TheSchererJoyOfWriting

ACT I: Orphan/Loaner/Disunity

2012-03-03T15:49:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned last week, I am a proponent of the Four Act Structure. You can call them acts Act I, Act II, Act III and Act IV, or Act I, Act IIa, Act IIb and Act III. Doesn’t matter. What does matter are the functions of each of these ‘segments’ and that is what I intend to discuss over the next few weeks starting with...

ACT I: Orphan/Loaner/Disunity

Why orphan, loaner and disunity? Good question. Here’s my take. When we first meet our hero, she has a problem, but doesn’t yet know it, or if she does know it, has chosen to ignore it. The Ordinary World is where the hero goes through life fat, dumb and happy.

Family and friends and even strangers may tell your hero she has a problem, but she ignores them. This is usually a scene early in the script where the theme of the movie is stated. Then, something happens.

And that something will be the catalyst that opens your hero’s eyes to the fact that they do have a problem and, of course, they will ignore that something. Friends and family will debate the situation with the hero and she will have a debate with herself. But, until the stakes become high enough, she will Refuse the Call.

Now things get really bad. Your hero will come to a Turning Point. They will meet with a predicament; they will find themselves faced with a situation that, when all is said and done, she will end up being kicked out of her Ordinary World. She will be alone, physically; emotionally; and psychologically making her an physical, emotional, psychological orphan. Her life will be in a shambles, disrupted -- she will be in a state of disunity. All this leads your hero into

ACT II: Wanderer/Explorer/Deconstruction

Keep Writing!

The Four Act Structure

2012-02-25T14:48:00.004-08:00

Over the past few years I have read dozens of books on screenwriting, searched hundreds of Web pages for tips and techniques, and spent a lot of time just plain THINKING (another excuse not to write). I have looked at the three, four, and nine act structures. Sequencing methods (anywhere from 8 to 16). The Hero’s Journey. Blake Snyder’s Beat Sheet, et-cetera, et-cetera, et-cetera.

What I have settled on, and what works for me, is a hybrid of the Four Act Structure and the Sequence Method. The template I use follows:

ACT I – The Loner

Sequence #1 ( 01-10) Setup: Protagonist In The Ordinary World
Sequence #2 ( 11-20) Call to Adventure / Predicament / Inciting Incident
Sequence #3 (21-30) Turing Point: Change Of Plans / New Lower Obstacles

ACT II – The Wanderer

Sequence #4 ( 31-40) Elaborating on the Dilemma and The World of Story
Sequence #5 ( 41-50) Hero encounters TESTS, ALLIES, and ENEMIES.
Sequence #6 (51-60) Point Of No Return / Discovery Of False Goal

ACT III – Towards The True Goal: The Warrior Phase

Sequence #7 ( 61-70) Complications, Higher Stakes, And Subplots
Sequence #8 ( 71-80) Culmination Toward The Main Plot
Sequence #9 (81-90 ) All Hope Is Lost

ACT IV – Result Of The Action: The Martyr

Sequence #10 ( 91-95 ) Final Push Toward The Main Plot
Sequence #11 ( 96-100) False Resolution (The Twist)
Sequence #12 (101-105) Final Test of Character and True Resolution
Sequence #13 (106-110) Final Confrontation
Sequence #14 (111-115) Climax

That’s it. Comments?

Keep Writing.

The Five Stages of Grief

2012-02-18T06:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, so far we have discussed how your character should work her way through FEAR and CHANGE. By allowing your character to experience these stages of Fear and Change she is well on her way to completing her Arc. But what if you character loses a loved one or experiences a devastating event, an event so powerful it leads to Grief? You guessed it – she must journey through the Five Stages of Grief.

1. Denial or the “this can’t be happening to me syndrome”. Your character looks for their loved one in familiar places, or sets the table in hopes they return. There’s no crying – no acceptance – no acknowledgement of the loss.

2. When reality begins to set in, your character will become angry –”why me?” Sometimes they may even feel the need to fight back. They get angry at the deceased, blaming them for leaving.

3. Bargaining often takes place next. Your character may attempt to make deals with the spouse who is leaving, or attempt to make deals with God to stop or change the loss. Begging, wishing, praying for them to come back.

4. Depression-overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, self pity, mourning loss of person as well as the hopes, dreams and plans for the future will overwhelm your Hero. They might feel a lack of control, feel numb. Perhaps, even feel suicidal.

5. Finally, there’s acceptance. Your Hero must accept the loss, not just try to bear it quietly. She must realize that – in the case of divorce — it takes two to make or break a marriage. Or realize that the person, who has left them, possibly in death, is gone and that it was not their fault. Your character’s goal should turn toward personal growth – she stays with fond memories of person.

There it is. The third leg of your character’s Arc. Use all three – but at least two — to add dimension to your character.

Next I will show you how and where I use these stages in writing your scripts.

Keep Writing!

New Screenwriting Forum: Shmucks With Underwoods

2012-02-12T05:03:00.000-08:00

Wanted to let you know I have decided to open a new screenwriting forum over on Proboards.com. The new forum is titled: Shmucks With Underwoods and is located at:
http://www.shmuckswithunderwood.proboards.com/

Here are the initial ‘boards’ I will be offering:

1. The Art of Screenwriting
            a. Plotting
            b. Characters
            c. Dialogue
            d. Description
            e. Loglines

2. The Business of Screenwriting
            a. Agents
            b. Managers
            c. Producers

3. Writing Critique
            a. Scripts For Review
            b. Acts For Review
            c. Scenes For Review

4. Screenwriting Challenges (down the road)

5. General
            a. Introduce Yourself
            b. Screenwriting Books
            c. Screenwriting Software
            d. What’s On Your Mind?

This will be a site very similar to the old GITS Club message board, so if you miss the old forum, or miss the old gang, please stop by, take a look around (although, being new, there is precious little to see) and register. Help Shumucks With Underwoods be the premier forum for screenwriters at all levels of skill, accomplishment and experience.

Keep Writing!!

The Five Stages of Change (Character Arc)

2012-02-12T04:51:00.000-08:00

All screenwriters are aware of Character Arc – moving their protagonist from flawed hero to a new and improved human being. But how? What is the path from flawed to ‘fixed’? Try The Five Stages of Change.

1. This stage is comparable to the Hero’s normal world of ACT I – the Hero has a problem but doesn’t know he has a problem.

2. The second stage corresponds to the Inciting Incident / Call to Adventure of Act I. The Hero is aware that a problem exists and is seriously thinking about overcoming it but has not yet made a commitment to take action.

3. The third stage combines intention and behavior. Hero deliberates on his dilemma / perceived Need.
4. Action is the hallmark of stage four. The Hero confronts his internal needs/flaws.

5. Maintenance stage. The Hero must not relapse. He should consolidate the gains/changes made during stage four.

Try using the Five Stages of Change to help move your Hero along his Character Arc.

Keep Writing!

Five Steps Your Character Must Take To Overcome Fear

2012-02-05T07:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, your protagonist’s Ordinary World has been shaken to its very foundation for whatever reason: framed for murder, kidnapped family member, break up of a marriage. You fill in the blank.

Is your Hero afraid? Scared?

Of course she is, but the all important question now is this: how does she deal with that fear? How does she deal with her new problem, complete her character arc, and get to the end of the story safe and sound?

The simple answer is: She must handle that fear.

But how?

Your character must take these five steps to navigate through that fear:

1. Your Hero must edge forward into the story and take small steps to confront her fear. The New World your protagonist finds herself in will seem overwhelming at first and will more than likely trigger a flight or fight response. Reign in these urges and don’t let your Hero take too large a step right from the git-go.

2. Get your Hero some concrete and positive motivation. Here is where your Mentor or Love Interest can play an important part in pushing your Hero in the right direction and forcing her to realize she needs to do something, anything.

3. Of course your Hero will not succeed the first time in solving her story problem or confronting her fear, so let her see failure and rejection in a new light. This is generally around the mid-point when your Hero discovers she has been chasing the FALSE Goal. But this is good. Failure often reveals the TRUE Goal.

4. Keep your Hero in the NOW. What does this mean? It means keep your Hero focused on the current problem. Don’t let your Hero’s thoughts and emotions run away to the future or back to the past. Keep your Hero’s eyes on the prize. The TRUE Goal.

5. Finally, your Hero will be ready and able to redefine herself and her world and overcome her fears. Her arc will be complete.
Give It a shot – work these steps into your Hero’s story — add dimension to your characters and to their character arcs and always,

Keep Writing!

