Writing A Screenplay: What Happens Next?

September 3rd, 2010 No Comments

Screenwriting Screenplay Blog Screenplay Titles

I’m working away at my new feature script and I’m nearing the end quickly. I’ve reached the point where I definitely know the I want the story to go.  I just needed a good great way to get there.

My outline has provided me with a fantastic road map but I’ve never been a fan of writing every single detail in advance.  I like to discover the little details of a story as I write.

So I asked myself…

What happens next?

It’s one of the most exciting questions a screenwriter can ask.  The question causes you to lean back in your seat and answer:

What does happen next?

The question can be intimidating but I find it exciting.  I can make up whatever I want and if I don’t like it?  I can make something else up.

The trick is to follow up What Happens Next with:

How can I make my script more interesting?

More entertaining?

So I left my office and retreated to my living room couch with my notes in hand.  I knew the broad strokes to the remaining 30 pages or so.  I just needed to iron out the little details.

It was time to answer the question.

The process is inspiring. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about these characters and the decisions come naturally now.  I know their motivations and no choice I made conflicts with who they are.

Within an hour I had no longer had to answer What Happens Next…

It’s time to challenge myself to make my screenplay as interesting and entertaining as possible.

Back to work.

Read More »

Movies That Changed Everything: There Will Be Blood

September 2nd, 2010 No Comments

Movies That Changed Everything: There Will Be Blood

I’m an aspiring filmmaker.  Like every filmmaker out there, I have a lengthy list of films that have inspired me along the way.  This series will examine twelve of the films that changed the way I looked at movies forever.  Films that have greatly influenced the filmmaker I hope to become someday…

There Will Be Blood

Daniel Day Lewis Daniel Plainview There Will Be Blood

Character is king.

If you can create a character strong enough to carry a film practically alone you are a gifted and talented storyteller.

This is what I strive to be.

It’s easy to set your goals high when you have movies like There Will Be Blood to turn to for inspiration.  Paul Thomas Anderson created an incredible screenplay based on (what I’m assuming is) an equally incredible novel.

There Will Be Blood feeds my constant need to feel inspired. To be excited about telling stories.

It’s addictive.

Daniel Plainview is a fascinating character and thanks to Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance, he will surely go down as one of the best characters in film history.  However, the story doesn’t rely only on it’s main character.  The entire world is unique and interesting.  I love the quiet pacing of the film and the way it portrays the oil industry.  Everything about this movie is inspiring in subtle but profound ways.

I truly feel like an amazing group of artists got together and created something legendary with this film.

The perfect storm.

Daniel Day Lewis Daniel Plainview There Will Be Blood Paul Thomas Anderson

Yet it’s the character that I keep coming back to.Watching Mr. Plainview descend deeper and deeper into darkness is an unreal journey to witness.  Every single time I see it, it makes me want to sit down and create something new and original.  It makes me want to be a better writer.

It makes me want to really put the work in and develop a complex character.This is no easy task.  Still, continually putting in the effort is inspiring enough.  Just the thought of creating someone like Daniel Plainview keeps me going.  It keeps me typing.  It keeps my imagination running wild.  The possibilities are endless.

It’s easy to say There Will Be Blood changed the way I looked at movies.  This brilliant film literally changed the way I think about film and my entire approach to writing interesting characters.

Effort.  Creativity.  Fun.

These are the elements that keep me glued to the screen.

Blank pages beware.

Read More »

Era 7: A Screenwriter Evolves

September 1st, 2010 No Comments

Era 7: A Screenwriter Evolves

September 1st.

My personal screenwriting year end.

It’s an extremely important date on my calendar because it gives me a chance to reflect on what I’ve accomplished and set some goals for the new year.

This will be the seventh anniversary of this holiday and I consider it a new era.

Era 7 has begun.

It sounds strange to number each era but I feel like each year should be a leap forward.

New year.  New goals.

It’s time to evolve.

Like every September 1st, I go back and review literally everything I’ve written as well as everything I didn’t.  This year is especially important because I really didn’t write that much.  I spent a lot of the last year and a half being a director with Playing Through completed and The Climb in post.

Sadly, directing those films in addition to my career left me with little to no time to write.

Until a few months ago when we wrapped The Climb.

I suddenly realized I had regained my free time.  Screenwriting had returned and with it, a new focus.

Era 7 is going to be my most productive to date. You can only truly call yourself a writer if you shut up, sit down and write screenplays.

Before I get to next year, it was time to reflect on the previous 12 months.

