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Lesson 5
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6 Replies
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Vision: To write touching family stories that teach and entertain.
I’m still working on my scenes, but not giving up. 🙂
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KZ’s Finished Act 1
Vision: To master screenwriting so that I can turn my ideas into sellable scripts, win contests, and work with producers to get the movies made.
Yesterday, I didn’t have much time, but I wrote a 6-page scene that was so much fun to write because it featured an eccentric secondary character.
This probably belongs in the introductory “unusual thing about me” – but every morning since the pandemic started, I soak in the tub and read one chapter of a book. It’s amazing how many books one can read, a chapter at a time! But this morning, I put the book aside and thought about a scene I need to write that wasn’t very clear to me, and I came up with some ideas for the mechanics of the scene. I look forward to writing it today at 5 o’clock when I finish work at my “survival job.”
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Paul’s Finished Act 1.
4. Vision of success from this program: I want to write scripts that become movies that change people’s lives.
3. Since I’d almost finished Act 1 with Assignment 4, I used this assignment to look through my draft and add a couple of new scenes. But, still, I have come to the end of Act 1 with only 19 pages written, very far from the goal of 6-10 pages per day.
5. What I learned from this assignment is that I just have to tell myself that this is the 30% quality draft and that I’ll have time to deal with all the gaps and shortcomings with later drafts. I hope!
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Hey Paul,
Looking back through some of your Module 4 assignments, it seems like you have enough plot touchstones to really plow ahead and master the high speed writing techniques.
I know it’s difficult not to be judgmental of your writing as it’s flowing from your fingertips, but you really do have to turn off that judgment for the time being. In one mastery session, Hal said (and I paraphrase) that if the writing is too good, you’ll become attached to it, and you could actually have trouble revamping a scene in later drafts for the benefit of the whole script.
With that in mind, you might create another document called “5 minute sprints” and then take a scene from further along in your script – Act 3 or 4 – and write that scene as fast as you can, “racing the timer.” That may help you dream up scenes for Act 2 because you’ll see what had to happen for the later events to make sense. If you don’t like the scene you wrote, re-set the timer and do it again.
My Act 3 was empty, but I trusted the process and came up with some solutions. I may decide to change them when we “elevate the quality,” but for now, I’m just going to fly through them as is.
I hope this helps. We all have our different processes for getting words on paper, and I’m determined to make my old ways sit on the sidelines for now so that I can fully try out this new method.
Your story looks really compelling. I think it will be a great screenplay.
As coach Bela Karolyi said to Kerri Strug before she executed a perfect flip that clenched the USA gymnastics team their Olympic Gold Medal, “You can do it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4teMvG0RzyU
Happy writing! KZ
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Hello Kristina,
That was very kind of you to take the time to consider where I am in this process and share those thoughts with me. Thank you very much. And thanks for those (much needed!) words of encouragement. You are right. I am having to change the way I approach writing. Hal’s ideas have been extremely helpful. From now on, I’ll also be reading your assignments to see if I can reciprocate your kindness in providing helpful ideas. Now, I’m going to watch that video!
Many, many thanks Kristina! And the very best of luck with your script!
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Raquel’s Finished Act 1
Raquel’s High-Speed Writing Rules:
Vision: I want to go deeper into my writing to create screenplays where characters of depth are placed in compelling journeys with a fresh voice that Hollywood producers as well as independent film companies know they must make!
I plan to have this up in 4 days, let’s see if I make it!
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