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Finding a method in all that madness

Maximum Z creativity, editing, outlines, Radioslot.com, rewrite, screenwriting, story, The Script Adventurer!
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pre-computer 'delete' button

I was doubly fortunate to interview two writer-directors live and in-studio on yesterday’s installment of The Script Adventurer! – Joshua Grannell and Mary Regan.  Among the many subjects discussed was how each of us develop our ideas, especially in the beginning phase of building a script. (If you weren’t able to catch the show live, never fear – it will replay this Sunday at 7PM PST on radioslot.com)

While everybody has a different approach to how they put a story together, the style is usually very similar.  You come up with an idea, then figure out how to develop a story around it. Some people like to come up with as many potential scenarios that could arise from that original idea. Others may choose to meticulously weave an intricate web of storylines around it.  There’s also the time-honored practice of metaphorically throwing everything at a wall and seeing what sticks.

No matter what your style, it’s extremely important to hammer out all the kinks of your story BEFORE you start on pages.  It’s a lot easier to fix a problem contained in one sentence rather than one page.  This will also cut down on your frustration over having to go back and edit and/or rewrite.

Another plus is it gives you a more condensed and detailed view of your story, so it’s easier to keep track of where something happens if you need to jump back in and fix it. This way you’re not wasting time scrolling through pages trying to find that one thing you need to change.

Maybe this comes from years of focusing more on the outline first, but I’ve found that once I’m satisfied with how the outline is put together and start on pages, if I find something that needs to be fixed or I come up with a way it could be better, making those changes is a lot easier than it used to be.  I suppose it’s because I already know what the point of the scene or sequence is, so I don’t have to worry about what’s supposed to happen next and can instead channel my creativity into making it stronger/more effective.

A decent wifi connection will set you free

Maximum Z Los Angeles, Radioslot.com, Richard Walter, screenwriting, The Script Adventurer!, writing
I'm in the mid-upper left. Where are you?

I had a great conversation with Richard Walter on yesterday’s edition of The Script Adventurer!.  He was his usual entertaining, anecdote-filled self. (Missed it? Never fear – it’ll play again Sunday at 7PM PST on radioslot.com)

There were two things in particular he talked about I thought were extremely important for any screenwriter to keep in mind.

When asked what was the most important thing any writer should know, his answer was Move The Story Forward.  If you have an interesting story that really flows and holds the reader’s attention, then your script is already that much more ahead of others.

Scene A should lead into Scene B, which leads to Scene C, and so on and so on. But if Scene R can fit between B and C, and not disrupt the flow, then it shouldn’t have been Scene R in the first place, or maybe R needs a serious rewrite.

The other thing was that unless you want to be part of series television, it’s not absolutely necessary to live in Los Angeles to be a screenwriter.  In fact, he added that it may even be an advantage:  you’re not constantly surrounded by people in the industry.  I cited Nick Schenk of Minneapolis, who wrote GRAN TORINO.

A big reason for this shift in thinking is the internet.  Query letters by email. Scripts attached as a pdf.  A ton of resources and groups available online.  I’ve connected with writers around the world via Twitter, which at times seems completely mind-blowing.  I could ask for feedback on a script and get responses from just about anywhere.

With a solid script and an internet connection, there’s no stopping you.

Always room for improvement

Maximum Z editing, ideas, Radioslot.com, rewrite, Richard Walter, screenwriting, The Script Adventurer!
Some minor fixes can make all the difference

When it rains, there are more problems out on the roadways, resulting in more work for us already heavily-burdened traffic reporters. End result – I’ve worked a lot of hours this week, so not as much time to write as I’d hoped.  A couple of pages a day at best.  Positive spin – nearing the end of Act Two.

Even though I’m working off an outline, sometimes a new approach to a scene will pop in.  Will this work? Does it impact the scene better than the original? Is there conflict? Does it move the story forward?  If it involves the main character, is he the one driving the action? (important questions all).  If I can say ‘yes’ to these questions, then I give it a try.  Lately, it’s been working out.

Case in point: the current sequence.  The way I had it was good, but thought it could be better.  I wanted to expand on it a little.  Keep the tension going.  What would be the most effective way to accomplish this?  I came up with a few different scenarios, finally picking the one I thought worked best. The reshuffling of and minor rewriting of the involved scenes wasn’t as bad as I expected, and I liked the end result.

-My guest on The Script Adventurer! this coming Monday will be UCLA Screenwriting Dept Head Richard Walter.  If you have a question you’d like to ask him, email it to me and I’ll try to ask it during the show.

-Movie of the Moment – JOHN CARTER (2012). This was not the debacle I’d been led to believe; it was actually pretty good. Although I didn’t see the need for the 3-D.

