It’s easy to lose your way while writing your script, or when producers are giving you notes.
In the following clip, Jacob Krueger (a WGA award-winning screenwriter and founder of Jacob Krueger Studio in NYC) offers some great advice for staying on track.
I especially love the part where he discusses fixing your script and incorporating notes:
“What I want to encourage you, is set the fix aside. And instead look for, ‘What’s the opportunity?’ Don’t try to fix your movie. Listen to the note. Think of what you’re going for. Ask yourself where the opportunity is. ‘What would be fun?’ — Not, ‘What would be expedient.’ ‘What would be cool to do?’ — Not, ‘What would solve the problem?’… When you allow your self to play, that’s when you figure out how to do it in a way that really resonates.”
There’s a really engaging TV series in the UK, on Channel 4 (E4), called Skins (not to be confused with the short-lived MTV version). Part raunchy drama, part teen comedy, the BAFTA-winning show is packed with gripping characters and storylines.
It’s made all the more impressive by the fact that the entire main cast is replaced every two years! (And you thought Glee was harsh!) On top of that, each episode focuses on a different character that you can’t help but love by the end of the hour.
On seasons/series 3 and 4 there were two stand-out characters — Emily and Naomi (known as Naomily by their legions of fans); fearlessly played by Lily Loveless and Kathryn Prescott.
Their two-season journey was exciting, poignant, surprising, touching, agonizing and uplifting. Everything you’d want in a story arc. So much so, that I decided to use my screenwriting sensibilities to create [say this next part in your head with an ominous echo] the ultimate Naomily Youtube video!
It’s called “Naked.” (Settle down, no one’s actually naked. It’s a play on the many definitions of the word, like exposed, raw, vulnerable… Plus the main song used is “Naked” by Tracy Bonham.)
Why spend the time to make such a video?
A few reasons:
1. I love the show.
‘Nuff said.
2. The challenge.
How do you distill two seasons into a video that’s under ten minutes in length, present it in a way that’s fresh, and hone the story so that it can stand on its own?
It involved doing what all good screenwriters do — strip everything out until you’re left with only the story you want to tell. Similar to writing a script, there were so many wonderful scenes that I wanted to include but didn’t support the main narrative, so they had to go. It was a really good exercise in killing your darlings.
3. To create something visual.
We toil away for years in our darkened rooms, writing stories that we hope will sell or, dare we dream, actually dance across the silver screen one day. Sometimes it just feels nice to be able to create something that people can see right now and say, “Wow.” (Of course an original short film would be better, but…)
The resulting video utilizes non-linear storytelling, and synchronizes key actions and scene cuts to the music, to enhance the emotional punch. In doing so, hopefully it becomes more than the sum of its parts. Let me know what you think!
Warning: Lesbians!
This video doesn’t contain any nudity or significant swearing, and would probably be acceptable by late-night network television standards (tame by cable television standards). However, it does contain several scenes of girls kissing, etc. So if you’re homophobic, or lesbi-antsy, you might want to stay away from this vid… But if you do, you’ll be missing out on something rather beautiful.
Can’t see the video above? Want to download it? Naomily.avi (Optimized for Windows | 1280 x 720 | 174 MB) Naomily-iPad.mp4 (Optimized for iPad/Mac | 1024 x 768 | 125 MB)
FYI – The first three seasons of Skins can be streamed through Netflix or Amazon. The fourth season DVDs can be rented or purchased through the same.
Last night was really cool. At my semi-monthly writers’ group meeting (we’re known as The Recommended), we had a table read for the first act of my screenplay, and one other.
Professional actors were invited to participate, and some truly talented individuals came by to bring our characters to life.
I’ve been in other groups before, and have had my scripts read aloud by my fellow screenwriters, but having professional actors perform your script is an entirely different experience.
Some great things I discovered:
There’s real professionalism at play here. Even though they didn’t have to, these actors reviewed the scripts ahead of time, and gave careful consideration to the characters.
