| ALIVE |
[19 Jul 2006 | 12:09pm] |
Hello Children!
Remember when this wasn't totally defunct?
I am sorry for being so negligent. For a full year.
And then some.
To explain so I don’t sound completely awful, to those who don’t know, I was accepted and shipped off to study screenwriting. I didn’t think I should try and people what I knew in the process of learning myself, so all sites took a backseat. School is about to start up again, so I will probably be fairly absent, but I love this community and want everyone to know I really am here.
I have accepted everyone who wanted to join. Even if you wanted to join a year ago.
I’m so sorry.
So welcome to all, please feel free to make a post introducing yourself! If you are shy, you can lock the entry. Everyone here is very kind and friendly, so no worries!
Post away my pretties.
Hee haw.
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| ASSIGNMENT 5 |
[30 Jul 2005 | 9:07pm] |
Write a 3-5 page adaptation, in format, of the text which is at the bottom of these instructions.
I have chosen this piece for you to adapt. This way if many people do the assignment, we can see how truly different everyone’s views really are because we are all working from one source. The piece is a poem. I chose it because there's many ways to interpret it. Think of all the different ways you can do it: with voice over, only visuals, through dialogue.
The assignment absolutely cannot be any longer than 5 pages this time. You are adapting to fit a limited form. You must learn to subtract, it’s not all going to fit in.
Please share here when you are finished. Post with your assignment with the subject line “ASSIGNMENT 5.” You may just copy and paste your text directly into the LJ posting field. No worries if the format here doesn’t look normal, as long as it is in your original file. If you don’t have Final Draft or Word, do your best in whatever text editor you have.
( SOURCE )
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| Adaptation |
[30 Jul 2005 | 9:05pm] |
Hello hello! First welcome to our new members: ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1) , gotravel and eullaliaa, nice to have you!
New assignment time. Today we’re going to discuss adaptation. This is an assignment which is more vague than the others, allowing you much more freedom. There’s nothing much I can teach in this regard. Everyone has to find their own way. Everyone handles adaptation differently. It is the art of balance at its best. What do you keep? What do you lose?
Since not everyone gets to make 3 26 hour movies ala “Lord of the Rings” I like to think of something like Harry Potter for this discussion. Those books usually run anywhere from 200 pages to 200,000,000 - both lengths considerably longer than the average screenplay. How do you make it work then? How do you get a cohesive, involving story out of something you have to the strip to the bare minimum?
I remember watching the writer and director of the third Harry Potter movie saying for their adaptation of the third book they chose one theme and everything which didn’t fit that theme, was cut.
This is just one way to do things.
The idea behind this assignment is for you to discover how you take away and still make strong.
Adaptations are probably one of my favourite things about films. No two could ever be the same because no two writers will see any one thing and endow with the same meaning. What is the core of one story to one writer, is a side note to another.
For practice- and for fun! – Find some movies based off of books. Read a scene in a book, then watch it during the movie. What changed? How did it affect the story? What was left in place? What was taken out? What was added to make up the difference? Why? If you really want to get advantageous- rent several videos of the same story- see what changes between films. I did this with Dickens’ stories a while back. Very. Very. Fun.
Please share with us any discoveries you might make in watching and reading!
Remember if you read a piece COMMENT on it. That’s the point.
Hee haw.
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[9 Jul 2005 | 12:10am] |
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Eek, okay, kind of nervous, but here is the best draft I've got so far of the beginning of my novel...
Basic Summary: Brandon Lawe was a rock photographer, but leaves his job because he's sick of celebrities, and leaves his job to photograph "real" people, only to discover they have the same faults.
I need help introducing the character's name, because I don't know how to have him say it other than the way I've got him introducing himself, which I think is awkward...suggestions?
( The Story )
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| Introductory post |
[8 Jul 2005 | 9:49pm] |
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Hey, I'm Katey...
I was having a conversation with ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/user_ontd.gif?v=92.1) loweryourwand, telling her how much I loved writing dialogue, but did not really know how to go about writing a script.
She told me to join this community, and so I have!
