Just wondering how people approached/thought about the following:

1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene?

2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail?

3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people?

4) What's your worst habit?

5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger?

Be interesting to see how people view these issues.

Andrew

1) Sometimes.

2) Yes.

3) Sometimes/It varies.

4. Over-writing and leaving first drafts unfinished because another idea pops into my head. I *hate* that.

5) I try not to think about that for the time being.

--Julio

Quoted from Andrew Just wondering how people approached/thought about the following: 1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene? sometimes I think of a sizzla or beres hammond song playing throughout a scene, yes 2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail? I wish! I visualize different things relating to both theme and the characters as I go along. I try to see from each of their individual perspectives 3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people?I try to understand the people I know. I accept that we see through different eyes and in order to make them authentic in my scripts(I copy them, yeah,) I have to listen to them. I think my characters resemble real people, yes 4) What's your worst habit? (procrastination) 5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger?(It's a way to dominate the world! mu-hu-hahahaha!) Be interesting to see how people view these issues. Andrew

1)  I do in certain scenes…when I think, or feel the scene “deserves” a certain song…or sound.  My first draft of Fade had all sorts of exact songs.  I finally agreed to conform and get them the Hell out of there, but I do feel that certain scenes should have certain music, or exact songs.

2)  YES!! Totally!  I don’t actually “write” anything down on paper until I know the scene inside out and I do see just about every detail.  I have to make sure that I don’t add unnecessary detail; because I do see it and I want everyone else to see it as well.

3)  Sometimes, I do definitely take real life situations into account, but I like to make my characters unique…with a little real life background but more of how I want them to be…maybe how I want real people in my life to be?

4)  Worst habit is probably writing too descriptively or novelistic.  I have a background in writing, and I love imagery and lines that flow well.  I’m a stickler for detail, in both grammar and punctuation, and sometimes I go overboard.  Same with my critiques.

5)  I love writing, and feel I should have stuck with my Major in college, which was writing. I fucked up and went the conventional route.  I’m passionate about writing and my writing as well.  Of course, I want my writing to lead to big things, but that doesn’t seem to be happening.  I won’t give up though…ever.  I do believe.

Good post, BTW!!!!!

1) No. I might "might" write with music in the background, but never for a scene.

2) Absolutley.

3) Sometimes, but rarley ever. The only comedy I wrote was based on basically everyone from my school, though.

4) In writing? Well, I don't know if this is a bad habbit but every scene I write I always write 3 different paths for it. By this I mean I write 3 different takes on one scene. In the end I piece together my material from the best 3 paths for each scene.  I take the left over scenes and then add them into other works I've done and or save them for a rainy "rewrite" day.  ;)

5) I write because I know I can produce better work than what I'm seeing. I've been here and there and talked to a few people and we'll see where it goes. Right now I'm pretty happy to be where I am with my band and making video's for us and writing for us.

1) I do when I'm thinking of montages. And sometimes with the odd scene, but I don't like to think too much about it, because I know I probably don't have a say in it at the end of the day.

2) Yep, sure can. I do write lots of small conversations down, even if they are a few lines, and I can see that snippet actually happen in my head. Unlike Jeff, I don't feel I have to get every detail to write words down, because I know that when i write them down (as notes, in a word doc) I can go back and work on it in my head. I forget ideas very easily, so I write everything down, and have many many small notes and one liners in docs on my comp, on the 'drafts' folder on my phone, in all my university lecture books, on napkins, on sticky notes, everything. Most of them are rubbish obviously, but I know that I will forget stuff, so I write everything down.

3) I base character traits on real people, but not everything that real person does. I like to mix and match, it's fun.

4) Not finishing work. I do a few pages... can't think of anything for 1 minute, and then watch a movie or surf the net or something. I don't come back for it for a few hours, and even then, if I can't think of anything to write after a few minutes, I do something else. I really have to push through the pain (or whatever it is), because once I do get over the road bump, I can write for ages.

5) I only want to write. What makes me feel awesome inside, is when people like my work, and when I see actors acting it out on screen. It's an amazing thought that people are coming together, putting their time and effort into making a short, and it's all based on your idea.

