Introduction to Screenwriting

Hello again,
The first class of the new section of Intro to Screenwiting went really well. A lot of really bright, motivated students. I believe this will one the best classes yet. The first class is always the hardest one for me. Not only do you need to present the materials, but you need to establish a good relationship with the students. Much like a writer must present his story , but also establish a trust or relationship with the reader or audience.

With many movies the writers and director start out very well. They have interesting opening scene, likable characters and the plot flows along at a good pace. But some where near the end of the second act or into the third act something happens that makes the viewer feel a little cheated.

The problem can be a character suddenly acts totally out of character. Someone who through out the film acted intelligent, suddenly does something stupid. why did they act that way, because the writer couldn't figured out how to move the story forward unless the character did something stupid. I think that is laziness on the writers part.

Or when some one or some thing is introduced to solve the problem that was never set up in the begining of the story. Or when something is introduced early on in the story, but is never seen again in the rest of the story.

My point is don't get lazy in you story. Make your characters as smart as the people who pay to see that movie. Don't cut corners to make your story work. Plan the story out in advance and you will run into less problems later on. You will see the places in your story where you may need to come up with a clever way to move the plot along and not have to cheat to make your story work.

Keep writing!

Until next time...

Begining of new new season of classes

Hello, and welcome once again to the Screenwriter Inc Blog. Been busy with breaking bones (mine), watching some movies (good ones and not so good ones) , trying to learn how to use Poser 7 , Script analysis and preparing for a new section of Intro to Screenwriting, which will begin March 1st.

Doing everything it seems , but working on the stories I need to be working on. I think that is the hardest part of writing, Finding the time and the motivation to get your ass in the chair, turn on the screenwriting program and work on the stories you need to tell.

I know the craft of screenwriting, Hell I teach the craft, but the one thing I can't teach is how to get you to sit down and write. I fall into the the trap of not enough time in the day. But you have to kick yourself in the ass once in awhile and get the words on the page. Make the time to write, stop surfing the web, day dreaming, watching TV or all of the other time wasters we love to do.

Once you see your story forming on the page, you'll fall in love with this new way to spend your time, and guess what; your not wasting your time, your investing it.

Now stop reading this blog ( at least until next time) , get off line and write a page or two of your story. You'll feel better and instead of dreaming about being a writer, you will be a writer.

Until next time....

Welcome

Welcome to the ScreenWriters Inc Story Blog. Here we will discuss the many aspects of Screenwriting . Ideas, Pitches, the Craft and Business of Screenwriting.