I've always been a writer. I wrote a book about dinosaurs when I was four and didn't know to put spaces between the words, and in third grade I wrote a story that went on for over fifty pages about a quarter who traveled to different dimensions every time he went into a different wallet.
I am currently writing a novel, with a fantasy novel as a side project, as well as poems when the mood strikes. I've kept busy with Harry Potter fanfics when I don't have ideas for my own characters.
I hope to get constructive criticism to improve my writing and help others with their work. In short, I'm looking forward to being an active part of this community. It will definitely keep me from slacking off on the writing.
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| ASSIGNMENT 4 |
[5 Jul 2005 | 1:11am] |
ASSIGNMENT:
Using different characters and settings from all previous assignments, write a 3-4 page opening in format.
As always the opening can be about anything, set anywhere at any time. No conclusion is necessary, this is an opening. Have fun with it.
As we all well know there is superlative angst when it comes to posting in format on LJ, please feel free to copy and paste directly, even if it shows up un-tabbed on LJ. If you say it’s in format, we believe you. If you want me to check your assignment, make notes in your comments and email to me. If you don’t have Word or Final Draft and literally cannot write in format, no worries. Just write it out as best you can with tabs.
When you are finished, post your work here with the subject line “ASSIGNMENT 4.” If you are nervous about sharing you are welcome to make a community private post so only members of Critiki may read your work.
Hee Haw.
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| Exposition |
[5 Jul 2005 | 1:09am] |
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Let’s talk about film openings. You know, the first 15 minutes of a movie. Can any one list for me some of their favourite openings? How does your favourite film start?
Have you thought a little about it? Ok, good. I smell the brain-fry.
Let’s move back to generals. What are some different ways films open? I can think of a few: In Medias Res (“Pulp Fiction”) BAM. You hit the ground running. The movie opens in the middle of an argument. There’s no build up. ACTION! was called out and the story started moving before you even got there. You have to pick up the details to everything as you go because no one is waiting along side to explain what is going on.
There’s the “Gang’s All Here” opening (“Hannah And Her Sisters”). It’s a device where all the main players of a film are gathered together in one spot and the opening becomes a melting pot of information for the audience member to weave though.
There’s the “Once Upon A Time” set-up (“Lord of the Rings,” “Star Wars”) film legends which own such complex back stories, they were deemed impossible to give to the viewer any other way other than just telling it straight at them ala narration or floating text.
There are a million ways to open up a story. Please, please list some more for everyone to read as you think of other examples.
The big thing to ask yourself about an opening, which in 15 or so minutes has to prepare you for the entire rest of the film, is: what do I know, how do I know it? I know, I know, this is my favourite script question but it is so important.
How did this joke uttered by this character here inform you about this character here? What about the state of this guy’s office tells you about him? What objects on his desk tell you about who he is? Is he a doctor or a drug dealer- how can you tell? Take something like “Garden State.” Right off the bat. First 8 minutes- is the Zak Braft character happy or sad? (hint: dreams of planes crashing probably do not equal JOYS).
I think “About Schmidt” has a lovely opening. What is going on in that guy’s life? What has he done, up until that moment when the screen faded in from black?
Right now, before you start this assignment go gather any 5 movies. Go ahead, do it. Anything will do. Watch the first 10 to 15 minutes of both and make a list for each. In your lists, write what you know and how you found out. Is it by dialogue? Setting? Dream-vision? Nametags?
Prepare to be amazed by how much you learn, so fast. This stuff you learn? Everything the opening offers you, the set up? Exposition. Let’s say that again with a bold tag, exposition. It’s important. If the best story in all the whole world has a cruddy beginning, no one will want to finish it. You must prepare the audience for your story, pack them well, so they don’t get lost and leave the trail you’ve made for them halfway through the story-safari.
I have made note to watch the first 10 to 15 minutes of a film. Remember to keep in mind the “build-up” phase of a film most typically (there are always, always exceptions) takes about circa 30 pages/minutes. The first 10-15 minutes of a movie are so crucial though, it’s all we’re going to look at.