1) A lot more than I probably should. Sometimes, I get my inspiration from music alone.

2) Not microscopic detail but pretty damn close.

3) I've only written one that was meant as a direct resemblance but written a couple with mannerisms/ideologies of people I know in mind (myself included). Although most of the time, I just make characters up.

4) Opting to drink and/or watch TV instead of writing. Just generally procrastinating, I suppose. In the writing itself, I'd say overusing chit chat amongst characters or just having too much dialogue. It works for me though and very rarely do I have a shortage of action in my scripts (I would hope anyway).

5) I particularly enjoy editing and have had some good fun directing but I'm pretty lazy and complacent when it comes to filmmaking (more than a "filmmaker" should be anyway). Not exactly tech-savy either. I think writing's the thing for me.[/quote]

Baltis, your point 4 sounds very interesting. Could you please tell us more about it, and maybe an example? Thanks.

Quoted from Tommyp Baltis, your point 4 sounds very interesting. Could you please tell us more about it, and maybe an example? Thanks.

No problem, man.  Have you ever read a choose your own adventure book? That's usually how I write. Seriously.

Let's say I have a scene where a man walks into a bar in my script.  He meets someone under mysterious circumstances who gives him a key to an apartment downtown. He's told to not tell anyone he's going there and then the man gives him a lock box. The man tells him to leave the lock box in the apartment and lock up when he's done. He'll be in contact with him in 4 hours after he's done what he's been told.

That's my base of operation. That is my story for this instance. Not solid gold material, I know. This is an example "ha"

Anyways, most writers would write from there until it was finished. Me, not so much.  What I do is map out 3 different outcomes for each scene to follow.  I do this for many reasons.

1 - Pace
2 - Diversity
3 - Action
4 - Interest
5 - Entertainment

So, my 1st path would obviously lead my main guy to go to the apartment... drop off the lock box and lock up when he's done. Right?

However, my second path would be him doing the exact opposite. Maybe he tells a friend to go along. Maybe he looks inside the lock box. Maybe he doesn't even go to the apartment at all and the guy comes looking for him in 4 hours.

Finally, my 3rd path is almost always an aftermath. This is the "PACE" path I call it. I will usually start this path after the events have happened.

I then write my next set of scenes using the themes and plot points I've now created. When my screenplay is finished I pick and choose which "paths" best tell my story. Which "paths" best suit the reader/audience and which "paths" would make the most entertaining read/watch.

The scenes I have left over all go into a folder - numberd - titled and then used later on. Sometimes they're dropped into other screenplays and sometimes they're not. Sometimes they're used on my rewrites of the same script.

I'm by no means telling anyone to write like this, as It can be a bit taxing and restricting to your story... But for me it works well. I've written over 130 screenplays -- the bulk being 30 to 60 page shorts and I've used this method for about 4 years now.

1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene?
I ALWAYS write with the Indiana Jones theme running through my head.

2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail?
Yes, but I do not write a scene until I DO see every detail.  I hate to flounder in the middle.  I'll stop until it's all there, and start again.  I've stopped reworking my feature because I've lost the vision.

3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people?
Yes.  A lot.

4) What's your worst habit?
Not writing enough.

5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger?
Write only

First off, great post Andrew.

1) Sometimes, depending on the scene. I'm very conscious of "scoring overkill" which you see in a lot of films. Particularly big productions where they feel its necessary to have music playing constantly throughout the picture. Personally I'd prefer a collection of songs than an actual theme or score, although some film do call for it. e.g Taxi Driver, American Beauty, Badlands & and Leone film.

The first feature I worked on before I became privy to formatting, rules, do's & do's nots, etc, I had songs inserted where ever I wanted them to play over a scene...Oh how young and innocent I was.

2) Again it depends. The complexity of the scene decides how detailed you need to have it mapped out before a word is written. Although I often visualise whatever the location (Living Room, Kitchen, Bar, restuarant etc) as a real place I know myself. That just happens automatically for everyone I think.

3) Not always. How close? To the degree of similar attitudes, beliefs, pet peeves, insecurities...The good and bad of people I know. Though it might only come out in the character at certain times or situations.

