White Noise

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Melissa C Banczak| 4 Comments

I hate writing from home. I shouldn’t. I have a lovely office with light green walls, a cool rosewood desk, a nice bench with pillows, a record player with all my favorites, a sorta decent view from my window, and a door that closes. Trouble is, on the other side of that closed door is a house full of distractions. All just a few steps away.  Housework, dogs to bathe, video games to play, the latest netflix disc to watch, a pantry full of snacks and my favorite – a sexy husband to hang out with. If I want to write more than a sentence or two, I have to leave home.

I wrote at the library for a quite a few years.  I got a lot done but it was too damn quiet.  About 4 years ago, I caved in and went the cliche route. The coffee house. We have quite a few here in my town. After visiting several, it came down to 2 favorites.

Out on the west side of town is Ikes. They have a zillion outlets to plug into, make the best Chai Lattes in town, and are across the street from a fantastic art house theater, The Loft. I always head out there with the intention of hitting one of the Loft’s foreign films after a long day of writing.  I always lose track of time and work right through every showing.

One the east side of town, I have a favorite Starbucks shop near my house. There’s a nice little corner I can melt into and the hum of customers coming and going is like white noise.  I can knock off a ten hour day without any problems and wrote a feature there last year in 6 weeks.

I have a friend who’s a playwright. He says he can only write in a noise free room in his house.  I’d go completely crazy.  What environment do you need to write comfortably?  Leave a note in the comments below.

Write on,

Melissa

P.S.

I wrote this post from home. While I worked, I was distracted by these things: I vacuumed, did a load of laundry, played with the dogs, made breakfast for my husband and I, played with my rat, ate some almonds and tea, considered cleaning my office (we shot a fight scene in there a couple weeks ago and it’s still in a ravaged state) watched my rat eat part of an almond, went downstairs to make sandwiches then realized I’d left the bread out after breakfast and the dog ate it, sent some texts, posted on Google +, surfed the internet, got take out for lunch, watched Top Gear and last week’s Project Runway, played one of the crash games on the Wii, watched my rat run around her cage. (she’s an African soft fur rat and bites, so she stays in her cage) made dinner, went herping, watched the travel channel beach specials, walked the dogs, watched some Ice Road Truckers, let the dogs out and back in one more time before bed and did a read through of this post to catch any typos. I hope I got them all. Now, it’s 10:19 and I’m about to post. I started at 9 this morning. I should have gone to the coffee house.

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Posted in Writing

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30 day challenge BB is fixed

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Melissa C Banczak| Leave a comment

I got some help from the phpbb community and now the 30 day challenge BB is working. If you want to join the challenge, you can now sign in, introduce yourself and begin to leave posts.

Melissa

P.S.

that’s my Greyhound Roxxie. She’s solor powered.

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Posted in Challenges, Outlining

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Script Outline Challenge

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Melissa C Banczak| 12 Comments

The last few weeks, I’ve been writing about screenplay outlines. In case you missed those posts, the gist is, outlines are important.  Writing a screenplay without one is a really bad idea.

I met a writer from the UK yesterday (via a blog we both read) and after  getting a little too distracted by reading her blog, (Which I enjoyed very much) I found a link to a 30 day writing challenge. Write a 100 page screenplay in 30 days.

Out of curiosity, I Googled 30 day writing challenge. I figured it couldn’t be the only one out there. It wasn’t.  56 million hits came up. 56 million! The few I clicked on suggested sitting at your computer everyday and writing. I think that’s a great idea. Sitting down everyday, especially at a set time and location, helps get you in the mood to write.  Without a plan, though, after 30 days you might not end up with a lot of worthwhile reading material.

So, this is my challenge. Take 30 days and create an outline.  You don’t have to make an outline like I do.  Whatever works best for you.   The only requirement is that your complete outline has a logline for each and every scene that will be in your screenplay.

We’ll start in two weeks.  This gives me time to finish up my end of post production on a feature I wrote and directed last year.

Between now and September 11 (it still gives me shivers to write that date) come up with an idea. If you want, go ahead and make up a blueprint. If you have an outline you’ve already started, use that.

If you’d like to join the challenge, sign up here. You’ll find forums to introduce yourself, post daily totals and offer encouragement and support.

If you have an outline wall and want to add progress photos, make sure to keep them a little blurry so your ideas stay yours.

I’ll be working on an outline I started a while ago, but haven’t had time to attack.  My genre is horror.  Quite different from the comedy I have in post. I hope you join me in this 30 day outline challenge.

