It's been too long....

You're right QQQ. I won't bother to argue with someone who's right. I had to spend a minute to re-read exactly what it was I last wrote. Seems that I spent most of the post focusing on major structural beats of a story. What I promised to follow was a more in depth review of what to place in between these major beats so your story can flow like a roller coaster. 


With that ride in mind, hop aboard. By now you've figured out who your major players are and you've also mapped out a loose structure. What we want to follow are specific moments that build in tension and conflict. Each of these beats or scenes will in one way or another reveal one thing about your hero and or story. Each of these reveals will be executed either through action, pictures or dialog. Preferably action and pictures over dialogue but great dialogue is one of the major points that stick with movie goers. Often great dialogue becomes part of culture. "Go ahead, make my day" "I'll be back" or "of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine". Just to name a few. 


When you begin to fill in the empty space each beat should involve a place, a time, a person and most importantly, the conflict. For example. John is in an office, at night, trying to steal a file from a computer however he trips the alarm and now has 60 seconds before the cops arrive. Very short scene yet the consequences are huge. Now I don't know what's in the file nor why he wants it but that obviously could fall at many a places on the spectrum depending on your story. 


You want to have these things in place for EVERY beat of your story.  The next thing you want to make sure is to have your beats alternating from positive to negative. This isn't a hard fact however the more Ups/Dwns you have the more your reader and audience will be likely to enjoy the ride. There are stories where it's blow after blow but rarely are these commercial successes and almost never will you watch or read something that's just high five after high five. Where's the drama in that? 


It's important to think of these beats as life. You can't enjoy the gold if you've never suffered the pine. Movies are emotional experiences because of this ride. Hopefully as the story progresses the more you become emotionally invested and these beats are there to build this investment. 


A great exercise I learned along the way involves sitting down with a pen and paper and a good movie. As the film plays your homework is to write down each beat as it happens. You'll write who's in the scene, where is the scene happening and what is the conflict. As you work your way through the movie hopefully you'll see a trend of good and bad. Your hero falls but in the next beat he learns something of value but in the following scene falters only to gain ground in the next and so forth. 


This up and down, jerky motion of movies is but a constant. It's the formula that keeps you in your seat when you get that pressing urge to relieve yourself. You don't want to miss what's next. You check your watch, can I wait, can I hold it? What's the most popular place after a great movie? 


The restroom.


So now that you have your major beats start to think about how you're going to fill in the spaces in between with memorable moments that build drama and tension and continue to reveal story through action, pictures, dialogue and what.....? Conflict. Conflict. Conflict.    


Write on!

It's allright to know where you're going

I was in the shower recently, believe it or not I do bathe, in fact it's one of my favorite excuses not to write. While I was washing my body for the third time today I was thinking about my next script. And I thought to myself how I had already envisioned the story wrapping up nicely. I smiled then by chance released a sigh yet this was no sigh of relief. Instead this sigh represented the completion of a story I hadn't even started to script. Then it struck me like the sting of Pantene' in an eye. If I already knew where I was going to end up, then what's the fun of writing it? It's like driving to Disneyland and sitting in the parking lot all day after you pay the $15 lot fee. What's the fun in going to Disneyland then? Well they're not quite exactly the same BUT the point I'm getting it is after the sting, it set in, well yeah you know what it's like to go to Disneyland but you don't just sit in the parking lot. That would be the equivalent of staring at a blank page all day. You've already took a spin on Space Mountain but you don't stop there. You do it again, and again, over and over and over. On different days in different months in different years.

Does it get old? Sure you know the ride, but you still get the same jolt on the same turns, the same cheers on the same twists and the same queasy feeling on the very same dips.

So much like writing a screenplay, once you've done it, you have an idea if it's something you like you want to do it again. Saying that I'd like to introduce to you my version of the Beat Sheet. What is a beat sheet? It's a bullet point explanation of moments in your story. Written chronologically with the intent to provide yourself a certain road map per se' of how you get from Beginning to middle to end.