4) Writing much too long of an answer for questions like Q1 above, thus alienating people to the point of not even reading as far as here.

Seriously, and I think most are the same...Overwriting, over explaining things, expository prose, etc. Not knowing the theory behind the English language well enough resulting in poor grammar. Laziness, as James said, opting to do something else rather then sit down and write...procrastination. Although usually when I sit down and begin I can't stop and wonder why I didn't start earlier that evening.

5) Only writing now, but would love to explore all aspects of film

Thanks Baltis... very interesting stuff. I have never thought of writing in that way. I will read over your post a few times to fully understand it.

And for me:

1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene?

This is definitely a major source of inspiration for me, and consequently, I do imagine the type of sound I would envisage with a scene. One of my great wishes would be for John Murphy to score my work.

2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail?

I see the scene, but I don't necessarily know what colour the couch is, or what the arrangement for the restaurant is, for example. Everybody has their own way of doing things, but my own little mind would overload with too much detail.

3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people?

Yes. A lot of people I meet tend to verge on an interesting base. I pervert some of their best qualities and turn them into weaknesses, or I caricature them. For me, I guess the people I meet are simply filtered through my imagination and there they are!

4) What's your worst habit?

Like a few others, I tend to be lazy. I think the development of characters is the hardest element of writing. To create functional, consistent and compelling character is tough, and I need to improve on working through the lazy urge.

5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger?

I would really like to write/produce. I'm not sure there is enough creativity for me to sustain a lengthy writing career, but I am fairly confident I can pick a good idea, and use other skills to push them through. I think I need to be pragmatic in how I approach this. The main thing is to be involved in the film - I want to wake every morning, and have a creative challenge.

Quoted from Andrew Just wondering how people approached/thought about the following: 1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene? depends on what film I'm writing. Some films will have diagetic music in them, so I will. Some films I'll intend to have non-diegetic music in them, so I will. Other times I'll be aiming for a strong realism where I don't want any music at all. 2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail? Pretty much. I wouldn't go so far as to say microscopic detail though. Fairly specific. 3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people? Very rarely, usually they are a construct of my imagination. There may be inter-textual archetypes that are in there now and again.  I've used peoples sayings in things. 4) What's your worst habit? Indecision. Procrastinating on things that are probably immaterial to the audience as they'll only watch it once. This makes me slow. An investor once said to me "Do you not think you'd be better writing 5 good scripts than trying to get one perfect in the same time?" He's probably right. 5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger? In terms of screenwriting, my only goal is to create stories to film. Although from time to time I come up with ideas that I'd have no inclination to make that I may write to sell in the future. Be interesting to see how people view these issues. Andrew

Quoted from Andrew Just wondering how people approached/thought about the following: 1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene? 2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail? 3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people? 4) What's your worst habit? 5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger? Be interesting to see how people view these issues. Andrew

1-No

2-Yes

3-Sometimes.

4-Writing crazy stuff and too much detail.

5-Just write.  Nothing else.

1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene?

Usually I do. I've been studying direction for a while, and tend to write from a director's POV... And I love music in films. So usually I do.

2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail?

Same as above. Yes I do.

3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people?

Not always, but sometimes yes. The general basis of the character may be based on someone, but then I throw some other characteristics in for good measure.

4) What's your worst habit?

Getting distracted and over-thinking ideas. I get an idea for a story, then think it through... But as I'm doing this, another idea pops into my head. I then start thinking about this idea. Then low and behold another idea pops into my head. It's a viscious cycle.

5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger?

Directing! I love writing, and love directing. I'd love to do both.

1) Nope, never.

2) Being that I'm a former film student, I'd say that when I visualize a scene, I can't help but think of the shots I'd want, the actors, etc.  It helps, but I'd imagine when something I write gets produced, it'll be quite a shock when it's nothing like I imagined.

3) I take traits here and there, but the one time I based a character on someone almost completely, they were very offended.

4) When I start a new draft, I write it completely over, word-for-word.  This makes it so I can go through it with a fine-toothed comb, but man, can it be tiring at times.

