When I first heard about this assignment I must admit that the first thing that went through my head was a great big "WTF." I was so overwhelmed with emotions that it was insane. I mean surely only a crazy person would attempt to write 100 pages in 30 days. 100 pages is more than I had written in my entire life...I was willing to bet that all my high school essays didn't even total up to 100 pages. So needless to say I was very intimidated by this whole assignment. But after I sat on the idea for a bit I realized that it might not be SO bad. Yeah 100 pages was a lot, but I thought I might as well give it a shot right?
Now that the assignment is over I feel kinda disappointed that I wasn't able to finish 100 pages. I tired my best, but in the end I got so distracted. Plus writing a script was weird, looking back I would have much rather preferred to write a novel, or a story. A script was annoying because I had to keep focusing on the setting and the camera angles, when I would have rather just focused on the characters/plot.
The whole planning process was wayyyyy to long. I know I'm not only one who thought the preparation process was uncomfortably long. I mean the only preparation that felt I needed, was the establishment of a plot and characters. The planning process almost hindered my creative ability. I mean I thought this was suppose to be "creative" writing..not planned process writing. Spending days working on a packet to establish the "hollywood formula" and the "rising action, climax and falling action" just placed constraints on my creative mind. At the beginning of the year we talked about what "creative" meant to us, and the whole class used words like "free, open, and spontaneous." I simply didn't feel that during the planning process...I just wanted to write.
I learned a lot about myself by taking on such a large project. I mostly learned that I am horrible at time management, I over analyzed everything about my script. My inner perfectionist wasn't comfortable with just getting words on paper. I wanted to really establish my characters, and that took a lot of thought. A lot of thought takes a lot of time.
I think my script is only like 20 -30 pages. But I have never been more proud of those pages. I gave all my effort into those pages and I think they are some quality pages. I'm just not cut out to be a script writer because I care more about quality than quantity.
I think one of the biggest strengths in my script are the characters themselves. All of my characters have very distinct personalities that set them apart from the others. Each character has an important role and none are overshadowed. I also love the way I wrote the scipt. I didn't write the script in plain english, instead I used a "shakespeare meets gladiator" language. I wanted to have fun writing the script and I didn't think writing the way normal people talk would be fun. So I basically just invented my own way to talk.
I think a weakness of the script is describing what is going on in the background/ describing what else is going on other than the characters. In my script I focused on the dynamic between the characters, not really on the setting. In my script I just gave a basic description of the where the characters were, but other than that I left it up to the readers imagination. However, my group members stated that they wished I had added more detail to the setting. Another weakness is that I kind of rushed the end of each scene. Sometimes if I run out of ideas, I will speed up and try to just finish the script.
If I had more time to do this script I would try to get more pages down.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Blog #12: Scene Reflection
The scene I decided to choose, was what I believed to be the pivotal moment in my script. It was the third and final time that Queen Penthesilea rejected Ares affections toward her. This sends him into a spiraling rage, because his over-inflated ego has been damaged. This is the turing point in the script because it is at this moment that Ares decides he is going to whip the Amazons off the face of the Earth.
Scene Strengths: I think one of the biggest strengths in my scene are the characters themselves. All of my characters have very distinct personalities that set them apart from the others. Each character has an important role and none are overshadowed. Penthesilea and Ares contrast perfectly. Penthesilea is strong, confident, and completely selfless. The only thing she cares about is the well-being of her tribe, she is willing to sacrifice everything for them. She is a good leader because her tribe respects her. Ares, on the other hand is selfish. He uses his army to pursue his own personal interests, and he only looks out for himself. He has a mean temper and his army follows him out of fear. Another strength of my script is that it is easy to understand/ paint a mental picture of what is going on in the scene.
Scene Weaknesses: I think a weakness of the scene is describing what is going on in the background/ describing what else is going on other than the characters. In my script I focused on the dynamic between the characters, not really on the setting. In my scene I just gave a basic description of the where the characters were, but other than that I left it up to the readers imagination. However, my group members stated that they wished I had added more detail to the setting. Another weakness is that I kind of rushed the end of each scene. Sometimes if I run out of ideas, I will speed up and try to just finish the scene.
Improvements: If I could re-write the scene I would make it slightly longer. I would start off by describing the setting that the argument between the Queen and Ares took place. The argument took place in Penthesilea's tent, and in the old scene that was all I mentioned. If I could redo the scene I would describe the humbleness of the tent. Despite the fact that Penthesilea is a good she lives humbly, like the rest of the tribe. The tent has the bare minimum in it. The tent possess a bed, which has a wood frame filled with a straw mattress and duck-feather pillow. There is a small wooden table by the bed, on top of the table is a hand-carved figure of the Goddess Athena (the goddess Penthesilea worships). There is also a corner for Penthsilea's armor, it's hung over a wooden stake, and it glistens in the candle light. There is also a bear skin rug on the ground.
