characters and orange juice

So I was watching one of my favorite speakers, Wayne Dyer, on a youtube video and he was speaking about how if you squeeze oranges, orange juice always comes out. That it's made of orange juice and so each time, that's what you'll get, that's its true substance. Makes sense. Then he goes on to say that when people are stressed, they like to blame how they behave or act on other situations or people, but that their true nature is what comes out in those situations. So if they act like a jerk, or angry, or mean, or sweet and happy, that's what they are, that's their true nature. They can blame it on anything they want, but truly, that's their true nature. So it got me thinking that that works for our characters as we're writing them. I've always heard that a true character's nature comes out when put in stressful situations. And it's our job as a writer to create the world to put them in conflict, put them to the test. And what our story will show is our character's true nature. It's nice to think of it that way, knowing it's our job to squeeze that orange juice out. If we're not, we're not telling the story. We're not putting them in enough conflict or stress if we're not doing that. When we're writing our story, we can think of the first 10-20 pages of our story, that we're starting out with a nice, round plump orange that we just picked. That's our character before anything has happened. And then comes the inciting incident. That's when we slowly see that orange juice, or character's true nature, come out. Drip by drip, story beat, by story beat, as the conflict rises, the pressure is put upon them, until we end up with a nice tall glass of a fresh juicy story. A full glass of orange juice. Or, a nice fully fleshed out character and story. Drink up and enjoy!

Don't judge

So I usually write about screenwriting, but today I felt the need to write about what it's like to be judged as a woman in today's world. The reason I felt like doing this is because of the fallout from Renee Zellweger's new face. Before her new critics, she was in the trades and news for not looking good. People tweeted and commented on how horrible she was looking. Really? People? Why is it that from the safety of every one's homes they feel so nasty and mean about ripping apart a person. She's a person, remember? So then recently she does who knows what to her face. Facelift? Botox? Facials? I don't know and I don't care. So now she's ripped apart for no longer looking like she used to. Luckily it seems like she's not caring and letting it roll off her back. And I hope she really feels that way. Because I can only imagine what it's like to be judged by every Tom, Dick and Mary in the social media world. It's hard enough as a woman in today's day and age to get older, but when you're an actress in Hollywood the standards are even that much tougher. So what's an actress to do? I guess learn to develop a thick skin. Easier said than done I'm sure. Because most actors are insecure as it is. If you're an actor reading this and you don't think you are, I bet, you are. And if you can't get a thick skin, stop reading social media and tabloids. It's sort of like a tree in a forest, if you don't read it, it didn't happen. And for the rest of us writers and other non-actors, stop caring what actresses do or don't do. If you have that much time to criticize what an actor does or doesn't do, you've got too much time on your hands. Which is why, I'm going back to my new outline. Ciao!

As High As The Sky

No, not me. It's the title of a little film that needs to get attention. I happen to know the writer, director, Nikki Braendlin, but hadn't been in touch in years. I saw on her Facebook that she started to film said movie and was excited for her and wondered what kind of movie it would be. Well as luck would have it, she posted this week that it was free on Hulu, with commercials. So I thought, sure, why not! I thought I'd watch it in two days because what writer has time to watch a movie in one sitting. Not me at least because I'm always writing something.

Well, I loved it so darn much I sat and watched the whole thing all the way through. I didn't just love it a little, or love it because I knew her. I looooved it! It was really well written, the characters were done so wonderfully, the story was heart-warming and sweet. From start to finish, Nikki just hit it out of the park. I have since gotten back in touch with her and we're going to catch up, because I was so darn impressed. But now it's your turn. You must watch this great little film. The message was great. I loved the casting. Really could have watched more of these characters even beyond this movie, and that's a rare thing to say. I won't give away any plot points or ending, but I'll just say it really touched me. I had never been more proud to say I know a fellow writer.

Just as I was writing this blog, I opened an email from Sundance touting "4 movies you must watch online right now". Well, I'm going to make it 5. Add As High As The Sky to your list. You'll be happy you did.

My favorite writing trick

Every so often writers get "stuck". Whether it's on a new idea, in the middle of a first draft, a huge rewrite or writing a bit of dialogue. And if a writer is stuck, how is that writer to become unstuck? Well one of my favorite techniques, always seems to be the perfect trick. What I do is I write down all my thoughts as if I'm speaking to a friend.

For instance, let's say you're writing a script about a Clown that wants to tell his parents he's not going to finish clown school. His parents are clowns too of course, so this is a big tragic moment in the clown family. So what if you're not sure how to begin the clown scene? So what I do is write down every possibility I could possibly think of. "So child clown tells his parents in a letter, because he's too afraid. But maybe that's not cinematic enough, so what if child clown brings in all his clown friends and they do a clown act, and they crack the parents up and at the end, child clown says, yeah, not going to clown school. Or what if he crashes his clown car on purpose and now tells his parents he has no way to get to clown school." 