Like I said, I didn’t write much but that doesn’t mean I wrote nothing at all.  I finished a number of short film scripts and put a serious dent into my latest feature script.  I also went back and rewrote some old scripts to get them ready for potential competitions.

It’s been a while since I entered a screenwriting competition and it’s time to put myself out there again.

I’ve spent the last few weeks finishing up old projects and I started writing a series of shorts I’m thinking could work well as a web series.

Now it’s time to focus more on my feature screenplays. I haven’t finished one in a while and it’s time I fixed that problem.

Era 7 will be the year of the feature screenplay.  I couldn’t be more excited.

I’ve got 3 stories I’m planning on writing this year and I’ve never been more committed to creating entertaining scripts.

My goal for Era 8 is to be able to look back on my accomplishments and be proud of the work I’ve done this coming year.

There’s a lot to do but I feel like I’m a screenwriter again.

When it comes to being passionate about something, it doesn’t get any better than screenwriting for me.

Bring on Era 7.

Read More »

10 Flicks: Character Driven Movies

August 30th, 2010 No Comments

10 Flicks: Movies That Explore One Character

Character studies.  Character analysis. 

Character driven movies…

Movies that explore one character’s rise and/or fall fascinate me. 

Movies with interesting and iconic characters that reasonate are incredible achievement.  Every movie fan has a different connection to these powerful characters and that’s what makes them unique. 

Everyone relates differently.  Everyone has a favorite. 

At the end of the day, movies that focus on one character’s life and the challenges they encounter are truly works of art. 

Here are 10 of my favorites:

Cast Away

Chuck Noland

 

Into The Wild

Chris McCandless

Scarface

Tony Montana

Click image to view trailer

Scarface Character Driven Movies

Taxi Driver

Travis Bickle

Rocky

Rocky Balboa

Forest Gump

Forest Gump

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

R.P McMurphy

Kill Bill

The Bride

There Will Be Blood

Daniel Plainview

Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire

Read More »

Dexter & Screenwriting

August 30th, 2010 No Comments

Dexter & Screenwriting

I’m currently reading the first DEXTER novel by Jeff Lindsay: Darkly Dreaming Dexter.

It’s a fantastic book. 

I’ve already got the second installment on standby and I can’t wait to read more about one of my favorite characters.

Obviously, I’m also a gigantic fan of the Showtime series based on the beloved serial killer.

For 4 years now, I’ve been completely engrossed in that show.  It’s unbelievable how good it is if you have yet to see it.  I know I don’t have to explain how amazing it is to those that have.

It literally gets better and better with each successful season.  I’m still shocked at how season 4 ended. 

It was one of the most entertaining hours of television I’ve ever seen!

This blog is normally slanted more towards the film industry and the movies that inspire me but there is no shortage of inspiring tales on the tube.  The last 5-7 years have been especially gratifying with shows like Lost, Prison Break, True Blood and Mad Men grabbing a stranglehold of my imagination.

Dexter is number 1 on that list.

For me it’s all about the writing.  The writing on that show is incredible.  Each new episode is so unique, original and clever.  It’s just damn good writing and I have a high level of respect for that team.

They are constantly challenging  themselves to write Dexter into corners and lead him into inescapable situations.  Just when you think they can’t think of a plausible way to get out of it they hit you over the head with a solution you never even thought of.  That group of writers must love going to work everyday.

I’m thankful Dexter exists.

dexter & screenwriting

Last week, I was riding the subway on my way to work reading my Dexter novel.  I had a moment of inspiration just like I would if I were watching the latest jaw dropping episode.  Except this time it wasn’t the ideas and the execution (pun intended) that inspired me. 

It was the language, the subtleties and the detail.

The world of Dexter is so well developed that it’s hard not to marvel at the genius of it.

It got me thinking more about word selection and precise and interesting descriptions.  I started thinking about the newest short screenplay I’ve been rewriting the last few weeks.

In that moment, as I sat on that train, my book lowered and I made a decision.

This week, I’ve challenged myself to improve the language of my screenplay.  So I’ve decided to print it out and write from scratch keeping only the absolute best of the previous draft.  The story is out there but now it’s my responsibility to make sure that it’s well told and as entertaining as possible.

I live for moments of inspiration.

Whether it’s a novel, a television series or a film, I’m always on the look out for hidden moments that kick start my need to write.

And I love to write.

PS: I’m beyond excited for Dexter Season 5!

The Athletic Nerd Screenwriting Blog

Read More »
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Subscribe to RSS Feed Follow me on Twitter!

Featuring Recent Posts Wordpress Widget development by YD