Some write off the bat - with nothing more than a concept. Others have a beginning and an end and let their imagination fly inbetween. And there are those who have it all figured out, detailed beat sheets, and transcribe into script form. My post is aimed at the latter. How do you guys go about it? I've been through the other two stages and am now a bit more prepared. Now I have the concept, a basic plot line and the act breaks and midpoint.
Eg: If I wrote Jaws my notes would be:
Act I
Girl goes night swim - eaten. Bf reports the death, Brody looks into it. Show chief is alien to Amity. An outsider - hates the sea. Body found, Brody: "shark attack". Mayor furious. Second person killed and into...
Act II
Town crazy. Brody hires marine expert. Shark caught but not the right one. Quint says he'll catch shark. Boy's mum blames Brody even though not his fault. All 3 go out to sea (MIDPOINT). Personalities clash. Bait shark, see how it acts etc. Into...
Act III
Shark is tougher than expected. Hooper eaten. Quint eaten. Brody must face external/internal fears alone. Shark lunges as boat finally sinks - brody kills it.
It's a very rough template. The plus side is I get to let my creative juices flow but the downside is I stare at a blank page for hours. Do you guys sit down and think and it all flows out of you in one sitting? Which is amazing. Or do you mull over it for days/weeks, sizing up potential plot turns, dialogue, scenes and then commit to a detailed plan that is later conveted into a script?
Eg: If I wrote Jaws my notes would be:
Act I
Girl goes night swim - eaten. Bf reports the death, Brody looks into it. Show chief is alien to Amity. An outsider - hates the sea. Body found, Brody: "shark attack". Mayor furious. Second person killed and into...
Act II
Town crazy. Brody hires marine expert. Shark caught but not the right one. Quint says he'll catch shark. Boy's mum blames Brody even though not his fault. All 3 go out to sea (MIDPOINT). Personalities clash. Bait shark, see how it acts etc. Into...
Act III
Shark is tougher than expected. Hooper eaten. Quint eaten. Brody must face external/internal fears alone. Shark lunges as boat finally sinks - brody kills it.
It's a very rough template. The plus side is I get to let my creative juices flow but the downside is I stare at a blank page for hours. Do you guys sit down and think and it all flows out of you in one sitting? Which is amazing. Or do you mull over it for days/weeks, sizing up potential plot turns, dialogue, scenes and then commit to a detailed plan that is later conveted into a script?
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