The most important part of the beat sheet is to help establish your structure for your upcoming story. What elements of structure say you? This is what I use, please don't take this as an edict because the only person who knows how to write your story is you. I'm trying to show one way, there are many ways to finish a script. (These are the page numbers you should aim for to have these events occur in in a 110 page script)

1) Opening Image:(Page 1) Set the tone (Comedy, Rom-Com, Drama, Action, Thriller) Give us a moment that's going to set the overall tone for this story. However you do it, make it bold. Make it clear.

2) Introduction of Protagonist:(Page 1-3) This is the first time we see your hero on the page. How are you going to paint this person? Their flaw/weakness? Their dreams?  Make it someone you would want to spend $20 to go see for two hours in a dark room sitting next to smelly strangers and crying babies. All the better.

3) Inciting Incident: (Page 1-10) This moment launches your story in a new direction. Think of it as the specific moment in time that is going to change this person's life for better or worse? It's also the moment when your hero has to make it's first important decision. And that decision is usually the opposite of what he/she will decide to do at the 1st act break. When it comes to I.I. the bigger the better. The inciting Incident also asks the essential question of your story. Your hero's family is gunned down in cold blood, will your hero get revenge?

4) 1st act break: (Page 24-30) At the end of the 1st act break your hero has a decision to make. This decision will take your story in a new direction. Once this decision is made think of it as irreversible. Does he go with the door on the left or the door on the right? One chance, one choice.

5) What did I do moment? (Page 30-32) Usually a moment soon after where your hero realizes what he just did was a mistake but remember it's irreversible. Sometimes your hero may not know the full consequences of his decision but the reader or audience member should. In the case of a new villain entering the story who will soon collide with your hero.

6) 2nd act dilemma 1. (page 42-47) This is a moment where the stakes for your hero rise. Something that creates additional conflict.

7) Midpoint (Page 58-62) This is the midpoint of your story. In this scene something needs to happen that will take your hero and your story in a new direction. Ultimately a moment where the hero realizes a new goal. One that will take him to the end of act 2 and beyond. In this scene there must be an external event that inflicts change in your hero. The event also must be directly related to the hero's overall objective and must cause a turn in your story. It must also force your hero to take a new approach to this new goal. The hero now takes control of their destiny.

8) 2nd Act dilemma 2 (Page 73-77) Something that provides a new obstacle. Something greater than your hero could have envisioned when they decided to take control of their destiny.

9) 2nd Act break. (Page 88-92) This is the worst possible event that could be conceived for your hero. Also it's a direct connection to their 1st act break decision. Your hero decided to seek revenge but now all is lost, he is captured, tortured, put out to die. He's the farthest away from his goal and everything looks bleak. Think of what means the most to your hero(goal/objective/personal) and what ever that is, they're as far away as can be.

10) It just got worse. (Page 93-94) Stack on something additional to your 2nd act break moment. Something your hero never could fathom happening.

10) Climax. (Page 94-106) Your hero gets a second chance. This is when they will achieve what they set out to do. Their goal will be accomplished but to provide the most satisfying result you can't let them have their cake and eat it to. Something must always be sacrificed. They don't get the girl and the money. It gives them one last chance to prove they've changed. Before they would take both the girl and the cash now they can only choose/get one. And be smart about this one, it's not always the girl ;)

11) Closing Image Page (107-110) Hopefully at this point your hero has been through the ringer twice and sat in hell long enough to appreciate the new person they are. Leave the reader/audience an image that wraps up the story where you started but with the knowledge that can give a new appreciation to the journey you just led us on.

That's it. At least for your major structural beats. easy right? It is. Once you do it a few times. Next time I'll go over what I do after I've created my major beats and how I go about filling the spaces in between.

Now write to it!

