Happy Thanksgiving!
November 24, 2017
All work and no play makes Jack, Jane and their 4-act structured script no fun. So get your head out of your turkey, and take off the weekend! I know I am. See you all in December.
Tag: screenwriting
Random Thoughts on Main Characters
November 17, 2017
While we’re on the topic of characters, here are a few more random thoughts about movie characters for you to chew on: Everyone Loves a Hero Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They face all kinds of challenges. What all heroes have in common is that, for one reason or another, we admire … More Random Thoughts on Main Characters
5 More Tips for Creating Characters
November 10, 2017
In Act One, your reader meets your main character. They form an opinion of who that characters is. Watching your character make decisions, face obstacles and takes actions — no matter how small and seemingly insignificant — enables your reader to hone and refine that first impression. Then what…? How do you keep your reader … More 5 More Tips for Creating Characters
3 Steps to Introducing Characters
November 3, 2017
While plots most be original and compelling, characters are the key to every great movie. Your characters are the emotional core of your story. It is through them that your audience engages and experiences the world you have created. To write great characters you must know them and understand them. They must live in your … More 3 Steps to Introducing Characters
Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 5: When You Write Your Script
October 6, 2017
Are You Ready to Write Your Script…? Egri offers a checklist for making sure you’ve put the necessary thought into your work before you start. If you’ve done the following 11 steps, your script will be ready to go! Formulate a premise. Choose the protagonist. Choose the antagonist. Create a unity of opposites. Choose the … More Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 5: When You Write Your Script
Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 4: Crisis, Climax and Resolution
September 29, 2017
Once you’ve defined your premise and created 3-dimensional characters with a “Unity of Opposites,” how to realize your plot on the page…? Point of Attack At what point do you attack a story? People always say “start late, end early.” What does that really mean? What sets a story in motion? What makes a character … More Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 4: Crisis, Climax and Resolution
Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 3: Conflict and Unity
September 22, 2017
Now that we’ve discussed Egri’s take on the pivotal characters in a script, let’s look at how the protagonist and antagonist work in concert to create the dramatic structure that is your script. Orchestration There is a saying, “There is no action unless there is a need; and there is no need until there is … More Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 3: Conflict and Unity
Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 2: Character
September 15, 2017
Last week, in our our examination of the valuable ideas in TADW, this week, we looked at what Lajos Egri had to say about the premise of your script and why it is so important. This week, let’s look at what he has to say about creating characters. Character Egri likens characters and their actions … More Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 2: Character
Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 1
September 12, 2017
People ask me how I developed my ideas and theories about writing for theater and the screen. They often ask where they can go to get more information and develop their own deeper understanding of the craft of screenwriting. Three Basic Rules I start by telling them my three essential rules: Put your butt in … More Art of Dramatic Writing, Part 1
Plotline Essentials: “The 8 C’s”
August 25, 2017
Plotlines vs Loglines As we discussed last week, plotlines and loglines are different. Loglines are selling tools designed to excite an audience. Plotlines are designed to help you, the writer, clearly understand the beginning, middle and end of your script. A good plotline will distill the essential dramatic elements of your script down to their … More Plotline Essentials: “The 8 C’s”
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