath it across a canvas and call it art. More is involved. Put some feeling into it. Have heart and give it some heart. It becomes memorable if it has been etched into your psyche, if it touched or moved you in some profound way. Even Aliens touched us emotionally. The emotion was fear, but it’s an emotion nonetheless. Let it prove to be a fire coursing through your veins.
And remember, an unemotional creation will evoke an uninspired response.
The Brøken
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7/10 (for its genre)
Adventure Plot
Not to be confused with the quest plot, the adventure plot involves setting out on a journey. In a quest, the lead is pursuing some object. In the adventure plot, the lead is seeking adventure.
Along the way he meets interesting characters and gets caught up in fascinating experiences and circumstances. After the adventure the lead typically has some new insight into himself. Again, this character arc thing we keep hearing so much about.
Many movies fall into more than one category. For instance, many adventure movies involve a quest. Or one or more of the other 20 plot ideas. But below are some movies that serve as excellent examples of the adventure plot.
Star Wars (1977) – Space adventure
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Romancing the Stone (1984)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Stargate (1994)
The Mummy (1999)
The Lord of the Rings – Fantasy adventure
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone (2001)
The Incredibles (2004)
Serenity (2005)
Beowulf (2007)
10,000 B.C. (2008)
The challenging part of writing an adventure is to not get caught in the trap of writing “episodes.” In other words, your lead shouldn’t just leap from one adventure, or “episode” to another, always coming out in the same place.
One drawback to writing in an episodic manner is that the piece can end up with a disjointed feel to it. One adventure should send your lead relatively seamlessly to the next. And during the process, each adventure should teach the lead something new. She should come to a new understanding of life, herself or both.
As a rule of thumb, remember: While we may be stuck in a routine of going to work everyday at our 9-5 job, watching a movie with the family every Saturday night at 8pm or otherwise entrenched in a holding pattern, our lead should not. He’s out there. Seeing the world. Experiencing new and exciting things. Meeting new people. Learning new and valuable lessons. Basically, doing all the things we wish we could do.
Next up: The Pursuit Plot
Quest Plot
The quest plot consists of 4 primary pieces:
1) The lead is incomplete somehow and generally has a typical life.
2) He/she searches for something of critical importance.
3) There must be huge obstacles preventing him/her from attaining it.
4) Character arc. The character must learn something. Must change somehow. Could be for better or worse, doesn’t matter.
It doesn’t matter whether the lead attains his goal. The important thing is what he learns, how he changes. It can be a change for the better or a change for the worse. Just so long as he changes.
It’s just like real life. Consider your own life. It’s been a quest has it not? Through our lives we chase our passions and dreams. We’ve often met with failure. But we kept pressing on and finally, finally we attained that goal!
Put your character through the same struggles. Her quest must come with challenges. She must learn something about herself, others, the world around her or all of the above. Her struggles teach her perseverance and she reaps its rewards. Attaining the goal then becomes oh so sweet.
And we can relate to that. The reader, or viewer, will feel her pain when she fails and share her triumph when she succeeds.
Pretty simply eh?
Plot Ideas
Looking for plot ideas? Here are 20 of them, courtesy of Ronald B. Tobias:
- Quest
- Adventure
- Pursuit
- Rescue
- Escape
- Revenge
- The Riddle
- Rivalry
- Underdog
- Temptation
- Metamorphosis
- Transformation
- Maturation
- Love
- Forbidden Love
- Sacrifice
- Discovery
- Wretched Excess (A personal favorite)
- Ascention
- Descension (Another personal favorite)
Some good books covering plot are:
20 Master Plots (And How to Build Them) - Ronald B. Tobias
Plot & Structure - James Scott Bell
The Screenwriter’s Bible - David Trottier