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19 Expert tips on writing great stories for Film & TV

Written on April 23, 2012 by Vanessa in Screenwriting

The below is a compilation of screenwriting advice from all the sessions I attended at the 2012 Toronto Screenwriting Conference. Since my screenwriting education thus far consists of Syd Field’s Screenplay and Save the Cat I found a lot of tidbits useful – I hope you learn at least 1 new thing about the art of storytelling.

On Story Creation

1. What question are you answering? For example, Flashpoint answers “what is the human cost of heroism?”

Man vs. Man B) Man vs. Himself C) Man vs. Animal D) Man vs. Nature E) Man vs. Tech F) Man vs. Society

2. Ground your story in reality, to make it universal and therefore able to connect with viewers on an emotional level

3. It’s all about the passion. You have to feel it, as does your producer and everyone else involved in the process

On Structure

4. Every Scene is a microcosm of the overall story; never repeat yourself scene to scene (Patricia Rozema, Screenplay Adaptation for Grey Gardens)

5. Narration is a crutch to be used only with caution (Graham Yost, Creator of Justified)

On Character Development

6. Your character’s introduction scene should tell you everything you need to know about them (Graham Yost)

7. Get to know your character, specifically who and how do they love? (Patricia Rozema)

After a stint in kids TV, Graham Yost shot to fame with "Speed"

On pilot writing

8. You should know which character is delivering a line, even when the name is blanked out. The personalities should be that different, which is key for conflict and drama (Brian Roberts, sitcom director)

9. You shouldn’t vilify your main characters or introduce too many flaws too quickly, since your audience needs to empathize and root for them in order to tune in week to week (Stephanie Morgenstern and Mark Ellis, creators of Flashpoint)

On Series writing

10. Your first 13 episodes should be written as a pilot. Assume new viewers will tune in each week who need to be blown away, while still understanding what is going on

11. You need to be consistent week to week in order to make it easy for viewers to choose your show based on their mood (i.e. if your show is funny, viewers who want to laugh will watch). If your show is a mixed bag (sometimes dark, deep, scary, sometimes light and fun), it may not get chosen because the payoff to the viewer is uncertain.

12. Don’t break the pact you’ve made with your audience by discarding key characters or show elements that made your series a hit to begin with (Jana Sinyor, Creator of Being Erica – on all of the above)

On Comedy writing

13. Be mindful of your ideal set design and ensure it allows for multiple entries, exits and flow from room to room. What are your characters doing in a long scene with many players, some of which are not talking for quite some time?

14. Try to “bury the pipe” in a pilot, which means to deliver character and back story in a way that gets laughs and isn’t just obvious exposition and fact sharing.

15. In multi-camera comedies the rule is 3 jokes per page. Get to the punch line quick.

16. Avoid reference jokes (i.e. pop culture, political jokes) because if the audience isn’t aware of who/what you are referring to, they won’t get the joke (Brian Roberts, Sitcom Director – all of the above)

On getting noticed

17. Write a great pilot; it will circulate and get read plus your agent can call producers with a potentially sellable product (Robyn Gurney, producer at Imagine Television)

18. You’ll rarely get hired for the show that you write a spec script for (Linwood Boomer, Creator Malcolm in the Middle)

19. As a new writer in an established writing room, have the confidence to listen and keep quiet so you get a feel for the existing dynamics, needs and etiquette of the room (Lee Aronsohn, co-creator Two and a Half Men)

Please share your storytelling tips in the comments!

Page Count: 52 pages (working on a borrowed MAC)

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Why you shouldn’t be a screenwriter (plus helpful resources)

Written on April 15, 2012 by Vanessa in Purpose Quest, Screenwriting

At the beginning of April I attended the Toronto Screenwriting Conference (in its 3rd year) thanks to a post I saw the week before on Sandy Braz’s lovely blog . It was a great event with speakers including Graham Yost (Speed, Justified), Jana Sinyor (Being Erica), Lee Aronsohn (Two and a Half Men, Big Bang), Linwood Boomer (Malcolm in the Middle) and so many more.

Every molecule of my body was engaged during the sessions, as I furiously took notes, had light bulb moments and felt energized (despite being exhausted from the work week). Contrast that to when I was in Business School and felt lethargic, bored or anxious/sick during many lectures and tests. I think I’m on the right track now, although I’m sure those business skills will come in handy here.

I think I’m drawn to the industry because of my desire to make sense of humanity and my own experience (the curious kid who asks Why). This motivation was echoed by several speakers, although it was ironic to hear so many of them curse the craft of writing – as in they hate their jobs (even though they admit it is one of the best gigs in the world). Who hates their passion? I don’t want to do what I love and then end up hating it. PS Penelope Trunk recently gave her view on “passionate” careers and what you need to be happy in the workplace.

