tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post7913711698783204740..comments2024-03-28T06:59:34.982-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Hollywood and ScreenwritingDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91793334366055884352015-03-06T13:22:02.554-07:002015-03-06T13:22:02.554-07:00Great reminders, all. I've definitely allowed ...Great reminders, all. I've definitely allowed my movie addiction to influence my novel writing, and some of the best storytelling tips I've used in my novel have come from screenwriters. The forms are different, but so much of what makes good storytelling remains the same in any medium. <br /><br />I was just talking to someone about structure last night, and how it can actually be liberating. "Formulas" can help focus the audience's attention. Then, once you have their attention, you have the opportunity to give them something unique.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-48371610307342812015-03-06T10:31:33.385-07:002015-03-06T10:31:33.385-07:00Thanks so much for this series. Makes me want to w...Thanks so much for this series. Makes me want to write another screenplay. Need to finish a couple of books first, though. <br /><br />I agree about the importance of structure. I wrote my first screenplay, an adaptation of a short story, with the story on one side of my desk and Syd Field's screenwriting book on the other. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71596457584710622702015-03-06T10:28:07.917-07:002015-03-06T10:28:07.917-07:00LOL, Dani. I had that problem when I first started...LOL, Dani. I had that problem when I first started trying to analyze films. It really helped when I was in NY and watched some films with a filmmaker and he pointed out the various structure elements. We were watching tapes, and he would pause the tape to discuss the points. That was a great lesson, but I still get caught up in the story on the screen and forget about the structure. Methinks that means the writer, director, and actors all got it right. :-)<br />Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-65622805092733537752015-03-05T21:52:49.661-07:002015-03-05T21:52:49.661-07:00I tried writing a screenplay with a formatting pro...I tried writing a screenplay with a formatting program called First Draft for a contest. I came in five minutes over at125 minutes. It was hard and I obviously didn't do it well because I didn't qualify. But I did it, and it was hard. I doubt I'd do it again.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71658005928607252682015-03-05T15:32:59.393-07:002015-03-05T15:32:59.393-07:00I don't write screenplays because I like a cer...I don't write screenplays because I like a certain amount of introspection in my books. Morgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9722050112449064182015-03-05T14:58:22.834-07:002015-03-05T14:58:22.834-07:00I don't write screenplays, but I DO write play...I don't write screenplays, but I DO write plays. I shall follow this series with interest. Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-73298714092771790592015-03-05T10:24:42.011-07:002015-03-05T10:24:42.011-07:00I'm still so confused trying to use this techn...I'm still so confused trying to use this technique for novel-writing. Partly because I'm watching movies and totally get lost them - so much for analyzing them. Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-4912226058195098112015-03-05T09:27:19.961-07:002015-03-05T09:27:19.961-07:00My only venture into scriptwriting was in the earl...My only venture into scriptwriting was in the early 90s. I had a library book outlining the proper format -- no program to take the work and frustration out of it -- and I have to agree with Diana. It was definitely work. Not sure I'd try it again; definitely I wouldn't do it without the appropriate software.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-45493391590733858982015-03-05T08:58:51.650-07:002015-03-05T08:58:51.650-07:00Story and structure are important ... but characte...Story and structure are important ... but characters are paramount. Good characters can overcome a weak story ... but uninteresting characters will sink a good story. Hmmm, my wife says I'm a character ...???Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-72451050285267786332015-03-05T07:42:32.437-07:002015-03-05T07:42:32.437-07:00A movie has so many different parts and can go wro...A movie has so many different parts and can go wrong at so many levels: cast, director, sound, set, costuming, etc. But it all starts with a really good story ... which is why book writers have to work so hard. They wear all the hats! That said, anyone who thinks coming up with and selling a 120 page script is easy would be wrong. Toughest business out there.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com