For the most part, I liked it, but some of the story details were a little confusing.  I remember that from the book as well.  If I really like a movie I see in the theatre, I’d consider planning ahead to get it on DVD. I didn’t get that vibe, but I’m more likely to read the book again.

I was surprised Michael Chabon had a hand in the script. I can see that, especially after the great job he did on SPIDER-MAN 2.

Disney’s marketing department completely messed up.  You’d think they’d know better.  A sci-fi adventure story with romantic elements.  How can you not sell that?

I thought Taylor Kitsch did an okay job in the title role, but he looks too generic. A character like this needs more than just a pretty face and muscles.

Whew!

Maximum Z Go Into The Story, Movie of the Moment, Oscars, Radioslot.com, rewrite, running, screenwriting, story, writing
And...exhale

Wow, what a jam-packed couple of days! Here’s a quick rundown:

-Whirlwind trip to New Orleans for the Half-Marathon. 13.1 miles in 1:56:06. Wooo!  Next up – coming in under 1:55 for a race in September.

-On this week’s installment of The Script Adventurer!, I interviewed Scott Myers from Go Into The Story. He had a lot of interesting stuff to say, including the most important thing a new or aspiring writer should focus on is having a strong story concept. If the idea behind your story isn’t strong, then the script won’t be either.  Also served as a reminder of what a great resource the site is for aspiring and professional writers.  Check it out if you haven’t already.

-Now that the big run is out of the way, I can devote more time to finishing the DREAMSHIP rewrite. There’s no reason I can’t wrap it up by the end of the month, and I don’t foresee much of a problem with the follow-up editing.

I also realized the Nicholl deadline is coming up, and I could actually submit to it.  Not sure which way to go on that.

-I spent part of the going-there flights muddling my way through the latest section of the LUCY outline.  Progress remains slow but steady.

-Movie of the Moment: Lots of ’em! Best Picture winner THE ARTIST (2011) was featured on the plane.  I liked it, but not sure if it should have won Best Picture over HUGO. If you’ve ever seen SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN or A STAR IS BORN, then you know how this plays out.  John Goodman was really good as the studio boss.

Also got to watch BATMAN: YEAR ONE (2012), an animated adaptation of the comic by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. Solid work on both story and voice fronts.

K watched NEW YEAR’S DAY (2011), which I had no desire to see.  When it was over, she said, “It’s trying too hard to be LOVE, ACTUALLY.”  I caught about three scenes because I was zipping through THE HUNGER GAMES, which I liked more than I expected to.  Easy to see why this is the latest YA novel headed for the big screen later this month.

Also caught the first 30 minutes of MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (2011) before the plane landed. I’ve always had a problem with biopics. It’s tough for me to separate the actor from the real-life person they’re playing.  So while it was easy to imagine Kenneth Branagh as Olivier or Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe, I kept seeing them as actors playing somebody else.  Nevertheless, I liked what I saw.

-JOHN CARTER opens this weekend. I may actually go see it.

This would be work if I wasn’t enjoying it

Maximum Z Go Into The Story, hockey, Leonard Maltin, multitasking, Radioslot.com, rewrite, screenwriting, The Script Adventurer!
A good example of a solid multi-tasker

It ain’t easy being a multimedia superstar. Okay, maybe bi-media is more applicable. Just radio and the internets.

Since it’s only me putting together The Script Adventurer! show, each week involves gathering subject material and lining up that week’s guest.  This coming Monday, I’ll be talking to Scott Myers of Go Into The Story. If you have any interest in developing your screenwriting skills, this is definitely a site you should read on a regular basis.

*Shameless self-promotion: The Script Adventurer! Show live on your computer, 1-2PM PST Mondays via www.radioslot.com.  (Just click on link #1 – Best Mix – Listen Now – LIVE.)  And if you miss it, you can catch it again on Sundays from 7-8PM PST.

I’d contacted Leonard Maltin about being on the show. I knew it was a long shot, but what did I have to lose?  He was very interested, but had to decline due to an overwhelming number of deadlines.  Understandable, but too bad.  That would have been a great conversation. Fortunately, my list of potential other guests continues to grow.

Despite the exhausting process of assembling the show, I’ve made a point of trying to write each day. Some days it may be a page; others might yield three to four. I’m just glad to be making progress.

Within the last week or so, I’ve made the startling discovery that I can actually get a fair amount of work done at the ice rink while V has hockey practice.  It seems to even have an unexpected positive effect on my creativity.  After realizing that one of the characters was basically standing around doing nothing during a pivotal sequence, I thought of something for her to do that was integral to the plot AND upped the stakes for the characters involved.  While I’d love to go back and tinker with it, the focus now is to keep moving forward.

I’m up to page 77, and figure about another 35-40 to go before the end.  A completed draft by the end of March would be nice, and is becoming more realistic each day. Nice.