So I've been watching alot of the AMC channel lately, enjoying these old oldies, and few thoughts came to mind as I sit here trying to plot my next script. Plot. It was kind of easier to come up with plots in the old days, don't you think?

People didn't have cellphones, e-mails and pagers those days, like the 60s and 70s. Communications weren't as easy and as fast as it is now, so in my next plot I have to kind of think harder when my main charactor gets stuck in a situation where he / she can easily picks the damn cellphone and calls for help, which basically means I'm kind of screwed because I WANT him to be stuck and stay stuck and use his brain to get out of his trouble. His brain, not the phone, and I don't want him sending a text message either.

I really think the 21st century is a challenging time for writers because technology has changed, people have changed, audience have become way too savvy and harder to please than the old generation, and...oh, another oldie just came on...gotta go!

I came up with an idea I will eventually write about three people being chased by bad guys through New York State wine country.  The question was how to keep them isolated from anyone who could help them.  With cell phone (and other devices), help was a phone call away.

The solution I came up was to have the story take place in the 1970s.  Not only would the three incommunicado, but there is possibility of an incredible soundtrack.


Phil

Funny... As I started writing "Frost Bite" -- Which is stil on the way folks -- I was thinking this same thing, but quickly realized that there are ways around modern technology.  I wanted my cast to have all these devices -- GPS -- Laptops--Cellphones at their disposal and they do. Only thing is when it's zero below things tend to freeze up. Ever try using a cell phone or lcd in cold weather? Really cold weather? That's not the hook, tho... It's about seperating your characters from these devices. How creative are you "THE WRITER" at coming up with a believable situation?  

Modern technology isn't a probelm... It's just a hurdle you have to jump.

I never thought of cold weather; that's a good one.

I am reminded, though, that the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman both had that problem.  When it got too cold, their robotic parts would shut down.


Phil

Quoted from Baltis. Funny... As I started writing "Frost Bite" -- Which is stil on the way folks -- I was thinking this same thing, but quickly realized that there are ways around modern technology.  I wanted my cast to have all these devices -- GPS -- Laptops--Cellphones at their disposal and they do. Only thing is when it's zero below things tend to freeze up. Ever try using a cell phone or lcd in cold weather? Really cold weather? That's not the hook, tho... It's about seperating your characters from these devices. How creative are you "THE WRITER" at coming up with a believable situation?   Modern technology isn't a probelm... It's just a hurdle you have to jump.

What if when jumping that hurdle you land on the cell phone?  Crunch.  No more cell phone.  Find creative ways to isolate them from the technology.  Yes.  Gives you more to write about.

Nothing beats a 70s soundtrack (Starsky & Hutch)...

Even in this 21st century, there's heaps of places on Earth where cells don't work. I live on the Gold Coast, population of 400,000 and some areas can't get all the TV channels!

Sixties had some good tunes too. I'm sure Stevie will agree.

Ayham - maybe his battery goes flat and his charger disappears, moved or borrowed by his lovely wife. Or some thieving little git nicks his phone. Or he just drops the phone and it breaks.

Quoted from steven8 What if when jumping that hurdle you land on the cell phone?  Crunch.  No more cell phone.  Find creative ways to isolate them from the technology.  Yes.  Gives you more to write about.

In my opinion that kind of stuff leaves me with the "Really" thought like you couldn't come with something more interesting.

I hate horror as a genre and as a whole. You ask me to read a horror screenplay and you will get a negative review even if it is the best written script I will find things that I hate.

If you want someone to dislike your horror script, come to me.

I wrote up a 5 page review for a guy who isn't around here anymore and just tore his script apart on every nook and cranny because I was assigned it and have to be honest.

Balt may be the only person who writes horror that I have read and enjoyed quite a bit. Usually when he makes a claim he can come through. Three years ago was when I read The Toll and I still remember it. Very few screenplays stick with you as time passes.

Quoted from Ayham I really think the 21st century is a challenging time for writers because technology has changed, people have changed, audience have become way too savvy and harder to please than the old generation

Without mentionning the CSI series... You almost can't write the perfect crime. This series used so much plots about killing and resolve killing. I was working recently on the adaptation of a very old script of mine with a crime scene. And I realized that: I can't do that! If FBI and CSI guys come along my crime wouldn't work anymore. I had to find something...

Not so bad after all...

It's of course easier to set our scripts in the old times but more expensive for the producers.

Michel

Quoted from Old Time Wesley In my opinion that kind of stuff leaves me with the "Really" thought like you couldn't come with something more interesting. I hate horror as a genre and as a whole. You ask me to read a horror screenplay and you will get a negative review even if it is the best written script I will find things that I hate. If you want someone to dislike your horror script, come to me. I wrote up a 5 page review for a guy who isn't around here anymore and just tore his script apart on every nook and cranny because I was assigned it and have to be honest. Balt may be the only person who writes horror that I have read and enjoyed quite a bit. Usually when he makes a claim he can come through. Three years ago was when I read The Toll and I still remember it. Very few screenplays stick with you as time passes.

I don't believe the horror genre was even mentioned up until now.  Merely how the technology of today makes it tougher to put our protag into an 'isolated fix', so to speak.  I just pulled a simple solution out of my rear end.  Certainly not the be-all, end-all of how to do it.  Wesley, it sounds to me like you just have preconceived issues before starting a review, but hero worship Baltis.  

Quoted from michel Without mentionning the CSI series... You almost can't write the perfect crime. This series used so much plots about killing and resolve killing. I was working recently on the adaptation of a very old script of mine with a crime scene. And I realized that: I can't do that! If FBI and CSI guys come along my crime wouldn't work anymore. I had to find something...

You give the writers at CSI too much credit.

I saw one episode of this show when it first started.  They rely on as much scientific fact as Star Trek.  Even if it was accurate, you'd have to write it in an interesting way, which would be hard.  And keeping it interesting is more important than keeping it accurate.


Phil