Moving the blog....

2009-12-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

Hey there my two or three faithful followers.... just wanted to let you know my blog has moved to: http://www.schererjoyofwriting.com/

Stop by. Bookmark me (ouch!)... leave a comment.

Keep Writing!

Script Sales September '09

2009-10-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

Total: 72


GENRE                TYPE          STUDIO        PROD CO.
ROM COM              SPEC          N/A           Lichter, Grossman, 
Action Adventure     Sequel        20TH Century  Weed Road Pictures
Action               Adaptation    N/A           Impact Pictures
Comedy               SPEC          N/A           Cross Creek Pictures
Crime Drama          SPEC          N/A           Cross Creek Pictures
Crime Drama          True Story    N/A           Cross Creek Pictures
Action Sci-Fi        ADAPTATION    WARNER BROS.  SILVER PICTURES
Drama                SPEC          N/A           Parallel Pict.             
Comedy               spec          20th Century  New Regency Productions
Coming of Age        adaptation    N/A           Parallel Pictures
Drama                adaptation    N/A           Lionsgate
Thriller Spy         spec          N/A           Relativity Media
Coming of Age        adaptation    N/A           Right of Way Films
Drama                adaptation    N/A           N/A
Action Horror        spec          Columbia Pict Broken Road Productions
Drama Teen           assignment    N/A           Mandate Pictures
Drama                adaptation    N/A           Independent producer
ROM COM              Assignment    N/A           Single Cell Pictures
Crime Thriller       adaptation    N/A           Yellow Bird
Crime Thriller       adaptation    N/A           Yellow Bird
Crime Thriller       adaptation    N/A           Yellow Bird
Crime Thriller       adaptation    N/A           Yellow Bird
Crime Thriller       adaptation    N/A           Yellow Bird
Crime Thriller       adaptation    N/A           Yellow Bird
Drama                adaptation    N/A           Lakeshore Entertainment 
Comedy               spec          N/A           This is That
Thriller Super       Pitch         N/A           Kimmel Entertainment
Comedy Dark          adaptation    N/A           Park Ex Pictures
Drama Sports         True Story    N/A           DHX Media
Drama Bio            adaptation    N/A           RLF Victor Productions
Drama Bio            True Story    N/A           Branded Pictures 
Drama                adaptation    20th Century  Blossom Films
Thriller Super       Sequel        N/A           Davis Films Productions
ROM COM              spec          N/A           Company Films
Drama Historical     Rewrite       Dreamworks    N/A
Fantasy              adaptation    Universal     Wild West Picture Show 
Action               adaptation    N/A           Platinum Studios
Horror               adaptation    Fox 2000      Scott Free Productions 
Sci Fi Action        Rewrite       Dreamworks    ImageMovers
Horror               Remake        N/A           West Productions
Comedy               Rewrite       New Line Cin. Rat Entertainment
Drama Satirical      adaptation    Miramax Films Shondaland
Drama                True Story    N/A           Fort Hill Productions
Drama Mafia          True Story    N/A           Independent producer
Drama                adaptation    N/A           Focus Features
Comedy Sports        Spec          Universal     Imagine Entertainment
Thriller Heist       adaptation    N/A           XYZ Films 
Drama                Sequel        Warner Bros.  N/A
Drama Adventure      True Story    N/A           Junction Entert.
Comedy Fantasy       spec          N/A           Walden Media
Drama                adaptation    Columbia Pict Ziskin Productions
Thriller             Pitch         Dreamworks    Kurtzman/Orci
Drama Cop            spec          n/a           Lionsgate
Action Fantasy       Rights        Columbia Pict Escape Artists
Drama Rom Com        Rights        Universal     Mark Productions
Sci Fi Horror        Remake        20th Century  n/a
horror super         spec          n/a           ghost house pics
action               adaptation    n/a           platinum studios
action               sequel        columbia pics arad productions
drama                adaptation    n/a           studio hamburg
Family Action        sequel        Dimension     N/A
Thriller             spec          CBS Films     N/A
Thriller             spec          n/a           Gold Circle Films
Drama                Remake        Warner Bros.  Thunder Road Films
Comedy Tragedy       Spec          n/a           Tornasol Films
Thriller             Spec          n/a           Relativity Media
Family               adaptation    n/a           HIT Movies
Romance Supernat     adaptation    n/a           Unique Features
Drama                adaptation    n/a           Temple Hill Productions
Thriller             Remake        n/a           Mandate Pictures
Thriller             Spec          n/a           CBS Films

Keep Writing!

Trick of the Trade

2009-10-01T03:50:00.001-07:00

For those few faithful readers out there in cyber-space who use Final Draft to compose their great American screenplays I want to share with you a trick I learned all by my lonesome. I can claim this as my own because I have never, ever seen/heard/read anyone else describing this.

During rewrites I check and double check a whole host of items to insure my screenplay is crisp/clean/and free of misspellings. Final Draft is a great tool for writers, however, the spell checker really sucks! No offense to the good folks over at Final Draft, but it is a fact. Which brings me to a useful trick:

Save your screenplay in RTF – Rich Text Format – then open that RTF file using Microsoft Word side-by-side with your screenplay in Final Draft.

Voila!

You will find – at least this has been my experience because I am, in fact a terable speler – anywhere from eight (8) to twelve (12) misspelled words that Final Draft missed. As you uncover these words in Word, fix them in the Final Draft version.

Give it shot – what do you have to lose? And then let me know what you think and/or share some of your writing tips and tricks.

Keep Writing!

LABOR of love DAY

2009-09-08T06:14:00.001-07:00

Hope you had a great Labor Day Weekend. Three days off from work --- way not enough time off ;-)

Spent most of Labor Day revising another script and coming up with a new title. Titles, I am finding out, are important when sending your material out to be read. The title has to grab your reader. Make them WANT to read your logline, then read your script. To illustrate my point I will share with you how I have changed my titles.

TURNABOUT is a thriller in the vein of Day of the Jackal. But, the title kind’a just sits there. Now TURNABOUT is BOOMSLANG. What’s a Boomslang? Ask for the script and find out.

Another example, another thriller. METAMORPHOSIS is in the vein of Falling Down. How an average guy turns into a lethal killer. Again, the title is not very interesting. Now METAMORPHOSIS is titled: SCORPIO CRUISE.

How do you handle your titles? Do they describe your story? Are they mysterious? Do they evoke curiosity? Let me know. Titles are important.

Keep Writing!

Sunday Morning Coming Down

2009-09-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

It’s 11:35 AM on a Sunday morning and I have just finished rewriting my latest spec, CARDINAL SIN. And I gotta tell ya, I could sit here all day and write.

I’m at my local Panera Bread – got here when they opened at 07:30 AM – in my favorite booth. Seems writing away from home works better for me. Can’t say why for sure. Too many distractions. Too many interruptions. But somehow – when I’m here – I’m in ‘The Zone’.

Where do you write? Why do you write where you do? Are you productive?

And with tomorrow being a holiday – five more hours of uninterrupted writing time. Tomorrow I will start another rewrite. This time on my spec, QUMRAN, now titled THE TOMBS OF QUMRAN. More on that later.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and,

Keep Writing!

Script Sales: August '09

2009-09-03T02:55:00.000-07:00

There were 90 script sales in August.


