10.31.2014
10.30.2014
Write a Strong Screenplay Upon These Pillars
“If it isn’t for the writing, we’ve got nothing. Writers are the most important people in Hollywood. And we must never let them know it.” — Irving Thalberg
Here is an experiment for you.
Pull up any feature film on your computer and read the log line. For those who are new to the craft of screenwriting, the log line is a brief description of what the movie is about. For example, the log line for the film Rocky might read something like this: A down-on-his-luck boxer from Philadelphia, Rocky Balboa, gets a shot at love and redemption when he is offered the opportunity to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world.
The log line usually is about 25 words. No matter what film you chose to examine, you will find at least one of the five pillars of cinematic conflict:
- Problem of conscience.
- It’s not fair.
- Facing the mountain.
- Stand and deliver
- Life or death.
Identifying the core of the character’s struggle is essential before you begin to write a cinematic narrative. Most character-driven films have heroes who must endure and then overcome. Other films include more than one of these conflicts. But you will find that films that are considered classics will have characters that must endure all five levels of cinematic conflict. Consider the example of Rocky.
Problem of conscience: At the end of act two, on the night before the big fight, having visited the empty, cavernous arena, Rocky comes to grips with the reality that he will not be able to beat Apollo Creed. He shares this with Adrian. “Who am I kidding?” he says. His conscience has been awakened by the gravity of his situation. This cinematic beat is used to change the direction of the story when Rocky repurposes his goal from winning to simply surviving.
It’s not fair: Near the end of act one, Rocky watches himself on TV with Paulie and Adrian. The message of the scene? He is being used by Apollo’s camp as a publicity stunt, as if he were the punch line of a joke. Certainly, this is not fair.
Facing the mountain: Rocky must do the impossible, and his character tells the audience exactly what this means in his moments with Adrian before the fight: “No one has ever gone the distance with Creed. If that bell rings, and I am still standing, I’ll know for the first time in my life that I am not a bum.”
Stand and deliver: The montage sequences of Rocky’s training regimen and the fight itself visually communicate Rocky’s need to stand and deliver, pushing himself beyond all previous limits, out of necessity, to survive.
Life or death: The bloody battle in the ring with Apollo Creed is indeed a fight for Rocky’s life. After knocking his opponent down in the first round, Rocky has awakened the sleeping giant, who is now embarrassed and hell-bent on total destruction. From that point on, Rocky is fighting for his life.
By examining Rocky and other iconic films such as The Wizard of Oz, Silence of the Lambs and, more recently, Michael Clayton, you will find examples of where the action is driven by a lead character whose dramatic need requires him or her to overcome all five types of cinematic conflicts to achieve a goal.
When composing your own character-driven story, identify at least one of the five pillars of cinematic conflict that will support the structure of your screenplay. Its presence should be visible in the log line of your story and will energize your effort to tell the story successfully, effectively and visually.
Peter J. Fox is the founder of The Inside Track Workshops for Story and Cinematic Structure. He has worked at Paramount, Universal, MGM and SonyTriStar Pictures. He writes for several publications and holds a M.F.A. in screenwriting from The American Film Institute.
Source: http://www.writermag.com/2013/09/01/write-screenplay-pillars
2.19.2014
Weekly Acting Classes in Cincinnati
Acting classes with the Cincinnati Actors Studio! Come join Cincinnati's only year round professional acting class. We meet every Thursday from 7-9 PM in Studio 104 at the Essex Studios (2511 Essex Pl).
The first class is free, and each class after is $20.
All skill levels are welcomed, and you must be 18 years of age to participate. We are a serious acting class, where we prepare you for "real life" acting opportunities, including (but not limited to) improv, scene study, character development, monologues, auditions, getting representation with agencies, headshots, and actual acting work! Our classes are fun and challenging, and we provide a safe environment for you to express yourself as an actor. So whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro - the Cincinnati Actors Studio is the place for you!
Call: 513.615.2827
E-mail: cincyact@gmail.com
Visit the web: http://www.cincinnatiactorsstudio.com
Christian Auditions | AMTC - Actors, Models & Talent for Christ x
Christian Auditions | AMTC - Actors, Models & Talent for Christ x
Ultimate Survival Alaska Casting Call for Next Season
Now all you viewers at home who've ever wondered, "Hey, I think I could do that," will get your chance to prove it! Only the toughest and most intrepid adventurers should apply. Applications will be reviewed by the production team for an opportunity to join the extreme expedition through the rugged Alaskan wilderness later this year.
To apply, download the application at the link below, fill out the form and email it, along with a photo headshot, to ultimatesurvivalcasting@natgeotv.com by May 1, 2014.
Rules and Regulations
Only applications will be accepted and reviewed. All applications and a photo headshot must be submitted to ultimatesurvivalcasting@natgeotv.com by May 1, 2014, in order to be considered. No video will be accepted. Producers will only contact those applicants with whom they wish to speak further.
Become a Contestant on Let's Ask America
"Let's Ask America" is a daily, half-hour, television game show that lets you, the home viewer, be a contestant on the show on TV from the comfort of your home via web chat. Every day, four contestants will be chosen to play the game and win up to $50,000 cash!
The game is simple: "Let's Ask America" polls America about fun and irreverent topics to find out what people are thinking (e.g. Which of these shows did a group of prison inmates say they would choose to watch in their cell for an entire year? a) "Dr. Phil," b) "Days of Our Lives," c) "The View"). Then, all the contestants have to do is correctly predict the answer. The prize money increases with each question. There are three rounds and at the end of each round, the contestant with the lowest cash total is eliminated from the game.
When contestants are tied, they take part in a "Dash for Cash," which will include a physical challenge. In the final round, the last remaining contestant can wager all or part of their winnings on the "final question of the day." Players who choose to wager all of their money can win up to five times the amount of his or her earnings, for a possible $50,000.LET'S ASK AMERICA. It's simple. If you think you can predict what America is thinking, you can not only watch, you can play on TV and win cash from the comfort of your home.
March 2014
Print Models Casting Call in Wilmington, North Carolina Producers for an upcoming Print AD are currently seeking models. They are looking for talents available between March 13th and 18th in Wilmin...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.