But as you see I literally throw out every idea that's in my head. By getting out my thoughts, I actually keep myself from being stuck. It's a great technique that I use over and over and always seems to help me out of a jam. I think the hardest part of being a writer is that we live in our head. So if we can just put our thoughts on the page, we can keep our story moving forward.  

The scene you get on the page doesn't have to be perfect. But at least if it's on the page then it gives you a place to start and somewhere to go. So try it next time you find yourself stuck. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. And if you write a clown script based on my idea, please put me in the "special thanks to" at the end of your movie. :) 

You can take a hit

In the boxing world, if a guy gets hit, he gets back up. That's his(her) job. He gets hit, he gets back up. He gets hit, he gets back up. Well, writing is no different. I mean, metaphorically of course. Hopefully we aren't really getting hit. But each step we take in screenwriting has so many chances for us to feel like we got knocked down. But we can't stay down. We have to get back up. And each time we do, it moves us closer and closer to seeing our dreams of being a paid screenwriter come to fruition.

I remember my first time I had to print out a script at Kinko's. I was so scared to take it there. I know, silly. But I was! I lived in Hollywood and was so afraid that only "real" screenwriters printed scripts. And that if I went there, they'd laugh at me and tell everyone there, "Get a load of this girl who thinks she's a writer!" Okay, little did I know that there were thousands of other people trying to be screenwriters too and they didn't give it so much as a glance. But for me, that was a hit. I had to take that chance that I'd get knocked down. And it didn't happen that time, I dodged that hit and that allowed me to go in for the next possible hit. Taking more screenwriting classes. Joining writing groups and getting critiqued. Entering contests! Sending out queries! There were rejections upon rejections. There have been many. But they have also opened me up to "yeses" too. So you have to take those hits. Because without the hits, we wouldn't have the success. And each hit makes us stronger and stronger.

So do it. Go for it. You have to at least try or you'll never know if you could have one day been the champ. Okay, that's really corny. But hey, I had to go for the whole boxing thing, didn't I? But you get what I'm saying. Keep trying. The bell hasn't run yet!

Put a ring on it

So when it comes to Hollywood, people in this biz want what others want too. It's like most men when it comes to dating, they all want the girl everyone lusts after. And as far as screenwriter goes, if Producers, Directors, agents and managers see that you're loved by many, they'll love you too. I'm sure you've heard when you have a script that you can get to a big wig to read, then it's time to reach out to other people of value to read it. If enough people with clout in this business can read it, it could pick up steam and momentum, and before you know, end up a sale. Maybe even a big sale! So don't be afraid to reach out to people once you get your script into the hands of at least one biggie.

For instance, the script my partner and I have finished recently we are able to get to some really worthy folks. It's exciting to say the least and we hope it means it will be a sale shortly. But now we're using that to reach out to as many people we can who could do something with it. So the more names we add to the list of people reading it, the better. It's almost like those huge snow balls you see in those animation movies that at first starts out as a teeny rock pebble at the start of the hill and by the end of the hill it has skiers, snowmen, rabbits, and so much more! Then blam! It explodes into teeny bits. Which in the screenwriting world is big sale.

If you don't feel like you have those kind of contacts right now, don't worry. Keep trying. What is a no yesterday, could turn into a sale along the way a few years later. Keep building your network! You just never know what it could turn into.

Tell YOUR story

When it comes to writing your screenplay there are a million ways it could go. A love story could be Romeo and Juliet or Casablanca or Wedding Crashers. Each story is so different and each writer is very different. So when you get the chance to write a story, tell the story that YOU want. That's why when you get hired to write a story, you have to trust your own instincts. It can be scary when you know someone has the power to say yes or no to what you just wrote. But you have to trust there's a reason you want to tell this exact story. It came to you for a reason! So write that story. One of the worst things you could do is doubt yourself and then end up with a mediocre story. Go out with a bang! Write the story that's speaking to you. And if all goes well, the producer that hires you will see your vision and agree with it and want to get it made.

I read somewhere recently that Arthur Miller was given notes about Death of a Saleman and was told what an awful play it was. He used those notes and changed it so much that he hated it! That's when he realized he wasn't going to listen to anyone. He said something along the lines of, "I'm going to do what I want. And if it's no good, at least I wrote what I wanted." Then of course it went on to being the longest performing piece and most acted piece ever.

So that's what you have to do too! Trust that your vision of your story is what needs to be told. Sure take notes, listen to trusted friends. But if they don't see the vision that you are wanting to tell for your story, then ignore it all. How's a new writer to know when to listen to friends and when not? That only comes with experience. But as time goes on, you'll know who to listen to and what notes to listen to. In the end, it's your story and when a producer hires you, they're going to hire you for your style and story telling. So be sure that's what ends up on the page.