Forum Replies Created

  • Josh Lee

    Member
    March 3, 2022 at 7:41 pm in reply to: Day 9 Assignments

    Josh Lee’s Budget

    What I learned doing this assignment is that I have a really, really, really, really hard time spending money.

    MAIN VARIABLES – MAKING THINGS CHEAPER

    Number of Locations – well I have one, so not sure I could make this any less

    Expensive Locations – it’s an abandoned or just-moved-out-of psychiatric facility and it’s rather important, so again, not sure that this can be made cheaper.

    Number of Characters – right now there’s six but I could most likely eliminate one. I have two security guards and I could probably make it work with one. So there’s four main cast and I could probably cut one of those too, but that would be it.

    Special Effects – there’s zero. Some supernatural stuff but not supernatural “effects.”

    Number of Pages – going for no more than 90 so I try for 80.

    Crowd Scenes – there’s zero.

    Stunts, Chase Scenes, and Fight Scenes – there will be stunts and there will be fight scenes as there is violence but I suppose it could all be toned down or “written down” or appear off screen. I dunno, again, it’s sort of gonna be required.

    Special Sets – not sure if this would be considered a “Special Set” or not but if not, great! There’s zero of those.

    SECONDARY VARIABLES

    Rights – there’s none.

    Explosions and Firearms – there will be a gun, but so far it’s use is extremely limited and it’s appearance is part of the story as no one knew it existed so… pretty important.

    Kids – none.

    Animals – none.

    Weather – none.

    Water and Underwater – none. (at least currently).

    Night Scenes – it’s all at night because that’s when these folks have to do their community service. It’s all interior though. It could just as easily be switched to day shoots though.

    Helicopters, Aircraft, Drone Shots – none.

    Green Screen Work – none but if there is any it would be very minimal.

    Extensive Make-up – there’s murder and gore so… it could probably happen off screen or be toned down but c’mon… no one wants that!

    Archival Footage – none.

    Anything Else Dangerous – nothing of note currently.

    MAIN VARIABLES – MAKING THINGS MORE EXPENSIVE

    Number of Locations – I could add the characters all at their homes and/or at their respective day jobs to really get some locations added.

    Expensive Locations – I dunno, add in that someone is an Executive for the New York Yankees and works at Yankee Stadium… (I would never want to do this, but it could work).

    Number of Characters – could add police because they’re always useful. Could add homeless/squatters in the abandoned building, which I may do now anyway.

    Special Effects – this one I dunno… this story just doesn’t call for any.

    Number of Pages – this too… this story should be no longer than 90 pages. I haven’t even written it and any more than that fills be with dread.

    Crowd Scenes – I could add a crowd gathers outside the abandoned clinic because… I dunno why but it would make a crowd. Or in the above added day job scenes, make extras part of that, or crowds.

    Stunts, Chase Scenes, and Fight Scenes – could definitely amp up fighting. I dunno about martial arts-type choreography but I suppose it could work. I’d rather see brawls and blood like Brawl in Cell Block 99, personally.

    Special Sets – I dunno… I’m having a hard time making this one work.

    SECONDARY VARIABLES

    Rights – sure, throw in Wagner or Chopin or something not annoying. Have characters read Stephen King books…

    Explosions and Firearms – already have firearms so an explosion could technically result from the use of said firearm.

    Kids – really don’t fit in this story but in the beginning a few of the characters have children. That’ll have to do.

    Animals – and pets… maybe a feral dog in the abandoned building causes problems.

    Weather – this all takes place indoors so this is really a non-factor but a nice thunderstorm would be a terrific thing. Especially, lightning throughout the dark building.

    Water and Underwater Scenes – again… not sure I can make this one work. There’s a pool in the building (which does make sense) and someone is drowned in it???

    Night Scenes – the main action all takes place at night. 80% of the script.

    Helicopters, Aircraft, Drone Shots – hell yeah, add ’em! Whenever possible! Great way for establishing the creepy building but literally whenever possible.

    Green Screen Work – I have some supernatural stuff but not sure that this would even be required…

    Extensive Make-up – I could make the deaths so ridiculously over-the-top to the point that it would up the gore and blood needed.

    Archival Footage – having a hard time making this one work too… just not needed.

    Anything Else Dangerous – well I added a potential rabid dog attack so…

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  • Josh Lee

    Member
    March 2, 2022 at 2:13 am in reply to: Day 8 Assignments

    Josh Lee’s Hope/Fear

    HOPE: the characters just need to leave the building when the threat of a supernatural presence emerges.

    FEAR: they can’t since the only accessible doors are barricaded shut.

    HOPE: the guards can just use their cell phones to call for help. (no one else is allowed a phone).

    FEAR: both guards’ cell phones are inexplicably missing.

    HOPE: the group locates a secret passage of sorts in the basement of the building that no one knew existed.

    FEAR: it’s much too dangerous/impossible to make work/access.

    HOPE: at one point they think they’ve found someone who clearly doesn’t belong.

    FEAR: but it’s the “ghost” outfit that someone was clearly wearing earlier and they’re all aware at this point they’re involved in some kinda game.

