hitting a brick wall

[Gwai Lo]

I agree w/everyone above. But I also want to add that I can almost always power through a brick wall by doing good old fashioned research. As soon as I start reading and learning, the wheels usually start turning again, and I come up with solutions to problems that seemed insurmountable.

[Angeloworx]

Graham crackers, marshmallows, a six pack of Guinness, a lighter, a Weber, charcoal, the script soaked in lighter fluid and a few friends. A bonfire always gets me relaxed.

[TwoBrad Bradley]

... and then when you're hitting a brick wall with your new project you'll always have something to fall back on.

Have you tried everything?

Some suggestions (not intended necessarily as solutions, but rather as exercises to get the creative juices flowing):

- cut your personal most favorite scene.
- cut any scene (or segment) where information that has already been established is repeated.
- cut anything that does not deal with the protagonist pursuing the goal.
- what is the most difficult obstacle for your protag to overcome, both external and internal?
- is the protag a "different person" at the end of the story?

View the "deleted scenes with commentary" on many DVD movies.

[baga12]

I second the idea of doing research on your script. I'm currently adapting my short script into a TV pilot. I hit a brick wall and couldn't come up with any new ideas or a fresh perspective for the pilot. I got a bunch of books and read a ton of articles on the subject. The ideas started flowing again and I once again became very excited about the subject matter. Give it a shot and see what happens. If you still struggle, then I suggest you follow what the others said. Take a little break.