Writing the Screenplay All you SEE All you

Writing the Screenplay All you SEE, All you HEAR ONLY

Writing Basic Differences vs. Screenplay

Novel Gardner (2003)

Novel TOUCH HEAR TASTE SMELL Imagination SEE

WRITE SOMETHING…!!!

WRITE SOMETHING…!!! ?

SEE HEAR Screenpl ay

Screenpl ay SEE HEAR Imagination

Other Differences (Camera Angles, how something is said, etc) Novel vs. Screenplay

Perfect Example: Script Said: “Talks to himself in mirror”

Modern Mediums for Story Telling NOVEL: STAGE PLAY : SCREEN PLAY: mainly internal thought & dialogue mainly verbal Interaction mainly images & action

Screen Play Rule #1 SHOW (don’t just) TELL the STORY “I just ran into a…. ”

SHOW IT “I just ran into a TREE…. ”

Show vs. Tell Are you SHOWING or TELLING…? Double Check in your: 1. Dialogue 2. Action (said, thought, came, sent, introduced, etc. can also be SHOWN. ) Psychology of the image

Tools for Showing = Images The Psychology of creating Powerful Images Emotional Memories

Emotional Memories Shock (for the moment) SHORT TERM MEMORY vs. Visceral Experience (emotional-based) LONG TERM MEMORY Shock here is short term

Shock vs. Emotional Memories Recovery, leads to extinction of the stimulus All three must be activated for a Visceral experience Visceral, one takes personal/emotion leads to even more sensitization of the stimulus

Emotional Memories SHOCK (for the moment) SHORT TERM MEMORY VISCERAL Sh oc k Experience (emotional-based) LONG TERM MEMORY Let’s look at some images that create a visceral experience, ones that hit our emotions

Suspense “Suspense is when the audience knows something the character in the film doesn’t…” - Alfred Hitchcock

Metaphors (ways to TELL the story) Symbolic synopsis X – Men: Having to hide who you are

The Story (the Sequence) Conspiracy 1. ) A woman is murdered 2. ) Husband is arrested 3. ) Girl friend finds proof he is guilty 4. ) She helps him in trial 5. ) He is acquitted 6. ) They go to Bahamas

The Story (the Sequence) Thriller/Suspense 1. ) A woman is murdered 2. ) Husband is arrested 3. ) Girlfriend helps him at trial 4. ) He is acquitted 5. ) They go to Bahamas 6. ) Girl friend finds proof he is guilty Can not stress the importance to look at your story in the context of sequence

The Story (the Sequence) Thriller/Suspense vs. Conspiracy SEQUENCE CAN CHANGE ATTRIBUTES OF CHARACTERS In the first scenario girlfriend is a guilty accomplice, in the second she is an innocent and now very vulnerable victim Can not stress the importance to look at your story in the context of sequence Many will spend a lot of time changing words Spend some time changing sequence – at least EXPLORE change of sequence in some of your scenes

The Story - Characters “A character is a collection of qualities. ” -Aristotle External Qualities – expressed in the midst of others examples: ethics & deceit Internal Qualities – what resides in the core of our personality examples: ambition & laziness External qualities are symptoms of the inner character. . for when you hear from critics…. your characters weren’t DEEP enough….

The Story - Characters Internal GUILT Internal Fallen External Internal EMPATHY HUMILITY Internal Modest Internal COMPASSION

The AUDIENCE Psychologically We move from feeling we are the best person in the world (smartest, sensible, clever, etc. ) to the worst person in the world. If we do this in real life, your story must ALSO give the same ‘roller coaster’ ride Otherwise your story is not as emotionally charged as one’s own experiences.

The Story Audiences LOVE & PSYCHOLOGICALLY NEED: To FEEL – live life not yet experienced or reliving life To THINK – figuring out the puzzle

Future Stories The influence of technology

Future Stories Cultural Tends…. also…. who is/will be making films. .

Future Stories Cultural Trends: film is now international…Think about a world-wide market when writing (characters, settings, etc)…and the technical delivery options now available

Future Stories Commercial Trends…. also…. It used to be only these guys:

Future Stories Commercial Tends…. also…. now you have….

The Story QUESTIONS…?