Sequencing : loving it!

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
Stemming from a post by KyleMD recently where he shared a 12 sequence approach to story structuring, I have taken what was previously an 8 sequence approach I started on a couple of weeks ago and been sequencing a horror story using the 12 sequence approach. I am loving this method. I had been using a beat sheet (10,20,10). But the sequence approach is really working well, with each sequence step having its own little paragraph (I color it blue) describing generically what the sequence should include (e.g. hero's ordinary world, antagonist takes over, climax, stakes raised, or moral dilemma introduced, etc); that helps me keep tightly focused on what beats and such to add to each sequence. In just a little under two weeks I am almost done with the sequencing, and what started out as almost a blank page has grown to 18 pages, about 12 pages of that pure scenes/beats, the rest being the blue colored sequence descriptions, some introductory notes describing the premise, arcs, theme, protagonist, antagonist, subplot, mentor, false ally-opponent, false opponent ally, and romantic interest. Thus it seems so natural, and will be almost effortless to segueway into a 12+ page treatment narrative for the next phase. Well, just commenting on an outline method that is working really great for me.
 
Sounds enticing would like to also give it a whirl where was the link to the origins of this method Randall?


DogDay..
 
Randall--

Sounds great!

FYI, there is another 12 sequence approach delineating the inner/emotional journey of the hero which I will post later tonight. Both are from that book you just ordered.
 
It was in Kyle's post near the end of that thread (Sold My Screenplay...). I think Kyle is going to post something about it here, but I will see if I can post the 12 sequence steps here soon too.

DogDay said:
Sounds enticing would like to also give it a whirl where was the link to the origins of this method Randall?
Click to expand...
 
Here is (attached) the 12 step sequence, Kyle might also post it in this thread too. It is also in his very long and popular thread "Sold My Screenplay", near the end of that thread from just a few days ago. Upload would only allow simple text file, or a PDF, so I attached it as a text file.

I also added in a few things of my own prior to the 12 sequences, that help me get clear on the premise, theme, protag, some other archetypes, etc.
 

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I am excited to get that book, it should help me tweak my 12 sequence structure that I have almost completed. It should arrive in a few days.
 
I am not comfortable sharing sequences of my story at this point (especially for billions of people to see), considering it is for a feature screenplay I have yet to develop and copyright, etc. But we could easily take a familiar film and slice it up into any of the 12 sequences to show how it works. Although I ended up just by a natural process perhaps writing more than I needed to for my sequences, the sequence bits just start to take on a life of their own as you start filling them in, sort of how a jig saw puzzle starts to take shape at an ever increasing pace as the pieces start to fit. But take a look at the 12 sequences, see if you can picture their essence for a few familiar movies/stories. (I just posted the 12 sequences here). The sequence approach sure made it fun developing a story, less pain and blood staring at a blank page!
~randall

10s said:
Any sample of this available for us without giving away your story?
Click to expand...
 
It's now posted on my SOLD IT thread--

The 12 Sequences for the INTERNAL STRUCTURE/Emotional Story
 
THE SEQUENCING METHOD is a great care-free structure tool that can be used in either 8 or 12 steps.

Either use often makes for a completely 100% tight structurally sound script.

EJ
 
EJ Pennypacker said:
THE SEQUENCING METHOD is a great care-free structure tool that can be used in either 8 or 12 steps.

Either use often makes for a completely 100% tight structurally sound script.

EJ
Click to expand...

Do you have a link to the 8 step method? It would be interesting to compare the two.
 
The book is Screenwriting is Storytelling by Kate Wright. Also, there's Paul Gulino's The Sequencing Approach, which everyone knows about already.

Sequencing is an awesome, indispensible tool for the screenwriter.

I've always hated software for screenplay development... but for the past few years I've used StoryView (Write Brothers, Inc) to create a visual ACT-SEQUENCE-SCENE layout for my projects--but only after completing the brainstorming, research, treatment, step outline phases on paper first.

And I use Dragon Naturally Speaking Voice Recognition software to put it into StoryView because I type sooooooo slowwwwwwwwly.

Titling each sequence gives me a clear goal of what needs to be accomplished and therefore I always know the story is advancing.
 
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All these books are investments in yourself as a screenwriter.

Each may add only a little bit to your overall approach or style but they're generally not a waste of time, especially the ones we've been talking about in this forum.

Story Sense by Paul Lucey
Power Screenwriting by Michael Walker
AFI Writing Great Screenplays by Dona Cooper
The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler
Writing Screenplays That Sell by Michael Hauge
Screenplay: Writing the Picture by Russin and Downs
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Story by Robert Mckee
Screenplay by Syd Field
How to Write High Structure High Concept Movies (& The Screenwriting Formula, 2nd book) by Rob Tobin
Blue Book Series & The Secrets of Action Screenwriting by W.C. Martell
The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps... Master Storyteller by John Truby
Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias
The Power of the Transformational Arc by Dara Marks
The Moral Premise by Stanley Williams
The Sequence Approach by Paul Gulino
Screenwriting is Storytelling by Kate Wright
 
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