Ah, the writing stage...

[Kyle Stebbins]

Like many here, I am eagerly raking my mind for a drama idea to use for the fest. Gotta get writing! This is the hardest part! I need to shut off my television and lock myself in a room for a couple hours so I can think of something. -- hopefully something much more indepth than DEVELOPED. =)

For some, the writing process is their forte and their time to shine... for me, once the script is written the fun begins! Thoughts?

[Mark Johnson]

Hey Kyle,

Come out to L.A. and crew with us for a weekend and I'll come to Nebraska and crew for you a couple days. Waddaya say?

[Kyle Stebbins]

I SAY YES!!!! YES YES YES YES YES!!!!! :thumbup:

[Brandon Rice]

I am thinking of concepts and whatnot right now. I have some ideas... and actors everywhere, so I need to be creative on this one and actually spend some time on it (more than an hour)

[jpeck]

If anyone is not interested in the writing part of a film or wants somebody else to work on a script for them, PM me. After seeing the Horror Fest, and not having a camera yet, missing another one is going to drive me nuts. Almost nuts enough to buy equipment before I can actually afford it! :beer:

[Ted Arabian]

Hey Kyle,

Come out to L.A. and crew with us for a weekend and I'll come to Nebraska and crew for you a couple days. Waddaya say?
Yeah Kyle, Join us! That would be AWESOME! I have 2 trips to L.A. scheduled over the next 80 days so I don't think that I can return the favor with a trip to Nebraska, but it would be great to have you on our shoot!

[Kyle Stebbins]

Yeah Kyle, Join us! That would be AWESOME! I have 2 trips to L.A. scheduled over the next 80 days so I don't think that I can return the favor with a trip to Nebraska, but it would be great to have you on our shoot!
Well I really don't expect Mark to travel to Nebraska unless he really wants to just do some hardcore film-school-style independent filmmaking and maybe get some dinner with some of my film-buff friends. =)

however, i am definitely getting over to LA. i will get over there when you are there... PM me your scheduled trips man so i can get planning. if anything else, getting to LA to shoot a movie will be some fantastic experience that will look great on my resume/port. maybe you guys could hold a sign in the airport that says "Jarred Land" or "Jack Daniel Stanley" and see just how many people know about DVXuser and come up to you. lol =) i'm excited though!!

thanks man! (and mark!)
-kyle

[Ted Arabian]

Hey Kyle, I just PM'd you before I saw this. I'll send another PM with our shoot schedule!

Ted

[Capt Quirk]

The hardest part for me, would be writing a pure drama. I hate drama, hate it, hate it, HATE IT! Ok, that's enough drama from me :)

Seriously though, it isn't my forte, but I love using dramatic elements. Just because I work with comedy and satire, why shouldn't I have a serious moment that will scare you? Make you think? It is the contrast that will really mess with your head, if done right. Is there such a thing as a Dramedy?

[MiataFilmSomething]

I think starting with an interesting person or character is key. Them put them in a situation that would create some good drama.

[Kyle Stebbins]

I think starting with an interesting person or character is key. Them put them in a situation that would create some good drama.

great approach!!

[Geoff_R]

I think starting with an interesting person or character is key. Them put them in a situation that would create some good drama.

Like an '80-yr old' Priest who gets caught up in a bank robbery and ends up getting one of the bad guys' M-16s, blows them all away, saves the day and then feels remorse for the killings...

[Ki-Ki]

Thank god for the beautiful start of Face Off. Where the preist is infact a terrorist dancing around and hitting the christian singer dudete on the ass.

[Capt Quirk]

Like an '80-yr old' Priest who gets caught up in a bank robbery and ends up getting one of the bad guys' M-16s, blows them all away, saves the day and then feels remorse for the killings...
Not if he's Catholic... Budist maybe.

[Ki-Ki]

Anyway, how is everyone with writing there drama-fest enteries right now? I know i for one are...screwed. So far. Im starting to write a treatment now after this post.

[Brandon Rice]

Larry's making pretty good headway on Checkmate. Read the first few pages of the first draft, and it's turning out pretty nicely!

[Mattykins]

I've started writing a script now, its not easy, I am in the middle of production for another 15min short currently, and I have a full-feature script in progress as well. I just have to dedicate a little bit of time to hammering this little guy out.

Coming up with the general idea was tough, but after that, it comes along quite well. Once I come up with a working title I am going to make one of those fancy "official" BTS Threads.

-Matty

[Jason Ramsey]

I am staring at a blinking cursor.

