Other than folders or crumplers,
there are two types of writers, those who have a great idea for a movie and
those who try doing something with that great idea. Okay, so maybe I have no
right to lump everyone into a category (or place them in one of these) based upon their
handling of rejection notices or toilet paper; however, I do feel I have some
authority to make the latter claim about folks having a great movie idea.
there are two types of writers, those who have a great idea for a movie and
those who try doing something with that great idea. Okay, so maybe I have no
right to lump everyone into a category (or place them in one of these) based upon their
handling of rejection notices or toilet paper; however, I do feel I have some
authority to make the latter claim about folks having a great movie idea.
I know this from years and years
of intense dissection and reflection of discussions at cocktail parties about
this very topic. To better illustrate what I mean I shall use an example in the
screenwriting format for your reading pleasure complete with hyperlinks to
illustrate what I’m trying to say in the very unlikely case my writing itself
is not illuminating enough. Coincidentally, should the following pique your
interest or inspire you to want to learn more, I just so happen to be leading a
workshop about beginning screenwriting on Nov 17th from 10:00am to 1:00pm and
you can sign up here!
of intense dissection and reflection of discussions at cocktail parties about
this very topic. To better illustrate what I mean I shall use an example in the
screenwriting format for your reading pleasure complete with hyperlinks to
illustrate what I’m trying to say in the very unlikely case my writing itself
is not illuminating enough. Coincidentally, should the following pique your
interest or inspire you to want to learn more, I just so happen to be leading a
workshop about beginning screenwriting on Nov 17th from 10:00am to 1:00pm and
you can sign up here!
INT. COCKTAIL PARTY – EVENING
A mysterious,
yet ruggedly handsome man,
dark hair, dark eyes, stands off to the side of the party. He stares out the
window, lost in thought. He swirls a glass of cognac, with an air of pained
sophistication.
yet ruggedly handsome man,
dark hair, dark eyes, stands off to the side of the party. He stares out the
window, lost in thought. He swirls a glass of cognac, with an air of pained
sophistication.
A stranger approaches.
Excuse me. Are
you Don?
you Don?
He turns and nods.
STRANGER
The host told me you make movies?
DON
STRANGER
Anything I’ve seen?
DON
That depends. Are you inclined to
watch television late at night, waste money on pay-per-view in cheap hotels, or
rent straight to DVD movies?
watch television late at night, waste money on pay-per-view in cheap hotels, or
rent straight to DVD movies?
STRANGER
No.
DON
Then that is the answer.
STRANGER
Oh. I see. Say, I have an idea for a
movie!
movie!
DON
What is it? Tell me so I can
steal your idea and turn it into my next straight to Netflix movie, which is, I admit, a step giant
down from straight to BlueRay.
steal your idea and turn it into my next straight to Netflix movie, which is, I admit, a step giant
down from straight to BlueRay.
STRANGER
Wait a second!
DON
Just kidding. Look here, Stranger. Are you a writer?
The stranger nods.
DON
See, there are two types of writers in this world. Folders and
crumplers. Just kidding. There are people who say they have an idea for a
screenplay and those who write one.
crumplers. Just kidding. There are people who say they have an idea for a
screenplay and those who write one.
STRANGER
That makes sense. I have a cousin who has been working on the same
screenplay for like twelve years.
screenplay for like twelve years.
Don groans and rubs his temples.
DON
Okay, make that three types of
people in this world. I forgot to add writers like your cousin. Look there is no big mystery when it comes to writing screenplays.
But you can either keep talking about this big awesome movie idea for the rest
of your life or you can learn how to write a script and start writing it once
and for all.
people in this world. I forgot to add writers like your cousin. Look there is no big mystery when it comes to writing screenplays.
But you can either keep talking about this big awesome movie idea for the rest
of your life or you can learn how to write a script and start writing it once
and for all.
STRANGER
But I wouldn’t know where to
begin.
begin.
DON
It’s not rocket-science,
Stranger. You could take a class, read a book, or do a little research on the
web. If you’ve watched television and movies your whole life you probably know
writing for the screen better than you think. The structure has already been
encoded in your brain, Matrix style.
Stranger. You could take a class, read a book, or do a little research on the
web. If you’ve watched television and movies your whole life you probably know
writing for the screen better than you think. The structure has already been
encoded in your brain, Matrix style.
STRANGER
Really?
Don removes two pills from his pocket. He holds
them in his palm. One RED. One BLUE.
them in his palm. One RED. One BLUE.
STRANGER
So it’s really like the Matrix?
One way or the other? Those who write and those who just talk about it?
One way or the other? Those who write and those who just talk about it?
DON nods again. He takes a deep
breath and rubs his temples again.
breath and rubs his temples again.
STRANGER
I’m sorry, what are the pills
for? Does the blue one shoot me into superstar screenwriter land? Or the red?
for? Does the blue one shoot me into superstar screenwriter land? Or the red?
What? No. These are Advil. I have
a horrible headache, but only had a gel cap and a tablet. Too much time at the laptop, lately.
Once you start writing these things, it’s hard to stop. Look, Stranger, there is no magic pill
for screenwriting, and I can’t promise success or super-stardom. What I can guarantee you is this: If you never
try to write that great idea, it won’t go anywhere, not even straight to YouTube.
a horrible headache, but only had a gel cap and a tablet. Too much time at the laptop, lately.
Once you start writing these things, it’s hard to stop. Look, Stranger, there is no magic pill
for screenwriting, and I can’t promise success or super-stardom. What I can guarantee you is this: If you never
try to write that great idea, it won’t go anywhere, not even straight to YouTube.
FADE TO BLACK.
SHORT BIO: Don Rearden is not the
Don portrayed here, he’s much more handsome in real life. His novel The Raven’s Gift will finally be readily available in the
about the world ending in 2012. Register now for his three-hour 49 Writers Workshop “Unleashing the Screenwriter in You” to be held on Saturday, Nov. 17.
Don, you never fail to crack me up. And love the links, too!
I have no intention of writing a screenplay, but now I want to take your class just so I can have some giggles (assuming you teach like this!)
Great post! And I recommend Don very highly. His Twitter comments are awesome too. 🙂