INSECT_O_CIDE, 76min., UK Directed by Georgina Willis We are fast approaching an Insect Armageddon. Insect_O_Cide is narrated by the Times Bestseller author Professor Dave Goulson, and explores the reasons for the dramatic insect declines occurring worldwide. Dame Joanna Lumley after seeing the film said “watch this heartbreaking and important film. It is enraging and inspiring at the same time: we can make good the harm we have done, but only if we start now, right this very second.”
How to Write a Screenplay? PART 3 – PLOT Screenwriting
For most writers, PLOT is the most interesting part of screenplay writing, and why they begin to write to write the script in the first place. They have a good idea for a story, and they want to write it.
PLOT Screenwriting is a mixture of two things: 1) What happens to the characters 2) What they do because of WHO they are
Most PLOTS wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for the CHARACTERS. A CHARACTER(s) should drive the story, and vice versa.
You always know you’re watching a BAD FILM when any human being can insert themselves into the film. The UNIQUE character has to drive the PLOT.
The last thing you want is for you, the writer, to be a character in the plot.
“The stuff that I got in trouble for, the casting for The Godfather or the beginning scene I wrote in Patton, was the stuff that was remembered.” -Francis Ford Coppola Writer/Director (Godfather Trilogy, Apocalypse Now)
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE BASICS
Every story has a BEGINNING, MIDDLE and END, and every story has to come from a certain point of view. It can come from the point of view of a character (or characters from scene to scene) OR it can come from the audience’s point of view. WE the audience are looking into the story and seeing what is happening.
Think about reading a NOVEL. Either it’s written in the first person, where the character is telling the story, OR it’s in third person, where the actions are telling the story. The same goes for a script.
KNOW WHAT’S AT STAKE IN THE MOVIE – WHAT IS THE CONFLICT?
1) SURVIVAL – Many good films are about survival – human instinct – do-or-die situations. If you’re into Hollywood scripts and stories, think about the top-grossing films of all time. 99 out 100 are stories with characters in DO-or-DIE situations.
2) SAFETY AND SECURITY – Need to find a secure/protected setting once again. 3) LOVE AND BELONGING – Someone longing for connection – wanting to feel LOVED. 4) ESTEEM AND SELF-RESPECT – Wanting to be looked up to, and be recognized for their skills. 5) THE NEED TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND – Curiousity, and understanding how things happen and what they have to go through to get answers. 6) THE AESTHETIC – Trying to be connected with something greater than themselves – a higher power. 7) SELF-ACTUALIZATION – The characters need to express themselves – to communicate who they are. The audience roots for someone to succeed. A lot of comedies have this plot. RAISING THE STAKES WHILE THE CHARACTER GOES AFTER THE GOAL: PRESSURE AND ROADBLOCKS
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SCENE DESIGN
SCENES are unified around DESIRE, ACTION, CONFLICT and CHANGE
Each scene has to be a minor, moderate, or major turning point
The effects of TURNING POINTS are fourfold: SURPRISE INCREASED CURIOUSITY INSIGHT NEW DIRECTION
You need to lead the audience into EXPECTATION, make them think they understand, then CRACK and open a SURPRISE
SURPRISE and CURIOUSITY always bring the audience into the story
Give the audience the pleasure of discovering life, pains and joys at a level – and in directions – they have never imagined
SETUPS/PAYOFFS-Setup is layering-in knowledge-Payoff is closing the gap and delivering the knowledge to the audience
THREE POINTS YOU NEED FOR THE AUDIENCE TO FOLLOW YOUR STORY 1) Empathy with the characters. We don’t need to like them, but understand them and feel for them. 2) We must know what the character wants and let the character have it. 3) We must understand the values at stake in the character’s life.
The more often the audience experiences something, the less effect it has.
EMOTION peaks and valleys rapidly in a great story. It’s the catalyst for the PACE of the story.
THE LAW OF CONFLICT – Nothing moves forward in a story except through conflict.
As long as conflict engages our thoughts and emotions, we travel through the hours unaware of the VOYAGE that is leading us.
