WIM+AI – Module 5 – Lesson 3: Act 1. Write 3 – 5 pages a day.

[Margaret]

Margaret’s Act 1 First draft Part 1
My Vision: To write profound faith-based screenplays that are produced.
What I learned: Had to keep a mantra going in my head, “Don’t try to fix it”, to keep from wordsmithing.
Insights: I was able to follow high-speed writing rules until I got to a formatting question, “How do I format phone conversations between two people?” I pulled out Riley’s Hollywood Standard to look it up and then realized I pulled myself out of the high-speed writing.

[Monica Arisman]

Subject: Monica’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1

VISION: I am a very successful screenwriter who has had multiple movies made.

What I learned doing this assignment is to review the rules, then the outline for the scene and write.

Don’t post the scenes, but please tell us how you used the High-Speed Writing Rules and any insights you had about writing a first draft.

Reviewed the rules and the outline before writing. I did, however, make script notes so I wouldn’t forget some ideas that popped into my head. Then kept writing. Before I would ponder how I wanted to present the new idea and get bogged down. I have one more scene to write and I’m finished Act 1.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by  Monica Arisman. Reason: Formatting

[LJ (Lawrence John) Seliski]

LJ’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1

My vision is to write incredible high-concept screenplays that are made into popular, financially successful movies.

What I learned from doing this assignment is I’m really enjoying doing high-speed writing.

[Harry Rankin]

Harry’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1

My vision for success from this program is:
To create scripts freely when working with producers, directors and cast, and sell award-winning work to create a lifestyle confident of financial freedom.

What I learned from doing this assignment is:
This is fun!
My mind is free-flowing
I do not feel intimidated by the blank page!
I use my beat-sheet outline from Module 4 as a rough guide which helps a lot.

This was relatively quick. I still have a slight tendency to edit as I go, and have to stop myself so that there is a bigger change in draft 2.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by  Harry Rankin.

[David Wickenden]

David Wickenden Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: I become a writer that the industry respects and wants to work with and it offers me challenges that helps me to continue to grow and be successful.
“What I learned from doing this assignment is…?”
• State: I absolutely love…
• Activity: …writing this first draft!
Having written a lot of novels and screenplays, I find that I already use many of the strategies for High Speed Writing Rules. What makes the biggest difference is having an outline. I have never used one before Hal had introduced it in the Action Movies course and again in this course. This has allowed me to literally fly through the pages.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by  David Wickenden.

[David Zelitzky]

David Z’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision:
I am an interesting, dependable, successful writer that people love to work with.

What I learned from doing this assignment is I’m becoming more aware of when I stop, what causes me to freeze up and how to continually recognize when it happens and learn how to push through. It’s a process!

[Michael Collado]

Mike's Act 1 First Draft Part 1

My Vision is to write an original screenplay, make a couple of calls to pitch it, to start a bidding war.

This lesson proves that picking up and starting a new routine is very hard. I am still having trouble not going off the outline script because of thoughts I want to put down so as not to lose them. I am a henpecker. Even though I am improving, I cannot leave the misspelled words.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by  Michael Collado.

[Renee Miller]

Renee's Act 1 First Draft Part 1

My Vision: I will be in the top 1% of screenwriters and be known in the industry as an A-list screenwriter who is easy to work with, gets the job done, and never has to worry about the next job.

What I learned from this assignment is that my outline is problematic. As I was writing the scenes, I realized that the way it is set up now, the inciting incident would happen around page 25. So, I stopped writing, looked at my outline, and determined where the changes needed to be made. I then continued on with the assignment and finished the first act.

[Pat Fitzgerald]

Pat's Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My vision is to have fun completing this course with a contest-winning script that will establish me as a courageous and original writer.

What I learned is that I've always been a tweaker, backtracking and changing things instead of moving forward, but following the High Speed Writing Rules is one hell of a lot of fun. I'm enjoying following my outline and letting the story flow. My characters are also surprising me with their dialogue. I'm learning more about them as I write. It's been a tad difficult to not add additional scenes, however I'm making notes of things that I may want to change. But right now the priority is to forge ahead and complete this first draft – and to continue to let go of perfection.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by  Pat Fitzgerald.

[Robin Fellows]

WIM+AI – Module 5 – Lesson 3
Robin’s: Act 1 First Draft Part 1

MY VISION: I aim to make my writing flow naturally, like second nature, crafting stories that resonate globally and leave a mark, backed by a supportive team.
What I learned in this lesson, its full speed ahead, and I mean speed. I’m quickly moving toward my inciting incident with lightning speed. Since my concept is a sci-fi – I used AI to help me develop some of the high tech or modify and organize my thoughts on the tech I developed. I also had AI do hypotheticals of the tech imagined. It was helpful to get some large furniture moved in. So now plopping in my outline and speed writing with those in place, I’ve been able to keep the pace lively and fun. I am thinking about my story every day and look forward to writing a new scene or two daily. Did I mention I’m having fun? Yup, I am.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by  Robin Fellows.

