I've currently come up with an idea and a simple plot for a short film. I'm hoping it will be impacting and shocking. This latest entry is to do with naming your Script (film). I find this task difficult but not impossible. My working title is 'The Saturday Shift', it's got nothing to do with working in the legal sense. To give you a little input and background the plot follows a Gay Male Prostitute. Already you've probably guessed the reason for the title but there's a reason for the day, Saturday.
I'd love to tell you more but as a rule of thumb I don't like discussing plot/narrative until I've actually finished writing the piece. The reason for this entry is because I hate the title too. I couldn't tell you why because I simply don't know, it's a feeling.
If you ever get this feeling you know somethings not right with what you've done. Change it, tweak it and try something different until you're happy.
You can have more than one 'Working Title' for your film you'll often find they'll even change because your story changes.
I'll be writing the script soon so will post a later blog in the future.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Sunday, 8 January 2012
There's An Apple In Pineapple
The hardest issue with writing a script is actually coming up with an idea. I personally try to make an idea out of anything because that way I've got plenty to work and play around with. I've always found reading very helpful and when I mean read I don't mean just scripts I mean everything. Fiction has always been my favorite because I love making up characters and plots but any reading improves writing and creativity.
Another technique I've found helpful is to get a copy of a script from a film I like and dissect each scene. Then I'll watch the film each scene at a time, looking at how the scene was written and how it transcoded to the screen. This helped me understand the process of film production and showed how the script is simply a blue print for a film. Give it a try! A good scene to look at is the opening of Alien by Ridley Scott.
If you're thinking I can't afford scripts try: http://www.simplyscripts.com/
This website has many full movie and television scripts to look at for free.
I've tried to never be afraid to let my mind wonder and create even if the end result is absolutely bollocks. Like I mentioned in my first post (Rule 1) you can always scrap what you've written. Often than not you'll take some piece from what you've written and begin building up from that. So don't be afraid to explore.
Another technique I've found helpful is to get a copy of a script from a film I like and dissect each scene. Then I'll watch the film each scene at a time, looking at how the scene was written and how it transcoded to the screen. This helped me understand the process of film production and showed how the script is simply a blue print for a film. Give it a try! A good scene to look at is the opening of Alien by Ridley Scott.
If you're thinking I can't afford scripts try: http://www.simplyscripts.com/
This website has many full movie and television scripts to look at for free.
Friday, 6 January 2012
Dogs Bark And Cats Moo
I'll never be a strong writer. I've always struggled with the English language but have loved making up stories whether it be in those moments I am dreaming just before falling asleep, through badly illustrated drawings or actually trying to use words and sentences.
In my later teens I was introduced to Screen Writing, which I took to a little like a duck in oil infested water. Lets just say I wasn't great but for the first time I enjoyed actual writing. My first Screenplay involved a 'fictional' me in a 'fictional' story it was very 'social realism' and terrible. The story didn't go anywhere and dialogue was too long and over used. It was about a girl, ok. I was very upset and in 'Love', she broke my heart, the bitch. Anyway that was my first script and not very successful.
I eventually decided to take Scriptwriting at the University of Staffordshire. A proud University for it's prowling homeless junkies and half ass'd lecturers. Though I slate the lecturers it was their 'technique' of minimal input which created students whom were independent and could think for themselves. The course's assessments often involved essays, which I was terrible at, as well as minimal Scriptwriting work. This angered a large amount of the Scriptwriting students, six in total, because we'd written only TWO scripts in our first year! This was no were near enough for any writer of any form but who's fault was it, really? It took me another year and a friend to realise nothing stopped the students from writing outside of their university course.
1) The first lesson I learnt was; Write everyday. Whether it be scrapped at a later date or you're not in the mood to write, write something, even if it's a paragraph or a sentence. This also works if you've hit a 'writers block'.
2) The second lesson I'd learnt was; No matter where you are as long as you've got a pen and paper you can write when ever you like.
Two important rules I think are vital for every writer.
This blog is about the way I make films, my story leading up and after each film I produce or even ideas I'm developing but I'd thought I'd give people a little background of me.
In my later teens I was introduced to Screen Writing, which I took to a little like a duck in oil infested water. Lets just say I wasn't great but for the first time I enjoyed actual writing. My first Screenplay involved a 'fictional' me in a 'fictional' story it was very 'social realism' and terrible. The story didn't go anywhere and dialogue was too long and over used. It was about a girl, ok. I was very upset and in 'Love', she broke my heart, the bitch. Anyway that was my first script and not very successful.
I eventually decided to take Scriptwriting at the University of Staffordshire. A proud University for it's prowling homeless junkies and half ass'd lecturers. Though I slate the lecturers it was their 'technique' of minimal input which created students whom were independent and could think for themselves. The course's assessments often involved essays, which I was terrible at, as well as minimal Scriptwriting work. This angered a large amount of the Scriptwriting students, six in total, because we'd written only TWO scripts in our first year! This was no were near enough for any writer of any form but who's fault was it, really? It took me another year and a friend to realise nothing stopped the students from writing outside of their university course.
1) The first lesson I learnt was; Write everyday. Whether it be scrapped at a later date or you're not in the mood to write, write something, even if it's a paragraph or a sentence. This also works if you've hit a 'writers block'.
2) The second lesson I'd learnt was; No matter where you are as long as you've got a pen and paper you can write when ever you like.
Two important rules I think are vital for every writer.
This blog is about the way I make films, my story leading up and after each film I produce or even ideas I'm developing but I'd thought I'd give people a little background of me.
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