Make sure to check out WILDsound’s Screenplay Festival where you can submit your script and get it read in front of hundreds of industry people.
“Usually when you have a block, it’s because you’ve lost the motor of the story.” – Amy Holden Jones, Screenwriter (Indecent Proposal, Mystic Pizza)
“The singular image is what haunts us and becomes art.” -Julia Cameron, Author (The Artist Way)
REMEMBER, THE SCENE IS NEVER WHAT THE SCENE IS ABOUT 1) Define Conflict -Who drives the scene, motivates it and makes it happen? -Look at the character; what does she/he want? Then ask: -What blocks that which they want? -What do the forces of the Antagonist want? 2) Break the scenes into BEATS -A beat is an exchange of action/reaction in character behavior
3) Survey BEATS and locate the Turning Point -Find the ARC in each character’s transaction 4) Note what begins the scene and what ends the scene -The great industry cliche is to LEAVE THE SCENE EARLY and ENTER THE SCENE LATE
RHYTHM AND TEMPO – Set by the length of scenes. How long are we in the same time and place? Two or three minutes average for a scene (but come on – it’s not always that easy).
UNITY AND VARIETY – Because something happens in the beginning, something has to happen in the end.
PACING – Rhythm, serenity, harmony, peace, revelation. But we desire change – challenge, tension, danger, FEAR – never repetition.
JUST LET THE STORY BEGIN IMMEDIATELY, THEN LET THE CHARACTERS BRING NEW PEOPLE ON BOARD.
TRUST YOUR CHARACTERS TO TELL YOU HOW THE PLOT CAN EVOLVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THERE’S ALWAYS SOMEONE IN YOUR STORY WHO CAN BE INTRODUCED TO SEND THE ACTION TOWARD THE CLIMAX.
One of the greatest aids when writing a screenplay is to BELIEVE in the story – believe you are discovering it, instead of creating it. If you believe it already exists somewhere in your head in its entirety, there is no problem you can’t solve with a little detective work.
Grounded: Creating Space for Black Peace, 38min., USA
Directed by Brittney Brackett
Grounded: Creating Space for Black Peace is a tragically poignant documentary short exploring how Black and Brown communities navigate mental health challenges, trauma, and the journey toward healing, that fosters peace and wellness.
Two brothers find themselves entangled in a violent confrontation at a beach house in Malibu. One of the brothers loses his life, while the other, awaiting the arrival of the police, reflects on the events that led to this tragedy.
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Vera visits her husband Marik who suffers from advanced dementia at the assisted living facilities on their wedding anniversary – 50 years together. She grossly and audibly complains to those who are ready to listen about her ruined life with Marik. What if behind the irritation of a grossly swearing life-beaten old woman is hiding the tender and invincible feeling of love?
Submit your FEMALE short story to the festival here, and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video.
Get FULL FEEDBACK on either the 1st chapter or entire novel book from our committee of Professional Writers, and Writing Consultants. Get your novel performed by a professional actor at the festival.
NEW OPTION: Or, just submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book). Great way to promote the sales of your book if you’re already published. (see examples on the video playlist below)
This festival has a guaranteed 4-tier set up for each accepted script. (No matter what, all screenplays submitted receive FULL FEEDBACK on their work.) 1) Full Feedback on your script 2) Actors performance video reading of your script 3) Blog interview promotion. 4) Podcast interview on the Film Festival ITunes show.
Hover City is a prequel to the 2017 novella, Lucky Duck Cola. Everyone in Hover City is getting high-fived by their favourite celebrity, Blaine The Block Bronson–that is everyone except for his most devoted and loyal fan. This man will stop at nothing to experience, the hero, Block Bronson’s patented high five. Hover City addresses the corrosive nature of narcissism within the individual and throughout society. It is a one man show, starring the producer Stephen Puiia, and is a comedic-horror.
Three band members in the desert searching for inspiration discover a tape machine and curiously press play. This tape machine catapults them into a demonic dimension that mirrors the birth of their own demon.