I have a few openings somewhere on my computer, if you would like me to upload for a day for us all to discuss, let me know. It is late now and I’m not sure if it is even necessary but yeah, let me know. Otherwise… assignment: enter stage left!
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| Sum-sum-summer Time. |
[30 Jun 2005 | 11:03pm] |
Hello Everyone! My god, where does the summer go? As we near July I now realize we have to kick into full gear.
I am to blame the most, I have been horribly lax. Time is so scant!
First and foremost, let us welcome our new member gotravel. WELCOME. Feel free to introduce yourself!
Now, let us do a few things, I know some of you guys are out of town and others have technical troubles and I am squeezed for every second of the day; but why doesn’t everyone give an update on where they are? I know a few are writing scripts on their own- share notes? Let’s be communal.
Also- my ESP(n) is broken. I’m not sure what everyone wants. A new assignment? Are people go for this?
Please post and tell me what you want to see happen here next, hopefully I can get things up by Friday!
Remember too to read through loweryourwand’s stories. She’s a busy bee!
Hee Haw.
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| Welcome back! |
[2 Jun 2005 | 1:01am] |
Hey Children. I hope you all remember what I said about it being June First.
It means we’re standing up this bandwagon again. Even if it’s by feet, ala the Flinstones, we’re going to get this slab of bedrock rolling in high gear.
I know a bunch of you are out of school now, so hopefully your schedules allow for such fun now.
I am again going to stress we pick up where we left off and start with Assignment 3 since no one fulfilled it. If you would like, please do it and let’s move on or post some original work. Remember, nothing is bad, nothing is embarrassing, if you’ve written, post. That’s the point of this community.
Here is Assignment 3 again:
Using new characters and new settings, write 3-4 pages, in format with no dialogue, voice over or narration. This is a silent piece. Your story, character establishment, everything will be told through visuals and screen directions.
Keep this thought in mind: What do I know, how do I know it?
When you are finished, post here with the subject “ASSIGNMENT 3” for others to read. If you are nervous about sharing your work, you are welcome to make a private post so only members of Critiki may read your work.
Hee Haw.
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| Update! |
[14 May 2005 | 2:34am] |
Hello Children!
The Critiki God, also known as who the hell are you, is at work- so this post must be made short.
I just wanted to give all the loyal listeners of Critiki a heads up of the what’s-to-come status of this community.
As was mentioned last entry, we are just having a period of cool-off for those suffering under the weight of finals and stress. I know this time of year is just terrible!
So, how is this for a game plan: first of June. We start up where we left off. Good, good? So-so? Nuh-uh?
Unless I hear protest otherwise, I think that will be the plan. We’ll kick things into high gear once June begins.
In the meanwhile, please remember to check the assignments if you need something to fill the void (assignment three, as of yet, is untouched) and to read through our Critiki brethren’s posted works. If you read a post, remember to always comment! That’s what it’s all about.
Hee Haw!
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| Story #2 |
[25 Apr 2005 | 9:59pm] |
Well, forget an outline. I've finished the whole story instead. This one's based on the classic Arthurian "Fisher King" myth structure, but using modern characters, settings, etc. No supernatural elements or anything like that...no "Holy Grail" in any literal sense.
I'm very bad at titling my work, so for now it's called "Kitty"...if you have any other title suggestions, that would be grand!
( Kitty, first draft )
Well, for anyone that actually had time to read that (I realise it's long...15 pages, on paper), I thank you.
Also, I apologise for my bombardment of stories recently! This is actually all of the stories for the fiction writing class DONE now. I still have a two-person scene to write in the coming weeks for Intro to MPRA, but I've got a while before that one's due in. Thank you again!
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| I can see for miles and miles! |
[23 Apr 2005 | 8:27pm] |
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Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the special LJ format for screenplay formatting to work for me, so the script below isn't in the correct format.
However, why should that hold me back in posting this?
This is the first rough draft for my screenwriting class that I turned in last Wednesday. I have no idea what the professor's reaction will be, so I'm assuming I'll hear feedback from here first (hopefully).
So enjoy! Critiki your hearts out!
