Screenwriting - Tumblr Posts
An excerpt of ZOMBIELAND (2009) script
This just shows me everything about Flagstaff as our main character. You see how he consolidates the catastrophe of “zombieism” by humanizing their context. He know’s that was just his neighbor at some point, and its clear he would likely had never gotten close to her apart from this drastic situation.
Excerpt from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) screenplay
The point of this scene is legitimately to portray Joel’s confusion. But I caught on to the parallel of Rob’s birdhouse, as foresight into Joel’s memory of killing a bird. Surrounded by the context of Clementine erasing Joel, it reads as though the bird symbolizes Joel’s innocence. While the birdhouse would be what he needed from his relationship to Clementine... In a very Jungian sense.
Excerpt from 500 DAYS OF SUMMER (2009) Screenplay
I laughed so hard at this bit here. In this short scene, we’re shown how Tom’s emotions about Summer are affecting his work-- but we’re just as quickly defused from thinking that it will be an issue. Summer is his co-worker, but their conflict is not implicit in their relationship as co-workers. That movie would be way more dramatic.
Excerpt from ZOMBIELAND (2009) screenplay
This scene is really simple and would not be hard to explain to someone who hasn’t seen the movie. Except the mention of twinkies is very specific to Albuquerque's quirk. It’s easy to find funny on its own, but the fact that these characters are in the middle of a Zombie apocalypse-- that’s what makes it funnier.
Still Moving Forward
Okay, so no longer a Full-Sail student. Suffice it to say, I'm hoping to get a degree that's looked upon a little more favorably by more employers and companies. I still valued what I learned, and I'm hoarding my textbooks.
I will continue, however, to post things here that mark my writing achievements and aims.
FOR EXAMPLE: http://www.film.virginia.org/for-virginians/how-to-get-involved/virginia-screenwriting-competition/
BAM. Will she pull it off? Will she round out 90 pages of gold?!
Yes?
For the time being, I'm working on a plot about a young'un named Ismael who is trying to figure out a gender identity crisis, on top of meeting and kind-of falling for (in a most unorthodox way) a potential fiancee, as arranged by Ismael's parents.
This is based on a short story I wrote that did not give justice to the full complexity of Ismael's circumstances. Maybe I can post a few pages up here.
Wish me luck!
throwback to when I was trying to write a play last year.. I think I might've been a little bit frustrated
Creative Writing vs Screenwriting for Novel Writing
This is my opinion and based off my experiences. I also can’t speak for all colleges, just my own.
Something I have definitely noticed is this: Creative writing focuses more on the craft and artistry of the sentence. The actual words of writing whether it be a novel, a poem or nonfiction. It can be split and they can touch upon both, but n my experience there’s an emphasis on the writing vs the story in most studies. From what my professors have said, too, that’s often the case across the board.
Screenwriting focuses almost exclusively on how to write a strong story.
If you want to learn how to tell a strong story, as in characters, plot, structure, pacing, stakes, etc. I would seriously consider focusing on screenwriting in school or screenwriting resources.
Screenwriting focuses on what makes a story compelling whereas Creative Writing will give you the tools to make it read well. Not that it CW doesn’t ever focus on story, but there’s a general divide in the community about what to focus on that boils down to preference and other social factors.
I recommend doing both (and I wish I had the time to get a Creative Writing minor in school), but this is just my two cents.
TIP: One reason why screenwriting is helpful, too, is because if you cannot see it or cannot hear it then the exposition doesn’t work. You can’t get into your characters head without them acting it out in a way that’s visual. This can help make your ability to convey characters stronger so you’re not just constantly relying on telling your readers how your characters feel. In screenwriting, you have to show it or it doesn’t work.
If you want to know how to tell a great story: study screenwriting.
If you want to know how to write well on a sentence level: study creative writing.
If you want both: Study both.
Realistically speaking, imo, your average reader will forgive your writing artistry, but they won’t forgive a weak story. That doesn’t mean skimp on writing craft, but if you had to choose, get a stronger grip on story.
''Useless'' Writing Reminders
Save your documents. Strive to be safe, not sorry.
Back-up your documents. Strive to be safe, not sorry.
Placeholder names can quickly turn into forever names. Picking name(s) on a whim can lead to great things, or it can become your worst nightmare (😁).
Your writing has value. Yes, even the most inadequate of writing. You don't have to boast or even like everything you've ever written, but even the most questionable of writing will have contributed to your growth as a storyteller. Cherish it for what it is.
You can take a break. It is absolutely okay.
First drafts are scary. But you know what's more scary? Not having a draft at all.
Using clichés or ''overdone'' tropes will not kill your story. Firstly, tropes are building blocks. Secondly, humans actively search to consume stories revolving around these tropes.
Write your heart out. Boast about your writing. Boast about your friends' and fellow writers' writing. Everyone deserves recognition, even you, from within your own heart. (Sorry. That's really cheesy. But it's true).