GENRE                TYPE          STUDIO               PROD CO.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Action               Adaptation    N/A                  Mandeville Films
Action               Sequel        20th Century Fox     Seed Productions
Action               Spec          N/A                  Nu Image/Millennium
Action               Sequel        N/A                  Nu Image
Action               Sequel        Columbia Pictures    N/A
Action               Assignment    Paramount Pictures   Bad Robot
Action               Adaptation    N/A                  Prime Universe Prod
Action               Rewrite       20th Century Fox     N/A
Action Adventure     Adaptation    Warner Bros. Pic     Callahan Filmworks
Action Adventure     Pitch         Paramount Pictures   Atlas Entertainment
Action Adventure     Sequel        Sony Pictures        N/A
Action Adventure     Remake        Warner Bros. Pict    Legendary Pictures
Action Adventure     Sequel        Columbia Pictures    N/A
Action Adventure     Adaptation    N/A                  Bruckheimer Films
Action Comedy        Spec          Columbia Pictures    Rip Cord Productions
Action Drama         Pitch         Sony Pictures        Apartment 3B
Action Supernatural  Adaptation    Universal Pictures   Dark Horse Enter
Action Thriller      Sequel        Universal Pictures   Kennedy/Marshall Co.
Adventure            Adaptation    DreamWorks Pictures  N/A
Comedy               Turnaround    N/A                  Alcon Entertainment
Comedy               Spec          Universal Pictures   Big Kid Pictures
Comedy               Spec          Universal Pictures   Principato-Young En.
Comedy               Spec          N/A                  Vanguard Films
Comedy               Spec          N/A                  Montecito Picture Co.
Comedy               Adaptation    N/A                  Screen Gems
Comedy               Sequel        Sony Pictures        Wayans Brothers Prod
Comedy               Adaptation    N/A                  StudioLine Enter.
Comedy               Assignment    Warner Bros. Pic     De Line Pictures
Comedy               Pitch         Paramount Pictures   This American Life
Comedy               True Story    Columbia Pictures    Happy Madison Prod
Comedy               Adaptation    Warner Bros. Pict    N/A
Comedy Drama         Adaptation    Fox 2000             N/A
Comedy Sports        Spec          N/A                  Friendly Films
Coming of Age        Adaptation    N/A                  Focus Features
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  Foster Productions
Drama                Assignment    N/A                  Mpower Pictures
Drama                Polish        N/A                  Overnight Productions
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  Superb Entertainment
Drama                Spec          N/A                  Death Row Films
Drama                Rewrite       Warner Bros. Pict    Di Novi Pictures
Drama                Option        N/A                  Conquering Lion Pic
Drama                Rewrite       Warner Bros. Pict    Di Novi Pictures
Drama                Spec          N/A                  Groundswell Films
Drama                Spec          N/A                  Feet Films
Drama Action         Pitch         Warner Bros. Pict    Atlas Entertainment
Drama Bio            Adaptation    Universal Pictures   821 Entertainment
Drama Bio            Adaptation    Walt Disney Pict     N/A
Drama Bio            True Story    N/A                  Independent producer
Drama Bio            Pitch         N/A                  Legendary Pictures
Drama Bio            True Story    N/A                  Habourton Enter.
Drama Bio            True Story    N/A                  Permut Presentat
Drama Crime          Adaptation    N/A                  Wonderful Films
Drama Crime          Pitch         N/A                  EuropaCorp
Drama Dark           Adaptation    N/A                  Optimum Releasing
Drama Historical     Spec          N/A                  Kingsgate Films, Inc.
Drama Music          Adaptation    Warner Bros. Pict    PorterGeller Enter.
Drama Romance        Adaptation    N/A                  Scarlet Fire Enter.
Drama Sports         Adaptation    N/A                  Greif Company
Drama Sports         True Story    N/A                  BellTower Films
Fairy Tale           Adaptation    Miramax Films        N/A
Family               Adaptation    Fox Searchlight      Ad Hominem Enterprise
Family               Adaptation    20th Century Fox     J. Pistor Productions
Fantasy              Remake        Walt Disney Pictures ImageMovers
Fantasy Action       Adaptation    N/A                  Vanguard Films
Fantasy Dark         Adaptation    N/A                  72 Productions
Horror               Remake        New Line Cinema      Contrafilm
Horror               Adaptation    N/A                  Appian Way
Musical              Remake        20th Century Fox     Seed Productions
Rom Com              Assignment    Warner Bros. Pict    De Line Pictures
Rom Com              Pitch         Universal Pictures   N/A
Rom Com              Spec          N/A                  Overture Films, LLC
Romance              Spec          Columbia Pictures    Imagine Entertainment
Satire               Adaptation    N/A                  Quote-Unquote Films
Sci Fi               Adaptation    Universal Pictures   Scott Free Prod.
Sci Fi               Adaptation    N/A                  De Laurentiis Company
Sci Fi               Adaptation    N/A                  Radiant Productions
Sci Fi               Adaptation    N/A                  Vanguard Films
Sci Fi               Adaptation    N/A                  Dahlia Street Films
Sci Fi               Remake        Warner Bros. Pict    Hollywood Gang Prod
Sci Fi               Pitch         Universal Pictures   Rat Entertainment
Sci Fi               Adaptation    DreamWorks Pictures  Bay Films
Sci Fi               Remake        N/A                  Creep Entertainment
Supernatural         Remake        DreamWorks Pictures  Motion Picture Corp.
Thriller             Adaptation    Fox 2000             Film Rites
Thriller             Pitch         N/A                  Phoenix Pictures
Thriller             Adaptation    N/A                  Furthur Films
Thriller Crime       Turnaround    N/A                  Time Inc. Studios
Thriller Psychologic Turnaround    N/A                  Morgan Creek Prod.
Thriller Supernat    Spec          N/A                  Film Department
Western              Adaptation    N/A                  CBS Films

Keep Writing!

Script Sales August '09 - By Genre and Type

2009-09-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

Script Sales By Genre

Script Sales By Type

My take is this, if a writer creates an original script and then is hired to direct it, that constitutes a spec sale.

Keep Writing!

R.I.P. John Hughes

2009-08-06T14:38:00.001-07:00

Another shocker. Hollywood legend John Huges passed away today from a heart attack while taking a walk. He was 59. Mr. Hughes gave us the films Home Alone, Beethoven, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

What a loss!

Joe Eszterhas Alert

2009-08-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite screenwriters, screenwriting teachers, and all around characters – if you haven’t read Hollywood Animal or The Devil’s Guide to Hollywood: The Screenwriter as God you really should – is writing a new screenplay, his first since 2006. Here is what Done Deal Pro had to say:

Title: Untitled Guadalupe Project
Logline: The virgin of Guadalupe, a vision that appeared to the Aztec peasant Juan Diego in 1531, is credited with helping to spread Catholicism at a time of economic and social turmoil in the country. Diego is eventually canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic church.
Writer: Joe Eszterhas
Prod. Co: Mpower Pictures
Genre: Drama
Logged: 8/5/2009
More: Assignment. Steve McEveety will produce.

Anyway, looks like Joe ’still got game’.

Keep Writing

Script Sales by Type: July ‘09

2009-08-03T15:53:00.001-07:00

Okay, I realize there has been plenty of chatter about the state of the spec script market. My take is this, if a writer creates an original script and then is hired to direct it, that constitutes a spec sale. Consequently, I am declaring there were twenty (20) spec sales in July. Of course I could be way off base here — mileage may vary — batteries not included.

Script Sales by Genre

Script Sales by Type

Keep Writing!