Writer's block

This is what we, as writers, call an excuse to NOT write. Anyone who has sat down and faced the page knows that it can be one of the most daunting and frustrating creative capsules to find oneself in. The symptoms that can be listed include neglect, severe guilt, procrastination, worry, dread, lack of confidence, a sudden urge to clean, everything and then re-clean, everything. Shows you once despised seem more interesting then ever, Yeah, I can like Snooki or it's raining but yet it seems like the perfect time for a walk. But you don't own an umbrella:( Well why not go to the mall to buy one then go for a walk? what about your stories, I'll find time. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

That is not the way.  

The first step to overcoming this common headache is to admit it's happening. Because if you can admit then you can address it. It's also an accepted philosophy that once you have acknowledged then you can take the next most useful step which is.... It should be obvious, but because I spend plenty of time at the mall then I will reiterate, myself included-- Write on through it. Yes sit down and write whatever the hell you want, free thinking, thought flowing gibberish works for me. In fact this is exactly what I'm doing write now. 

I read recently in an article from BlueCat that Jerry Seinfeld's approach to his career was to create a chain. That is everyday he will do at least one thing toward his writing. At the end of everyday he would cross out the day on his calendar with a red marker indicating he had written thus creating a chain of endless days where he created and created. Before long his fear went from writing material to not writing material. That is a goal. It is said it takes 30 days to create a habit. do you have thirty days to start something that will carry over into next month? And then the next month, the next and before you know it you've written that short story, that song, that poem, that screenplay, that novel, your Opus. Human's by nature must create. we create life, we create art, we create stories, that is what we do. The only reason anyone does anything different is because they stopped creating!   

I heard someone say recently "Don't worry, there's all the time in the world". Well unless you're a rock, that's just not true. We don't have all the time in the world. Unless in the next 20-30-40-50 years medicine finds a way for us to live forever, we d(w)on't have all the time in the world. That's why to make the most of the moments we must "do". Those moments should not be decided by something that does not exist except as a fear, an insecurity, an "I'll get to it" attitude. Now is the time. If not now, never. There's no better time than the present. These are not quotes made famous from people who wait. These people made things happen. And when you sit down and write you're making something happen. You may not think you're making progress but I assure you for every page you type you uncover something new about your creative self. It won't always be great, sometimes you'll feel relieved to delete it so no eyes will know you were ever bad. Success is out there, waiting to be embraced. But it's not going to come to anyone, it only comes to people who deserve it.  

So write to it!

My next post will be coming much sooner and it will return to Screenplay. The dreaded beat sheet!!!!!

Writing and Christmas

What do writing and Christmas have in common? Other than being two things I truly enjoy, not much. Really though the question is can writing and the holidays coexist? My theory on the subject...
The holidays provide a sublime time to step away from your dark corner and recharge. It's often one of the more emotional times of the year. Who knows if it's the childhood trauma of Santa not delivering the goods when you know quite well you were beyond pleasant that year, at least better than your siblings. Maybe it's the long distance travel, waiting on overweight flyers to take off their shoes and belt or maybe it's the family reunions that often lead to Grandma Tilly defending the benefits of Ensure.

Whatever the reason is, personally I find it a wonderful experience to sit back, open my ears and watch the genuine conflict arise from Susie's displeasure when Jenny gets one more pair of stockings, even if she secretly despises them.

On the writing tip I encourage you all to find your flow. Your pattern, your approach to your craft because right around the corner is a new year. And with a new year often comes new goals, new challenges ripe with opportunity to succeed.

It's also a good time to reflect. I urge everyone to take time to look back at your year. What you accomplished, what you didn't. What could you have done differently, what you did just right. Where did you find your peak of happiness and where did you wallow in despair, and why?

You should do this with not just your writing but your life. Because if you haven't learned, they go hand in hand. When you sit down and write that first word on that first page, little do you know, for the next 100 pages you're sharing a piece of yourself that's directly influenced by what you believe, your fears, your hopes, dreams, shortcomings. You have the chance to be completely honest with yourself through the words and actions of others. People who don't really exist except on the page.

