JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Acting, Theater, Film and TV Forum Screenplay Excercise Anyone?

Hi Folks,

I was thinking about a collaborative Screen Play project where we would first find and agree to a premise.. then create a story line with characters together.. then actually write it together. I have no idea how it would work out, but it might be fun to try. As opposed to the story writing collab going on, we'd actually work from an outline so it stayed on a specific track and context so that the creativity would be put into the dialog and plot twists.

Anyone interested? Do we have any screenwriters out there?

Brian

brian
i have no experience in screenplays, but i think that this could be a fun exercise! and it may bring more people over here! how would one start this endevor? hope this is finding you well.

nick

I want to simply submit one possible idea here......

Personally, I always thought that my "Implosion" trilogy could be adapted into a screenplay, but this is a collaborative decision, so do what you will.....

I will write my scales off for whatever you guys decide to do.....

A screenplay is comprised of 60 major moments, each lasting 1 to 3 minutes. Put them all together and you have a two hour movie. Each scene should unfold logically into the next. "About Last Night" is a good example. "Back To The Future" is another. Scene by scene, the story gets told.
Some of the best stories are about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. Since it is written, it can employ all human senses, letting characters see the setting, hear whatever there is to hear, smell, taste, touch. If you have them going a long time, feed them, water them, let them sleep, get tired, emotional. They're only human, after all; or are they?

That's a few folks interested.. anyone else?

Brian

I think I would be willing to work with it. It sounds like fun.

Since the "60 Major Moments" will be visual scenes, most of which will be dialog exchanges between characters, some setup will be necessary to open each "Major Moment."

Setting: Interior, night.
Setting: Exterior, day, forest, overlooking lake.

And it may require describing the action, the 'business' the characters are engaged in as they dialog.

John Hero is tossing a salad in the kitchen while Lana LoveInterest leans with her back to the sink.
"Yada yada?" John says, and she offers her glass for a refill.
"Yada yada," Lana murmurs, her smile betraying the intent of her innuendo.

You can time the dialog exchange by reading aloud, for the one-to-three minute duration, and a scene can go on longer than 1-3 minutes if it takes longer to accomplish its purpose.

Every word, every sentence, should serve to move the story along to the next scene, sometimes setting up, foreshadowing, what will happen later. Sometimes you'll find things happening later, and thanks to the magic of the edit button, can go back and do such foreshadowing.

Any time you introduce a new character it would be nice to be able to have someone go back to the first post and add them to the Cast of Characters, so it becomes a reference list as you try to keep characters' names and details straight.

I've seen software advertised which allegedly gives formats and prompts screenplay plot twists, etc.

I am moving this over to the Film Message Board...

Brian

Okay,
So, I've been round in circles trying to find out where this thread has actually landed....

Where the heck is the Film Message Board?

We're on it.. this post was already moved Heidi.. to HERE! = )

Thanks, Brian. It looked like I was at the right place, but it was confusing. Would love to check in when this exercise is up and running.

Brian, you can go into your post and edit out your message that you are moving it, to preclude any further confusion.

Character exposition is another area where notes will be appropriate to set up a scene.
John Hero is RACE, GENDER, AGE, hair COLOR, eyes COLOR, FEET/INCHES tall, about XXX pounds. He is wearing...

There may be other details to give in a notation to set up the characters' behaviors, motivations, etc.

The main character(s), the protagonist(s) may have character flaws. They don't have to be 100% truth, justice and the American way. But they can only do things that are forgivable, petty crimes or transgressions. Don't make them do anything you, the authorities, or their love interest can't forgive them for. If they commit homicide, it must be justifiable homicide. If they lie, cheat, or steal it must be a necessity for survival or an act the person lied to, cheated on, or stolen from deserves to be the victim of.

The action can take place over a period of hours or days or longer. You can use time of day, dark/light, work weeks, holidays and any other markers of time to show the passage of time.

So are we waiting for a few more participants? How will we decide the plot before we begin building the pieces? Were you going to come up with it or was it going to be a collaboration, perhaps through the shout box or something?

I am going to run a blurb about it in the newsletter and see if we attract some additional folks to get involved.

Brian

Hey Guys,
I'll try to poke my head in and contribute when I can. I made a few movies in my former life before the FBI had to locate me here. But don't tell anyone

HiDee Brian!

Here's a Sug: Do a Bio-Pic on Yourself/JPF. &..how Music's evolving into an Internet Thing. Showcase The Showcases. (Definitely do a Soundtrack CD, too...) Vignettes on CDBaby & TAXI...perhaps PineyFest as well... Interview some Mentors...

Have some Indie Film Co. follow you on the Euro Trek...(& you've already got plenty of footage of the previous Awards Shows here in the US.)

It's just a Sug...but hey, you've already GOT "The Theme Song", Amigo...& it should make for some very interesting viewing & listening.

While it ain't "Al Gore on Global Warming", what's quite-presentable is Documenting "a New Trend in Da Music Biz."
(& with all the Different Styles of Music at the Awards Shows..the finished Movie should appeal to most All Age Groups, too.)

No reason why "American Idol" should get ALL The Air Time...

Just a Suggestion, of course..

Best Wishes, Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

Screenwriting? I love the idea. I have a number of unfinished scripts. It hard to find loyal collaborators who will stick with a project.

I use Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000 so that the writing is in the correct format. There is probably a good MS Word template available if you don't own this kind of software.

Ever wanted to get your song into a movie?

Start writing your own movie (screenplay) and use your song as the theme song for it and the subject matter of the story.

It is important that all the writers enter into some kind of collaboration contract/agreement so that any future income, if any, is split among them. This will help to prevent future problems, disappointments, and hurt feelings.

It sounds like a great idea....would love to check it out...has it started yet?

Kristi,

We on a Euro tour at the moment.. will likely start this in November after we're back.

Brian

I would love to be part of this project.
I just posted a spoof of a Lord of the Rings scene on the Creative Writing Board today. If you want humor writers.
I can be serious too.

I think it needs to be outlined and plot decided on rather than randomly sending it from one writer to the next.
Then again, Napoleon Dynamite did OK without much of a plot!

Linda

Hi Brian, I've completed 2 short scripts, 1 short-short script and collaborated on a full length animation. My partner and I are members of the Chicago Screenwriters Network that has a lot of talent come to the monthly dinner meetings. We have currently gotten the endorsement of the McBrides, naturalists and authors in Africa who are critiquing our animation right now. We're very determined to see this one produced.

It is WORK writing a screenplay, and lots of fun too. Almost everything I've done has song lyric in the text. It seems likely your premise will have something to do with songwriters or musicians. Premise and outline come first :-) Choose writers who finish their work. Make them sign in blood!!!

Best
Roberta

I'll play.

Play? LOL, I made a pun and didn't realize it.

I haven't forgotten about this.. just been very busy behind the scenes with awards stuff for 2008/2009. It's on my very long to do list.

Brian

Hi, Brian

This sounds like fun, I'm interested. I love a challenge! Cool.

Michele Bolton
Aussie girl from down under