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25113335-trumbo
I'm in this book right now and I really wanna seek out and read more stuff about screenwriters. We hear tons about directors and actors but screenwriters don't get as much representation. As an amateur myself who has taken some classes, I need to hear stories about other screenwriters, their struggles to make it into film and tv. I need the inspiration.
“[In storytelling] niceness tends to kill characters - if there is nothing wrong with them, nothing to offend us, then there’s almost certainly nothing to attract our attention either.”
— John Yorke (in ‘Into the Woods: How stories work and why we tell them’)
I’m currently working on a sitcom based on an older post where God (played by Laverne Cox) redoes Jesus with a lesbian couple.
Jesus has been renamed to Josh and him and the disciples are all in a band. Each of the apostles have their own unique position in the band that’s based partially on what they’re the patron saint on.
Josh- Is the lead singer and writes most of the songs
Simon- He creates/builds the sets and backgrounds.
Andrew ‘Andy’- He creates all the jewelry and costumes for gigs.
Jim- Is the muscle/bouncer.
John- Makes posters for the gigs.
Phil- Helps Andy with costuming.
Bart- Makes sure that gigs have proper snacks and concessions.
Tom- Designs the sets that Simon builds.
Matt- Makes colognes for that matches each shows theme.
James ‘Alfie’- Is on scene medical personnel and is working on getting his EMT certification.
Thad- Is the one who gets the word out and arranging the locations for gigs.
Simon ‘Caleb’- Helps Bart with concessions.
Jude- Budgets and makes sure the guys can afford stuff.
I’m trying to figure out what instrument(s) each of the guys play. If yall got ideas I’d love to hear them.
Show Don't Tell - Symptoms vs. the Affliction
Another way to think of show don’t tell is to describe the symptoms rather than tell the affliction. You could say someone was close to fainting—or you could describe their symptoms and trust the readers to understand what they mean: the world swirled around her head, her ears beginning to hum lowly, then louder, increasing into a high-pitched ring. She took a deep breath, her stomach turning over itself. Etc.
Symptoms can also mean the lump in your throat as a “symptom” of being sad enough to cry, or the warmth of your face as a “symptom” of embarrassment.
That might sound a bit silly, but I find it really helpful when I’m reading over mine or others work and looking for those places where showing would be better than telling. Have you described the symptoms, or just told the affliction?
Here’s a short list of “afflictions” and their associated “symptoms” to get you started (but make sure to explore how different characters express different afflictions, even in more odd or unusual ways!)
Any symptoms I missed?
The story of Hades and Persephone starts like any other love lore.
Hades The Greek God of the Underworld hardly ever leaves his domain. But when he did leave the underworld, he came across the beautiful maiden, Persephone. Born as an offspring between two Gods, Persephone was beautiful both in and out.
And Hades fell in love with her.
Knowing that her mother will never allow to marry him. Hades opens the Earth and takes Persephone away to the underworld. To not frighten the beautiful maiden. Hades created a garden in the underworld and treated Persephone with respect and love like all men should.
Demeter Persephone's mother, Goddess of the harvest roamed the Earth in search of her beloved daughter neglecting her duties as the Goddess of Harvest. When she came to know that Hades has abducted her she demanded justice to the king of all Gods, Zeus.
Knowing that she cannot stay her forever. Hades gifts Persephone one last gift.
A pomegranate.
Persephone eats six pomegranate seeds and leaves the Underworld promising that she would return.
Zeus torn between the decision he has to make came to know of the last gift. In Greek tradition eating something from the host of the household means that you have promised to return.
So the King of the Gods declared that Persephone would be the queen of the Underworld for six months of the year each for the six pomegranate seeds. And spend the rest six with her mother Demeter.
It is told that six months of spring and summer is when Persephone is with her mother. While the next six of autumn and winter, when the world withers away she is the queen of the Underworld.
The story of Hades and Persephone is often misunderstood portraying Hades as the villain and Persephone as weak.
But I think that Hades truly loved her And Persephone loved him back.
What do you think?
Gotta write a Wes Anderson-style horror scene for school, any fans (or haters) of Wes Anderson got any ideas?
I go to film school :P first day back today!!!
My new screenwriting teacher was kinda weird? Idk maybe she was just nervous, but she implied that fantasy and adventure are the same, and drama always has an unhappy ending?
Just thinking about how William Shakespeare was like his generations’ Wes Anderson 😂 An eccentric playwright with a cult fan base, making dark comedies and dramas with social commentary that’s very relatable to the current cultural climate of his audience. In this essay I will…
I got halfway through my WIP yesterday and yet it feels like I got nothing done because it took me all day. Wild.
As someone who LOVES outlining, I reached a point in my WIP where the thing I outlined just didn't make sense anymore, so I wrote what I thought did and then went back to the outline.
Outlines are a guideline, but don't be afraid of the doors they open.
The number of 'starts to' and 'just' I deleted from finished works could fill up a solid three pages right now.
I need better vocabulary.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel (finishing my work) and suddenly the train (my brain) has slammed on the breaks (stopped producing thoughts) and now I'm stalling (watching YouTube)