An actor’s take on a character may be something completely different than what you had in mind, yet powerful and equally valid. It gives you a new way of seeing your character and another possible direction to go in.
Some actors will nail your character so precisely, that you’ll walk away having difficulty distinguishing the two in your head afterwards.
Some line readings will be different than what you had envisioned — and by different, I mean better.
Lines or jokes that fall flat, force you to ask yourself whether it was the delivery, or the writing (hint: it’s usually the writing).
Actors give great feedback on the writing itself! They’ve all read a lot of scripts, and have an innate sense of what works and what doesn’t.
Make sure the narrator (the one who reads the action lines, scene headings, etc.) that you utilize for your script is an eloquent reader. Otherwise the end result will be something decidedly less than it could have been.
Actors are way better looking and charismatic than my usual crowd. I definitely need to expand my circle of friends.
The best part of this experience was that all of the actors really enjoyed my script! A wonderful validation for all the hard work.
Join Us!
Screenwriters
If you’re in the greater Los Angeles area and would like to submit a 15 page sample to see if you qualify to join our group, please contact me for more information. We’d love to have you.
Be forewarned: Our panel will review your submission to make sure it demonstrates an advanced level of screenwriting. Many more screenwriters are turned away than make the cut.
There is no charge for submitting (but for the love of all things holy, please don’t waste our time if you’re brand new to screenwriting). No notes will be given.
Actors
If you’re in the greater L.A. area and would like to gain valuable table read experience, or cold read practice, in a fun, supportive atmosphere, let me know!
Want me to read your screenplay? Please take a look at my script services.
I watched The Social Network again last night, but this time with the audio commentary by Aaron Sorkin and various cast members.
Given Aaron Sorkin’s successes and accolades, it’s easy to forget that he’s just a dude with the same writing challenges we face. Sure, he now has unparalleled access to people who can get his scripts made (and he’s probably a supergenius), but he starts with a blank page, just like the rest of us do.
A couple of things popped out at me while listening to the commentary.
1. He says that the hardest part of the process for him is just starting to write.
What? Really? How can that be the case for such a prolific, experienced writer? Yet, it’s true. I was too lazy engaged in the commentary to copy down what he said verbatim, but basically after he spends months researching a project, it’s very hard for him to start the script.
He struggles to figure out his way in to the story. For him, that’s the hardest part.
2. He labors over his words
The dialogue in The Social Network is so smart, snappy and authentic that I sometimes picture Aaron Sorkin writing stream of consciousness, as fast as his little hands can type.
So it was encouraging to hear him talk about scenes that gave him a peculiar amount of trouble.
For example, there’s this scene that takes place after Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) has just launched the first version of (the)Facebook:
MARK is staring at the computer...
EDUARDO
Mark?
MARK doesn’t hear him. We just see MARK’s head from the back and it’s ever so slightly bobbing back and forth...
EDUARDO
(pause)
Mark?
(beat)
Are you praying?
Well apparently Aaron Sorkin “labored” over the word, “praying.” He wasn’t sure (and still isn’t sure) if he should have used “davening” instead.
I’m not sure what I found more interesting — the fact that he labored over that decision, or that I had no idea what the hell “davening” meant.1
It’s a common issue. You have a word that might be “perfect,” but it’s likely to lose a portion of your audience that isn’t familiar with it.
Sometimes it’s just comforting to know that even Aaron Sorkin grapples with these ridiculous writing problems.
Want me to read your screenplay? Please take a look at my script services.
davening means “To recite Jewish liturgical prayers” (and, in some dictionaries, “to sway or rock lightly”). ↩
Feeling creatively stifled? This quick two minute video gives you 29 terrific ideas for keeping the creative juices flowing.
I used several of these ideas to break through a recent case of writer’s block. Which ones did you find helpful? Are there any tips you would add to the list?
There’s a really engaging TV series in the UK, on 
The Recommended
