Writing a first draft of anything can be an awe-inspiring, fear-inducing task. How do you get started?Depending on what kind of writer you are, this method may or may not be useful. I think there is a lot of good to be said about structure, planning, research and thoroughness. There is also the matter of […]
storytelling
Film School Confidential: WORST SCENE EVER
Doing the rewrite of my screenplay for the master class at the Danish Film School has had me thinking a lot about structure and what makes a scene work. For educational purposes I have written a short scene, that DOESN’T work. There are at least 6 screenwriting mistakes in the following, let’s see if you can […]
On the move: COMIC CON CULTURE CLASH
Dave McKean talking about using music as a springboard for emotional connection to his work Day 4 at Comic Con and fatigue is starting to set in. While the wife and kids are at Sea World, I roam the floors of Comic Con and try not to embarrass myself too much. Last night was a […]
Film School Confidential: THE 8 SEQUENCE APPROACH
Well, I wasn’t physically assaulted on the last day of the semester at Film School. But I sure felt like a punching bag, pitching my story to a teacher who was shaking his head and saying “No. No. No”. At the National Film School of Denmark they teach the three act structure, as a rule. There […]
Working methods: MAKING TROUBLE
Here’s something I picked up at the first week of Film School. Something that didn’t make me feel too good about myself. You see, storytellers are actually sadists. As a writer, you have to want to torment your characters. You have to want to throw them to the wolves, have them bombarded with all kinds of […]