( The Fair rough draft )
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| Short Story #1 |
[16 Apr 2005 | 11:54pm] |
Well, it's already been critiqued in class and all, but I figured it couldn't hurt to get some more critiki from YOU guys!
The critiques were quite positive, which pleased me. I was horrendously nervous about it, I must say. Anyway, the biggest problem people had with it was the title, which I hadn't actually thought about (in fact, I added it as the story was printing, because I realised I hadn't titled it) so at the moment it is untitled. If you guys would be so kind as to suggest a title, that would be fantastic...because I'm at a loss, I have to say.
The only other thing some people didn't like was the ending...but the ending is what other people really liked about it, so I have no idea what to do about that one. Of course, the professor loved the ending, so I guess that was the deciding factor there. Personally, I liked my ending too. I don't really want to change that. I'm generally happy with it, although I understand it has it's problems, of course!
Anyway, here it is, in it's most first-drafty form...
( Untitled )
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| SILENT SCENES part II |
[14 Apr 2005 | 1:50am] |
Hello lovely children! I am sorry I have been away for so terribly long. This last week was so utterly busy I had no other choice than to be rendered MIA.
I realize a Friday slipped by without a new assignment. Again, apologies, but I have been thinking; it is a very busy time of year now for most people. I think, rather than killing myself to get out a new assignment or new clips, etc, only to have them be forgotten because people must contend with real life first, I should slow down a bit so summer might start and schedules can free up a bit.
What do you guys think?
In the meanwhile we can take it easy, or, depending on the majority vote, I can keep going as I have been and there will be just a big backlog to play with come summer for everyone.
The power is yours, Captain Planet, to decide our fates. Comment. Let me know.
In the other not so meanwhile, I have not stopped my search for silent scenes in movies for you lovelies. My search has continued valiantly, yes it has. The problem, however, therein lies. My search has yielded nothing of what I wanted! The films I was after were A. only available on VHS, B. the DVDs were encoded wrong so scene sharing was impossible or C. not available for rental anywhere on the planet.
( So I am just going to throw out a few titles and ideas for you who are still interested so you might find out the movies for yourselves. )
And so many more! I am just pulling all of these out of my brain at 2 AM. If you have anything to suggest PLEASE add in a comment and we can list it for others to see. Otherwise, just always keep your eyes open, or better yet, ears closed. Turn the sound down. See what you can learn when it’s quiet.
Hee haw!
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| ASSIGNMENT 3 |
[3 Apr 2005 | 10:53pm] |
ASSIGNMENT:
Using new characters and new settings, write 3-4 pages, in format with no dialogue, voice over or narration. This is a silent piece. Your story, character establishment, everything will be told through visuals and screen directions.
Keep this thought in mind: What do I know, how do I know it?
When you are finished, post here with the subject “ASSIGNMENT 3” for others to read. If you are nervous about sharing your work, you are welcome to make a private post so only members of Critiki may read your work.
You have all week before our next assignment. Good luck, hee haw. Hope to read some work!
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| For those who care |
[3 Apr 2005 | 10:44pm] |
Hey kids, I am so sorry for my extreme MIA this weekend. Company, it will do it to you every time!
Let’s cover a few things first.
1. Welcome pixiewolfe! Our newest family member. Everyone make sure to say hello and give her a cup of kool-aid. That’s what makes us a cu- community.
( 2. Let’s discuss the still images in brief. )
Would anyone like to go over the clips, or do those speak for themselves?
3. Some other third thing.
The clips from the Graduate and About Schmidt have been taken down. I will work on posting new clips for you throughout the week. Remember IF YOU READ A WORK OR WATCH A CLIP, comment. That's what cul- communities are all about. Sharing!
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| A cornucopia of love. |
[3 Apr 2005 | 10:56pm] |
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For my Fundamentals of Screenwriting class, we've had to come up with a script (either a short - 15 pages - or a feature-length). I took a short story that I had written for my Fiction Writing class (the same one that pixiewolfe is in!) and used the same setting and atmosphere. It isn't, however, an adaptation.
This is the outline in its most rough form EVER.
( The Fair Beat Outline )
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