And the reason you return another day to write another page is because you have something to tell. Something you have to share and with that expression comes the great responsibility of finishing what you started. As I wrap up my 2010 I can look back and say I wish I finished more, more words, more pages but I also know I told a few stories I had to get off my chest. I know I shared some things I had to share.

And as we head into 2011, plan to share again and again. Will you? Share until your breath runs short. Share until the night turns black. Share as if the world hangs on your next word, your next twist. Fulfill those promises you set up, take your worry and turn it into magic. Craft your vision into something you're proud to share. This year make a promise to your writing, finish what you started. If anything, finish what you started....

Safe writings--

Preparation: More is more!

Yes, that would the next step in crafting your meal ticket. Lets do a quick review of last weeks post. The 5 W's. Yup, I added one.

1) Who? Protagonist. That's who.

2)What? This is his/her's goal or objective.

3) Why? Why must your hero set off toward the climax of your story. What happens if they don't get it? What is at stake?

4) Where? Be specific. The more you know about the place, the more it will let you in.

5) When. RIGHT NOW!!!! This is a constant. No one wants/likes to wait during a movie. Bring the action to your hero or bring your hero to the action.

That's a pretty simple review of what I went over last post. Moving on, after you have answered these questions your next step is to write it down. Obviously. But what are some of my options. I've been schooled in the two page movie.

This is where you write down your story in two pages, double spaced, 12-font. The purpose of this is to get a loose idea of where you're going and be able to communicate it in two pages. I don't quite agree with this.

Why? Because I don't believe in limiting yourself when you write. In fact while you're writing why not make in five, or ten. Heck if you can churn out 20 pages of ideas before you even get to outlining you're leaps ahead. Why do I stand by this? Because in pre-script prep More is more.

While many screenwriters follow the rule of less is more, in this stage you want as much creativity and information you can give yourself. Think of it like this, a first draft is like a block of ice. And your job is to pick away until you have created the ice sculpture you desire. But if you haven't thought out your sculpture thoroughly you don't really give yourself the time to think outside of your work. And well because we all know ice melts. What does he mean?

What I'm trying to say is the more work you put in pre-draft the less you will have to stick to it. As in many other areas of life, writing is no different outside of the fact you are by yourself 99% of the time, and it can be a very lonely experience, just you and the blank page. But preparation is a HUGE key to success when it comes to anything you expect to accomplish in life. How many hours did Michael Jordan put in the gym before he could make it looks so effortless? I really don't have the answer, but I can imagine a shitload.

I implore all ofyou to give yourself that head start before you remove that block of ice from the freezer and begin to create your masterpiece. However, I also am a firm believer that there is NO RIGHT WAY to WRITE YOUR MOVIE. It's your job to find a pattern that fits your style where you get the most out of the time you put in.

Write on:)

I want to write a movie! Now what do I do?

Well first of all before you stock up on red bull and Red vines the most important thing I can behoove anyone interested in writing a movie is this..... Think about it. No, I mean really, really think about it.

Because at some point every fledgling writer and their neighbor in small town America thinks to themselves, wouldn't it be a great movie if this man comes from outer space and he has special powers, like x-ray vision and lasers that shoot out his eyes. OH, and then he also can disappear and then reappear in other dimensions and then maybe HE can have babies too! Animal babies!!!

Well this story might not sound familiar yet, but I'm sure the Hollywood wind will blow this story to a theatre near you, lets just hope it's not soon.

On a more literal note, when I suggest thinking about it, what I suggest is letting this seed have time to germinate inside your head. Rome wasn't built in a day. Nor a week. Nor a-- You get the point.

And when you DO come up with this great idea for the next Godfather, take the time to flesh out some of the most important details. Such as character, giving them names is a good first step, really take the time to get to know your protagonist. What's a protagonist?