One of my favourite sessions involved the critique of a real sitcom pilot script from the perspective of a production company exec, a network exec, a director and an actor. It was eye opening because there are so many different motivations your script needs to satisfy and entice. The pilot script needed quite a bit of rewriting and I was comforted by the fact that it was written by a really experienced LA screenwriter. Not everything you write will be gold. In fact many successful people have more misses (pilots that don’t get made, shows they get cancelled or no one hears about) than hits – but they keep on going.

Others began their careers acting or performing stand up/improv, which makes sense since they read tons of scripts and learn through observation (directing, producing, casting, writing). For years as I kid I swore up and down that I wanted to act and I wonder, had I seriously pursued it (agent, auditions, roles), would I have eventually ended up yearning for a role behind the scenes? Would I be in this same position, although better connected and experienced? There are many paths to get to the same end result. Also makes me wonder if I should hit the stage again.

Carrie Bradshaw typing on her MAC_Sex and the City_A writer's life

Carrie made writing seem easy & fashionable. I couldn't help but wonder...is this crazy!?

I have 3 pending posts with tips culled from this event, but before posting those I want to tell you why:

7 reasons why screenwriting is totally batsh*t crazy

First of all you have to have some real talent – you can study but you can’t hide behind that forever. Was I born with this gift? Jury is still out…
The competitive pool of aspiring writers is huge and there aren’t that many jobs. It takes 1000’s of people to make a corporation run but most shows only have 1-2 creators, and 3 – 10 writers. That means you have to be ahead of the game, connected, constantly honing your craft. The odds are not in your favour. Do I have the energy, drive and self belief to compete in survival of the fittest?
You have to inject yourself into your work – it is personal. You have to have something to say, always. Do I want to expose my life and the inner workings of my mind/values?
You have to face the rejection of your personal creation. And not give up if you believe it is a worthwhile project. HUSTLE! Once it is made, there will always be people who did not like it.
You don’t make good money for a long time (if ever). The work is inconsistent, with downtime between projects and lots of unpredictability. Relocation is likely and the hours are so very long! Can I handle the uncertainty and stop comparing myself to others who have more?
Work life balance seems like a fairy tale concept. With a tendency to be un-balanced, will I end up single, childless, friendless and unhealthy because of my career?
The industry is more political than the original corporation I worked for. It seems like an old boy’s club still. Can I live according to my own values (be yourself, don’t be fake, play fair and square) and still succeed?

I don’t have those answers yet and I won’t know unless I experience it. Am I a masochist then? They say the things in life that are worth it don’t come easy.

PS: if you are an aspiring Toronto area film maker, the Innoversity Creative Summit is in May. I’ll be there, will you? It isn’t as expensive as the TSC and seems interesting. Also Raindance Canada (which has international branches) is a good organization to be a part of. Plus Ink Drinks.

Page Count: 45 pages…my laptop finally crashed this weekend hence no pages this week although its been dying for the past 3 months. Prob going to switch to MAC so when people see me they assume I’m creative

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Take (Self) Care & Thank Me Later

Written on March 14, 2012 by Vanessa in Growing Pains – Ouch!, Personally Yours

Have you ever started working towards a goal that you thought was a stretch, even for you? A large part of you knows you can do it, but the other part squeals “it’s too big! Go Hoooome!!”

I started to feel like a fish out of water at film centric events, where I’d be surrounded by people dedicated to the craft (it’s just my side gig), with productions and scripts under their belts (I’m on draft 1, Story #1). Sometimes I still do.

I wasn’t portraying myself as a confident, gutsy woman who knows “she has a voice” (good day Mr. Firth) and thinks the world would benefit from hearing it. So I signed up for the Fierce Love Course by Molly Mahar - 4 weeks to embrace my awesome (ROAR) and be deliciously kind to myself (instead of putting myself last or down).

They say to act the way you want to feel OR fake it ’til you make it. I want you to knock the socks off of whomever you meet and confidently state your dreams. Behold some principles you can practice to show yourself some love:

Incorporate acts of self care into your daily routine

If you break promises or commitments to yourself but not others, you can make a conscious effort to start and end your day on a joyful note just for you. Mine include:

Leave work on time: I’ve slid into working an extra 0.5 – 1.5 hours each day to the point where my coworkers poke fun if I ever leave before them. If you’ve fallen into this trap, commit to leaving on time at least 2-3 days a week (can it really not wait until tomorrow?). Book something for yourself after work to force yourself to honour the commitment.
Sing & Dance in the morning: My morning ritual now includes a theme song and some dancing: Shake it out by Florence (soul sister) is song of the week.
Stretch & Breathe at night: It is newsworthy if I get to bed before 11 pm, after running around my house like a mad woman. I’ve committed to doing some stretching and deep breathing before bed to reconnect with my weekly yoga practice and take a chill pill.
Go for a walk: Fresh air, scenery, vitamin D sun rays: can’t go wrong.

