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The real trick to writing a script or novel that will sell is to - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The real trick to writing a script or novel that will sell is to - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The real trick to writing a script or novel that will sell is to know and use Hollywoods central marketing strategy. And that can be summed up in one word: genres. The key decision is: which genres should I use for this idea? Instead of
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Instead of trying to copy a popular movie from the past, you need to find what is original in your story. I call this “finding the gold.”
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In the entertainment business, the most important story strategy today is to mix genres. 99% of films made, not just in Hollywood but worldwide, are some combination of the 11 most popular genres.
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That’s why Myth is found in more blockbusters than any other form by far.
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The exception to the rule of using myth: if your story idea is not right for the myth form, don’t force it.
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That’s why you should always add 1 or 2 other genres to modernize the Myth form and
- vercome its episodic quality.
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Each genre has a pre-determined hero,
- pponent, desire line, thematic focus, and so on.
This is why many writers combining genres end up with a structural mess.
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When mixing genres, the key is to make one form the primary one.
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Technique 7. If you’re writing a screenplay for an indie film, write Horror, Thriller, or Love.
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The most important determinants of which genres you use for your indie film are:
- 1. which genres are best for your story idea and
- 2. which genres you are best at writing.
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On screenwriting blogs I always see people say: “learn the rules so you can break the rules.” This is a classic example of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing. It’s also total nonsense.
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That’s why the top genre writers twist the beats. In
- ther words, they hit the beats in an original way.
This is known as transcending the genre.
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Transcending the genre is different for each form, because it depends on the story beats that are unique to each form.
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There is 1 main technique for transcending that applies to all genres: combine the genre with drama.
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Make the opponent human, not a villain. This means
- 1. he has weaknesses and
- 2. he is right about certain things.
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I don’t know a single professional writer who has mastered more than 2 or 3 genres.
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For those who are new to the Story Program:
- 1. Start with the Premise assignment.
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- 2. Apply my comments to fix your premise, then
go to Class 2 on the 7 Steps.
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- 3. Continue to do the classes in order.
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- 4. Be sure to hand in your work each month.
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- 5. Try to apply my comments to your work as soon
after the class as possible.
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Assignment for next class IF YOU ARE WRITING SCENES FOR YOUR STORY:
- 1. write the next three scenes in the story where
there is dialogue That means three scenes, not three chapters. Be sure to start by listing the premise in 1 line
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Assignment for next class IF YOU ARE WRITING SCENES FOR YOUR STORY:
- 2. write your hero’s weakness in 1 line
- 3. write the endpoint of your hero’s character
change, In other words, his or her self-revelation
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IF YOUR STORY IS AT ANY OTHER STEP OF THE WRITING PROCESS
- 4. Important: state which assignment you are doing
- 5. follow the instructions for that month’s assignment
Don’t hand in more than the assignment asks for.
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IF YOUR STORY IS AT ANY OTHER STEP OF THE WRITING PROCESS
- 6. send in any question you have about story in
general or about your story in particular
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Remember: hand in only 1 assignment at a time.
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