Scene Strengths: I think one of the biggest strengths in my scene are the characters themselves. All of my characters have very distinct personalities that set them apart from the others. Each character has an important role and none are overshadowed. Penthesilea and Ares contrast perfectly. Penthesilea is strong, confident, and completely selfless. The only thing she cares about is the well-being of her tribe, she is willing to sacrifice everything for them. She is a good leader because her tribe respects her. Ares, on the other hand is selfish. He uses his army to pursue his own personal interests, and he only looks out for himself. He has a mean temper and his army follows him out of fear. Another strength of my script is that it is easy to understand/ paint a mental picture of what is going on in the scene.
Scene Weaknesses: I think a weakness of the scene is describing what is going on in the background/ describing what else is going on other than the characters. In my script I focused on the dynamic between the characters, not really on the setting. In my scene I just gave a basic description of the where the characters were, but other than that I left it up to the readers imagination. However, my group members stated that they wished I had added more detail to the setting. Another weakness is that I kind of rushed the end of each scene. Sometimes if I run out of ideas, I will speed up and try to just finish the scene.
Improvements: If I could re-write the scene I would make it slightly longer. I would start off by describing the setting that the argument between the Queen and Ares took place. The argument took place in Penthesilea's tent, and in the old scene that was all I mentioned. If I could redo the scene I would describe the humbleness of the tent. Despite the fact that Penthesilea is a good she lives humbly, like the rest of the tribe. The tent has the bare minimum in it. The tent possess a bed, which has a wood frame filled with a straw mattress and duck-feather pillow. There is a small wooden table by the bed, on top of the table is a hand-carved figure of the Goddess Athena (the goddess Penthesilea worships). There is also a corner for Penthsilea's armor, it's hung over a wooden stake, and it glistens in the candle light. There is also a bear skin rug on the ground.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Blog #11: Dialogue in Action
Asteria
(Looks back at Hipp)
Bare your teeth tonight Pup, and rise to the position of Wolf.
(kisses Hipp’s forehead, grabs her sword and exits. Hipp takes a deep breath and follows).
Int. Penthesilea, she now dawn’s impressive shining body armor, in her hands she posses two swords, there is a fire in her eyes. She finds Phoebe and at her sight, the rest of the warriors rally behind her.
Penthesilea
(Raising her right arm/sword in the air)
Attack!!!
(The two armies clash; clanking metal and war cries’ fill the air. Penthesilea and Phoebe fight back to back and demonstrate very impressive killing ability, soon a pile of dead soldiers lies around them.)
(Cut to the three daughters, Lysipite stands atop a boulder and is picking soldiers off with her bow and arrow, Asteria shows off her quickness and skill with the sword and is easily killing soldiers. Hipp can only engage one soldier at a time, and she it takes her a while to kill him, but she eventually gets the job done.)
Lysipite
Dine on this!
(Shoots arrow in a soldier’s mouth)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Blog #10: Moving the Story Forward
Ajax
Flower rejects affections again?
Ares
(getting in Ajax’s face)
She is not flower, but evil serpent!! Every word forged from her mouth drips with venom! Every action is blatant insult!
(Points to the cut on his neck)
Pierced skin only adds salt to wound.
Ajax
(Reluctantly)
Pride is only thing that suffers wound, strike the Amazons from mind and turn thoughts toward new conquests elsewhere.
Ares
(sits in front of fire, with a pensive look on his face)
No...not yet. If Penthesilea and her band of slithering serpents think it wise to mock the God of War they are sorely mistaken.
(looks up a Ajax)
I would have them pay with blood for embarrassments inflicted.
Ajax
(Wearily)
Blood? How many lives do you seek to end?
Ares
(Evil grin)
I seek to kill them all.
Blog #9: Dialogue, Defining Relationships
Asteria
I come yet closer
(Pets wolf on the head)
One day soon you shall know the taste defeat
Penthesilea
(chuckling)
I shall embrace such a day, in hopes that you can put silly contest to rest
(kneels down and scratches the wolf behind its ears)
Asteria
(smiling)
Yet, silly contest serves to strengthen legs, providing welcome advantage on the battlefield.
