Screenwriting : What are your tricks? by Mariia Rudenko

Hi Mariia Rudenko - my own process is rather simple: I create a character(s) that I would enjoy writing about and list a few scenarios that could get them into trouble; then a character (or non-sentient entity/situation) capable of having reason and ability to cause that trouble, and then a hard fought way through that trouble to a satisfying ending.

Sounds simple, perhaps. Then I'll just write everything down: supportive characters, B stories, etc... no matter how many pages and how sloppy it is (write as if no one else is ever gonna read it). For me, this reveals more about every aspect and beat of the story before I lay it out on the butcher's block and take a hatchet to it all to wind up with a nice, trim Ribeye steak of a story (IMO).

In short: hero ---> problem to solve ---> villain ---> Have fun and write with abandon :-)

Matthew Kelcourse brilliant! obstacles they might face. that’s a good tip. thanks a lot for sharing

I don't follow any formula, nor worry about if it's technically right or wrong. Just write a story you'd want to see on screen. That's it. And have fun!! :)

Stephen Folker hi! thanks! yeah that’s my first step as well. I see the story as a whole right away, and later start working on beats, mostly according to Save The Cat system, as it speaks the most to me

Mariia Rudenko some people with bash Save the Cat, but I think his beat system is pretty easy to follow and works great. But don't worry about anything else, but writing something that is true to you. I've met people that try to give the most critical feedback and their writing is terrible. So, I don't ask for opinions, unless it's someone that is an actor or someone who is going to watch my film. :)

Stephen Folker thanks for sharing. that’s the motivation I was looking for today! exactly. I normally like to ask for opinions from people I admire.

About Save The Cat beats breakdown, I also heard a lot of criticism, and I don’t agree with it at all. Loved the books, loved the approach, and when my favorite teacher recommended it as well, there were no doubts left.

I don’t have any tricks. I used to write a brief three-act synopsis and read it every day before I started writing. After I was employed as a staff writer I purchased the Save the Cat book and software and used the beat sheet as a guide. It helped me somewhat but it doesn’t work well with every story so as I said I just used it as a guide.

I make a detailed outline, Mariia Rudenko (logline, theme, character backstories, beat sheet, comparables, research, etc.).

thanks for sharing Dan Guardino! sometimes I get stuck and then the torture begins haha

until I find the thing I’m looking for I can’t keep writing. Can’t jump to another part. that’s where the characters’ backstories come handy

app keeps cutting comments. I was saying Dan Guardino that sometimes I stuck and then the torture begins. I can’t keep writing until I find the thing I’m looking for. can’t jump to another part. that’s when characters’ backstories come handy

thabks Maurice Vaughan ! yeah, also the world, setting help quite a lot

You're welcome, Mariia Rudenko. Developing the world/setting helps me too. Sometimes I'll make a "Rules of World" section, "Rules of Agency," etc.

@Marlia No tricks just view process in human terms. Protagonist wants V needs, obstacles & conflict from antagonist, action both take to make own plot work, protagonist wins first hurdle, antagonist re groups to push protagonist into a crucible of no return, final battle.

I do an outline of main plot points but when writing actual story several drafts usually take characters in different directions though main plot is still the skeleton. In simple stories plot is not complicated but characters still have to do something for some reason. Character’s should drive the plot irrespective of outside forces because everyone behaves differently under pressure. The action character takes is crucial.

“Panster”writing works for some when passion flows. I’ve done it, especially for deadline competitions & unexpected pitch requests but unless all the dots join it is futile. Reader should be surprised, they did not see the end coming but looking back makes perfect sense.

My monitor is framed with post-it notes I've added over the course of seven years of writing a book series. Not all apply to screenwriting, but they do apply to story telling. They say helpful things like:

Intention + Obstacle

What makes them turn the page?

How will we know?

Use metaphors to convey emotions and character thoughts.

What's the punchline?

SEE, HEAR, SMELL, TASTE, TOUCH

Make the reader care!

Make a promise, then keep it...eventually.

Put them in a corner, then kick them in the teeth.

Make the worst thing happen.

How would THIS character react?

Must earn the outcome.

Mariia, I come up with an "outline/scene list" built around six plot points. If I can come up with ten to thirteen scenes before reaching a plot point, I'm fine.