Script Sales : July ‘09

2009-08-03T15:27:00.000-07:00


Genre                Type             Studio              Prod Co.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action               Adaptation    Columbia Pictures    Atlas Entert
Action               Rewrite       Walt Disney Pict     Idealogy, Inc
Action               Spec          Warner Bros. Pictu   Misher Films
Action               Adaptation    Universal Pictures   di Bonaventura
Action               Adaptation    Paramount Pictures   Revolution Studios
Action               Pitch         Sony Pictures        Arad Productions
Action               Sequel        Sony Pictures        Marvel Studios, Inc
Action Adventure     Adaptation    N/A                  Mirage Studios
Action Adventure     Pitch         N/A                  Spirit Pictures
Action Comedy        Adaptation    N/A                  Foster Productions
Action Comedy        Adaptation    N/A                  Alcon Entertainment
Action Drama         Adaptation    N/A                  Convergence Entert
Action Supernatural  Adaptation    N/A                  Valhalla Motion Pictures
Action Thriller      Adaptation    Sony Pictures        Atlas Entertainment
Action Thriller      True Story    Universal Pictures   Captivate Entertainment
Comedy               Adaptation    N/A                  Permut Presentations
Comedy               Option        Warner Bros.         N/A
Comedy               Pitch         20th Century Fox     Seed Productions
Comedy               Pitch         N/A                  Mandate Pictures
Comedy               Rewrite       Paramount Pictures   Contrafilm
Comedy               Spec          N/A                  CBS Films
Comedy               Spec          N/A                  Kimmel Entertainment
Comedy               Spec          N/A                  Lionsgate International
Comedy               Spec          Warner Bros.         Green Hat Films
Comedy               Pitch         N/A                  Mandate Pictures
Comedy               Spec          N/A                  Mandate Pictures
Comedy Adventure     Adaptation    N/A                  Relativity Media
Comedy Drama         Sequel        N/A                  Working Title Films
Comedy Road          Spec          Fox Searchlight      Ad Hominem Enterprises
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  BBC Films
Drama                Adaptation    Universal Pictures   Original Film
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  Caspian Pictures
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  Smuggler Films
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  Alfama Films
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  Independent producer(s)
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  Independent producer(s)
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  Denver and Delilah Films
Drama                Spec          N/A                  Olive Productions
Drama                Spec          N/A                  Overnight Productions
Drama                Adaptation    N/A                  EON Productions
Drama                Spec          Universal Pictures   Double Feature Films
Drama                Spec          N/A                  Our Stories Films
Drama                Turnaround    N/A                  Screen Gems
Drama Bio            Pitch         Columbia Pictures    Broken Road Prod
Drama Bio            True Story    N/A                  Gotham Group
Drama Bio            True Story    N/A                  J.A. Media
Drama Bio            True Story    N/A                  Lime Orchard Prod
Drama Comedy         Adaptation    N/A                  Matthau Company, The
Drama Historical     Adaptation    N/A                  Xingu Films
Drama Sports         Adaptation    N/A                  Red Bird Cinema
Drama Sports         Rewrite       Columbia Pictures    De Luca Productions
Drama Thriller       Adaptation    N/A                  Origin Pictures
Drama War            Adaptation    N/A                  Independent Pict (UK)
Drama War            True Story    N/A                  Lion Rock Productions
Family               Pitch         DreamWorks Pict      Kurtzman/Orci
Family               Adaptation    Paramount Pict       Granat Entertainment
Family               Adaptation    Universal Pict       Illumination Entert
Family Adventure     Adaptation    N/A                  Allentown Productions
Fantasy              Adaptation    Walt Disney Pict     Temple Hill Productions
Fantasy Action       Adaptation    Warner Bros. Pict    Legendary Pictures
Fantasy Action       Adaptation    N/A                  Convergence Entert
Fantasy Adventure    Prequel       N/A                  Spirit Pictures
Fantasy Children's   Adaptation    Warner Bros. Pict    Sunswept Entertainment
Fantasy Comedy       Spec          N/A                  SBK Pictures
Horror               Sequel        N/A                  Lionsgate
Horror               Spec          N/A                  Vertigo Films (UK)
Horror               Spec          N/A                  Spectacle Entertainment
Horror Action        Adaptation    N/A                  Crystal Sky Worldwide
Horror Mystery       Adaptation    N/A                  Animal Logic
Horror Sci-fi        Adaptation    N/A                  Angry Films
Rom Com              Spec          N/A                  Relativity Media
Rom Com              Spec          Miramax Films        Rudin Productions, Scott
Rom Com              Spec          N/A                  CBS Films
Sci Fi               Adaptation    N/A                  Radical Pictures
Sci Fi               Adaptation    N/A                  Bruckheimer Films
Sci Fi Action        Adaptation    Universal Pictures   Dark Horse Enter
Sci Fi Action        Adaptation    N/A                  Atlas Entertainment
Sci Fi Action        Pitch         N/A                  Radical Pictures
Sci Fi Action        Spec          N/A                  Mandate Pictures
Sci Fi Adventure     Adaptation    N/A                  Permut Presentations
Sci Fi Fantasy       Adaptation    Warner Bros. Pict    Appian Way
Sci Fi Horror        Adaptation    N/A                  Temple Hill Productions
Sci Fi Horror        Prequel       20th Century Fox     Scott Free Productions
Thriller             Adaptation    Warner Bros. Pict    ROOM 101, Inc
Thriller             Adaptation    N/A                  Tannhauser Gate
Thriller             Pitch         N/A                  Radical Pictures
Thriller             Remake        N/A                  Summit Entertainment
Thriller             Spec          N/A                  Oxymoron Entertainment
Thriller             Adaptation    N/A                  Inferno Distribution
Thriller             Adaptation    N/A                  Do-Over Productions
Thriller Dark        Spec          N/A                  Alcon Entertainment
Thriller Dark        Remake        Sony Pictures        N/A
Thriller Spy         Adaptation    N/A                  Working Title Films
Thriller Spy         Adaptation    Universal Pictures   Imagine Entertainment
Western              Adaptation    N/A                  Panther Entertainment

Keep Writing!

Check out my latest script

2009-07-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

On the SCRIPT PAGE over at this site's Sister Blog http://www.schererjoyofwriting.com/ you will find the first Act, more or less, of my latest screenplay: CARDINAL SIN. Please take it for a test drive, give it a spin, let me know how she handles.

Keep Writing!
Mike

Interviews Worth Watching

2009-07-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Stumbled upon a pretty cool website – FilmNut on thestream.tv – interviews with the movers and shakers of all aspects of film making.
Check it out here: http://www.thestream.tv/series.php?s=3

One of my favorite interviews -- Oscar Winning Co-Writer of "Crash" Bob Moresco
Check it out here: http://www.thestream.tv/watch.php?v=302

Let me know what you think, and
Keep Writing!

Evolution of a Screenwriter

2009-07-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

Do you remember when you first decided to become a screenwriter? I can. I saw Birth of a Nation during its first release back in….

No, not really… I’m old, but NOT that old! No, I first fell for screenwriting when I took an Introduction to Screenwriting class at the local community college back in ‘02. 2002, not 1902.

I had a passion for writing fiction – even had some short stories published – and I had taken all of the fiction writing classes at Wake Tech and the only writing class available was, tada! Introduction to Screenwriting. The goal of the class was to complete an Act I first draft and the rest, as they say, is history.

From there it was just a matter of consuming every screenwriting book I could find, read tons of screenplays, etc. My writing philosophy was strictly Sid Field – three act structure, plot points, mid-points by the numbers, by the page, ad nauseam. Slowly I discovered other screenwriting gurus: Mckee’s Story – devoured that book several times; ran across Jeff Schechter's Four Act Structure; Hal Ackerman's Write Screenplays That Sell: The Ackerman Way; Inside Story by Dara Marks – loved it. And last, but not least, Unk over at The Unknown Screenwriter. You get the idea….

No longer am I an old school three act kind of guy. Now I plan my screenplay as Four Acts:

ACT I: (Orphan, Loner, Disunity) – The protagonist finds herself in a new situation that leaves her alone, orphaned — sometimes physically, sometimes psychologically—and surrounded by chaos/disunity.
ACT II: (Wanderer, Explorer, Deconstruction) – The protagonist wanders / explores / deconstructs her new world learning the rules of this new world from mentors, friends and, yes, even her enemies.
ACT III: (Warrior, Activist, Reconstruction) – The protagonist now knows how to fight the opposition, becomes more active in trying to reconstruct her world.
ACT IV: (Martyr, Death, Unity) – The protagonist dies – metaphorically – she has martyred her old self in order to bring unity back to her world and in the process – hopefully – is reborn a better person.

When the first draft is complete I print out my screenplay in ten (10) page sequences, then edit/rewrite each sequence with the intention of ending each sequence with a cliff hanger and/or transition into the next sequence.

Put the whole thing back together and make another pass concentrating on character, action description, and plot. Now I should have a screenplay I won’t be embarrassed to show to other screenwriting friends and/or send out to story analysts.

This is where I am today – in the months ahead I may be somewhere else, hopefully as a better writer. Let me know how you do it – we can all learn from one another.

Keep Writing!

Question on Spec Script Sales

2009-07-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

I’m in a dilemma. In a pickle. In between a hard place and a harder place. And you, my loyal reader, can help.

Here’s the deal. Each month I post script sales here on ye ol’ blog and I am not ashamed to inform you that I get my data from Done Deal Pro. Their details on script sales are – well, shall we say – not very consistent. Anyway, here’s my dilemma – pickle – hard place: If a writer/director makes a sale and the source of the material is not identified as an adaptation, assignment, true story, or a pitch… can I safely assume that the screenplay is a spec? I mean, after all, it is original material and as original material can it be declared a spec?

Let me know what you think because if I am wrong, my stats on script types – adaptation, assignment, pitch, remake, etc. – are skewed. Tell me what you think.

Keep Writing!

Script Sales for June 2009

2009-07-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

There were 79 sales in June.