No, really... I have two typed pages at the moment. Very little structure, and some (maybe) decent dialogue I am pulling from an improv to try to at least get something on the page, and then try to fill out with the other ideas that I have for the story, and for making the film have a beginning, middle end. All, that good stuff. I much prefer delivering someone elses lines or making up a mono on the spot than having to try to write a complete story. This will be the first one I actually finished writing. Don't jinx it.

Ah, the writing stage... :)

Jason

[Beat Takeshi]

I have the full story in my head so far andI know every shot and cut. I should try this out without even writing an actual script. I one thing I do though to plan for these is I make a 6 column grid and write the parts of the story that need to hit on each column to fit in correctly. I did this already for LOF and it seems like its going to fit nicely.

[Ki-Ki]

I guess Drama canbe a hard genre to write for then. I'm staring at some msn name at the bottom of my screen called "Andrew" I havn't officially wroten anything for my short yet. Not even a treatment. Everytime i write a small treatment or a big synopsis. It just comes out wrong so I keep deleting. Though Im determined Ill do something big by the end of the day.
- Falls sleep again -

[StormFactory]

Watching some of the HorrorFest films that had bad, confusing, or no story was painful. But at least there was cool stuff to look at. This is a drama competition. Nothing to fall back on like blood or scary elements or cool sci-fi stuff. You have to have a great story.

Why spend a ton of time and money with production to end up with a film that you think is "just okay" writing wise? Don't feel pressured into having to write it yourself, especially if writing is not your strong suite. A lot of your big directors don't write. They direct. They leave the writing to the writers. If you're not a writer, focus on the directing and leave all that fade in stuff for the people who want careers in screenwriting.

You can check out a great screenwriting site called DONE DEAL (http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/index.php?) and read through the Script Pages board. See if you connect with any of the writing there and then send the writer a PM tell them about the DVXUser fest. See if you can get them to write you a six page script. The best part for the writer is that the script WILL be produced. There are a lot of great writers who would do it just to for the credit and to see their writing come to life, me included.

[Kyle Stebbins]

That's good advice, and I should heed it. I really just want to become a better writer myself, and the best way to do that is to read books, listen to advice, and write material. In the end, there is just something about directing the film that YOU wrote that just feels fantastic.

Thanks, StormFactory for chiming in! I appreciate it.
-Kyle

[MiataFilmSomething]

The script is finished. Now comes the fun part of going back through it and marking sections with the "What the heck was I thinking?" checkmark. Then do some fine polishing and what not, and see if it's going to make sense.

Since most drama is character driven, how much direction are you giving the actors in your script
(aka
ERIC (with anger and remorse)
Why Lord, WHY?!)

[MiataFilmSomething]

The script is finished. Now comes the fun part of going back through it and marking sections with the "What the heck was I thinking?" checkmark. Then do some fine polishing and what not, and see if it's going to make sense.

Since most drama is character driven, how much direction are you giving the actors in your script
(aka
ERIC (with anger and remorse)
Why Lord, WHY?!)

[MiataFilmSomething]

The script is finished. Now comes the fun part of going back through it and marking sections with the "What the heck was I thinking?" checkmark. Then do some fine polishing and what not, and see if it's going to make sense.

Since most drama is character driven, how much direction description are you giving the actors in your script?
aka

ERIC (with anger and remorse, feeling guilt and shame for what he did)
Why Lord, WHY?!)

I think you have to find a good balance. You have to be able to convey how they are supposed to be feeling in the script, but you also want some room for the actor to interperet and come up with something that they can work with.

[Jason Ramsey]

I have not put all of the (crying) kinda stage directions in mine. But, I am acting in it, so... I kinda hear it in my head already, so....

Jason

[MiataFilmSomething]

Hmm, sorry for all that system lag, there. Ignore the previous two posts!

[Tom Marshall]

Since most drama is character driven, how much direction description are you giving the actors in your script?
aka

ERIC (with anger and remorse, feeling guilt and shame for what he did)
Why Lord, WHY?!)

I think you have to find a good balance. You have to be able to convey how they are supposed to be feeling in the script, but you also want some room for the actor to interperet and come up with something that they can work with.

Actors, in general, don't want to see direction like that. It should be fairly obvious from the screenplay. If they don't pick up on it, then that's a direction you (or the director) will give the actor either a) during rehearsal or b) on the set.

[Mino]

My aproach to writing is this...I take long baths with one candle and I listen to cuts of music mostly orchestral from other films or from Edgen, real mood music. During the bath I let the music just sort of spark my imagination until something pops out. Sometimes a glass of wine or beer helps put me in a more relaxed state. I have now got my rough draft done with exception of the final scene which should take one mpre bath:)

[Darkline]

I really want to enter this fest but have no idea yet.