Then I do profiles of my story's main characters...date of birth, personality, strength(s), weakness(es), hobbies, habits, fear(s), and personal history. When not developing characters from people I've actually known, I use a trick I read about in a book about pop music: I find out what the Number One pop hit on "Billboard's" US pop chart was the day this or that character was born. The song's title gives me a clue about that character's personality.

Thanks for posting! Glad you're here on Stage 32!

I will have a basic idea based around a question or a scenario. “would a loser come good before losing the love of his life?”

I am going to make him a gambler. She has said “stop gambling. it is bad for you.” He has said he will.

To get some plot points and understand what is happening. I will draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. I put desires or goals on the left and oppositions to those goals in the right column.

(Left)He wants to marry her. (right) He has not money to buy a ring.

(Left) He needs to get money. (right) He borrows it from her brother [mean guy].

(left) he want to buy her a big ring. (right) He needs more money [he uses the money to enter a big poker comp].

In my world he has plenty of opportunities to get out of his situation, but his delusion/addiction to gambling (his flaw) means he doesn’t take those options and drives head long into his own demise.

I also outline a lot. I make dot (bullet) points. At least 40. Some will be dialogue fragments. But mostly “she does this”.

I also look at what each point is trying to achieve. Is it the best place for that. Is it getting monotone.

Once I have all that. I cut and paste it into WriterDuet and I am away.

Debbie Croysdale thanks a lot for such a helpful description. Truth is pantser thing never works for me as I’m a structure freak. maybe at times too much:) all must be logical and in the right place. Those rules should be broken at times as well of course.

Totally agree there must be a skeleton first, then it gotta be dressed with more detailed events. thanks again!

Sallie Olson wow! thanks for advice. metaphors, senses, smell etc are so important. And to be honest I didn’t pay enough attention to those things. Definitely taking a note

Jim Boston that’s a nice trick. thanks! yeah, I’m

like you trying to make characters’ personal stories as specific as possible. “Fears” is a good one. Can give a lot of information about the character’s drive

Craig D Griffiths thank you so much for an excellent advice! so easy and makes a perfect sense. will absolutely use it with my current project. very helpful!

When I write a new screenplay, I like to build a stable like the kind for horses. In each stall is a character and each one is specific. It's fun and you will always be able to enhance your characters as your story develops. All of my screenplays are like movies in my head. I can take them out for a ride and learn something new about each character. It might sound weird, and maybe it is, but it works for me. Describe each one in as much detail as you see fit. I put them on index cards in a small file. When I need to listen to them, I take them out for a ride.

Take your character out for a cup of coffee. What secret do they tell you that no one knows? Have fun !

I try not to reinvent the wheel. If my story is very similar to another one structurally I will watch the films that have the same structure as my story and help myself plot out my story beats. Then I try to determine what the story is truly about, what is the message, and what tone it has. I find real life situations and people who are very close to this and do research, listen to true stories, and eventually all that stuff swirling around in my head starts to solidify into characters and plot.

Having just completed my eighth feature (3 dramas, 3 thrillers, 1 comedy, and 1 horror), I've never written a single character's backstory. The reason? I once had a prominent producer tell me not to get weighted down with back stories. That's the actor's job. Let them do the heavy lifting. As a former actor, I tend to agree.

@Stephen Folker. Agreed, Steve! As an avid cinema fan, I always write what I want to see on screen!

OMG! So much garbage out there. HOW do these things actually get green-lit?

I plot out the story in bullet points, then write in meticulous detail. :)

Lee Shargel thanks! yeah, I like to imagine what I would talk about with this or that character, how would they look like, how dressed, what jokes would they make. helps greatly!

Lynette Willoughby yep! I’m often talking to my imaginary friends-my characters. I also watch people a lot and talking to them imagine the character. Wouldn’t give my recent comedy to read to certain friends :))

thanks a lot Robert Russo ! I also do research. The hard, but important thing is to hear out different opinions (especially those I don’t agree with) on the subject standing in the middle of my plot. I then go around for weeks at times, trying to find the main punchline. eventually it shows up

Bill Brock congratulations on the finished screenplay! yeah, totally understand the approach. to me the backstories are important to understand who I’m writing about. of course, there’s always a space for fantasy and changes

Stefano Pavone thanks a lot! agree:)

How do these crappy movies get green lit? Well, it's like this. Some guy with a lot of money thinks the story is great. He has the imagination of a donkey. When the movie is made and the box office stinks and so does the movie, he realizes he is not a donkey, he is an. ASS!