Genre          Type         Studio              Production Co.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Action         Sequel       Paramount Pictures  Bad Robot
Action Advent  Adaptation   Columbia Pictures   Arad Productions
Action Advent  Adaptation   N/A                 Summit Enter
Action Comedy  Pitch        Paramount Pictures  Montecito Picture
Action Comedy  Pitch        Paramount Pictures  Skydance Prod
Action Spy     Assignment   MGM                 EON Productions
Action Super   Spec         Paramount Pictures  di Bonaventura
Action Thrill  Adaptation   N/A                 Lionsgate
Action Thrill  Rewrite      N/A                 CBS Films
Action War     Adaptation   N/A                 Omnilab
Action Western Adaptation   Universal Pictures  De Luca Prod
Adventure      Pitch        Columbia Pictures   Right Coast Prod
Adventure      Rewrite      20th Century Fox    N/A
Comedy         Adaptation   20th Century Fox    N/A
Comedy         Pitch        DreamWorks          N/A
Comedy         Pitch        Universal Pictures  Benderspink
Comedy         Remake       Paramount Pictures  Montecito Picture
Comedy         Spec         N/A                 Chockstone Pic
Comedy         True Story   Universal Pictures  Imagine Enter
Comedy         Adaptation   N/A                 Henson Company
Comedy         Rewrite      20th Century Fox    Prime Universe
Comedy         Spec         Universal Pictures  Type A Films
Comedy Advent  Adaptation   Universal Pictures  Imagine Enter
Comedy Buddy   Rewrite      N/A                 Focus Features
Comedy Child   Adaptation   Universal Pictures  Gotham Group
ComedyFamily   Spec         N/A                 Wind Dancer Films
Drama          Adaptation   Fox 2000            New Regency
Drama          Adaptation   20th Century Fox    Yorn Management
Drama          Adaptation   N/A                 GreeneStreet Films
Drama          Adaptation   Warner Bros.        Unique Features
Drama          Adaptation   N/A                 L+E Productions
Drama          Pitch        Paramount Pictures  Appian Way
Drama          Spec         N/A                 Imagine Enter
Drama          True Story   N/A                 Halcyon Enter
Drama          True Story   N/A                 Reel One Enter
Drama          Turnaround   Warner Bros. Pic    Gold Circle Films
Drama Bio      Adaptation   N/A                 Time Inc. Studios
Drama Bio      Assignment   Warner Bros.        Unique Features
Drama Mob      Adaptation   N/A                 L+E Productions
Drama Romance  Spec         N/A                 Castle Rock
Drama War      Adaptation   N/A                 Brilliant Films
Fable          Pitch        Walt Disney         Monsterfoot Prod
Family         Pitch        DreamWorks Anim     Netter Productions
Family Action  Adaptation   Universal Pictures  Imagine Enter
Family Advent  Adaptation   Universal Pictures  Illumination Enter
Family Advent  Pitch        DreamWorks          Kurtzman/Orci
Family Comedy  Adaptation   N/A                 Magic Lantern Ent
Family Comedy  Remake       Dimension Films     Foster Productions
Family Comedy  Rewrite      N/A                 Walden Media
Family Western Adaptation   N/A                 821 Entertainment
Fantasy        Adaptation   N/A                 Unique Features
Fantasy Advent Adaptation   Warner Bros.        Unique Features
Fantasy Child  Adaptation   Sony Pictures       Stars Road
Fantasy Child  Adaptation   N/A                 Framelight Prod
Heist          Pitch        N/A                 Overture Films
Horror         Remake       Universal Pictures  Imagine Enter
Horror Comedy  Remake       Dimension Films     Furst Films
Horror Supern  Assignment   N/A                 Vertigo Enter
Horror Supern  Assignment   N/A                 Gold Circle Films
Musical        Adaptation   Universal Pictures  Zadan/Meron Prod
Musical Comedy Adaptation   N/A                 Unique Features
Musical Comedy Remake       MGM                 N/A
Rom Com        Adaptation   Fox 2000            Radar Pictures
Rom Com        Spec         N/A                 Overture Films
Sci Fi         Adaptation   N/A                 Red Giant Media
Sci Fi         Adaptation   DreamWorks          Bay Films
Sci Fi         Remake       Columbia Pictures   Original Film
Thriller       Adaptation   N/A                 Unique Features
Thriller       Pitch        N/A                 Summit Enter
Thriller       Remake       N/A                 Lionsgate
Thriller       Spec         N/A                 Intrepid Pictures
Thriller       Adaptation   N/A                 Chockstone Pic
Thriller       Adaptation   N/A                 Dark Hero Studios
Thriller       Adaptation   N/A                 Smuggler Films
Thriller       Spec         Fox Searchlight     di Bonaventura Pic
Thriller       Spec         N/A                 Screen Gems
Thriller       Spec         N/A                 Mandate Pictures
Thriller Legal Adaptation   N/A                 Gran Via Prod
Thriller Suspe Adaptation   N/A                 Overture Films

Keep Writing!

Script Sales Charts June ‘09

2009-07-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

There were 79 script sales in June.

Keep Writing!

I’m Baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

2009-06-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

Did you miss me, my two or three loyal followers? No? Really? No?

No matter.

I’m here and not going away.

Where have I been, you might ask? Vacation. No computer. No writing. Isolated. From writing anyway. And now, I am well into my ninth screenplay – somewhere around page 60 – and should have the first draft by mid-July. After that I will be taking an on-line class through the UCLA Extension Program: From Inspiration to Completion: Finding Your Movie. I’m really looking forward to this class as I have a dy-no-mite story idea I am eager to develop.

More later.

Finally, something special for my two loyal fans out there in cyber-space. Check out this blog's sister site over at http://www.schererjoyofwriting.com/.
Look up at the top of that blog and you will see a tab labeled Script Page. There you will find the first ACT (more or less) from seven (7) of my spec screenplays. Read’em. Analyze’em. Tear’em apart. Give me some feedback.

Looking forward to hearing from the both of you.

Keep Writing!