Im going to spend this weekend doing some serious thinking..... with xmas around the corner i sense people are going to be pushed on this one..

[cinealma]

Here's a little tidbit to spark the creative juices (I can't remember where I read it, but it always comes in handy). Here it is:


We see Character A and Character B. The last person they want to see at the moment is Character C.

In walks Character C.



John G.

[Ted Arabian]

I really want to enter this fest but have no idea yet.

Im going to spend this weekend doing some serious thinking..... with xmas around the corner i sense people are going to be pushed on this one..
Please don't let me down, Darkline... I want to see your follow-up! That last one scared the crap out of me. I want to see you hand at drama!

Feel free to bounce ideas. I would love to help! But you HAVE to enter in dramafest!!!

Ted

[Tom Marshall]

Here's a little tidbit to spark the creative juices (I can't remember where I read it, but it always comes in handy). Here it is:


We see Character A and Character B. The last person they want to see at the moment is Character C.

In walks Character C.



John G.

Hey John, are you entering DramaFest?

[Kyle Stebbins]

Hey Kyle,

Come out to L.A. and crew with us for a weekend and I'll come to Nebraska and crew for you a couple days. Waddaya say?

This post always makes me happy!
CAN'T WAIT!

[Brandon Rice]

haha.. word!

[cinealma]

Hey John, are you entering DramaFest?

You betcha. I'm trying to decide between a couple of story ideas. One's pretty much together, the other isn't but it intrigues me a bit more. Hm, maybe I'll make two.:)

Decisions, decisions, decisions...


John G.

[StormFactory]

Hm, maybe I'll make two.:)

Decisions, decisions, decisions...


John G.Can we do that?

[Tom Marshall]

You betcha. I'm trying to decide between a couple of story ideas. One's pretty much together, the other isn't but it intrigues me a bit more. Hm, maybe I'll make two.:)

Decisions, decisions, decisions...


John G.

I say go ahead and do both! :)

Either way, I think you've got a great film style and look forward to whatever you come up with... :)

[Kyle Stebbins]

I second all of that! You are truly an auter, my friend! I say enter both, without a doubt.

-Kyle

[jeremytuttle]

I second all of that! You are truly an auter, my friend! I say enter both, without a doubt.

-Kyle

Um.... Kyle, I'd hate to have to say this but... "Auter"... no, no, I think you mean... "Auteur", I mean honestly, I'm sick of your spelling mistakes. It has to stop, okay.:grin:

[jeremytuttle]

Here's a little tidbit to spark the creative juices (I can't remember where I read it, but it always comes in handy). Here it is:


We see Character A and Character B. The last person they want to see at the moment is Character C.

In walks Character C.



John G.

That is a great tidbit.

[cinealma]

Actually, "auter" really is a good description of me! :)

Thanks for the suport, guys. Drama is a lot more up my alley, so to speak. Heavy genre, for me, is a tough one. But human drama stories suit me quite nicely. I am definitely a writer first and foremost. If I don't make it as a filmmaker, I can always write. Short stories have always been my focus and I pretty much grew up chewing on O'Connor, Carver, Caldwell, Hemmingway, et. al.


John G.

[cinealma]

Here's another tidbit if you are looking for a little structure:

Use the "flash" fiction, or short-short, style of story writing. As with all stories, it "should" have a beginning, middle and end. But with a short short, or in this case, a 6 minute or less film, this is how you do it...

Start off with a bang. The audience doesn't have to know what the hell is going on. You just shove them right in the thick of it. Keep the tension rising and reveal only what you need to about setting. Then at the point of release, TWIST IT! Not out of left field, knock you upside your head kind of twisting. You have revealed enough for your audience to get a handle on it and say to themselves, "ok, I got it, now I know what to expect". Then you take them somewhere they weren't expecting, but in the end the audience will say, "boy, I didn't see that coming, but it makes sense".

You basically want to put the audience on a rollercoaster ride... you just get rid of the first big hill and send them PLUNGING down it right out of the gate. And just when they get used to the ride, you have one more big hill to plunge down at the end, or better yet, maybe a wicked triple loop!


Cheers,

John G.

[jeremytuttle]

Thanks for all the great advice John.

*bump*

[Kyle Stebbins]

Ah I appreciate the bump... I never thought this thread would stay afloat. =) And I'm sorry for the mispelling... man, and that was a word that Mark taught me... hahaha, he used it for me in the Variety report to describe me.

John - awesome to meet people with diff talents... writing is certainly not mine =)

Jeremy - I'm going to email this to you, I promise!
-kyle