Other ideas include meditating, taking a bubble bath, drinking herbal tea or enough water, even reading or watching a bit of tv if that is a luxury you don’t allow yourself to enjoy.

What can you do to kick your day off with joy and get some peace and pause at night?

I wanted to show people practicing yoga on the beach. Close enough. (Couples Retreat the movie).

Take Yourself on a Date

Week 1′s challenge was to do something I love by myself. When the opportunity to watch an advance screening of Friends with Kids materialized, I brought a date instead (FAIL). That being said, in the past I have eaten at Swiss Chalet alone, attended countless networking events solo and shown up at a house party without knowing anyone but the host.

What you do in life shouldn’t depend on someone else’s choice to participate. If you can’t find a Plus 1 for that play/movie/concert/country you’ve been meaning to check out, how awesome would you feel if you did it anyway?

What would you never do alone? What is your perfect solo date?

Write yourself a love letter

I tried writing a love letter to myself on the beach in Dominican last month (before the course) and it felt awkward and forced (not to mention cheesy). This time around, I pretended to be 80 years old reflecting on present day me and was surprised to find so many positives.

It can be challenging to hold back your inner Brad Pitt (circa Fight Club), but once you do you’ll have a handy pick-me-up to read everytime you fall down.

BONUS: write down 3-5 things that went well each day to pump up the ~~jam~~ positive.

You are where you are in your life, keep pressing forward but don’t forget to treat yourself with R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

My Script Count: 21 out of approximately 120 pages. (I’m going to add this to every post)

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The War of Art: A Creative Productivity Book Review (A-)

Written on February 9, 2012 by Vanessa in Inspiration

I was literally handed The War of Art by my screenwriting partner/mentor, after weeks of thinking “I really should buy this book” (why hello there Mr. Universe). I’ve since read it twice and can see this affair continuing for years to come, like an annual friends with benefits tradition (meow).

A breezy, witty, encouraging read

This book is short and to the point with many mini chapters lasting a half page to 2 pages. You feel extra productive as you zoom through and avoid procrastinating under the guise of self help reading.

I enjoyed Pressfield’s no nonsense approach, sense of humour and gratuitous curse words. He also incorporates some of his own creative struggles so you feel as if you are mates at war.

I think anyone with a dream, be it any art form, entrepreneurial/non profit idea or whatever could benefit from reading this book, especially if you’ve been holding yourself back.

The cover implies the simple, clutter free, interior

Highlights: On Victim Mentality, Tribal Coding and becoming a professional

Recognizing Resistance

Feeling like a victim is a form of passive aggressive resistance.
Rationalization prevents you from feeling shamed by the sight of your own fear; it obscures your fear in the form of legitimate reasons why you can’t do your work.
1000’s of years ago, survival was guaranteed by being part of a tribe. This tribal mentality lives on in our DNA. Pursuing a creative endeavour requires isolation and breaking from the tribe. Fear of rejection or ridicule for putting yourself out there also stems from this tribal mindset.
Others in your tribe (family, friends) may give you flack for abandoning the herd. They are grappling with their own inability to break free from the norm.

On a tangent, this tribal mindset gave me a whole new perspective on why childhood bullying can be felt so acutely and why it lingers on the psyche for years to come. Children often ridicule peers for being different – they ostracize them from the popular tribe, sensing the weak and the primal need to be part of a group. At a young, impressionable age without enough life experience to combat primal urges, this plain sucks!

Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris Movie Poster

Time Travel like Owen for Inspiration or read this book. PS this film is magical - rent it!

Overcoming Resistance

Pressfield’s main solution is to quit thinking like an amateur in relation to your dream and pretend you are a well paid professional. Show up every day no matter what the conditions, don’t get overcome by love of the craft – pretend you are doing it for the money. Don’t take criticism personally, learn and grow from it.

I still don’t think I own my screenwriting dream and fully believe it. I don’t hold myself to the same standards as I do when I am dutifully completing responsibilities handed to me by someone else. I like to have a whole day or large chunk of hours before me in order to write (all Sunday) but momentum is lost in the days between. An hour or two a day can go a long way.