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  • Josh Lee

    Member
    March 1, 2022 at 1:23 am in reply to: Day 7 Assignments

    Josh Lee’s 4 Act Structure

    What I learned doing this assignment was the importance of figuring out as much of this as you possibly can. At least for me. I never figure all of it out, but the more the better before writing a word.

    CONCEPT – 4 Felons doing community service at a closed down psychiatric hospital encounter what they first think is a supernatural presence but they realize it’s actually someone with a score to settle who has planted weapons around the building attempting to get them all to kill one another once their paranoia reaches a fever pitch.

    MAIN CONFLICT – The main security guard – C.J. – his father was killed by Sam (the main character) and C.J. believes that community service isn’t quite enough punishment for the crime.

    ACT 1 OPENING – Everyone arrives late at night. Males are searched by C.J., females by security guard Jane and then it’s time to get to work, salvaging whatever can be salvaged, whatever is deemed important enough to save.

    INCITING INCIDENT – Someone catches a glimpse of the “ghost.”

    TURNING POINT – After getting more than a glimpse, they try to leave but the one door they use has been barricaded shut. (All other entrances and exits are electronically locked to keep out squatters and the homeless).

    ACT 2 PLAN – Simple, the guards just need to call the security company… except their phones are missing. Is this the work of a supernatural presence or a real life presence?

    PLAN IN ACTION – Everyone stay together and explore, trying to find any way out of the building they can. They are officially locked in and cut off.

    MIDPOINT TURNING POINT – After going into a random room, there’s stuff written all over the walls pertaining to Logan’s criminal history. Things no one knew about besides him. There’s definitely another human presence in this building. Paranoia is now going through the roof.

    ACT 3 RETHINK EVERYTHING – Now it’s time to go hunting. There’s someone there with them and they need to be found.

    NEW PLAN – But maybe it’s one of the group that’s the guilty party. Paranoia wins out and murder begins.

    TURNING POINT – C.J. shoots and kills (not sure yet), but no one knew he had a gun. Now, suspicion of C.J. rises.

    FINAL PLAN – Sam suggests to Brooke that they stay away from C.J. and Kristi who seem to have chosen sides at this point.

    CLIMAX/EXPRESSION – C.J. reveals that he and Kristi are the ones behind it all. Sam murdered C.J.’s father and he wanted Sam to be killed likewise in what would’ve been labeled an accident. What no one knows about Sam is that he used to be a contract killer and he retired from that life after he killed C.J.’s father because he felt so awful about it.

    RESOLUTION – This I’m not sure of. The obvious thing would be to have Sam kill C.J. and make it out alive and everything is right as rain. However I’m not sure I like or want that, so unfortunately, I’m leaving my resolution blank.

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  • Josh Lee

    Member
    February 25, 2022 at 11:09 pm in reply to: Day 6 Assignments

    Josh Lee’s Delivering Multiple Layers

    What I learned doing this assignment is that this is all very important to consider and be aware of, however it was difficult in that, aside from what I’d already come up with, I had a hard time coming up with things that were brand new. A lot of times, this process occurs to me in rewrites. I dunno, that’s just me though.

    Sorry there’s no real flow to this:

    LOCATION LAYER

    Surface Layer: the asylum (or clinic) is haunted (because of course it is).

    Beneath That: it’s actually 2 characters putting on a show of sorts to make it seem that way.

    How Revealed: I’m not actually sure the precise moment, but it will be.

    CHARACTER LAYER

    Surface Layer: C.J. is masquerading as a rent-a-cop for the community service folks

    Beneath That: He’s really there to make Sam (the main character) kill again and even be killed by another in the group.

    How Revealed: Again, I’m not sure the precise moment, but it will happen.

    CHARACTER LAYER

    Surface Layer: Kristi is another in the group doing her community service.

    Beneath That: She’s actually assisting C.J. in the game to get everyone to turn on everyone else.

    How Revealed: Probably at the same time as the above mentioned reveal.

    CHARACTER LAYER

    Surface Layer: Sam is the main character who murdered C.J.’s father in self defense.

    Beneath That: He was a hitman of sorts before and “retired” starting a new life and the murder of C.J.’s father was something he never wanted to have to do again.

    How Revealed: Again… I’m not exactly sure.

    CHARACTER LAYER

    Surface Layer: Logan is there for a robbery that he committed and he feels betrayed by the system, a self-righteous douche more or less

    Beneath That: He actually has committed a number of crimes that he was never caught for and someone knows this and is making everyone else aware of it.

    How Revealed: Someone (C.J. and Kristi) leave CCTV footage of multiple crimes where, even though Logan is masked, HE knows it’s him.

    +1
  • Josh Lee

    Member
    February 24, 2022 at 1:39 am in reply to: Day 5 Assignments

    Josh Lee’s Character Journeys!

    What I learned doing this assignment is… that I must not know the story all that well because a lot of these I couldn’t answer, simply because of blanks I have in the story. What I did answer, I’m not even sure will stay, but I wanted to complete it.