Write on,

Melissa

P.S.

The challenge runs from Sept 11 – Oct 10, 2011. Sign up now!

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Posted in Challenges, Outlining

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My outline wall

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Melissa C Banczak| 2 Comments

I went to San Francisco 2 weeks ago to visit my son, walked all over the city, up and down some very steep  hills, and came home completely exhausted. I barely got last week’s post out and spend the rest of the week trying to catch up on things I put off for my trip.  As you can guess, this is a long winded way of saying I didn’t write a single word for this week’s post.

So, keep working on your outlines. If you start to have trouble flipping through pages in your notebook, move to the wall.

Take some paper (I use stockcard) flip it on it’s side and cut the sheet into one inch strips.  Cut a lot of these. Transfer your scene log lines from your notebook to the strips (write big) and use some ticky tac to stick them to a wall. Act one goes on the left, act two in the center and act three on the right. (ticky tac will kill your wall if you leave it on long enough so don’t blame me if you do) I use multiple color strips, you use whatever you want.  Yes, you can use a computer to outline.  I don’t, because computers are distracting and the screen is small. I like to be able to see my whole outline at once.  It makes it easier to find plot holes and issues with character development.

Now, step back and read through your outline. Does it make sense? Are all your characters being taken care of?  How about story? Does enough happen? Are you foreshadowing events?  Are there twists and turns? Don’t forget, you need to keep your characters busy and your audience entertained.

This does not mean you need an explosion every five seconds. Even in an action film. You do need to keep your story moving.  Endless dialog or scenes that go on for too long, will kill your story.  No, you are not Quentin Tarantino. Please don’t try to be.  Really. Even Mr. Tarantino is way too much Tarantino most of the time.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Don’t worry about dialog yet.  If a few snippets hit you, write them down on those notecards we talked about last time.  For now, worry about your outline. Once you have every scene accounted for, turn to the notecards and start writing a short paragraph describing the scene.  Write the number of the scene, and circle it, on the log line strip and on the notecard so nothing gets lost. (you can see in the photo above, I’d run out of notecards and was using a wider strip of stockcard instead)  Everything that needs to happen in that scene, needs to be on that notecard.  Do this for every scene.

That should keep you busy till next week. Hey, I wrote my post after all!

Write on,

Melissa

P.S.

Computers are distracting. When I’m writing, I don’t go near them till I absolutely have to. That’s why I like notebooks and walls for outlines.  If you used a computer to write your outline, that’s fine. When you think it’s done, print it out, go sit in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and read what you’ve got. However you do it, do it!

(yes, I edited this post just a tiny bit)

P.P.S.

Here’s some pictures from my trip.

 

 

 

Happy Sea Lions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A cool house we walked past one afternoon somewhere in the city.

 

 

 

 

Take away row down by Fisherman’s wharf. I needed some fresh cracked crab so we walked to the wharf from The Civic Center downtown. We stopped at the Walgreens on the way back and bought bandages for our blisters.

 

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Posted in Outlining, Sunday Screen Writing Series

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Outlining isn’t a four letter word

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Melissa C Banczak| 5 Comments

It’s Sunday, so it’s time to talk screenwriting.  Two weeks ago,  I left you to flesh out your idea and create a blueprint. This week, you’re gonna take those notes and create an outline. A complete outline. You’ll do this by writing a log line for each and every scene in your script.

Yeah, I know, it’s a lot of work but it will be worth it. So, do it.

Before you write a single word of dialog, you have to know how to get your characters into a scene, through a scene and out of a scene.

Without a complete outline, you’re going to waste a lot of time writing a bad script.

You know what a log line is, right?  If you don’t, it’s a one sentence summary of a script.  You’re going to take that idea and apply it to the scenes in your script.

Get one of those cheap, one subject notebooks and write act one, act two and act three on the first 3 page. (Yes, you can use the computer if you like. I like paper and pencil, so I use notebooks) Take a look at your blueprint and pick out one of your notes.

Tim arrives at the recording studio by taxi, it’s freakin’ hot. 

This is a note for a script I’m currently working on.  Since it happens near the beginning, I turn to act one, and write it on line 5 or 6.   I go through all the notes in my blueprint and find a place, on my act sheets, for each scene.  There will be lots of blank spots. That’s okay. You’ll fill those in as your outline takes shape.  When I realize I need to ad a scene on line 9 of act two, but there’s no room,  I turn to another page, label the act and start writing from the beginning popping scenes in where they fit.  Yes,  a computer would be easier but I feel more creative with paper and pencil.

