Storytelling: The 6 Essential Questions
The “Writing for Screens” channel presents the most important questions for figuring out how to turn a chaos of ideas and feelings into a dramatic story.
The Key to Writing Action
Filmmaker Shane Stanley has a lot to say about writing for action and writing for budget. He touches on the benefits of table reads and over-writing.
Read the article at
https://www.stage32.com/blog/fall-in-love-with-filmmaking-again-the-key-to-writing-action-3406
Character Outlining Gets a Makeover
Don’t write a feature without getting to know your characters first! Perhaps you have a unique idea for a plot or situation, but the characters and their emotional journey are just as important. Take a look at this article on Stage 32 by Shannon K. Valenzuela to find out more.
https://www.stage32.com/blog/character-outlining-gets-a-makeover-2624
Writing Villains
Here’s a good discussion from episode 590 of Scriptnotes. John and Craig twirl their mustaches and discuss what motivates our villains. Why does past trauma lead some characters to become villains, while others become heroes? What separates good and evil, and what makes a villain great?
Storytelling in a comedy routine
Craig and John are joined by writer/comedian/actor Patton Oswalt in episode 589 of the Scriptnotes podcast. It’s fascinating to hear them break down the writing in one of Patton’s routines, beat by beat.
The Comedy Forms of the Princess Bride
Inconceivable! The latest episode of Writers/Blockbusters breaks down the comedy forms of Princess Bride. Take a listen!
https://anchor.fm/writersblockbusters/episodes/92—The-Princess-Bride-1987-e1uspeu
Scriptitude 2022 Recording Now on Youtube
The Rochester Association for Film Arts and Sciences is pleased to present this year’s Scriptitude winner, “Usurpation” by Rocket Ross. For this live online table read event, actors read the winning script, as well as a showcase of scripts from the Rochester Writers Workshop. We’d like to thank Script Studio for their continued sponsorship. Script Studio, the complete creative writing software package for screenwriters, playwrights and novelists. Check it out at https://www.Scriptstudio.Com.
Don’t miss the Scriptitude Live Online Event!
The Rochester Association for Film Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce this year’s Scriptitude winner, “Usurpation” by Rocket Ross.
For our live online table read event on December 15, 2022, actors will read the winning script. The other scripts read this evening will be selections from members of the Rochester Writers Workshop.
Click for the live stream at https://rafasny.org/scriptitude-live/
ABOUT RAFAS
The Rochester Association for Film Arts & Sciences, Inc. (RAFAS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational corporation dedicated to independent film makers, high school students and college students that wish to improve their skills in all aspects of filmmaking and to create a sense of community and a platform for learning through special events.
www.rafasny.org
ABOUT THE ROCHESTER WRITERS WORKSHOP
Since 2008, the Writers Workshop has met every other week as a forum for table reads, discussion, suggestions, constructive critique and education.
www.rwwny.org
ABOUT SCRIPT STUDIO
Script Studio® is creative writing software for screenwriters, playwrights and novelists that helps you plan your story outline, develop characters, structure your narrative and professionally format your movie script, stage play, TV show or manuscript. Find out more at www.scriptstudio.com
RWW Educational Series: Reboot A TV Series
See if you’ve got what it takes to write a TV Pilot! We’re turning the Rochester Writers Workshop into a writers’ room for several upcoming meetings. We plan to dedicate the first segment of our online get-togethers to a reboot challenge.
So far, we’ve decided on a show: GILLIGAN’S ISLAND. It can take place on the ocean, on an alien planet, whatever you like. It can be sitcom or drama, 22 minutes, 44 minutes, or other.
PREMISE: A disparate group of people – a microcosm – are stranded and must find ways to work together to survive. Their goal is to get home.
STORY FOR THE PILOT EPISODE:
Set up who the characters are, and how they got stranded, and what is the nature of their new world. They must first struggle for food and shelter. What are th obstacles othat stand in the way of their goal? Ultimately, by the end of the first episode, they must move (perhaps in a small way) from being individuals to working as a team.
MESSAGE OF THE SHOW: Live together, die alone.
WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP? Write a one-page treatment in paragraph form, general thoughts on what will happen in the pilot script.
NEXT? Outline that first episode. What happens in each scene? Write it out in paragraph or bullet-point format.
We’ll be going over outlines in the next few weeks. It’s not too late to jump in!
The REBOOT A TV SERIES continues this week. Join the Zoom link here.
As always, we continue to welcome other original script pages to be read at meetings.