Script Sales for May '09

2009-06-02T02:57:00.000-07:00

There were 106 script sales in May


Genre            Type             Studio              Prod Co.
_________________________________________________________________________
Action           Adaptation       N/A                 Recorded Picture Co
Action           Adaptation       20th Century Fox    Seed Productions
Action           Adaptation       Warner Bros.        Thunder Road Films
Action Adventure Adaptation       N/A                 Sunset Pictures
Action Cop Buddy Adaptation       Warner Bros.        N/A
Action Drama     Remake           20th Century Fox    Marvel Studios
Action War       Rewrite          Universal Pict      N/A
Action           Sequel           N/A                 Arclight Films
Action           Spec             N/A                 Leju Productions
Action Adventure Spec             N/A                 Articulus Enter
Action Comedy    Spec             N/A                 Hannibal Pictures
Action Detective Spec             N/A                 Winkler Films
Action Drama     Spec             Warner Bros.        Mad Chance
Action           Spinoff          N/A                 Alcon Enter
Animation        Adaptation       N/A                 Starz Media
Animation Child  Spec             N/A                 Tinseltown Toons
Comedy           Adaptation       N/A                 Tornante Company
Comedy           Adaptation       DreamWorks Ani      N/A
Comedy           Adaptation       Paramount Pic       Misher Films
Comedy Teen      Adaptation       Paramount Pic       N/A
Comedy Family    Animation        Warner Bros.        Original Film
Comedy           Assignment       20th Century Fox    Davis Enter
Comedy           Pitch            N/A                 Endgame Enter
Comedy           Teen Remake      N/A                 26 Films
Comedy           Rewrite          20th Century Fox    Blue Sky Studios
Comedy           Rewrite          Paramount Pic       N/A
Comedy           Rewrite          20th Century Fox    Lakeshore Enter
Comedy Drama     Spec             N/A                 Kanzaman France
Crime Comedy     Spec             N/A                 Amusement Park
Coming of Age    Adaptation       N/A                 Independent prod.
Drama            Adaptation       N/A                 Foster Prod
Drama            Adaptation       N/A                 Indigo Film
Drama            Adaptation       N/A                 Uppity Films
Drama            Adaptation       N/A                 First Line Entert
Drama            Adaptation       N/A                 Levinson/Fontana
Drama            Adaptation       N/A                 BBC Films
Drama            Adaptation       N/A                 BBC Films
Drama Bio        Adaptation       N/A                 Lightning Enter
Drama Fantasy    Adaptation       N/A                 Arclight Films
Drama Horror     Adaptation       N/A                 Focus Features
Drama Opera      Adaptation       N/A                 Participant Prod
Drama War        Adaptation       20th Century Fox    Seed Productions
Drama            Rewrite          N/A                 Seed Productions
Drama Comedy     Sequel           Warner Bros.        Anonymous Content
Drama            Spec             N/A                 NALA Films
Drama            Spec             N/A                 Netter Prod
Drama            Spec             N/A                 Coach 14
Drama            Spec             N/A                 Foster Prod
Drama            Spec             N/A                 Polakoff Prod
Drama            Spec             Sony Pictures       Overbrook Enter
Drama            Spec             Columbia Pic        De Luca Prod
Drama Comedy     Spec             N/A                 Gotham Group
Drama Comedy     Spec             Warner Bros.        Storyopolis Prod
Drama Romance    Spec             Universal Pic       Mandalay Pictures
Drama Romance    Spec             N/A                 DreamWorks Picture
Drama            Treatment        N/A                 BBC Films
Drama            True Story       N/A                 Participant Prod
Drama            True Story       N/A                 Single Cell Pictures
Drama            True Story       N/A                 Summit Entert
Drama            True Story       N/A                 Little Film Co.
Drama            True Story       N/A                 Operamovies
Drama Bio        True Story       N/A                 Primary Prod
Drama Bio        True Story       N/A                 Amusement Park
Drama Bio        True Story       N/A                 HighRoad Enter
Drama Political  True Story       N/A                 BBC Films
Fantasy          Adaptation       DreamWorks Ani      N/A
Fantasy Comedy   Adaptation       Warner Bros.        Silver Pictures
Fantasy Comedy   Adaptation       N/A                 N/A
Fantasy Action   Assignment       N/A                 Kickstart Enter
Fantasy Romance  Spec             N/A                 Fabrique de Films
Horror           Adaptation       N/A                 Twisted Pictures
Horror Gothic    Adaptation       Universal Pic       Cha Cha Cha
Horror Thriller  Adaptation       N/A                 Dark Castle Enter
Horror           Remake           N/A                 Dark Castle Enter
Horror           Remake           DreamWorks          Gaeta Rosenzweig
Horror Comedy    Remake           N/A                 Pressman Film Co.
Horror           True Story       Universal Pic       Dark Horse Enter
Musical          Rewrite          Screen Gems         N/A
Musical Drama    Adaptation       N/A                 Screen Gems
Mystery Romance  Adaptation       N/A                 Foster Prod
Satire           Adaptation       N/A                 Colac Pictures
Satirical Drama  Adaptation       N/A                 BBC Films
Sci Fi Action    Adaptation       Warner Bros.        Weed Road Pic
Sci Fi Adventure Remake           Walt Disney         N/A
Sci Fi Drama     Adaptation       N/A                 Halcyon Enter
Sci Fi Thriller  Adaptation       N/A                 CBS Films
Sports Child     Adaptation       N/A                 Nehst Studios
Sports Child     Adaptation       N/A                 Nehst Studios
Sports Comedy    Pitch            Walt Disney         Gunn Films
Thriller         Adaptation       Warner Bros         Vertigo Enter
Thriller         Adaptation       Universal Pic       Red Wagon Prod
Thriller         Adaptation       N/A                 Glasshouse Pict
Thriller         Adaptation       Walt Disney         Seed Prod
Thriller         Adaptation       N/A                 Yellow Bird
Thriller         Adaptation       20th Century Fox    Winter Road Enter
ThrillerSupernat Adaptation       N/A                 Nehst Studios
Thriller Mystery Pitch            Walt Disney         POW! Enter
Thriller         Remake           N/A                 Vertigo Enter
Thriller         Rewrite          Warner Bros.        Spring Creek Prod
Thriller         Rewrite          N/A                 Focus Features
Thriller         Spec             N/A                 Media Rights Capital
Thriller         Spec             N/A                 Thousand Words
Thriller         Spec             N/A                 Myriad Pictures
Thriller         Spec             N/A                 Relativity Media
Thriller Psych   Spec             N/A                 Mimran Schur Pic
Thriller         True Story       N/A                 Hannibal Pictures

Keep Writing!

Ever have one of those moments?

2009-05-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

If you have been lurking around here for a while you know I’ve ostracized my self to a Screenwriting Gulag for the past month or so – trying to understand and improve on my weaknesses as a writer.

But during this time I had a ‘brain-fart’ of an idea for a new screenplay and started down the road of outlining, character development – using what I have learned at the Re-education Camp (see posts: Weak Characters, Shallow Stories) – and developing the plot. I had what I thought was a High Concept Story – The Holy Grail of screenwriting: an iconic character – someone everyone ‘knows’; a familiar situation – something everyone has experienced; and high stakes – a worldwide disaster. Then earlier this week I pitched some stories to a fellow screenwriter – of the produced variety – and we both agreed that one idea was worthy of exploration. He suggested that I put together a short synopsis – what’s going on at the beginning of the story, what happens at the end of Act I, Act II, and Act III. I did this and voila!

It became clear to me that I can write this.

Now.

In all fairness the story idea is based on a short story I wrote a year or two ago, so the majority of the story is already in place. The problem – and this was true of the short story too – is with the ending: too damned ‘preachy’. But, developing the synopsis showed me a way to overcome that preachy ending – an ending that should be ‘acceptable’ to the audience. I’m shelving the first High Concept work-in-progress and turning my attention to this new, High Concept screenplay.

So, my question to you – my loyal two or three fans – is this: have you ever started a story then suddenly made a hard U-turn down the road of a different story? And if so, how did that work out for you? Was the new story easy to write? Was the first story ever completed?

Share with me, please.

Keep Writing!

Are you connected?

2009-05-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

Go over to Pamela Schott’s blog http://pamelaschott.blogspot.com/ and check out date stamp: 4 p.m., april 30, 2009.

Look at those pictures – think about them. Do they make you feel alone, or connected? Being one out of six billion makes me feel so very alone, yet these photos -- everyday activities and objects – reveal just how connected we all are.

Sometimes, when I stand outside at night and stare up at the sprinkle of stars tossed across that gray blanket that covers my urban sky, I wonder -- are we alone? Then, I think about what might be happening on the other side of the Earth: babies are being born; children are struggling to get an education; slaving in fields, tending to crops; subjugated to sweat shops. People are laughing, crying, drinking, eating, sleeping, and making love.

Others are dying.

But each one of those six billion souls is part of life and living and connected – to each and every one of us.

Keep Writing!

Lazy Writer, Shallow Stories – Allies and Adversaries

2009-05-09T04:23:00.000-07:00

I hope my two loyal fans are still lurking about because today I would like to continue our conversation about Lazy Writing as it pertains to characters.

Last time around I mentioned that I never took the time to know my characters and that I ‘developed’ them on the fly. I’ve come to realize that if you don’t know them, how in the hell can you motivate them? How can you possibly know how they will react in different situations? I publicly admit guilt. Mea Culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
But there’s more.

Other aspects of character we as writers need to understand are who are our characters friends and who are their enemies. If you know a man’s friends and his enemies, you know the man. So here is the grist for this week’s mill: Allies and Adversaries.

You need to know your character’s allies at the beginning of the story, in the middle of the story, and at the end of the story. Allies morph and change and switch sides throughout the narrative – or at least they should if you want an interesting story. The same goes for adversaries. So ask your characters the following:

1. Who are your three most significant allies in order of importance? For each identify the ally’s name, relationship and type.

2. For each ally, tell me why he or she seems important.
a. Because:
b. Because:
c. Because:

3. Briefly describe what these relationships suggest about your values, beliefs, and current situation.

Do this for the beginning of the story, the middle, and the end. Then, substitute adversaries for allies and ask the same questions.

Now you have a better understanding of each of your main characters and – with a little luck and imagination – this exercise will help you develop your story’s narrative. By having allies and adversaries shift in importance throughout the script means your story is dynamic, shifting, growing too. So, you end up killing two birds with one stone: character and story.

That’s a wrap for now.

Defy Gravity – Keep Writing!

April '08 Script Sales by Type

2009-05-01T17:31:00.000-07:00


Adaptation   31
Assignment    2
Pitch         8
Remake        6
Rewrite       1
Sequel        4
Spec         18
True Story    2
Turnaround    2

Defy Gravity -- Keep Writing!

April '08 Script Sales by Genre

2009-05-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

Action    11
Comedy    26
Crime      1
Drama     12
Family     1
Fantasy    2
Horror     3
Musical    1
Rom Com    1
Sci Fi     2
Thriller1  3
War        1

Defy Gravity -- Keep Writing!