Now, if there’s a lot going on in a scene, I’ll need to make some notes. Assign the scene a number. Write it on the logline and on a 3×5 card. (in pencil so you can change scene numbers if you need to) Everything I don’t want to forget goes on the card. Even if you’re using a computer to make your outline, I still recommend you use the 3×5 cards for notes.  It makes it easier to see everything at once.  Make sure you keep those cards in a safe spot.

This is where I’m going to leave you till next Sunday.  Keep plugging in the holes in your outline.

Write on,

Melissa

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Outlining, Sunday Screen Writing Series

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Stuff from my director’s folder

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Melissa C Banczak| 2 Comments

I was cleaning out my office and found one of my set folders from the feature I wrote and directed last summer.  Since I didn’t have an A.D. or personal assistant, I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything. (I still missed things in that 21 day shoot, but that’s another story)

I went to Target and bought one cheap plastic 3 hole folder for each day we were shooting.  Plus a pack of plastic page sleeves.

The outside’s pretty self explanatory. Call times in the upper right. The date, locations, scenes, cast. On some, I added the props for those scenes.

Inside, I put:

1. Shot list.  I had copies for me, my D.P., and my production coordinator.

2. Scenes for the day. We did have a copy of the entire script somewhere on the set,  but it was easier for me to only have scenes, in my folder, that we were currently working on.  At the top of each scene, I wrote a log line for the previous scene.  Actors often need a quick reminder of where the hell they are in the story. And sometimes the director does too.

3. The call sheet. It lists the locations and everyone’s phone numbers. Someone will always be late. Or forget to show up.  My production coordinator, Rosie, had lots of other goodies on her call sheets. Maybe, If I ask nicely, she’ll write a guest blog about them.

4. Prop list. Each item is checked off as it’s packed for the day. I’d recommend you have someone who is in charge of props. We kept losing one of the keys for our P.I.’s handcuffs because we didn’t have a dedicated prop master. (I had a spare key on my necklace. If you’ve got someone cuffed to a pipe and a fire alarm goes off, you’d better have quick access to the handcuff key)

5. Extra releases. If you don’t have someone in charge of these, you can store those in the folder as well.

One other invaluable tool, that won’t fit in the folder, is a pen.  You can find small pens on clips at any office supply store.  Clip one in the binder that has the entire script.  My production coordinator, Rosie, had a pen she wore around her neck. That’s a better way to do it.  It makes it much easier to cross things off your shot list.

If you’re an Indie Director, what helps to keep you organized on set?

Write on,

Melissa

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in On the movie set

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Step away from the computer

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Melissa C Banczak| Leave a comment

Last time, I talked about the final step in script writing  – the dresser drawer. Today, I thought I’d back up a bit and take a look at the first step in the process, the idea.

How do you turn an idea into a really good script?  The old adage, start at the beginning,  only applies if you know the beginning.  Not to mention the middle and the end.  Until you’ve figured all that out,  do not start writing your script. If you do, the following scenario will play out.

An idea hits, you run to your computer and start to type. Before you know it, you have a few scenes. Then you realize, you should really go into those years that one character spent doing that thing. This gives you a few more scenes. After that, you realize you need a scene where the main character goes to that place.   This leads your story in a surprising new direction. Only now, those first scenes you wrote no longer make sense. You’ll have to rewrite them.  So, you take the day off to think about it. Life intervenes and when you finally get back to your script, you can’t remember what you were so excited about in the first place. It’s okay though. This morning, in the shower, you came up with a new idea that’s so much better.  You open a new file and type the first few scenes…

Stop it. Seriously. Step away from the computer.

You have an idea? Great. For the moment, all you need to do is talk. Out loud and a lot. Tell yourself as much of the story as you know. Who are your characters?  What are they doing? What makes their story worth telling.  Ask yourself a lot of what if this happens questions.  Don’t get too lost in the details.  At this point, you’re not outlining, you’re building a blueprint. Later, you’ll take your blueprint and develop it into an outline.

To keep track of everything, you’ll need a voice recorder. Yes, you could use your smart phone to recording your ramblings, but smart phones are dangerous. There are a zillion time sucking apps out there.  Kill Zombies, organize your tunes, circle friends like +Melissa Banczak on Google+, the list goes on and on.

