#scriptwritersnetwork

[scriptwriters-network]

In writing a series of stories about the same characters, plan the whole series in advance in some detail, to avoid contradictions and inconsistencies.

- L. Sprague de Camp

[lukathelastyear]

WE WON WE WON WE WON WE WON WE WONNNNNN :DDDDDDDDDDDDD

context: scriptwriting competition i took part in with some of my peers!! results came out today AND WE WON!! feedback from judges was excellent too, i'm flying on a cloud of joy right now...

in other news, this week has been exhausting and i'm looking forward to my snuggly soft bed. goodnight!!

[cakedotexe]

Random lil scene of my OCs Abel and Perle!!! *UPDATED*

THE BAREST EXPLINATION OF MY OCS:

Abel (6'4 - kind, neurotic, and impulsive)

Perle (5'4 - kind, sensitive, and self-conscious)

View scene two here -> Scene 2

* Inside Perle and Abel's kitchen. Before they were a couple * PERLE:  “Can you get that for me, Abel?”  [She points at a small can inside a high cabinet, looking back at him.]  ABEL: “Huh? Oh yes, of course.”  [He grabs the can in arm's reach and hands it to her gently] [She takes the can from his hand]  “There you go, now you can eat.” [He smiles down at her] [She places the can on the kitchen counter. She turns around to look up at him] PERLE:  “You're not gonna eat to? I don't mind cooking for the two of us.” ABEL: “I wouldn't want to waste your time cooking more than needed.” [He pauses] “I'm not really hungry anyway.” [She frowns up at him, she speaks honestly] PERLE: “Come on, please? You know I like it when we eat together, it's comforting.” ABEL: [He looks down at her with guilt] “I-im sorry.”  [He pauses] “I like it when we eat together, too. I- just.” [He pauses again. He speaks almost enthusiastically] “I-i’ll eat it if you're making it.” PERLE: [She smiles up at him, thankful] “It's ok, Abel. You’ll like it, it tastes nice!” [She pauses, she speaks relatively quietly] “You really do comfort me when you're around…It feels nice having someone to sit with.” [She pauses] “I'm not sure if it's how tall you are or what, but it's true.” ABEL: [His eyes widen slightly, a faint blush blooms on his cheeks] “I- Oh. Well, thank you. It’s probably my height, I guess. I-i am much taller than most men at work, so.” PERLE: [She smiles up at him, fondly] “Yeah… I-I’ll start making the food for us, alright?” ABEL: [He smiles down at her, still blushing] “Alright.”

[filmcourage]

Never Tell A Film Student They Can't Sell A Screenplay - Ron Mita

Watch the video interview on YouTube here.

[bryleesbookstore]

Writing with my 4 Act Structure (and an analysis of Breaking Bad)

My concepts of anchor points and novel organization are rooted in something else I developed, which is the 4 Act Structure. I'll try to summarize (more info can be found in previous posts):

Opening image: who the character is before we know them, what lesson needs to be learned, and why haven't they made the change already?

Catalyst that triggers a journey, physical or mental (end of Act 1)

Learning the ropes, intro to a new dynamic, fish out of water, character is resistance to change, and wants to return to their former life

Character makes a choice that demonstrates the beginning of their change (end of Act 2) (roughly middle of the story)

(This is where the four-act structure differentiates from the common 3-act structure)

Character accepts changes, but continuously works for them. Stakes grow. Character has learned the ropes and is now fighting to maintain their new world instead of returning to their old one.

Character has a chance to revert to their old self, but they instead make the final change needed and remain in their new world at the sacrifice of their old one (end of Act 3)

The finale. Character uses their changes and lessons to overcome a final antagonistic force, whether it's physical or mental. (end of Act 4)

Spoilers! Analyzing Breaking Bad (to demonstrate how a villain arc can also follow this structure)

Walter White is a chemistry teacher. He gets diagnosed with cancer, but won't accept help from others (his opening image/flaw is his pride). The lesson he is going to learn is not to overcome his pride/flaws, but to accept that he has them, and to choose not to care.

This pride leads to the catalyst, which is Walt deciding to cook meth to make money for his treatment. His cancer is not the lone catalyst. His catalyst is within his own deliberate decisions. (end of Act 1)

Walt cooks meth, but he doesn't understand the drug industry. He is acting out of pride, but also a need to protect his family. He makes a lot of foolish mistakes.

In a villain arc context, the reason Walt is "failing" or is a fish out of water is because he is still holding on to moral logic. He is still acting for his family, on top of his pride. He has not fully accepted being Heisenberg.

When Walt accepts the Heisenberg persona and lets Jane die, he accepts change, even if it is a negative lesson (end of Act 2)

Walt slowly becomes successful in the drug industry. He starts to mix his family into the new world, which goes against what he believes are his moral codes. He slowly starts to accept, by introducing his wife to the crime world, that there's more to his desires than protecting his family.

Walt has a chance to turn himself in and be the family man he has always claimed to be, but he instead chooses to go on the run and cause more pain. He admits to his wife that he did everything for himself, not the family (end of Act 3)

Finale, Walt is effectively Heisenberg, and he threatens people to accept his money, murders others, and finally dies in the meth lab (end of Act 4)

[scriptwriters-network]

It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.

- William Faulkner

[scriptwriters-network]

I learned that you should feel when writing, not like Lord Byron on a mountain top, but like a child stringing beads in kindergarten, --happy, absorbed and quietly putting one bead on after another.

- Brenda Ueland

[scriptwriters-network]

The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.

- Linus Pauling