April '08 Script Sales

2009-05-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

74 Script Sales this month:

Genre Type Studio Prod Co.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Spec N/A Intrepid Enter
Action Spec N/A Overnight Prod
Action Adaptation Sony Pictures Misher Films
Action Sequel Universal Mandalay Pictures
Action Adventure Spec N/A Participant Prod
Action Adventure Adaptation Universal Pic Dark Horse Enter
Action Adventure Adaptation Paramount Pic Plan B Enter
Action Adventure Sequel 20th Century Fox N/A
Action Comedy Sequel N/A Mirage Studios
Action Drama Spec Warner Bros. Pic Hollywood Gang
Comedy Adaptation United Artists Goldsmith-Thomas
Comedy Assignment N/A j.k. livin' Prod
Comedy Pitch Universal Pic Everyman Pictures
Comedy Pitch N/A Intrepid Enter
Comedy Rewrite Warner Bros. Pic De Line Pictures
Comedy Spec DreamWorks Pic Brownstone Prod
Comedy Adaptation Warner Bros. Pic Carousel Prod
Comedy Adaptation 20th Century Fox New Regency Prod
Comedy Adaptation N/A Wells Productions
Comedy Pitch Paramount Pic Blue Star Enter
Comedy Pitch Fox Searchlight 21 Laps Enter
Comedy Pitch New Line Cinema Obst Productions
Comedy Remake Universal Pic Platt Productions
Comedy Sequel Warner Bros. Green Hat Films
Comedy Spec N/A Trigger Street
Comedy Spec Walt Disney Oops Doughnuts
Comedy Spec Sony Pictures Roth Films
Comedy Spec Walt Disney Pic Rudin Productions
Comedy Turnaround N/A Sony Pictures
Comedy Action Spec N/A Gary Sanchez Prod
Comedy Dark Adaptation N/A DM Productions
Comedy Dark Adaptation N/A Mandate Pictures
Comedy Dark Adaptation Fox Searchlight Type A Films
Comedy Family Spec Sony Animation N/A
Comedy Satirical Spec N/A Mandate Pictures
Crime Mob Adaptation N/A Working Title
Drama Adaptation Warner Bros. Pic Flower Films, Inc.
Drama Pitch N/A 34th Street Films
Drama Spec N/A Focus Features
Drama Adaptation N/A Smuggler Films
Drama Adaptation Miramax Films Platt Productions
Drama Adaptation N/A Serendipity Point
Drama Adaptation N/A Participant Prod
Drama Adaptation N/A Granite Enter
Drama Remake MGM N/A
Drama Bio Adaptation Sony Pictures Contrafilm
Drama Bio Assignment Columbia Pic Ziskin Productions
Drama Bio True Story N/A Calio Productions
Family Animation Adaptation N/A Illumination Enter
Fantasy Pitch Paramount Pic di Bonaventura Pic
Fantasy Dark Spec N/A Appian Way
Horror Adaptation Dimension Films N/A
Horror Crime Adaptation N/A Death Ray Films
Horror Adaptation N/A Dark Castle Enter
Musical Adaptation N/A Wonderland
Rom Com Turnaround Fox 2000 Jinks/Cohen Co.
Sci Fi Adaptation 20th Century Fox N/A
Sci Fi Horror Spec N/A Amber Enter
Thriller Remake Miramax Films Focus Features
Thriller True Story N/A Phoenix Pictures
Thriller Adaptation N/A Contrafilm
Thriller Adaptation N/A Resolution
Thriller Remake Universal Pic Bobker/Kruger
Thriller Spec N/A Dimension Films
Thriller Spec New Regency N/A
Thriller Crime Remake N/A Sarkissian Prod
Thriller Crime Remake N/A Sarkissian Prod
Thriller Mystery Adaptation Columbia Pic N/A
Thriller Spy Adaptation Sony Pictures EON Productions
Thriller Super Spec N/A Ratio Pictures
Thriller Suspense Adaptation Fox 2000 Mark Gordon Co.
War Adaptation Walt Disney Pic Bruckheimer Films

Defy Gravity -- Keep Writing!

Lazy Writer, Shallow Stories

2009-04-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

I’m well into my self-imposed sentence at my Screenwriter’s Re-education Gulag and it has been, well, a real eye-opener. I have quickly learned that I am a Lazy Writer creating Shallow Stories. Why? Because I write lazy, shallow characters.

In the past I would, for the most part, develop my characters on the fly, adding attributes as situations dictated. No more – nada – uh, uh. This is my new 12 Step Program for recovering Lazy Writers. Well, maybe not exactly twelve, but close. Here we go – ask yourself (your character):

What makes your character really mad? List three examples of what causes extreme anger in your character:
Then find a time in the story when your character gets most angry and let him/her rant: “I’m so angry because...”
Pick one of the three examples from above that is not in the script now, but could/should be.
Finally, imagine three things he might do as a result of the specific anger you are exploring.

Next, determine what makes your character afraid? Three examples:
Find a time in the story when your character is afraid and again, let her rant: “I’m so afraid because...”
Pick an example of fear not in the script now, but could/should be:
Again, imagine three things she might do as a result of the specific fear you are exploring:

Finally, what would lead your character to love?
Find a time in the story when your character feels love and let him rant: “I’m so in love because...”
Pick an example of love not in the script now, but could/should be:
Imagine three things he might do as a result of love:

These are characteristics I never, ever thought of when writing about my characters in the past -- no more – nada – uh, uh.

That’s it – what I’ve learned about writing characters – so far. What I’ve learned about my own writing – so far. Two months and three weeks left in the Gulag. I’ll be in touch.

Defy Gravity – Keep Writing!

I Quit!!

2009-04-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

No need to hit me over the head with a ton of bricks. I see the writing on the wall. My chickens have come home to roost. This dog don’t hunt.

I get it!

After sending out HUNDREDS of queries to production companies, agents, and managers. After fewer than a dozen responses – mostly in the vein: need to have representation, my friend. After emailing and/or snail-mailing scripts into the black abyss...

I get it!

I suck as a screenwriter! I am not worthy! I am.... a wannabe!

I get it!
So....

I quit!
No more writing specs. No more reading screenwriting books. No more treatments – synopses (synopsii?). No more outlines. Log lines. Premise lines. Standing in lines.

I quit!

I wish you all luck, success, sales, even an Oscar®. Go for it. Best of regards. Good wishes.

I’ve had it! No more. I’m done writing...

... until I can learn to write better. So here’s my plan:

No more new specs. I will sit down and re-examine HOW I write, including structure, story, scene construction, and dialogue. I know my weaknesses. Poor characters. Same-sounding dialogue. Bland descriptions. Ok, Ok. I hear ya. Writing can’t be taught.

Ain’t buying it.

I can see how far I have come as a writer in the last five years. I know how far I have to go. My stint in this self-imposed re-education camp will be around three months, but when I’m done, after I improve, and I can improve -- no, make that I will improve -- you will never, ever hear me say again...

I quit!

Defy Gravity – Keep Writing!

Read Any Good Books….?

2009-04-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

Once in a while you come across a gem of a book and you have to ask yourself: do I keep this to my self, or share with my competition? Well, we’re all friends here – the four of us – so... I'll share.

I discovered a little bookstore – The Drama Book Shop — last week when the wife and I took a few days to enjoy New York City and while the store mostly caters to playwrights and actors they do have two or three shelves dedicated to screenwriting. One particular book caught my eye: The Dramatic Writer’s Companion, by Will Dunne. The subtitle is: Tools to develop characters, cause scenes, and build stories.

The book is chocked full of tools and exercises to help any writer create compelling stories. This weekend I devoured the book, highlighted it, placed little white plastic tabs at every useful chapter – there are twenty-seven (27) of the little buggers.
Just to wet your whistle, here is a sample from the table of contents on character:

DEVELOPING YOUR CHARACTER
Stage I: Fleshing out the bones
Basic Character Building
What the Character Believes
Where the Character Lives
Where the Character Works
Getting Emotional
Into the Past Defining Trait

Stage II: Getting to Know the Character
Better Allies: Then and Now
Adversaries: Then and Now
Characters in Contrast
Finding the Character’s Voice
Three Characters in One
The Secret Lives of Characters.