Penthesilea
(wraps arm around Asteria, as the pair begin walking)
Your sword has yet to pierce skin and still you taste blood.
(kisses Asteria on her temple)
Patience child, your time in battle draws near
(pauses)
Every wolf must learn to run before it can hunt
Friday, April 20, 2012
Blog #8: Writing Effective Dialogue
1. More dramatic, should be sharp and lean.
2. Sound out your dialogue. Read your dialogue out loud and see if it makes sense. Listen to how other people read your dialogues
3. Identify your characters by what they say. They need their own self.
4. Try putting together two different characters. They might be able to work well together or they might explode...either way it makes for an interesting dialogue.
5. Trust yourself to listen to listen to how that character will be. Learn who your characters are, have compassion for them.
2. Sound out your dialogue. Read your dialogue out loud and see if it makes sense. Listen to how other people read your dialogues
3. Identify your characters by what they say. They need their own self.
4. Try putting together two different characters. They might be able to work well together or they might explode...either way it makes for an interesting dialogue.
5. Trust yourself to listen to listen to how that character will be. Learn who your characters are, have compassion for them.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Blog #7: The Hollywood Formula
Opening Scene:
My opening scene takes place in a giant forest; it's early spring so the ground is clear of snow but the trees still stand bare of leave. The scene features Asteria (one of the three main characters) engaging in a foot race with her pet wolf, Argo. The camera follows the two of them as the dash through the forest, Asteria demonstrates incredible skill & agility as she manages to keep up with the wolf. Even though Argo wins the race, his margin of victory is small. The pair are then met by Penthesilea, the warrior Queen, who hints that there is an approaching conflict. This scene draws the audience in with and exciting race and a curious hint of approaching conflict.
Setting Up the Story:
The audience is then introduced to the rest of the cast. They meet Lysipite and Hipp who are training in the center of the camp. The competitive nature between Lysipite and Asteria is made very apparent as they are always making sly comments toward each other. Asteria is also set up as short of the "big sister" figure to Hipp. The conflict is also set up between Penthesilea and Ares. Ares has repeatedly made advancements toward Penthesilea. She has continued to reject his affections because she knows he's only being greedy and he doesn't truly love her. After the third and final attempt Penthesilea threatens to kill Ares if he barges in to her camp again.
Inciting Incident:
After being rejected yet again Ares is enraged, mostly because he is a selfish God and he thinks he can have whatever he wants. So, taking things to the extreme, he decides to punish all of the Amazons by killing them all. He leads his army to attack the camp. A battle ensues between Ares army and Penthsileas warriors. However there are just to many soldiers for the warriors to handle and they are slowly over-powered. The final blow was when Ares kills Penthesilea, this murder is witnessed by all three of the young warriors who, realizing the battle is lost, flee into the forest before they too are killed. Seeing their whole tribe killed over Ares' hurt pride enrages them and they vow vengeance.
My opening scene takes place in a giant forest; it's early spring so the ground is clear of snow but the trees still stand bare of leave. The scene features Asteria (one of the three main characters) engaging in a foot race with her pet wolf, Argo. The camera follows the two of them as the dash through the forest, Asteria demonstrates incredible skill & agility as she manages to keep up with the wolf. Even though Argo wins the race, his margin of victory is small. The pair are then met by Penthesilea, the warrior Queen, who hints that there is an approaching conflict. This scene draws the audience in with and exciting race and a curious hint of approaching conflict.
Setting Up the Story:
The audience is then introduced to the rest of the cast. They meet Lysipite and Hipp who are training in the center of the camp. The competitive nature between Lysipite and Asteria is made very apparent as they are always making sly comments toward each other. Asteria is also set up as short of the "big sister" figure to Hipp. The conflict is also set up between Penthesilea and Ares. Ares has repeatedly made advancements toward Penthesilea. She has continued to reject his affections because she knows he's only being greedy and he doesn't truly love her. After the third and final attempt Penthesilea threatens to kill Ares if he barges in to her camp again.
Inciting Incident:
After being rejected yet again Ares is enraged, mostly because he is a selfish God and he thinks he can have whatever he wants. So, taking things to the extreme, he decides to punish all of the Amazons by killing them all. He leads his army to attack the camp. A battle ensues between Ares army and Penthsileas warriors. However there are just to many soldiers for the warriors to handle and they are slowly over-powered. The final blow was when Ares kills Penthesilea, this murder is witnessed by all three of the young warriors who, realizing the battle is lost, flee into the forest before they too are killed. Seeing their whole tribe killed over Ares' hurt pride enrages them and they vow vengeance.
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