Skip lattes for a couple of weeks and get the voice recorder.  Carry it with you everywhere you go.  You never know when inspiration will strike.  When it does, make sure you hit record before you start talking.  You don’t need anything fancy.  I Googled voice recorder, just now, and found one for 14 bucks. That’s mine in the picture at the top.

Don’t forget to transcribe your notes, every day, while they’re fresh and still make sense.

Once you have your notes, you’ll need to organize them.  I use a single sheet of paper. I put my theme in the center and circle it.  Around it, I put all my notes. Make sure you include everything.  A silly idea now, may lead to a solid plot point later.      

 

 

 

 

 

This is what the blue print for my short film Lilah & the Alien probably looked like. I never kept anything in those days.

How much time should you spend knocking your idea around?  When you have a good feel for your story, you’re ready to start your outline. We’ll talk about that next time.

Write on,

Melissa

P.S.

If you decide to make a blueprint for your next idea, leave a note in the comments section, and tell me how it went.

P.P.S

you can see the trailer for Lilah & the Alien at http://www.friedeggfilms.com

 

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Posted in Outlining, Sunday Screen Writing Series

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The Dresser Drawer Thing

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Melissa C Banczak| 10 Comments

Not too long ago, a friend forwarded an email, from one of her friends, asking for advice on how to get a literary agent for her first screenplay. Since I used to be a literary agent, my friend figured I’d be able to offer some advice. No problem. I sat down and typed out a reply to my friend’s friend’s question. How do you get an agent? Easy. Write a freakin’ good script.

Don’t worry. I wasn’t completely flip. I spent the next few paragraphs running through the most common ways writer’s dork up a good idea and how to avoid those mistakes. (Something I’ll write about another day) Because her script was already finished, I recommended she move on to the last step on my list. The dresser drawer.

Everybody should know this one. When you finish a script, you toss it in a dresser drawer and forget about it. While it’s cooling off, you write your next script. 3 – 6 months later, you pull out the old, toss in the new and make yourself comfy on the couch with a No.2 pencil. Do not pooh-pooh this step.

One afternoon, back when I was with Otitis Media Literary, I took a call from an unknown writer pitching his action script. I’m a huge fan of mind numbing violence and adult situations so I gave him my undivided attention and almost wet my pants listening to him act out the incredible story. There was a hero and a bad guy and a love interest and some stuff happened (I’ve long since forgotten what) and wow, I had to read it as soon as possible. It arrived a few days later and I read it one sitting. Not because it was destined to be the next summer blockbuster but because the script didn’t resemble anything the writer had acted out over the phone.

The idea was there. The characters were there. Some of the action was there. The story, however, was M.I.A. Plot points went nowhere or suddenly switched direction. The pay off at the end never really happened and as for the love interest? Hero meets girl. Girl disappears for 20 or so pages. Girl returns in time for the hero to declare his undying love. Reader is left completely confused.

His action script was a disaster.  I was disappointed and a little sad. I hated having to tell him the project wasn’t as good as he thought it was.  We’d had such a nice chat only days earlier.

I was thinking about what to say in my rejection letter when he called to see if the script had arrived. After I said it had, I asked a question that I already knew the answer to. Did you outline your story before you wrote the script? His answer? No.

Turns out he’d been telling people the story for so long that when he actually wrote it, a lot of it never made the trip from his head to the page.  Without the cooling off period, every time he re- read the script, his brain filled in the missing pieces and he thought he’d written the next blockbuster action film. If he’d have done the dresser drawer thing, he probably would have found all the issues and fixed them before he ever got out his phone to dial my number.

But, you ask, what if, in those 3 – 6 months, he’d forgotten all of his story’s twists and turns? Don’t worry. This is when that outline comes into play.  He would have simply compared his outline to his script, scene by scene, and filled in the gaps.

I invited the writer to resubmit his script when the next draft was ready. I’d love to say he did, but sadly, I never heard from him again. Perhaps the idea of starting from scratch was too much. (Since he had no outline) Or, maybe he simply moved onto the next script. I’ll never know.

And my friend’s friend? She sent me a polite thank you but I sensed she was really hoping I’d just send her the contact info for any agents I still knew. And without even an offer to read her script. Not a chance sweetheart. There’s the Agent’s Code, you know.  That’s something for another day.

Write on,

Melissa

P.S.

If you’ve used the dresser drawer method, drop me a note in the comment section and tell me how it worked out for you.  Next time – Outlining your Screenplay, part one.

P.P.S.

In case you’re wondering, this blog post sat in the virtual dresser drawer for one week.

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Posted in Editing, Sunday Screen Writing Series

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