5) Ideally, it'd be great to direct my own stuff, but one step at a time.

Quoted from Andrew Just wondering how people approached/thought about the following: 1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene?

This is a good question.  we should have a thread on our own personal soundtrack that we have come up with for our script.  That would be cool, and interesting to see what people have in mind. I know I have a list of songs saved that I want to be played precisely for each scene.

So to answer the first question, yes.

I only do it, tho, when I plan to be behind the camera.  If its a something I intend to sell, then no.

1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene?

Sometimes. To associate a certain song to a scene could give me the essence of the feeling.

2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail?

Completely. Sometimes to an obsessional level.

3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people?

Me, relatives, friends, phantasms...

4) What's your worst habit?

a) Being obsessed by my lack of English. This way, I work too much on the text and build my sentences in a weird way. I realized that most of the time, my first writing is the best.
b) using weird vocabulary (found in dictionnaries). I love weird words...

5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger?

I'd love to do both. But, for now, just being read by professionnals would be the nirvana.


Michel 8)

Yeah, good thread Andrew.

1. No, but I have chosen songs for the opening and closing of one of my scripts.

2. Yeah, pretty much. I write by hand mostly, then transrcibe to the computer. At night, I'll picture the upcoming scene as I doze off - i find this very effective.

3. Not, not really. Only if the story is based on something specific. sometime I use names of friends but not their actual persona.

4. Like everyone else: surfing the Net when I should be writing! Sometimes I get my wife to take the modem to work so then i have to write! An , yeah, I get new ideas while writing a different script and can't rest till I do that.

5. Hmm, interesting...we'd all love to see our work on the big screen or TV wouldn't we? I just like writing and the satifaction of finishing a piece of work. Knowing that you have created something from nothing.

1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene? No

2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail? Sometimes

3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people? No

4) What's your worst habit? Procrastinating is a big one for me.

5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger? I want to write, direct, edit ect.

1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene?  No. However, I do have my iTunes sorted by mood/genre so whenever I need help to get in a certain mood, I plug-in my iPod

2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail? Pretty much, yes

3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people?  My characters are all based on people I have met throughout my life or know right now. Most often however they are a combination of those people

4) What's your worst habit?  Abandoning scripts ones I reach the "END"

5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger?  I see writing as therapy

Quoted from Grandma Bear   I see writing as therapy

welcome to the club Pia...

Michel 8)

1) Do you write with music in mind for the scene?

No, not really. I do, however, like to have music in the background when I write - I try to match the mood of the music with the mood of what I'm writing. The feature I'm currently halfway through is named after a Bloc Party album, and when I work on it I have that (and their first album) just playing on a loop!

2) When you visualise a scene, can you see a mental image of it in your mind with microscopic detail?

Not so much an image as a little video. I try to imagine the way the scene would unfold onscreen, but I don't worry about every character's individuals movements, what wallpaper is in the background, etc.

3) Do you base characters on people you know? How closely do they resemble the people?

Often, yes. People I've met, their personalities, their quirks and faults. My characters are often amalgamations of traits from various friends, acquintances...they're not carbon-copies, but they're not entirely fictional. My protagonists usually have a bit of me in them, too.

4) What's your worst habit?

Biting my fingernails. And chewing my bottom lip until it bleeds when I'm really stressed.

Oh, a writing habit? Well then, definitely not taking the whole thing seriously enough. You know, assuming it will come easy, and getting frustrated when it doesn't. Putting something on hold when I reach the slightest bump in the road, abandoning things to work on something else, not writing regularly...I have many bad habits.

5) Do you want to write only? Or is it a way into something bigger?

I'm not really one of those people who 'just write for me'. Maybe that's a bad thing, I don't know. I'm at uni now, and film it part of my course, but ultimately I'd like to do something creative for a living. Screenwriting would be a nice career, ideally leading on to producing (and very possibly directing) - I want to go on after I've finished my degree to do an MA in Screenwriting at the National Film and Television School here in the UK. But at the moment, I'm just trying to learn. Write, read, and get better.