You know, I took my character out for a cup of coffee and the M.F. went to the men's room, disappeared and stuck me with the bill. DELETED!

Thom Egelston yeah, sometimes dialogue gets me somewhere I didn’t plan. Initially tragic scene becomes funny and vice versa. I also listen to people talk a lot. Have this skill from the time I was a journalist. Can hear many interesting perspectives there :)

Lee Shargel real villain ! haha

A real villain? Not so. I wrote a real horror story about a guy who was a murderous villain, called, BUY HERE - PAY HERE. I just entered it in a contest. I got the character from a used car dealer who was totally out there. I borrow characters from just about everywhere. I get really good ones whenever I shop at Walmart.

Lee Shargel said "I get really good ones whenever I shop at Walmart." and I spit coffee all over my keyboard. LOL!

I've got a system called Turn & Burn which you can read about here.

I could imagion that a writer sometimes starts with a basic notion of a 'world' his characters act in; other times the writer starts with some sort of unbarable character conflict -- the best often accompanied with lots of irony -- and builld the world around these characters. Which option it will be is simply determined by what pops up in your brain... And what pops up in your brain is determened by things you read, discussions you just had, people you watched, or a combination of all. Other times it's determined by... I have know idea.. just random thoughts, often going so fast you got the idea someone else is thinking them them for you -- you always thought of yourself as a slowbrainer, except in this special moment of hyperspace concentration-- think as a child, don't automatically dismiss whatever thoughts you have, let them flow -- free your mind.

I usually start off with a situation that seems interesting to me and then I write it out as a scene. If it still looks good once I've written it, then I build out from there. I always have to have at least one great scene in my mind in order to get started. It doesn't always work. Some ideas die out. But usually it's a good process for me.

Richard Buzzell - same with me. All starts with one scene idea - then I just kind of make it up as I go.

Another thought, sometimes if I have an idea and I remember it 1-2 years later, then I know I want to make a script out of it.

right Richard Buzzell Stephen Folker

when one same idea keeps coming back to me, I know it must become a screenplay. Working on one now actually.

I also tend to get stuck with visualization of a certain situation, which also often leads to a story

CJ Walley thanks a lot! interesting approach. Will explore it more today

When I was in the sixth grade, returning from summer vacation, my teacher, Mrs. Scheckner. (I'll never forget her.) Asked the class to write a book report on what we did on summer vacation. I wasn't much for book reports back then but, what the hell, I gave it a try. So, I wrote a sci-fi story, My trip to Mars. I saved that report for thirty years and took it out and, Welcome to Hardrock: Penal Colony Gamma V was born. After seeing the movie, Fifth Element, I took that script out and did a complete edit. It turned out to be the continuing adventures of space trucker, Corbin Dallas. It was the sequel to the movie. Well, what do you do with a sequel to a story that you don't have the rights to? I finagled my way into meeting with LUC BESSON (I won't say how) before he moved back to France, and I offered him the script. It was unorthodox to say the least and I wouldn't try it today or I'd probably get arrested. Never-the-less. He actually read it and here was what I got, "If you can get someone to make it, it's yours." So far, no takers. But you never know.

when I started no-budget filming, I borrowed ideas from others. When I gradually learned what works, it became easier for me to invent.

Every time I have an idea, I write it down. So I can use it later in some other project. About 2,400 ideas.

My collection with modern urban legends contains about 4,500 items. Plenty of ideas.

That is a great idea Mariia Rudenko and also what I do too along with the backstory of the time period as well.

thanks Mark Deuce ! right? it gives so many new ideas and can completely change the initial plot structure

Mariia, if your initial concept CRACKLES with conflict, the story writes itself. If your initial concept doesn't crackle, there's no amount of "Fun Bits" which can save it.

Bradford Richardson well of course. What I meant is that when sometimes you get stuck, it’s good to shift attention to something else, like thinking deeper about characters’ backgrounds, setting, environment etc. it often gives ideas.

Here someone recommended to pay attention to smells, sounds, weather etc. It helped so much with treatment for my new feature.