[Kathryn Gould]

Kathryn's Act 1 First Draft Part 1

I choose to be a highly energized and creative writer who makes big movies and loves her life working with the most creative people in the world.

What I learned – starting to get into the groove. Came to a place where I felt like another scene was needed, so I just wrote "may need a scene here where they do x" and then kept going. It's getting fun.

[James Hernandez]

James’ Act 1 First Draft Part 1

My Vision: I am a great writer who is recognized by the industry as an exceptional collaborator able to elevate any project into production and have maximum success.

What I learned from doing this assignment is…that the best thing I can do for my writing is to just go freestyle on my script. Along without being in perfectionist mode, I was able to write four solid pages in under an hour. I can’t remember ever achieving writing four quality pages that fast. Yes, I have a well thought and developed outline, but speed allowed me to have the characters talk to me which informed much of the dialogue. The key is letting go of perfectionist thinking (as we were advised to do) and let brave writing lead me where the story wants to go and then follow it.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by  James Hernandez.

[Pam Ewing]

Pam Ewing’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: Become a Writing Athlete
What I’ve learned: Per Tyler Perry – “I can do bad all by myself,” so I am on course. I think my Act 1 is too short but I’m not adding until I see how the whole first draft plays out.

[Lee Tidball]

Lee’s Act 1 first 10 pages

My Vision: I am a writer who is excellent, recognized as such by people in the industry, and has several projects sold for WGA-type fees and some of those produced and successful in the theater and/or on a major streamer. 

What I learned getting started with my script was that, though I can write fast, I’m still going back and changing words, thinking of better descriptions or dialogue, etc. I’m not too concerned about this because what I have kicked is the urge to go back over the pages that I’ve just written and rewrite them. Yay!

[Terrie Shaft]

Terrie’s High Act 1 First Draft Part 1
Vision: I am paid to write screenplays that become successful movies. My process is so solid I can enjoy my equestrian hobby while exceeding expectations with my writing.
What I learned from this assignment is that my outline is too short – which my feedback partner pointed out. I freaked out that my first act was around 10 pages. I wrote one comedy scene that I think closes Act 1 and managed and that scene ran 6 pages. So I’m around 16 pages for act 1 which is better but still too short. I need to make time to brainstorm ways to elevate my outline.

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by  Terrie Shaft.

[Mary Spiers]

Mary’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1
My vision: I am a leading creator of relatable family-friendly stories with compelling, authentic and unique characters.

I wrote 3 pretty mediocre pages in 30 minutes for 1 scene. Yay. This was mostly conversation, but there’s at least 1-2 good dialog lines in there. I also found I had ideas as I went along. So I put these in notes to come back to later.

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by  Mary Spiers.

[Edward Lusk]

ED's Act 1 First Draft Part 1
MY VISION is to be a bankable, reputable, and industry go-to writer who’s demonstrated how to entertain and hold an audience’s attention through unforgettable characters and stories that are as enjoyable to write as they are to watch.
What I learned doing this assignment is how well the scenes come together when using the outline. I have a place to start and finish which has helped me structure the scene in an interesting well and I see great potential for improvement in future drafts.

[Elle Tracy]

ET’s Vision: To be recognized for my best work, including with money.
From this lesson, I learned that writing a more structured scene: beginning/ middle/ end, with more informed– filled-out– characters, makes the scene potentially so much better.

I miss the ‘adventure’ of writing in a straight line to ‘see where the story goes’, but truly appreciate having the guidelines/ side rails around me in this script.

Thanx!

[Sunil Pappu]

Sunil Pappu’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1

My Vision: I’m a successful produced writer who specializes in female-led thrillers.

“What I learned from doing this assignment is… I completed the first act using the high-speed writing rules and writing 10 pages on day 1, and 10 pages on day 2. I left notes for myself on things I didn’t know or probably needed research. I didn’t allow myself to go down any rabbit holes and stuck to the outline and wrote the scenes from that.

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by  Sunil Pappu.

[Jan Westbrook]

Jan’s Act 1 First Draft Part 1

My Vision: I am a talented and strong writer with a unique voice, recognized by the movie industry with multiple screenplays produced.

What I learned from this assignment was I had to keep telling myself that this is a first draft, not a final draft. I found myself going back to find the “perfect” word and correcting spelling mistakes. As I kept going forward, I was able to embrace the high speed writing rules and the process became more rewarding, seeing my first act scenes completed on the page

• This reply was modified 9 months, 4 weeks ago by  Jan Westbrook.

[Dawn C Crouch]

Dawn C Crouch Act 1 First Draft Part 1

I will learn to write three-dimensional stories that connect with producers and resonate with my audience.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that the sprint timer in Final Draft is a helpful tool in the speed writing process especially since my writing is often done in “down time” or in “small chunks.” The sprint timer helps me stay focused and keep writing.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by  Dawn C Crouch.