A protagonist is the equivalent of the main character, hero, this is who this movie is about. He/She is what audience members are going to pay $50 to go see. (Popcorn, Parking, Soda, Candy, Hot dog, 3D, etc.) They want to see this person put through the ringer! No one wants to pay their hard earn $$$ to watch someone get whatever they want easily. BORING!!!!

Up and down they go, over and over, to the point of no return! Well almost no return, right when things look the bleakest this person is going to surpass all odds and hopefully, Hollywood standards, complete their objective, goal, whatever you call it. Then people will leave buzzing about what a wonderful journey this character just went on and how they can relate to it or not relate to it.

What's another good step you ask? How bout an equally impressive villain. Someone who is going to do EVERYTHING and more in their power to stop your Protagonist from reaching their goal. Now doesn't that sound easy? Let's put this really fantastic Hero in a movie, wait, what if I were to put his equal in the same movie to oppose his every desire. Good, now we're greasin' the minds of the $$$.

So now you have two great characters who are diametrically opposed in the most important part of the story. That being? The hero's goal! Yepureno. This oscar worthy script is only going to fetch you that gold IF you create something that this hero MUST have/do. Save the world? That's a good one. Why not aim big? How bout a hero who needs to solve a string of murders before the killer strikes again? Okay, not bad. But what if the killer is the hero himself? Whoa, now how do you stop that? OR how bout a starving young romantic who dreams of finding her beau? What if she does but this man is three steps from the alter? Does she let him go even if the man is marrying her best friend?

What I'm trying to get at is give your Protagonist a goal, something that he has to HAVE/DO and make it be RIGHT NOW. Why does he/she have to do this right now? Well, that's not my job to to tell you, that comes in during the germination station. You need to decide what, why, how and when? Once you can answer those four simple questions, you're almost on your way...

Now, I'm not the type to deliver edicts but if you trust me on this I guarantee your story will be better
So I've got a great character, an even greater Villain and a really great goal? Now what do I do???

.

Welcome!

"Everything you need to know from someone who knows nothing!"

That's my first promise.

Thanks for visiting! Here at Adventures in Reel Writing I believe in Free Speech, Free Music, Free Parking and most importantly Free Knowledge (of the screen kind) because no one should be forced to pay $$$$$ (five figures) for an education when everything you need is already in your head and at your fingertips.

My other promises to you are--
1) To be opinionated and passionate.
2) Thorough yet forgetful.
3) Open minded and fair

And no this is not Politics. About me--

I don't have a single spec sale under my belt, I've never been commisioned beyond a childhood allowance, never won a prize nor do I have a Masters from any one of those expensive film schools to boot.

However I do have the ability to form an educated critique, possibly even the same insight as those readers from Warner's/Universal, the so-called gate keepers to that elusive pot at the end of the rainbow. I drive the same streets as the Spielbergs and the Cruises, maybe in an older model but we share the road. I rub shoulders(not literally, well sometime yes) with the young and ambitious and I hold firmly the belief everyone is given the same chance it's just the effort you are willing to give.   

What I hope to achieve in this blog is to provide any/all information that I can/have from my experiences. Sure I've read all the books, taken courses, worked some of those Hollywood gates, I've even written a few (18) scripts myself. This number will change as time changes. But what do I REALLY know? I'm just as blind as the others hoping something will be mint after it's all said and done.

Because you have to have a ton of courage, you can't be shy on confidence and a little bit of crazy doesn't hurt to willingly invest your time and self in the craft of screen writing. You might as well consider yourself a fool among fools to even try your hand at this.

Because if you want the important people to invest millions upon millions of dollars into a stack of ink and paper then you better be first, ready to hear the word No! Pass! Not for us! Doesn't work! No way! Never! Are you crazy? It's terrible. Awful! This sucks. Give up! Do you understand this is the ride you're about to take?

Still Interested?

Good! We can be crazy together.    

I assure you if you're willing to read and continue to believe in the dreams of your youth, you might be surprised with what you can accomplish.

Thanks again for visiting and Pleaseeeeee...... Take what you like and forget the rest 8 )