Last night, I made some more headway on my 2nd script, It's nearing completion so I'm beginning my 3rd, being a horror. It started all well and good, I'm liking it, but I sit to continue, and I realized something...I couldn't picture the setting, STUCK...oh boy! Eventually it was time to call it a night.
Today, I got home and even though I wanted to get some writing in, I decided to sit and watch videos and documentaries of persons living in the type of setting and environment I wanted my script to revolve around.
Video, after video, I clicked, and digested. Feeling like I had a good enough crash course, I did a bit of writing on my 2nd script and then jumped to the trouble maker-the horror! But...something was different this time...I found creating the world in the script a lot easier. My research session has paid off!
...Unfortunately...It's late, and I'm way too tired :/ lol So here I am, crafting this post to you before I reunite with my bed (she's been complaining we're not spending enough time, so i'll let her have her way...tonight).
What type of research do you recall doing for a script/s you have written?
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Oh no, I do a lot of research. Buy books, watch films and/or documentaries, do interviews (if possible), go to places, travel, go walk around, talk to locals, get my own first-hand experience and impression, see for myself. The internet can only give you so much. Sure, some of the research will not literally be included in the script, of course, but it better helps to inform the writing. Makes my efforts and the substance of the story and characters feel more authentic, not superficial. At least, I hope. That’s always the goal and intention, really. Lol!
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Research is the way to go Imo.
The more you know about your subject, the better.
Afterward, you might want to build your world and your characters.
Then comes your outline, or the other way around.
When you get stuck, you can always open your outline to get some guidance.
So yeah, definitely the other way around.
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Wininging it. Always :) It's just more fun. Unless I need to use historical accurate facts or something. Then I hit the Internet as I will do next week to gather some facts.
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For me, the function of research is to get me comfortable with the subject matter I'm writing about. My most recent script takes place in Bath England during the Georgian period. My goal was not to write a history book but to be reasonably accurate in describing the world where my characters exist. To accomplish this I don't read a pile of history books. I research as I go along, which may be something as simple as examining clothing worn or how many people had bathroom facilities in the early 19th century.
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Imo, I really LOVE doing research before I commit to writing any script. (That way, I minimize my chances of falling flat on my face.)
For example, before starting out on "Pixie Dust," I had to frequently visit the Website for the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to get a feel for the school's layout, campus life, etc. Had to, as things turned out, keep going to the Website after getting past the screenplay's first thirty pages. [I got stuck trying to find a building Myriad House could call home...my original choice (a building next to Williams Arena that once was a frat, but is now an office building) didn't pan out. But now that I've found an alternative building, I'm ready to dive back into the script.]
And when I set out to work on "Jingle Belles" and make changes to that script (I originally wrote it in 1990), I found out I couldn't make Eve Reich a full-fledged Columbia University student...in 1959, Columbia was 24 years away from being an actual coeducational school. So I made her a physics major at Barnard College who was allowed to take Columbia's physics classes.
Didn't know that about Columbia until I hit the Internet!
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Very true Beth Fox Heisinger That was my goal in doing the research. I could have just went along with whatever, but I wanted to be as authentic and accurate as possible, and I think when you know better of the world you want to create then the characters and story just flows. Ideally I would have loved to travel and see it first hand, unfortunately that's not a current option, but I've dived into many sources and got a good visual and feel, so I'm better equipped to write on, and I've noticed it already moving forward.
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I agree Marc J. Sylvester Normally I jot down an outline of scenes to hit as I progress, It acts as a good guideline. The research definitely helped with my lack of ability to create this particular world, as I now am able to move ahead and write the story that's burning to get out.
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Haha my man Raymond Zachariasse I know the feelings of fun you talk about when wining it. But I try not to give in to that habit when writing. For scenes where I can let my imagination run wild, hell yea! But like you said if I need to be factual or accurate with characters or the environment etc, I'll get that research in
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This! Phillip E. Hardy, "The Real Deal" My reasons exactly. I don't want to produce a script that doesn't match the setting or story I'm creating. It was feeling so forced trying to write with my mind not being able to fully picture the characters and environment, but the comfort came with research. From what you've said though, I do believe at times I need to research those simpler details more.
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Jim Boston your stories always sound so original! I can see myself getting stuck trying to pen them lol I've felt that feeling before with my own, it sucks, because I have to stop and then do research to get back up and not cripple the script. But you sound like you do enjoy researching and understanding the world of your script before getting into the pages. That's a great trait you've developed.
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It's usually hard to "write what you know" if you don't research.
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Oh, my gosh...Imo, thanks for the nice words! And all the VERY BEST to you!
Truth. Simple and plain Eric Christopherson
Most welcome bro Jim Boston Best wishes all the same!
Research is definitely one of the fun parts of the job. It helps me lay on the foundations of my story, especially if it has a complex world, and it gives me additional ideas. But research should not take precedence over the story.
A lot of both my man, You must know what your talking about in your storyline for it to be authentic.