And then this on creating scenes:

CAUSING A SCENE
Stage I: Making Things Happen
Basic Scene Starter
Where in the World Are We?
The Roots of Action
What Does the Character Want?
What’s the Problem?
Good Intentions
How it Happens
Character Adjustments
Scene in a Sentence

Stage II: Refining the Action
Seeing the Scene
There and Then
The Aha!s of the Story
Heating Things Up
The Emotional Storyboard
In the Real of the Senses
The Voice of the Setting
Thinking in Beats

Stage III: Refining Dialogue...

Whew!…. tired of typing. It would be so much easier if you just went on line and look inside the book for yourself. Check it out here at Amazon – and know, I am no way affiliated with either Amazon or the author:

http://www.amazon.com/Dramatic-Writers-Companion-Characters-Publishing/dp/0226172546#reader

Get it – read it – let me know what you think.

Defy Gravity – Keep Writing!

Fear, Change, Grief and the Four Act Structure

2009-04-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

In the last three posts I have discussed how to create an arc for your characters using the stages of Change, Fear, and Grief. So far so good. But how do these stages fit into screenplay structure? Of course, you can implement them anyway you wish, but for starters I will demonstrate how I do it by example.

Act I – Unity/Orphan/Loner

The Hero and his flaw:

CHANGE: Pre-contemplation – Protagonist is unaware of problem.

The Hero’s Redeeming Qualities:

The Hero’s Enabling Circumstances:

The Hero’s Motivation and Point of View:

CHANGE: Contemplation – Protagonist now knows a problem exists but he still hasn’t committed to take action.

The Opponent and the Hero’s Ally:

The Life-Changing Event:

FEAR: Taking small steps – Protagonist is overwhelmed. Strong flight or fight response. Usually chooses flight.

Act II – Deconstruction/Wanderer/Explorer

The Objective and Subjective Storylines:

The Ticking Clock:

CHANGE: Preparation: Protagonist decides to take action.

Hero’s Emotional Reaction to the Life-Changing Event:

Hero’s Physical Reaction to the Life-Changing Event:

Hero’s Ally Offers Help:

FEAR: Concrete, positive motivation: Protagonist meets his mentor. Protagonist knows he must act. Point of no return.

Hero Determines the Course of Action:

Hero and Hero’s Ally Instigate the First Action Against the Opponent:

Opponent Counter-attacks and States His Point of View:

Ally Confronts Hero About Balk:

Hero Renews His Determination to Meet the Life-Changing Event:

Hero Expands His Area of Concern:

Hero Confronts His Character Flaw:

Hero Convinces Ally to Give Him Another Chance:

Hero Proves Himself to Ally:

Hero Partially Redeems Himself, Bonds With Ally:

Second Act Confrontation Between Hero and Ally:

Hero Reveals Part of His Character Flaw to Ally:

Ally Makes Demand of Hero:

Ally Reveals Own Struggles:

FEAR: Sees failure and rejection in a new light: learns from his mistakes. Realizes he has been chasing after a false goal. Learns the true goal.

Act III – Reconstruction/Warrior/Activist

Hero’s Choice:

Hero and Ally Unite Against Opponent:

Hero Expands His Area of Concern Wider:

The Opponent Counters Hero and Ally, the Unraveling:

Opponent Performs Act Forcing Hero to Completely Abandon His Flaw:

Hero Learns True Danger:

CHANGE: Action: Protagonist must modify his behavior/environment in order to overcome his problem. Requires considerable commitment of time & energy.

Second Circumstances, Challenge, Decision, Self-Definition, and Emotional State:

Final Expansion of Hero’s Area of Concern:

The Point of No Return:

FEAR: Being in the NOW: Protagonist must not let thoughts and emotions reside in the future or the past. Concentrate on the Goal at hand.

Act IV – Unity/Martyr/Death

All or Nothing:

Damage to Hero Mounts:

The Low Point:

Hero Discovers Way to Fight Back:

The Audience Discovers Full Extent of Opponent’s Threat:

Hero Learns of Increased Threat:

The Final Battle:

Hero Fully Engages Opponent:

Hero Restates Point of View:

FEAR: Redefining Self: Protagonist must understand/fix the inner problem before he can solve the outer problem. Protagonist must change.

Hero Defeats is Defeated by Opponent:

Hero, Changed by Events in the Story, Faces the Future:

CHANGE: Maintenance: Protagonist must not relapse. He should consolidate the gains/changes made during the Action phase.

Optional Final Twist:

Notice I did not include the Five Stages of Grief – not all characters will have to deal with the loss of a loved one so use at your own discretion, mileage may vary, etc. etc.

Try using the stages of Fear, Change, and Grief to add depth to you characters and depth to your screenplays. Feel free to let me know what you think and how it works for you.

Defy Gravity -- Keep Writing!

The Five Stages of Grief

2009-04-19T05:08:00.001-07:00

Okay, so far we have discussed how your character should work her way through FEAR and CHANGE. By allowing your character to experience these stages of Fear and Change she is well on her way to completing her Arc. But what if you character loses a loved one or experiences a devastating event, an event so powerful it leads to Grief? You guessed it – she must journey through the Five Stages of Grief.

1. Denial or the “this can’t be happening to me syndrome”. Your character looks for their loved one in familiar places, or sets the table in hopes they return. There’s no crying – no acceptance – no acknowledgement of the loss.

2. When reality begins to set in, your character will become angry –”why me?”. Sometimes they may even feel the need to fight back. They get angry at the deceased, blaming them for leaving.

3. Bargaining often takes place next. Your character may attempt to make deals with the spouse who is leaving, or attempt to make deals with God to stop or change the loss. Begging, wishing, praying for them to come back.

4. Depression-overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, self pity, mourning loss of person as well as the hopes, dreams and plans for the future will overwhelm your Hero. They might feel a lack of control, feel numb. Perhaps, even feel suicidal.

5. Finally, there’s acceptance. Your Hero must accept the loss, not just try to bear it quietly. She must realize that – in the case of divorce — it takes two to make or break a marriage. Or realize that the person who has left them , possibly in death, is gone and that it was not their fault. Your character’s goal should turn toward personal growth – she stays with fond memories of person.

There it is. The third leg of your character’s Arc. Use all three – but at least two — to add dimension to your character.

Next I will show you how and where I use these stages in writing my scripts.

Defy Gravity -- Keep Writng!

The Five Steps to Overcome Fear

2009-04-18T12:09:00.001-07:00

Okay, your protagonist’s Ordinary World has been shaken to its very foundation for whatever reason: framed for murder, kidnapped family member, break up of a marriage, fill-in-the-blank. Is your Hero afraid? Scared? Of course she is. How does she deal with that fear? How does she deal with her new problem, complete her character arc, get to the end of the story? The simple answer is: She must handle that fear. But how?

Take your character through the Five Steps to Overcome Fear.

1. Your Hero must take small steps. The New World your protagonist finds herself in can seem overwhelming at first and can almost feel like a flight or fight-response. Don’t let the Hero take too large a step right from the git-go.

2. Get your Hero some concrete and positive motivation. Here is where your Mentor can play an important part in pushing the Hero in the right direction. This sets the stage so the Hero feels she needs to do something.

3. Let the Hero see failure and rejection in a new light. This is generally around the mid-point when the Hero discovers she has been chasing the FALSE Goal – failure often reveals the TRUE Goal.

4. Keep your Hero in the NOW. What this means is to keep your Hero steadily in the now. Don’t let the Hero’s thoughts and emotions run away to the future and out of the past. Keep your Hero focused on the TRUE Goal.

5. Your Hero redefines herself and her world and overcomes her fear.

Give It a shot – work these steps into your Hero’s story — add dimension to your characters.

Defy Gravity -- Keep Writing!

The Five Stages of Change (Character Arc)

2009-04-17T03:14:00.001-07:00

All screenwriters are aware of Character Arc – moving their protagonist from flawed hero to a new and improved human being. But how? What is the path from flawed to ‘fixed’? Try The Five Stages of Change.

1. This stage is comparable to the Hero’s normal world of ACT I – the Hero has a problem but doesn’t know he has a problem.

2. The second stage corresponds to the Inciting Incident / Call to Adventure of Act I. The Hero is aware that a problem exists and is seriously thinking about overcoming it but have not yet made a commitment to take action.

3. The third stage combines intention and behavior. Hero deliberates on his dilemma / perceived Need .

4. Action is the hallmark of stage four. Hero’s internal needs/flaws are confronted.

5. Maintenance stage. The Hero must not relapse. He should consolidate the gains/changes made during stage four.

Try using the Five Stages of Change to help move your Hero along his Character Arc.

Defy Gravity -- Keep Writing!