Script Frenzy Report Card 2009

Just in time for the 2009 Script Frenzy I’ve updated the Report Card. It’s more or less the same version as the one from last year, with just the dates adjusted.

This is an modified version of some of the report cards from NaNoWriMo to suit the needs for Script Frenzy.

• Script Frenzy Report Card 2009 (Microsoft Excel 2003).

I did not create this. I merely modified it for Script Frenzy. All credit for creation and idea goes to the original creators.

Gone for good?

And like that he was gone. Underground. Nobody has ever seen him since. He becomes a myth, a spook story that criminals tell their kids at night. #

I’ve said it before and now I’m gonna say it again; my work here is done.

Last time I said that I not gonna write any more on this weblog at all. I’m not gonna be so absolute in this time around. Just don’t expect any new posts anytime soon. All the smaller updates will be on my Tumblr page.

My new job at 1508 is not just great. It’s superb. So far it might very well be the best job I’ve ever had. Really nice colleagues, great projects, superb office, and just a heck of fun time.

I’ve been thinking about restarting with an entirely new weblog focused solely on screenwriting (a la the Story Tricks series). That might or might not happen anytime soon, but don’t keep your breath, because as the time is right now I’ve rather spend time with my wife and son and actually write screenplays and write about them. And there are only so many hours a day, so I have to prioritize.

And if any of you are up to it, I’m gonna participate in the Script Frenzy again this year. Feel free to add me as a writing partner. Although I’m gonna “cheat” a little this year, by writing a complete rewrite of my script from last year. The story structure is more or less unchanged, but the story itself is getting a major overhaul.

And don’t forget that you can track my movie watching adventures on the Movies page.

Story Trick #5: The Prestige

The Article has moved.

Please go to StoryDojo.com for the article:

Story Trick: Foreshadowing and Payoff in The Prestige

It’s done

If you by any chance would be looking for the proudest person in Copenhagen at the moment, look no further, because here I am.

I just uploaded my latest¹ version of my feature length screenplay Downfall to the wonderful website TriggerStreet.com².

It has really been a learning experience to write this screenplay. I loved the month of April when I was witting the script as part of the Script Frenzy event, but was so exhausted afterward that I had to leave it alone for some weeks before looking at it again.

And when I finally did, I found a screenplay in need of some serious rewriting. And that is what I’ve spent most of my free time doing for the past months.

The structure of the story is somewhat unchanged, but the pacing, the dialogue, the descriptions have all been changed, corrected or rewritten completely.
Even some of the main characters where merged into one to keep the entourage down to a minimum.

So now, all I have to do is wait for the hungry review vultures of TriggerStreet.com to rip it to pieces and tell me why and where I need to revise the script.

But right now I’m happy as a lark and above proud. Very proud.

1. Latest, not final… it’s never really final [↩]
2. if you’re a member of TriggerStreet, fell free to give it a spin, but please be truthful as that’s the only way I’ll learn anything [↩]

Free write screenplay

Make a specific free-write screenplay. Come up with the most creative, dull, boring, or eccentric title for a Screenplay, then, everyday when you start to write, do a freewriting exercise on that Screenplay. Not only will it let you free your thoughts to the task at hand, it usually eliminates those two or three pages of ‘warm-up’ that can happen

[via John August’s wiki.

Story Trick #4: Refusing the Call

This new installment in the Story Trick series¹ is not even written by me.

For some time I’ve been reading up on Joseph Campell and his Monomyth theory and how it could be applied to modern storytelling. Christopher Vogler² has written an excellent introduction on how to apply it to screenwriting.

Now David Anaxagoras has written a really good article about one of the stages of the monomyth, Refusing the Call.

>>> Read David’s article here

There is no need for me to write about this when David has already written such a good and explanatory article. Be sure to check out some his other articles on his newly launched website. It’s all great stuff.

1. For the rest of the Story Trick articles see #1 on Eastern Promises, #2 on Michael Clayton and #3 about the basic structure beats [↩]
2. His book The Writer’s Journey have just been released in it’s 3rd edition [↩]

Celtx 1.0 is out

The very good, and free, screenwriting software Celtx has finally reached version 1.0. It has lots and lots of new features and is more stable than the previous versions.

So look no further if you’re in the market for free screenwriting software

Edit mode

Again the eerie silence have settle on this weblog, but fret not, I’m hard at work making a 2nd draft of my Script Frenzy script Downfall.

It’s going fairly well. There are truckloads of typos, but that’s what you get when writing 4-6 pages an hour.

Many of the scenes are quite good already, but I am struggling with some of them. Especially the one in the first half of the 2nd act as many of them feel like they are just stalling time for the midpoint. I’m toying with the idea of changing the setting for this part of the story as the setting is hindering some of the rewriting I’m doing.

And I can’t stress this enough; walking away from the computer and doing this in hand is essential. Sitting down in front of the computer is, at least for me, the most counterproductive way of working.
Call me old fashioned but I need my pen and paper.

Laying out the storyline

After re-reading sections of Syd Field’s classic screenwriting book, I tried to let go of the computer last night and instead write down the story arc on small index cards.

Even though the task at first seemed daunting, it is quite frankly the best tool I’ve applied yet to my script writing experience.

I especially like this card:

But all in all it gives a superb overview of the storyline and it was really easy to identify areas where the story was rushed and areas where the story was just stalling.

For all the neat programs I’ve tried, they are all beaten into a pulp by simple good old pen and paper, who would have thought.

Tumbling the Frenzy

During the Frenzy in April my plan is to write a daily brief status update on the progress.

Status so far;

• Great story, if I must say so myself (and I must, I must)
• Good characters
• Great development and progress
• Good story arc
• The outline is still missing, but I have a good idea of the overall outline

I’ve been using Dramatica Pro for the story and character development, which is a first for me. I not that big a fan of computer aided character development but Dramatica is rather good. At least it asks you some interesting questions that make you think more deeply about your story.