Don’t expect miracles

I’ve heard some people claim this book transformed their life. I can’t say I’m there just yet but I do think it is a very strong, low cost option to kick your butt into creative productivity. Ultimately your results will be based on your ability to overcome resistance each and every day. Love may be a battlefield but so is dream chasing.

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Make sense of 2011 in order to have a kick ass 2012

Written on January 1, 2012 by Vanessa in Personally Yours

This post was inspired by Simone at Skinnydip – the one where I get all personal and shizz about 2011 in order to encourage you to do the same. Holy moly a lot happened this year; take stock & surprise yourself.

January: Did you sign onto new commitments for the right reasons?

My hot torrid love affair with blogging was still in the honeymoon stage. I had received and accepted a full-time job offer to manage relationships and do site analytics for a cable company’s online TV website (after 3 months of half ass searching) with Feb 1 start date.

I was terrified to go corporate again (the politics, limited responsibility etc) but thought the position was a step in the right direction (entertainment), without a sacrifice to benefits, pay and vacation. 11 months later I’m happy I took the leap instead of continuing to wait for “something better” but I am now getting bored.

I also accepted a volunteer role to manage marketing for an annual Entrepreneurial Conference – I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into.

February – April: What risks or mistakes did you make in the name of love?

I tried online dating again, went to my first gay bar, and ended up falling for the complete opposite of me. I learned that I am curious about hedonistic people and lifestyles. I learned I am attracted to boys who can dance, have charisma and kiss like Latin Lovers but that I can’t keep up (and don’t want to). I look forward to mature, nice guys with a naughty edge and playful spark.

I also finished my Teaching Assistant gig and used the money to pay for my Europe Trip.

May – June: Where did you travel in 2011 – would you change anything in retrospect?

I spent May and part of June heartbroken, even though logically my reaction didn’t make sense. I was tired of having false starts and Europe couldn’t have come at a better time – it refuelled me.

I had some independent and fun travel experiences in London and Portugal (nude bike ride anyone?) and crossed two more new countries off my list, with a plan to return to Portugal one day.

My sinus and stomach issues began to kick into high gear (dry cough lasted 9 months). When I got back from my trip I was forced to slow down.

July – August: How did you get over new or old heartbreak in 2011?

I found out my ONE BIG MAJOR EX of 4 years got engaged and I finally mourned the loss of our relationship, something I hadn’t let myself do when we actually broke up. I realized I was carrying around a lot of guilt over our ending and I finally began to recognize the lessons from our relationship.

I became closer with my best friend who was my rock during these 6 emotional months. I also dipped my big toe into karaoke and other scary things.

September: Did you take your health into your own hands with a sense of urgency?

I insisted on an early appointment with an allergist only to discover that dust, mold, ragweed and dogs didn’t like me very much. I am now taking shots and feeling better. I did an unpleasant stomach test and realized nothing was majorly wrong with me, except for acid reflux (GERD) – yet another trait I have in common with Betty White’s demographic (pass the alka seltzer sonny).

I completed my many duties as Marketing Director for the conference and felt a weight lift. I learned I am far more action oriented when other people are counting on my output and that I let details and perfectionist tendencies slow me down and make me blue, which will affect my writing.

October: Did you focus on your goals, instead of someone else’s?

I decided to only commit to new things that align with my big picture goals. After a short break, I started to refocus on screenwriting by spending time outlining the story, attending networking events, getting a writing partner and watching great movies like 50/50. Guys started falling from the sky into my lap (about time) at the end of the month.

November – December: Did you get stuck and ask for help?

I got swept away in a swirl of work and social commitments. I felt disappointed with my lack of writing progress. I read the War of Art which helped and started seeing a life coach and holistic nutritionist to continue to take care of myself (along with weekly yoga). You can’t achieve great things if your mind and body are out of sync.

I was finally treated like a lady after encountering yet another douche. My best friend told me she’s noticed I am more positive and go with the flow compared to a year ago which is amazing progress.

Out with the old 2011 and in with the new 2012

Out with the old, in with the new!

LOOKING FORWARD

In hindsight, 2011 was a year of discovery and passion. This blog helped me own up to my true self in a public way which I needed. I’m now refocusing for 2012 – a year that will be full of DISCIPLINE & COMMITMENT.

I still want risks, change and passion but I want to prove to myself I that can take action, finish what I start and make better choices for myself – even if it means foregoing a night of clubbing to stay home and write or sleep. That’s part of growing up y’all.

What word do you want 2012 to embody for you?

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