The Newlyweds: Blood At the Altar, 15min., USA Directed by Lucien Christian Adderley, Richard “Byrd” Wilson Tia and Akil are good people loved by their friends and family. However, no one believes they should wed because they love hard. They’ve had a dysfunctional, up-and-down relationship since college. They’re crazy about each other, and their friends have seen the chaos that can bring when things aren’t going well. Their love is either SPARKS flying or things BURNING, no in-between. On their big day, we quickly learn that their wedding guests have doubts about their marital future. Despite the looming uncertainty among family and friends, the couple proudly pledges their LIVES to each other. As the devoted couple exchanges vows, things get wild when a catering staff member barges into the kitchen with sick but strange symptoms. After the ceremony, the NEWLYWEDS prepare to make their grand entrance in the ballroom as husband and wife, but instead of applauding guests, they are faced with grueling ZOMBIES.
The Newlyweds: Blood At the Altar, 15min., USA Directed by Lucien Christian Adderley, Richard “Byrd” Wilson Tia and Akil are good people loved by their friends and family. However, no one believes they should wed because they love hard. They’ve had a dysfunctional, up-and-down relationship since college. They’re crazy about each other, and their friends have seen the chaos that can bring when things aren’t going well. Their love is either SPARKS flying or things BURNING, no in-between. On their big day, we quickly learn that their wedding guests have doubts about their marital future. Despite the looming uncertainty among family and friends, the couple proudly pledges their LIVES to each other. As the devoted couple exchanges vows, things get wild when a catering staff member barges into the kitchen with sick but strange symptoms. After the ceremony, the NEWLYWEDS prepare to make their grand entrance in the ballroom as husband and wife, but instead of applauding guests, they are faced with grueling ZOMBIES.
Iku Ma Pa Mi (Death Don’t Kill Me), 9min., Nigeria, Musical Directed by Akintunde Oluwaseyi Smith Iku Ma Pa Mi is a modern take on a Yoruba death elegy in which the supplicant hails the mothers and spirits that control death and pleads for their mercy so that they live a long and fulfilling life before the eventuality of death. Performed by Ariky, it is the soundtrack to upcoming movie Ifihan Ika (Manifestation of Wickedness.)
1. What motivated you to make this film? Ans: We were shooting a short film ‘The Crying Edema’ and we had Ariky record some vocals ahead so we could sort of have a certain consciousness of the soundtrack as we shot. When we heard her vocals we were inspired to shoot a music video at the same locations where the movie was shot, it seemed like a perfect opportunity we didn’t want to miss.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Ans: About 6 months
3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Deep, Intriguing
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Ans: Hauling our equipment to the hill tops
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? Ans: Excitement, Gratitude and Encouraged
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films? I saw Ferris Beullers day off as a kid and I thought, this is what I wanted to do,
7. What film have you seen the most in your life? There Will be Blood
8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career? Ans: Festivals like yours are already doing so much we are grateful for
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site? Ans: Very Satisfying
10. What is your favorite meal? Ans: Jollof Rice
11. What is next for you? A new film? Yes, always conceiving and trying to improve
SPARKS, 2min,. France, Dance Directed by David Ravel Alone on a vast stage, a dancer moves through a space sculpted by light. He observes, senses, letting the sensations guide his body. An instinctive dance emerges, visceral, almost organic. Each movement becomes an exploration, a silent quest in resonance with the luminous pulses enveloping him.
Get to know the filmmaker:
1. What motivated you to make this film?
I wanted to make a film about the energy of Krump and work in an original location with lights and flashs.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It all happened very quickly. We had the location at our disposal. We had worked on a few gestures with the dancer, but we improvised almost everything directly on the set. The shoot lasted one night.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
inside struggle
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Time
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It’s always very special, very emotional.
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
When I realized I loved having a camera in my hands to capture faces
7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
SOLARIS / Steven Soderbergh.
8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Very good experience.
9. What is your favorite meal?
Pasta al Ragù
10. What is next for you? A new film?
Always filming, always meeting people, always falling in love with a work of art.
Festival Reviews 