    I’m only posting my main character because a lot of my cast dies and won’t even have anything past Turning Point 2, maybe.

    CHARACTER – SAM RICHTER

    Beginning – depressed, quiet, introverted, he arrives at the asylum to do his community service and doesn’t speak to or look at anyone.

    Turning Point – working with Logan (another comm. service worker) he finds a hunting knife that looks brand new and definitely should not be in an abandoned asylum. He doesn’t tell Logan about it and keeps it.

    Midpoint – Realizes others have found various weapons that shouldn’t be in the building and that they’ve most likely been planted there.

    Dilemma – will be whether or not he chooses to kill someone to survive, or if he even can kill someone again.

    3rd Act Climax – final showdown with a deranged C.J. (who’s behind everything) and I picture Sam getting away without resorting to murder but then again, maybe not.

    Ending – He survives! He finally forgives himself for what got him there in the first place which was murdering in self defense.

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  • Josh Lee

    Member
    February 19, 2022 at 5:51 pm in reply to: Day 3 Assignments

    Josh Lee’s Right Characters!

    What I learned doing this assignment is that I have the right characters! It sounds like a snarky reply but I mean it in all honesty. I wasn’t sure before but I am now.

    So, I’m not really sure how much to write here, but I will say this: I know I have the right characters because they are a group of criminals how have committed felonies of various seriousness and they are locked in an abandoned mental hospital doing community service. They also don’t know one another at all and so their skepticism of one another is through the roof. Couple that with a guard watching them and their paranoia is going to be high considering they are all what you would call unsavory, untrustworthy folks.

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  • Josh Lee

    Member
    February 18, 2022 at 1:57 am in reply to: Day 2 Assignments

    Josh’s Great Hook

    How did this process work for you?

    Well, honestly I sort of had a lot my concept figured out, but still wanted to do the assignment on my chosen project. It was just sort of difficult in that, I already had decisions made in my head for some (but not all) of the components.

    What did you learn doing this assignment?

    That I have a pretty good concept that I’m excited about and this only made me more excited for it. Also, the exercise, minus the “High Concept Question,” helped to see through a different lens exactly what I’m dealing with. The question I was able to answer without much thought so I’m not sure if that’s good or bad but I suppose I’m going to find out.

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  • Josh Lee

    Member
    February 16, 2022 at 2:23 am in reply to: Day 1 Assignments

    What I learned doing this assignment is that 99% of what I watch is seemingly contained. It was hard to even pick or find something applicable.

    TITLE: THE LOST BOYS (1987)

    AS THEY DID IT:

    PEOPLE: 2 main characters (brothers), family (mother, grandfather), The Frog Brothers (vampire hunters), plus the vampire gang (6 more characters, including a kid) and the family dog. Also a million extras in numerous scenes.

    STUNTS: Fairly minimal minus the final confrontation when the family house is absolutely destroyed and the vampire gang is killed off.

    EXTRAS: Many, many, many. Boardwalk, video stores, comic shops, concerts…

    WARDROBE: Very 80’s but I think it would be fine.

    HAIR AND MAKEUP: Vampires, so makeup is a definite. Plus gore scenes.

    QUARANTINE: Too many extras for sure.

    ANIMALS AND KIDS: Of course, there’s both.

    COVID GUIDELINE VERSION:

    PEOPLE: I’d say you could eliminate some of the vampire gang and maybe one of the hunters.

    STUNTS: Minus the final confrontation, there isn’t a whole lot.

    EXTRAS: All of these would have to go. So no Boardwalk scenes or any of the other heavily populated scenes like in stores or concerts. Not really a big deal though.

    WARDROBE: This could remain unchanged.

    HAIR AND MAKEUP: I suppose you could tone down the vampire look to make the application go quicker and with less people needed to apply it.

    QUARANTINE: So, with no extras that’s going to be a huge improvement and also limiting the vampire gang and potential makeup artists.

    ANIMALS AND KIDS: Both need to be eliminated.

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  • Josh Lee

    Member
    February 16, 2022 at 1:46 am in reply to: Day 1 Assignments

    I’m not sure why, but my post didn’t post, so this is a test one.

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    • Josh Lee

      Member
      February 16, 2022 at 1:52 am in reply to: Day 1 Assignments

      Anyway, I picked The Lost Boys (1987). I’ll try and re-post it tomorrow… sorry about that.

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  • Josh Lee

    Member
    February 14, 2022 at 3:13 pm in reply to: Introduce Yourself to the Group

    I’m Josh Lee. I’ve written 25 or so features… can’t really keep track of them all honestly. I have one currently optioned. This class came to me with seemingly impeccable timing as everyone seems to want a contained script. EVERYONE. So, naturally… here I am.

    In grad school I studied with David Lynch and Neal Marshall Stevens my mentor. Good stuff.

    +2
  • Josh Lee

    Member
    February 14, 2022 at 3:07 pm in reply to: Confidentiality Agreement

    Josh Lee, I agree to the terms of this release form.

    GROUP RELEASE FORM

    As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

    1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

    2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

    I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

    3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

    4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

    5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

    6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

    This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

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