Oomph

[KBuck]

How do you give a screenplay oomph... how do you properly measure oomph... is anything more important that oomph to a screenplay... if so what... if not why not... if unsure why unsure... if don't care why have you read this far... most importantly how do you keep a leash on oomph and control it once your script has oomph...?

Oomph...?

[RogerOThornhill]

I think it works better if you put it in all caps...


OOMPH !


see what I mean?

[KBuck]

I think it works better if you put it in all caps...


OOMPH !


see what I mean?

Just to clarify.

The oomph I'm talking about doesn't need capitals, doesn't need an exclamation mark... I'm talking about that kind of oomph...

[Jcorona]

I'm sorry, KBuck, but I gotta agree with Roger.

Forget the OOMPH in your scripts and give it to your lady . . . if you're a man.

I used to hold up signs: BAM! POW! WHAMMO! When I used to do what I was put on earth to do.

Trust me on this one, I was awesome . . . I was there, I seen it.

You know why? I ain't no secret weapon. Okay, maybe I am. But it's because I asked where she wanted the KAPOW! BOINK! BOINGGGGGG! I used to vibrate on the BOINGGGGGG and sometimes drop the card on her head.

Corona

[J off course]

I don't believe you can give a script "oomph"

Like charisma, you're either born with it or not.


Sorry, page one rewrite.


On a sidenote: It's a little known fact that JCorona was
the inspiration behind the twirling advertising placard guys
on street corners. And then of course before baton twirlers
there was JCorona in a tight sequin to-do with a turkey leg bone.

Yeah.

[RogerOThornhill]

More seriously, watch the details and the set ups...make sure something is set-up or alluded to just enough that you can then use your setup for a twist or reveal.

Make sure your dialogue and actions are supporting a progressing plot with consequences (danger, urgency, motivation, etc).

Is your character slowly arcing?

Do you have a general theme to serve as glue that holds things together?

If the scenes you see in your head aren't serving the listed-above concepts, then you need more oomph.


R.O.T.

[Jcorona]

Oh now you gonna get all serious on me, huh, Roger? :p

I can top that.

KBuck, conflict or funny or tension or something interesting on every page. Don't let the reader off the hook. Make 'em feel like if they don't turn to that next page, like they'll be missing something important. That once they're along for that fun ride, that they wanna ride it all the way through. Don't stop and lose the fun 'cause they'll get off the ride.

J, I always wanted to be one of those dudes in a marching band with the big drum and the big hat. Or the girl leading it with the baton and all that make-up and glitter.

Corona

[zenplato]

Just make sure it's not an Oompa-Loompa, I often get the two confused.