Inspiration

More on writing. I spoke with an ex-student recently, who asked a lot of questions about staying inspired when writing a feature length script. He told me he found it hard to stay inspired as it took him over a year to write a first draft. He asked how do you stay inspired and keep things fresh. He also asked how do you know when to move on to something else and abandon ship, or keep staying the course.

All good questions. Many ways to answer. Let's start with the idea and you. You, meaning, what types of films do you like? You should write what you like, and try and write what you know. Many first time writers have an inspiration problem sometimes halfway into the script, and it's because of these two reasons; they are writing something they know very little of, and perhaps they're writing something to sell, and they don't really feel it.

For example, I like to watch character driven films, so obviously that's what I like to write and make. I have tried writing plot driven scripts, and always get bored or a headache somewhere in the middle, or in a second draft. Why? Because it's really not what I'm passionate about. I enjoy from time to time a great plot driven film to watch, but not to write. It never feels right. So that's one tip; write what you're passionate about, and more than likely you'll run into less problems.

Another big tip is to always and I mean always write the first draft as quickly as possible. Like six weeks or less. Just get it out. Then let it sit, and then it's rewrite after rewrite.

Getting back to writing about something you know, this is a sure way to stay inspired. When you write stories about people or actions you know nothing of, like hit men and mafia crap, or course you're going to run into problems. Where are the ideas coming from? They're not coming from personal experience, so at some point, your well is going to run dry. So write what you know. Write what you like.

And lastly, to be very frank, you are writing because you LOVE to write. So it's your job to stay inspired. Create good habits. Write every day. Write every morning. Be very workman like, or work woman like. Push yourself. Dig deep. Good things will come.

More on Scripts

Getting back to reading scripts and why, well, obvious, you want to learn. Want to be a better writer, so one easy way to do so is to READ. In the last post, I mentioned a few places where free scripts are. But when you read them, don't just "read" them. Break them down.

First, always read shooting scripts. Don't read the scripts published in book form, these are not shooting scripts. Get the real scripts, on normal size paper if you print them out, which will have the "real" amount of pages. Here, with the shooting script, you want to find out what happens when, where, and how.

For example, on what page does the inciting incident start? You know, the inciting incident is when the story starts. Like in Apocalypse Now, the story starts when he gets his orders to find Kurtz. This is something you want to know. Your story can not start too late. Find out how character is developed, and when, and for how long.

When is the first obstacle? The second, third and so on. How does Act I end? On what page does Plot Point One happen? And Act II, when and how does this end?

These are the things you want to study when reading a script. Because when you write yours, you will copy this structure. You will have your inciting incident happen around the same time, as well as the plot point and the rest.

Here is a pic of MARATHON MAN - one of my favorite scripts. It's all banged up because I've read it so many times over the years. Have studied it. Broke it down. I know what works and when. Do the same.

Amazon Storyteller

Amazon is coming out with a FREE tool which turns scripts into storyboards. It sounds interesting. I like the idea as we always want our scenes to SHOW, NOT TELL, and this might be an interesting way to test this. Can't storyboard exposition, can you?

Here's a link to an article about it:

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Free Scripts online

The best way to become a better screenwriter is to read as many scripts as humanly possible. Of course watching films is oh so important, but reading a script really allows you access to the "floor plan."

Pick one or two of your favorite films and find their scripts. Then print them, read them like a dozen times, breaking them down in terms of plot, structure, character development, plot points, goals, obstacles, etc.

Here is a short list of where you can access free online scripts:

http://www.simplyscripts.com/


http://www.script-o-rama.com/table.shtml

http://www.imsdb.com/

monopoly on creativity

Yes, nobody has a monopoly on creativity. I've attached a link below to a good article on indie filmmaking, from a seemingly good indie website. This article rings very true to me, and states what I often rant about.

The best asset's we indies have is our creative mind. All the money and star power and shareholders in the world can not out produce creative thought. It's easy to have car crashes and tons of action - all it costs is money. But to have a really amazing story, with a truly well developed character does not take a single dime, just hard work and creativity.

www.makeindependentfilms.com

here's a good reason for more indie films!

Here in the New York Times is an interesting article on big, bloated Hollywood films. This films cost $135 million to make and they spent $100 million to promote, by Sony - which has to answer to shareholders. What a crazy way to make films. Films made by corporations, by committee, not by individuals.

So climb that tree, take the bull by the horns and be the New Gorilla - go indie!

N Y Times article

Preparation Before Making a Feature Film

So, one last time here, I want to hammer home the importance of making short films before you jump into the very large pond of making a feature. Directing your first feature is a huge undertaking, and they're always many problems and obstacles to overcome. The big point I want to make on this is that if you make several short films prior to your first feature, on that first feature, you will encounter less problems, and will be more equipped to handle the problems that do arise.

The obvious concept here is the more you do, the better you will be. So, the more shorts you make, the better the filmmaker you become. Too many first time filmmakers jump right into making a feature. You must make many shorts first. You'll get better with each film, and hopefully at some point, one of these shorts will really work and you'll receive some nice attention from it.

This attention will go a long way. It will help you raise funds, attached actors and crew. It will give you confidence as well.

All of the mistakes you make on your first few shorts, hopefully you won't be a repeat offender. Get my drift? It is here on these shorts that you want to learn from your mistakes, not on the feature. A feature has too much on the line for on the job training. Make all of your mistakes on the shorts, learn from them, and do not repeat these when you do eventually make your feature.