- If your story doesn't work, then your screenplay won't work. Put the time in before you write.
- In the first act you get your hero up a tree. In the second, you throw rocks at him. In the third, you let him down.
- A 'vertical' story is character focused. The plots are overwhelmed with character development.
- A 'linear' story is plot focused. Your characters are dragged in like destiny.
- Drama is realistic. Melodrama is larger than life.
- Comedy can be drama or melodrama.
- Introduce your character as grounded in realism. Once your audience believes in them, you can take them anywhere and they'll still believe.
- An open story is where the audience knows everything that's going on. A closed story is where we discover what's going on as the protagonist does.
- Red-herrings effectively keep the audience guessing.
- Your audience won't fear for your character's safety, unless you make them care about your character before they're put in danger.
- Flashbacks remind the audience they're watching a movie.
- A time lock (deadline) adds a sense of urgency that can increase audience engagement.
- Truncate time. Don't give your characters a second longer than they need to accomplish their goal.
- Exaggerate. You want the best hero and the worst villain. Push each scene to the furthest extreme that you can see.
Comments